how much does it cost... for you?

[Synovia]

Gram Scale? What is the max weight it can handle? My scale goes up to 11 lbs and I wish it could handle more.

I think mine will take about 8lbs. Measured in grams or ounces. Grams are more useful for hops.



The hopper of my corona only holds about 3lbs of grain, so its not really an issue.

 

[mosquitocontrol]

Eh, people overstate the initial cost.

Going to bulk cost me roughly $25: $10 for a digital gram scale (As cheap as $7 on amazon), $8 for a battery operated vacuum pump, and $8 for a jar sealer. (Add another $7 if you don't already have a dozen quartsized mason jars)


The cost to go all grain was $20 (corona mill) + $40 ( $12.99 igloo 5g cooler + $25 or so in fittings).


Now, when we're talking about the difference between $45/batch to $15 a batch, thats like 3 batches to pay for everything.

What cheaper options are there for vacuum pump that will still accept the mason jar attachment. Coul dyou p oint me to the type you use or anything I could use on amazon (short of the large fullsize foodsavers)

 

[hal2814]

It's debatable. I'd like to see some more tests done on this. FYI: you can get a full blown foodsaver at walmart for 100.00. There is another brand (I think it's Rival "seal a meal") that goes for 60.00. Foodsaver makes some lower powered models that go for as little as 20.00 Lastly, a simple "pump n seal" does almost the same thing.

Another very helpful tool is brewing software like beersmith.

Using ZipLock freezer bags I've let cascade, hallertau, and centennial get that old in pellet form and they've all been fine. To be clear though, I take the vaccum-sealed hopsdirect bag, cut it open as little as possible, and keep those hops packed in the original bag as tightly as possible. After measuring out my hops for a batch, I put the cut open hopsdirect bag in the Ziplock and squeeze out as much air as possible. It's not vaccum sealed at that point but the hops are packed in the bag pretty tight. I hear saaz ages horribly and I'd like to try letting it get that old but I can't seem to hold onto 1lb of saaz long enough

I only spent $3 going to all grain but I already had a 5g Igloo cooler and a $5 postal scale. I don't crush my own grain though.

 

[Synovia]

Mine looks just like this:

http://www.lightinthebox.com/Compact-Vacuum-Sealer--7030---Start-From-5-Units-_p45896.html

But I got it from Menards, for $7.99.


I use this
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005TN7H/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

To seal wide-mouth mason jars that are available at Menards for about $8/dozen.


You might be able to use one of the reynolds ones, which I believe are about $15, come with a bunch of bags, and are available pretty much everywhere.

 

[Pivot]

Haha I just use my Magic Bullet to crush grain. takes a hell of a long time for a full grain bill though

 

[goose1873]

Do you buy your hops in bulk?
Where do you get your extract?

Hopsdirect sells hops by the pound and then end up being super cheap at under 1.00 / oz
Morebeer has a great price on LME.

here is a recipe for 5 gallons of IPA
9 lbs LME from morebeer = 20.70
1 lb crystal = 1.50
4 oz of bulk hops = 4.00
1 package of US05 yeast = 3.00

total cost = 29.20 or 3.50 per six pack +/-

+1...I make almost the same thing. I use about 8lbs LME and 2 pounds fresh 2 row...price is about the same.

I love IPA's...thank GOD for HOPS DIRECT....

 

[TheMan]

I don't know how technical you guys want to get, but you are missing a couple things that I didn't see anyone point out. Shipping costs for online stores? Gas (for those using propane)? Bottle Caps? Priming Sugar? Yeast starters (if you do, which I'd highly suggest)? If you calculate all of that in, it actually increases the cost a decent amount...

My biggest cost savers so far are buying hops in bulk, harvesting yeast, and switching to all-grain. For me, your recipe above calculates out to about $19.

