Should Have Started Doing This A Long Time Ago

[MrNatural]

If you're going to factor in your hourly rate, golf just got even more expensive!

 

[plumber_bob]

Well I have to say that for me I'm spending more on my hobby than I was spending on beer before.

Keep in mind that I started out by buying a kegerator and co2 equipment. Then started to assemble a 10gal AG setup. I tried to do it on the cheap, but I've spent so much on stuff that I ended up not needing, that I'm well over $2g into this adventure.

On the upside,... once I get everything streamlined, if that ever happens, I'll have alot of stuff to get rid of on Ebay. That'll help recoop some cost.

Plus I'm making 10 gal batches of damned good beer for about half what it would cost me to buy it for.

Did I mention the additional costs for buying sample beers to get ideas for what I want to brew?

Then there's the labor issue. An old farmer told me just after I bought my farm, (don't own it anymore), if you put a value on your labor, you figure yourself at a loss every time.

To surmise what I just said. It cost me way more than I thought it would to save more and have better beer. But it was worth every penny,... even if I don't save a damned dime!

pb ---

 

[unionrdr]

Well,I do save some money in up front costs. But just knowing I'm saving a little but getting my own beer is payment enough.

 

[Accidic]

Again though bob, it depends on your purpose. I like it for giving me access to styles I wouldn't otherwise have in my self righteous hypocritical living environment. To be competitive, the gas expended to acquire such things (not even addressing questionable legality as you're limited to how much you can bring across state lines but then again homebrewing is allegedly illegal here too but then again it's a felony to own pots and pans for that matter) I would be spending a fortune. Even $40 for a batch is more reasonable from that perspective. Some of the beer we enjoy we can get locally for $10/12pack when on sale making this a better option than homebrewing and we do so fairly regularly as well. At least with Homebrewing it gives me something productive to do with my time. Let's face it... Programming on tv blows now a days.

 

[LHBC]

As the OP I feel obligated to share my view on the value of time.

Time is the only thing we are limited on. You can always get more money.

 

[Jayhem]

As the OP I feel obligated to share my view on the value of time.

Time is the only thing we are limited on. You can always get more money.

If you enjoy brewing that is a good use of your leisure time. The average american spends over 4 hours per day watching TV or movies, around 30 hours per week! That's easily 5 all-grain brew days a week you are wasting by watching TV. If time was that critical to the average American he/she would be out doing something constructive (like homebrewing!) instead of sitting on their a$$.

 

[plumber_bob]

Again though bob, it depends on your purpose. I like it for giving me access to styles I wouldn't otherwise have in my self righteous hypocritical living environment. To be competitive, the gas expended to acquire such things (not even addressing questionable legality as you're limited to how much you can bring across state lines but then again homebrewing is allegedly illegal here too but then again it's a felony to own pots and pans for that matter) I would be spending a fortune. Even $40 for a batch is more reasonable from that perspective. Some of the beer we enjoy we can get locally for $10/12pack when on sale making this a better option than homebrewing and we do so fairly regularly as well. At least with Homebrewing it gives me something productive to do with my time. Let's face it... Programming on tv blows now a days.

If I put my startup costs aside, and forget what I'm spending on those samples. I'm brewing cheaper beer that if I bought the equivalent, no doubt. And as time goes by, ( if I can quit dumping $$$ into it), I'll be ahead anyway.

As for TV? I haven't tuned in for years, maybe 5 or more. It's Netflix or Hulu, or the like if I'm gonna watch anything, and that's only a couple times a week.

pb

 

[LovesIPA]

(not even addressing questionable legality as you're limited to how much you can bring across state lines but then again homebrewing is allegedly illegal here too but then again it's a felony to own pots and pans for that matter)

Where do you live???

 

[NadoHawk]

Thanx for the advice and encouragement. I have been going to The Best Damn Brew Shop in Down Town. It is cool to know that experience will equal better Beer.

So people actually shop there? I went there last month and all the homebrew supplies were covered in months-old dust.

Go here instead. http://www.thehomebrewersd.com/

The best homebrew shop I have been to in South County...they actually care if you make a good brew there unlike the other shops in town who just shove you out the door.

 

[JPR]

You should be counting it if you are making the assertion that you can make homebrew cheaper than commerically made beer. The commercial brewery has labor charges wrapped up in their $8-10 per 6 pack retail cost. Of course the price per six pack of homebrew is cheaper; you guys aren't counting one of the most expensive aspect of making beer...the labor!

Of course it is a hobby and therefore you discount your time in the name of fun. Obviously I do this too or I wouldn't be a homebrewer (or bake bread, or woodworking, etc).

My only point is if you are doing a true price comparison then it should be done fairly...or at least recognize the fact that you are discounting your time to pursue the hobby.

