HickoryMike
Well-Known Member
I mentioned BMW as an option for purchasing by the pound (for say 1 or 2 brewdays), not for bulk purchases. I should have been more specific.
Price comparison: All grain vs Extract
- Thread starter mychalg9
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I mentioned BMW as an option for purchasing by the pound (for say 1 or 2 brewdays), not for bulk purchases. I should have been more specific.
apologeticus
Well-Known Member
my LHBS sells online. $49.99 for a 50 lb bag of 2-row. Don't know about shipping, though. http://ebrew.com/malt_base/brewers_2-row_malt_briess.htm
HickoryMike
Well-Known Member
I'm in Hickory (obviously)...how would you rate this homebrew store? I'm not in Charlotte often, but I've seen this store's website before and have been curious.
apologeticus
Well-Known Member
I like them, though I have to admit they're the only store I've been to. They have 2 locations you can visit, their warehouse or the retail store. They're both about the same drive time for me so I've been to both. The retail store is easier to browse and has more prices displayed, but if you wanna talk to someone who knows his stuff and will take really good care of you go to the warehouse and ask for Jess.
Their website is very outdated (hello 1997!) but I think they're a good store. If you think you may use them a lot, you can pay $15 for a 10% discount on everything for a year.
DavidSteel
Well-Known Member
Made a mashtun for only 15 dollars (got cooler for free)
50lbs of 2-row: 39 dollars
4-5lbs of hops from hopsdirect: 46 dollars
any specialty grains + priming sugar for recipe: 4-6 dollars
yeast depends. I harvest/wash/reuse my yeast, so I'm making 6 recipes with the same 2 yeast's I harvested.
That's 19 dollars a recipe for only those 6 batches. I'm sure I'll end up making a good 15 batches with what I have (if not, more), making that 10.66 dollars per batch. Buy in bulk and go AG for cheapest
.
Note: if I add in the money I spent on the mash tun, it's still only 11.66 dollars per batch for my calculated 15 batches.
Edit: I'd have to add in some cost for yeast, but I don't think I'll spend more than 15 dollars on yeast so that'd make it 11.66 dollar a batch (for 15 batches) and 12.66 if you want to include the price I spent on the mash-tun.
Edit2: maybe I took my calculations a little too far; I'd probably only be able to brew 7-8 batches with a 50lb bag of 2-row. Total would come out to be 16.33 (for 7.5 batches), but I'd have hops left over.
50lbs of 2-row: 39 dollars
4-5lbs of hops from hopsdirect: 46 dollars
any specialty grains + priming sugar for recipe: 4-6 dollars
yeast depends. I harvest/wash/reuse my yeast, so I'm making 6 recipes with the same 2 yeast's I harvested.
That's 19 dollars a recipe for only those 6 batches. I'm sure I'll end up making a good 15 batches with what I have (if not, more), making that 10.66 dollars per batch. Buy in bulk and go AG for cheapest
. Note: if I add in the money I spent on the mash tun, it's still only 11.66 dollars per batch for my calculated 15 batches.
Edit: I'd have to add in some cost for yeast, but I don't think I'll spend more than 15 dollars on yeast so that'd make it 11.66 dollar a batch (for 15 batches) and 12.66 if you want to include the price I spent on the mash-tun.
Edit2: maybe I took my calculations a little too far; I'd probably only be able to brew 7-8 batches with a 50lb bag of 2-row. Total would come out to be 16.33 (for 7.5 batches), but I'd have hops left over.
Azharen
Active Member
I've only done one brew so far. It was a kit that came with the set my wife bought for me. I'm getting another kit this Friday. It's gonna cost me ~34 bucks. That's still cheaper than two cases of Microbrew for me. I want to go PM. I don't have the $ or space for AG atm. I've been shopping around for where I can buy DME in bulk. I'll probably get my specialty grains from my LHBS. There's two in town, but they're both pricey. As far hops go, should I get pellet or whole hops?
artguy
Well-Known Member
I've recently made the leap to AG and love it, but as folks have already stated there is a balance between savings per batch with AG and the up front costs to get a system going. In addition to the mash tun and grain mill that have already been mentioned, there may be a few additional AG start-up costs, depending on what you have already. With AG, you will need to be able to do full boils, which may mean getting a 10-gallon (or so) boil pot and a wort chiller, if your current set-up is for partial boils and ice baths. You will also need an accurate thermometer for the mash.