BUT...if you include all the extra costs that kind of linger in the background I think you'll be surprised:

12 lbs Grain = $13.80 (equal to 9 lbs. LME)
1 lb crystal = $1.35
4 oz. hops = 2.68
Yeast = Reused
Starter = $0.80 (dme used)
Priming sugar = $0.79
Bottle Caps = $1.00
Shipping = $3.50 (order two batches at once, total shipping is $7)
Propane = $4.00

Total = $27.92 including all costs I can think of...

As you can see I like to get down to the nitty gritty lol.

 

[mosquitocontrol]

This is getting way too nitpicky. Everyone's situation will be different depending on what you bought in bulk or already had in hand. I think its getting way too far from the point of just general ways to lower cost of extract batches.

 

[SamuraiSquirrel]

Sure they do....

How do you figure?

9lbs extract = 20.70

12 lbs grain = 13.90

Thats roughly 50%

But since the question was "cheap EXTRACT" please ignore .......

 

[stevedasleeve]

I don't know how technical you guys want to get, but you are missing a couple things that I didn't see anyone point out. Shipping costs for online stores? Gas (for those using propane)? Bottle Caps? Priming Sugar? Yeast starters (if you do, which I'd highly suggest)? If you calculate all of that in, it actually increases the cost a decent amount...

Shipping is free for >$60 at Morebeer, I include shipping as part of the cost for Hopsdirect, corn sugar is so cheap I don't even count it (3-5 oz per batch for priming, um 50 cents?) I don't use propane, bottle caps - $2 for 5 billion (I don't worry about it) and yeast starters are for sissys and people who like the word "utilize", or worse "utilization" and drive SUVs instead of Hybrids and like sweet fruity beers instead of macho IPAs and like to insert "carboy" into every conversation.



Steve da sleeve

 

[MAsteveINE]

So I am on a quest to brew really good extract beer at the absolute lowest cost! For me a really good brew needs to be a hoppy IPA and not too low on the ol' ABV either.

Individual tastes aside, Cooper and Munton both make can kits that go
in the bucket with a bit of sugar and make 6 gallons, yeast included.

6 gallons makes 64 - 12 oz and cost +-$18.00 in this area, or under
30 cents a bottle.

My idea would be to try some of these, just as presented, and use that
as a starting place find something that comes close, then to boost flavor or ABV, you can spend a bit for more or different yeast, sweet, or some grain to steep, and still be well within the meaning of cheap, even compared to a lot of AG's.

Even the ones you dont like all come out the same next morning!

MAsteveINE

 

[maida7]

How do you figure?

9lbs extract = 20.70

12 lbs grain = 13.90

Thats roughly 50%

But since the question was "cheap EXTRACT" please ignore .......

Actually it's 67% and that is shown as a percentage of the base grain costs ONLY. All the other costs (hops, specialty grains, water, propane, yeast, bottle caps, priming sugar, shipping, cleaning chemicals, yeast starters, etc...) will remain the same. So really AG is only marginally less expensive then extract. But really we weren't discussing AG vs extract. That subject has been beaten to death in many other threads. The subject here is how extract brewing is way cheaper then buying beer and how to make extract beer less expensive. The great news is that making extract beer IS cheap. In some cases is half the price of buying a commercial equivalent. If you really want to feel the price difference buy some Belgian beers. Westmalle at my local beer shop runs $5.00 for a 12oz bottle. Even if an extract clone batch cost me 50.00 to make 5 gallons, that's less then 1.00 per bottle for a 500% savings. :rockin:

 

[BlueSunshine]

Westmalle at my local beer shop runs $5.00 for a 12oz bottle.

Dammit, it goes for around $9 bucks for a 12 ounce bottle here in PA.

Although extract batches are more expensive than AG batches, in this state it's a pretty damn good deal.

 

[TheMan]

Shipping is free for >$60 at Morebeer, I include shipping as part of the cost for Hopsdirect, corn sugar is so cheap I don't even count it (3-5 oz per batch for priming, um 50 cents?) I don't use propane, bottle caps - $2 for 5 billion (I don't worry about it) and yeast starters are for sissys and people who like the word "utilize", or worse "utilization" and drive SUVs instead of Hybrids and like sweet fruity beers instead of macho IPAs and like to insert "carboy" into every conversation.

