Saving or Spending More Monday?

[phoenixs4r]

Back when all I drank was Sierra Nevada pale ale, I think I did calculations including the Gas/water bill and think I broke even, back when I would just buy extract or kits.

I haven't bothered with calulating it now that I have an all grain system, mostly because I look at the prices of Stone or Russian River and can't say that I enjoy paying what they charge. Not saying it's not worth it, just not really up my alley to spend what they want.

Paintball was the one hobby I got into and could not believe how much money I had invested in it in such a short time. When I sold my gear bag I was in it 3 grand, $200+ speedball days, just for fun. Where the **** did all my income go?

Oh ya, girlfriend + kid. Wouldn't trade them for the world though.

 

[yrewerb]

I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned the largest cost of making beer... time.

I started brewing over twenty years ago because good beer was difficult to find and expensive, but stopped after a couple of years because it just took too much time. I dug out my equipment last year when I retired. It seems that my time is not as valuable now (supply and demand) and with the exception of a few updates (temp controller, stir plate, etc) my equipment was paid for so long ago that it doesn't count. So in answer to the OP's question, yes I do save money.

Bob

 

[lschiavo]

I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned the largest cost of making beer... time.

I started brewing over twenty years ago because good beer was difficult to find and expensive, but stopped after a couple of years because it just took too much time. I dug out my equipment last year when I retired. It seems that my time is not as valuable now (supply and demand) and with the exception of a few updates (temp controller, stir plate, etc) my equipment was paid for so long ago that it doesn't count. So in answer to the OP's question, yes I do save money.

Bob

It's a hobby so it's hard to put a value on time. When I have no time I have no beer (like now) and probably like all those years for you.

For me, the time spent brewing is the reward. The (mostly) good beer is a nice bonus. The money spent along the way is really not that important.

 

[daksin]

Apart from the constant upgrading and "beer-jewelry" as I like to call it, I was on my way to saving money, but then I decided to open a brewery...

 

[tryn2brew]

Ask a golfer what he spends on his hobby. I think this is probably cheaper for most. I find it relaxing, and have the benefit of beer that is better than most I buy. I laugh when someone tells me they brew to save money. I'm sure a couple of folks pull it off, but my per bottle cost is pretty high if I include equipment cost. I guess I need to brew more to get that average down...

 

[ACbrewer]

A big difference between homebrew and most other hobbies is when you are done, you go for a beer... so for homebrew you don't pay for the beer when you are done, but after a round of golf, a motercycle ride, a day fishing, etc, you get some beer.

So in this case it is hobby cost (beer included) in the others, it is hobby cost plus beer.

Does it save me money? I don't know. I drink more beer now that I make what I like.

 

[unionrdr]

Besides brewing what we like causing more drinking,I think it's also the fact that so much more beer is on hand. Complicated by knowing exactly how to make more of it...

 

[kevin009]

Save more money. The bigger you save the more money you can spend.

 

[tennesseean_87]

Trying to save money on a hobby is a fools errand

Or a hobby in itself. Check out http://slickdeals.net/ . I swear people buy stuff just because it's a good deal. We brag in our signatures about the awesome beers we made; they brag about the awesome deals they got.

Besides brewing what we like causing more drinking,I think it's also the fact that so much more beer is on hand. Complicated by knowing exactly how to make more of it...

I try to do things on the cheap. For me, that's a little bit part of the fun. I go DIY as much as possible, try not to buy lots of gear, bulk grain, wash yeast, use only a few strains of yeast, and whatever else I can think of to lower costs. I've probably spent about $500, but I've got a lot of bulk ingredients put back, and have had plenty of beer and applewine to drink this past year. I haven't bought a single beer (except from bars) in the last year. Part of my savings include using the gas stove (included in rent!) and only brewing small batches, but I get a good variety and really enjoy the process. That said, I drink a lot more than I would if I were not brewing my own and didn't have a few cases lying around.

P.S. SlickDeals can be a great resource. I got a free handheld foodsaver from Target for repackaging bulk hops. It saves money on other stuff, too.

 

[homebeerbrewer]

Homebrewing = The most expensive way to get cheep beer...

 

[MisterTipsy]

You can definitely save money very quickly, if you brew Belgian beers.

For example:

Lets say you have invested $500 in beer making gear. It costs about $1 a beer to make a Belgian strong ale. That is if you buy two $7 yeasts and buy Belgian candi sugar. It can obviously be done for less, but I'll use the less economical method for this example.

A good commercial Belgian ale costs $6 per beer or more, so you're saving $5 per beer. Therefore, it only takes 100 Belgian home brewed beers (two 5 gallon batches) to break even on the equipment.

 

[jcdouglas]

I see it as a way to divert expenditures from one area to another. For example, instead of paying more for extract, I use that money to buy equipment for all grain brewing. Another example, instead of spending money on more yeast, wash the yeast and use the savings to buy more equipment, etc., etc. Now that I've used up all my ideas to save money, I still buy more equipment. Whoops, now I just spend more and more money. Hey, at least I get to drink beer, while making beer!