I believe the comparison is that he can make his own beer cheaper than he can go out and purchase beer. Not, to compare who makes it cheaper, him or Budweiser.

With that said, of course you don't add a cost to the time you are spending on a hobby. That is plain ridiculous, IMO. Besides, who's to say if that time weren't spent brewing, it wouldn't just be on the couch?

 

[Hoppity]

Can't believe nobody has mentioned factoring the 'value' of not paying taxes or participating in the bottle deposit program.

Standard Econ 101 covers 'opportunity cost'. Classic example is what wages are passed up while pursuing an academic degree which theoretically leads to higher future wages. My brewing time would be substituted by other non-revenue producing activities so I would have a tough time justifying a labor cost.

If I were doing a balance sheet I'd have to factor a high level of Good Will on the asset side. I call it homebrew...my friends call it free beer.

 

[JayMac]

In Canada home brewing saves lots. 5 gallons of beer here is $100. So 1 batch with equip cost almost the same as just the beer here. So now it's just profit

Amen to that!

The cheapest 'craft' beer you can buy I. Canada will run you at LEAST $42-46 for 24. That's over a hundred dollars already! 12 packs of craft beer start at $14-16, so you can already see how expensive beer can get up here.

However, to fill up my propane it costs $18, a batch will cost me about $30-35 minimum if using dry yeast, and after building a kegerator, my AG set up, corny kegs, the price really starts the stack up.

But if we are going to talk purely economics, very few people have talked about the utility curve associated with this hobby. Even if it does cost more, we enjoy brewing, we enjoy the community and people we meet within it, we enjoy the fact that we can make almost literally ANY type of beer WHENEVER we want. That's some
Utility you can't get when buying beer on the market.

All in all, it's a hobby, very few hobbies return a profit. If I can even get close (which I truly relieve I am), then I'm one happy man!

 

[billpaustin]

It's a hobby, sure, but what I like is that it produces beer!

I'm a snob, and since being in Germany, I'll only drink wheat beers from Germany. That's expensive, about $12 a six-pack. Eight six packs is $100, and I can brew the equivalent for less than half that.

So the key factor is the rate of beer consumption You have to invest up-front in kegs, carboys, fridges, etc, etc. How fast you climb out of that hole is based on your rate of beer consumption.

Say 4 six-packs a week; you save $25 a week. If you invest, say, $600 in equipment, you will begin to show a "profit" after 24 weeks.

And the whole thing will be blown once you keg it and serve at a party

 

[LHBC]

I am very happy with the decision to skip bottling and go straight to Kegs. Washing dishes is my least favorite chore. I enjoy sweeping up the alley more.

@NadoHawk

Where is the store that you are referring to? I do not click on links in Forums anymore due to receiving a nasty Trojan virus on a different forum a while ago.

The guy in Down Town has been very helpful to me. He even took the time to explain the different Malts and how they are baked. Along with a small taste of each from Light to Dark. So I was able to get a better sense of what each one brings to the Brew.

 

[BxBrewer]

To be honest, what he did to make a batch is all it takes for great beer. Its really that simple. We seasoned HBers tend to take things to a diffrent level when it comes to making beer.

OP you did well and nice to see a blow off rigged too ! Enjoy.

 

[NadoHawk]

I am very happy with the decision to skip bottling and go straight to Kegs. Washing dishes is my least favorite chore. I enjoy sweeping up the alley more.

@NadoHawk

Where is the store that you are referring to? I do not click on links in Forums anymore due to receiving a nasty Trojan virus on a different forum a while ago.

The guy in Down Town has been very helpful to me. He even took the time to explain the different Malts and how they are baked. Along with a small taste of each from Light to Dark. So I was able to get a better sense of what each one brings to the Brew.

I must have gone at a bad time (early on a Saturday) since there was no one at that section of the store.

2911 El Cajon Blvd #2

On the corner of 30th & El Cajon....it's easiest to get there from the 805.

 

[Accidic]

The only state in the US left where all brewing is said to be illegal... I call it Hypocrisyland! :lol

 

[LHBC]

Thanx Bx. I had to change out three of those bottles when my current batch was really kicking off.

That shop is not too far from my pad. Although it is a little sketchy taking a bicycle on the 805.

@Accidic So what does every one else call that state?

Made the call to dry hop this one also. Will be adding 2oz. of loose Chinook via the pair of "socks" once transfered to Keg.

 

[Accidic]

Depends on how much in denial/deluded, self righteous, and/or arrogant that person is... Pretty sure most of the realistic folk left over call it the same.

 

[LHBC]

So anyways..... I racked the Belgian Red with a dry hop addition yesterday. And it tastes great. Technically the dry hop should soak for up to two weeks but I am out of beer.