Over time all of these things add up. Some of them might be cheap, but the more you brew, the more they add up. You asked how to cut costs. I provided examples of what costs are included in a batch I brew so that you could compare your costs to mine. Looks like you've hit rock bottom pricing for extract. If you really want to get even cheaper then AG (which you mentioned in your original post) is the way, the equipment pays for itself in savings.

As for your sissy comments, I don't know how serious you were (I laughed, but then thought maybe you were serious)... I drive a gas guzzling American muscle car, yet I like a great IPA. Guess I'm right in the middle of your sissy meter and I'm probably not worth listening to.

 

[BenjaminR]

I get my kits from mid west supplies and it figures out to about .60c a beer or $3.6 a 6er (depending on the price of the kit). The last two kits I got were $65 with shipping for both. Some kits can range from $28-60 depending on the ingredients.

I like them a lot and its cheap enough for me to make some darn good beer.

 

[wyzazz]

$3.84 per sixer for my 2 hearted clone in the primary right now.

6oz of hops, and almost 7lbs of DME. My yeast I grew up from the dregs of 3 bottles.

 

[NickThoR]

Any body ever use Rebelbrewer.com? there super cheap. Im to poor to throw down for bulk so i just buy one recipe at a time, i just got stuff for a 5 gal cream ale partial mash for around $16 + $9 for shipping, and if you live near them you can just pick it up.
dme $3.10
hops $.89-1.89 /oz
grain $.89 lb - 1.89 /lb

 

[IceFisherChris]

Buying your hops in bulk is probably the biggest factor in making your beer cheaper. Even online home brew stores sell hops for $1.50+ per ounce. Local stores sell then like $3.00 an ounce. Go to hops direct and you can get then for $0.60 an ounce!! When you start using 5 ounces per batch, this will make it way cheaper.

I think using LME can actually be cheaper than DME. Northern brewer house-brand LME is $15 for 6 pound
Compare that to $22 for 6 pounds of DME.
Yes they have different fermentation qualities but I think the $7 difference might help out?? IDK for sure.

Reuse your yeast. (I haven't done it yet..)

 

[SamuraiSquirrel]

Shipping is free for >$60 at Morebeer, I include shipping as part of the cost for Hopsdirect, corn sugar is so cheap I don't even count it (3-5 oz per batch for priming, um 50 cents?) I don't use propane, bottle caps - $2 for 5 billion (I don't worry about it) and yeast starters are for sissys and people who like the word "utilize", or worse "utilization" and drive SUVs instead of Hybrids and like sweet fruity beers instead of macho IPAs and like to insert "carboy" into every conversation.



Steve da sleeve

In my experience, morebeer prices are generally higher than the other online companies offering flat rate shipping for 6 or 7 bucks. So morebeer offering "free" shipping is debatable ........ especially if you have to order $60 worth of ingredients/equipment. It's absorbed into the price in my opinion.

 

[SamuraiSquirrel]

Actually it's 67% and that is shown as a percentage of the base grain costs ONLY. All the other costs (hops, specialty grains, water, propane, yeast, bottle caps, priming sugar, shipping, cleaning chemicals, yeast starters, etc...) will remain the same. So really AG is only marginally less expensive then extract. But really we weren't discussing AG vs extract. That subject has been beaten to death in many other threads. The subject here is how extract brewing is way cheaper then buying beer and how to make extract beer less expensive. The great news is that making extract beer IS cheap. In some cases is half the price of buying a commercial equivalent. If you really want to feel the price difference buy some Belgian beers. Westmalle at my local beer shop runs $5.00 for a 12oz bottle. Even if an extract clone batch cost me 50.00 to make 5 gallons, that's less then 1.00 per bottle for a 500% savings. :rockin:

Yes, I realize. I was only pointing out the difference in "base grain" cost.

Also note that I used the word "roughly"....... which i think means "approximately". Thanks for pointing out the "actual" percentage.