So, if you're only looking at it from a cost perspective, it could take a good number of batches to "break even" by going AG, and only after that will you start to realize the savings. On the other hand, if you're really into it anyway, you'll be saving money down the road.
So, if you're only looking at it from a cost perspective, it could take a good number of batches to "break even" by going AG, and only after that will you start to realize the savings. On the other hand, if you're really into it anyway, you'll be saving money down the road.
TwoHeadsBrewing
Well-Known Member
I initially made the jump to all grain brewing a couple years ago and did it on a shoestring budget:
- Mash Tun out of a 10g cooler + DIY weldless ball valve + DIY SS hose filter (see https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/cheap-easy-10-gallon-rubbermaid-mlt-conversion-23008/) - $55
- Used my old 7.5g turkey fryer kettle as my Hot Liquor Tank (and still as the boil kettle)
- Bought grain from my LHBS pre-crushed for about $1.35-1.85/pound.
That dropped my average cost per 5g batch from $35 to $25. The next step was where I had to invest some money, but also the step which saved me a TON per batch.
- Bought a Barley Crusher and started buying grain in bulk from a different supplier. Now my grain runs from $0.55 - $0.85 per pound...just about half the cost compared to the LHBS.
- Bought 2 "decomissioned" kegs for an HLT and a boil kettle, and installed weldless kits on both. The HLT got a sight glass and a dial thermometer. The boil kettle got a copper dip tube and Bazooka T-screen.
- I bought a flat of quart mason jars, so I could harvest my yeast. Also picked up a stir plate and a couple 2 Liter flasks. On average, I re-use yeast 3-4 times.
- I now buy hops in bulk from HopsDirect.com. That brought my price down from $1.50-2.00 per ounce to $0.65-1.10 per ounce.
I now brew a 10 gallon batch for $15-30, depending on the recipe. This doesn't include cost of water, gas, or electricity. I converted my main burner to natural gas as well, dropping my true cost per batch down quite a bit. I have probably invested about $1200 in my brewing setup which includes a march pump, silicone hoses, QDs, a CFC, kegerator, and a fermentation chamber. I have almost paid for the system with the money I've saved over extract with the last year of brewing.
- Mash Tun out of a 10g cooler + DIY weldless ball valve + DIY SS hose filter (see https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/cheap-easy-10-gallon-rubbermaid-mlt-conversion-23008/) - $55
- Used my old 7.5g turkey fryer kettle as my Hot Liquor Tank (and still as the boil kettle)
- Bought grain from my LHBS pre-crushed for about $1.35-1.85/pound.
That dropped my average cost per 5g batch from $35 to $25. The next step was where I had to invest some money, but also the step which saved me a TON per batch.
- Bought a Barley Crusher and started buying grain in bulk from a different supplier. Now my grain runs from $0.55 - $0.85 per pound...just about half the cost compared to the LHBS.
- Bought 2 "decomissioned" kegs for an HLT and a boil kettle, and installed weldless kits on both. The HLT got a sight glass and a dial thermometer. The boil kettle got a copper dip tube and Bazooka T-screen.
- I bought a flat of quart mason jars, so I could harvest my yeast. Also picked up a stir plate and a couple 2 Liter flasks. On average, I re-use yeast 3-4 times.
- I now buy hops in bulk from HopsDirect.com. That brought my price down from $1.50-2.00 per ounce to $0.65-1.10 per ounce.