 

[stevedasleeve]

As for your sissy comments, I don't know how serious you were (I laughed, but then thought maybe you were serious)... I drive a gas guzzling American muscle car, yet I like a great IPA. Guess I'm right in the middle of your sissy meter and I'm probably not worth listening to.

Yep I am kidding! I hardly every take anything seriously though I don't like those fruity sweet beers at all and I never use the word "utilization" or any word with more than four syllables unless I am trying to get laid.

Actually I am going to try all or partial grain this summer I think. A couple of coolers and some hardware later I'll find out how low I can really go, perhaps!

To another poster - Coopers kits I tried early on in this hobby and I really didn't care for them at all. I still have 3 cans of Heritage lager and one of Traditional draught I'll sell for cheap to anyone in the DC metro area...

Cheers,
Steve

 

[stevedasleeve]

:The great news is that making extract beer IS cheap. In some cases is half the price of buying a commercial equivalent. If you really want to feel the price difference buy some Belgian beers. Westmalle at my local beer shop runs $5.00 for a 12oz bottle. Even if an extract clone batch cost me 50.00 to make 5 gallons, that's less then 1.00 per bottle for a 500% savings. :rockin:

My favorite DFH 60 minute IPA sells for $9 a six pack in DC, I make a slightly different (better I think) version for a little under $4, Sierra Nevada pale ale I do reasonably well also under $4 ($7-8 in the stores here in DC)

Oh and I get to keep the bottles and re-use them... What's not to like?

 

[Synovia]

How do you figure?

9lbs extract = 20.70

12 lbs grain = 13.90

Thats roughly 50%

But since the question was "cheap EXTRACT" please ignore .......

Can we change that to


12 lbs grain = $8.40 to get a more accurate number.

 

[maida7]

In my experience, morebeer prices are generally higher than the other online companies offering flat rate shipping for 6 or 7 bucks. So morebeer offering "free" shipping is debatable ........ especially if you have to order $60 worth of ingredients/equipment. It's absorbed into the price in my opinion.

Actually, I've noticed the exact opposite when it comes to morebeer's prices. Their liquid extract is super low priced at 2.30/lb. Way lower then any of the competition. Thar's mainly what I buy from morebeer.

The grain and hops are generally right in line with the other on line shops like AHBS, Northern Brewer, etc...

 

[hal2814]

Yep I am kidding! I hardly every take anything seriously though I don't like those fruity sweet beers at all and I never use the word "utilization" or any word with more than four syllables unless I am trying to get laid.

You've thrown that particular word around more than anyone else on this thread

 

[TheMan]

I think their extract is below standard. I've been displeased with all of morebeer. And I used to order from them exclusively, but I have found they are out of products often and the quality of their extract was below others.

 

[maida7]

I think their extract is below standard. I've been displeased with all of morebeer. And I used to order from them exclusively, but I have found they are out of products often and the quality of their extract was below others.

I'm 98% sure Morebeer sells Briess extract. The same stuff as most of the other on line shops. Also, their turnover is very high so it's always fresh.

 

[TheMan]

I disagree, I'M 98% sure that if it was Briess (name brand) then the site would say BRIESS. It does not.

And your claim that the turnover is very high so it's always fresh? That is stated on their site. I'd tell you that if it meant I'd sell more too. If McDonalds told you their food was healthy would you blindly believe it?

Whether they sell Briess or their own doesn't matter really. I myself did not have the best results with their extract. I found better results elsewhere. Maybe your experience is different.

 

[Synovia]

Whether they sell Briess or their own doesn't matter really. I myself did not have the best results with their extract. I found better results elsewhere. Maybe your experience is different.

Is it possible that you've improved as a brewer since using their extract?


They sell Briess. Its fresh.

 

[mcstout]

And your claim that the turnover is very high so it's always fresh? That is stated on their site. I'd tell you that if it meant I'd sell more too. If McDonalds told you their food was healthy would you blindly believe it?

Taco Bell -> Drive Thru Diet
lol
sorry had to get that one in