I now brew a 10 gallon batch for $15-30, depending on the recipe. This doesn't include cost of water, gas, or electricity. I converted my main burner to natural gas as well, dropping my true cost per batch down quite a bit. I have probably invested about $1200 in my brewing setup which includes a march pump, silicone hoses, QDs, a CFC, kegerator, and a fermentation chamber. I have almost paid for the system with the money I've saved over extract with the last year of brewing.
xinunix
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I think they are great!!! We are very lucky to have such a quality homebrew shop here in CLT, definitely worth a drive down from Hickory, especially if you go to the warehouse in Belmont.
HickoryMike
Well-Known Member
It's nice to hear the positive feedback about their store. We have a little store here in Hickory I try to support when I can. I usually end up buying spoons and buckets from them...I can't bring myself to pay twice as much for their ingredients. Still, it's a nice luxury to have a local store in a town of our size (especially for emergency supply runs).
Charlotte is 1.25 hours away, and I'm rarely there...but, I'll be picking up family from the airport Friday so I may stop by while I'm in town.
sea2summit3
Well-Known Member
If you are interested in the hobby to believe that you want to brew great beers for the foreseeable future, go AG. There is a steep learning curve but its actually quite easy after a couple batches. Invest in a good book like "How To Brew" by John Palmer. Read it cover to cover, brew and re-read chapters as needed. If you're on a budget (which seems to be the case) keep and eye on craigslist or other classifieds. I've found amazing deals on AG gear through both. It took me a year to build up my AG setup (half of that living in the middle of no-where and half living in a small city), mainly because I had to be as thrifty as possible. Even building your AG system with a DIY mentality seems expensive, but it is well worth the investment. You have so much more control over your beer when you brew AG, and it tastes better as well!
Your LHBS prices seem a bit high. Mine charge 1.25 (base) to 2.00 (speciality) for milled grain and 2.50/lb for extract. Hops and yeast seem to be the biggest cost at my LHBS. I've recently started using dry yeast after a long stint with liquid and am still making great beer. Learn how to wash and save your yeast for even more savings. Go with www.hopsdirect.com/for bulk hops (big savings over your LHBS) They will even approximate your shipping cost if you let them know your zip code and # of lbs you want to order.
Cheers!
mordantly
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what bites is the best price for a shipped 50#er is arround $65. some places have it for $30ish but then the shipping on 4 sacks is as much as the grain!
TwoHeadsBrewing
Well-Known Member
If you're ever in Redding, which sounds like just a trip across Hwy 299 for you, check out California Brewing Company, operated by HBT's own Jaybird. He sells bulk 2-row for less than $50 a sack, and I think it's more like $45. You might try to PM him as well, he may have some suggestions for you.
If that doesn't work for you, try teaming up with a local brew club, or make friends with a brewmaster at a microbrewery close by. One or the other should let you piggyback on their next order...and offer to throw a couple bucks their way for their troubles.
DavidSteel
Well-Known Member
I can get Rahr 2-row for only 39 bucks on my LHBS, which suits me just fine. Link just for a source: http://www.perfectbrewingsupply.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=25_26&products_id=876
mychalg9
Well-Known Member
"Made a mashtun for only 15 dollars (got cooler for free)
50lbs of 2-row: 39 dollars
4-5lbs of hops from hopsdirect: 46 dollars
any specialty grains + priming sugar for recipe: 4-6 dollars
yeast depends. I harvest/wash/reuse my yeast, so I'm making 6 recipes with the same 2 yeast's I harvested."
Thanks for the detailed breakdown! I certainly appreciate everyone's input in here. This seems like a hobby that I won't soon get bored of, so AG seems the way to go. I will definately check out hopsdirect.com.
50lbs of 2-row: 39 dollars
4-5lbs of hops from hopsdirect: 46 dollars
any specialty grains + priming sugar for recipe: 4-6 dollars
yeast depends. I harvest/wash/reuse my yeast, so I'm making 6 recipes with the same 2 yeast's I harvested."
Thanks for the detailed breakdown! I certainly appreciate everyone's input in here. This seems like a hobby that I won't soon get bored of, so AG seems the way to go. I will definately check out hopsdirect.com.