The new batch I cooked up is a Dunklewiezen made with 6lb. of dry extract 1lb. liquid extract and 1.5lb. of steeping grains with only 2oz. of hops. The powder went in a bit clumpy but smoothed out as the boil progressed. And W.L. American Hefewiezen for yeast.


Also when I force carbonated this time I used the lay the keg on its side and roll method. It worked much better than the standing straight up and shake.

 

[Varmintman]

So anyways..... I racked the Belgian Red with a dry hop addition yesterday. And it tastes great. Technically the dry hop should soak for up to two weeks but I am out of beer.

The new batch I cooked up is a Dunklewiezen made with 6lb. of dry extract 1lb. liquid extract and 1.5lb. of steeping grains with only 2oz. of hops. The powder went in a bit clumpy but smoothed out as the boil progressed.


Also when I force carbonated this time I used the lay the keg on its side and roll method. It worked much better than the standing straight up and shake.

Congrats on the brew and welcome to the addiction :rockin:

While this thread degraded into the whole cost of your time issue I am curious how you feel about it now. Is it still worth your time to brew or would it be better to buy beer?

 

[LHBC]

For me it is a good value to make my own Beer. Not only am I saving money over purchasing Ales of similar quality. I also get the pride of doing a thing myself. Now when my keg is empty instead of going to the Brew Pub and filling a growler, those funds are put towards ingredients and/or materials for the next batch.

 

[DrunkCanuck73]

I make this argument alot, and I'm usually flamed for it...but here I am doing it again. People do some creative accounting to justify their brewing. They obsess over saving $2-3 on a pound of hops, but figure that the 6 hours they spent brewing is somehow "free".

I'm all for saving money when you can and lowering the price/bottle; but to say you can actually make beer cheaper than what you can buy it for is a bit of a stretch.[/QUOTE]

Depends where you live. I am in Canada where I pay $30 for a 12 pack of domestic. More if I want craft beers. I am on well water, so thats not a cost, just energy to pump it, which would be next to nothing.

As far as time spent brewing, its recreation to me. If I did another recreational activity that day instead of brewing, Im sure it would come at some cost.

Point being, its all relative to where and who you are.

 

[tommysauder]

Agree with drunkcanuck. Ive spent probably $140 on equipment. $80 on ingredients and I have an equivalent of 8 cases of beer on the run. (8 cases of beer, average $40 a case = $320). So I've spent $220 including equipment and I've saved $100. And the time to brew is horse ****e if you are calculating it.

I can sit down while its mashing for an hour and a half and play with the kids or relax. Then as soon as it hits 212F during boil, I relax for another 90 minutes. Physically I'm doing probably 1.5 hours MAX brewing a 5 gallon batch including bottling. So as for leisure time, it's not even that much of it. I spend more time watching soccer or jogging than I do brewing.

 

[Varmintman]

I make this argument alot, and I'm usually flamed for it...but here I am doing it again. People do some creative accounting to justify their brewing. They obsess over saving $2-3 on a pound of hops, but figure that the 6 hours they spent brewing is somehow "free".

I'm all for saving money when you can and lowering the price/bottle; but to say you can actually make beer cheaper than what you can buy it for is a bit of a stretch.

Depends where you live. I am in Canada where I pay $30 for a 12 pack of domestic. More if I want craft beers. I am on well water, so thats not a cost, just energy to pump it, which would be next to nothing.

As far as time spent brewing, its recreation to me. If I did another recreational activity that day instead of brewing, Im sure it would come at some cost.

Point being, its all relative to where and who you are.

[/QUOTE]

I guess it is all how you look at it. For me it is time I am not watching silly movies with the wife or stuff. Heck some days I kind of feel like I should pay to brew just to get some alone "my" time.

 

[DrunkCanuck73]

I guess it is all how you look at it. For me it is time I am not watching silly movies with the wife or stuff. Heck some days I kind of feel like I should pay to brew just to get some alone "my" time.[/QUOTE]

Cheers to that

 

[Accidic]

Counter-side of the coin... It gives your wife a break from you so she's not at your throat. And there are only so many movies out there worth watching not to mention if your wife is like mine and would prefer reading. If you have things you'd rather do with your time by all means buy your beer if you wish... But assuming people are ignoring their time spent doing a thing (which might I add gives you an excuse to drink, the only justifiable reason I see for the existence of golf) not to mention an excuse to light a fire seems rather short-sided. Not flaming you for your opinion mind you... Just tting to consider and present the other point of view.

Now to further ponder the idea of streaming rice over the boil......

 

[amie]

Another side of the coin (Wha? Three-sided coin?):

Speaking as a wife, brew day is actually one of my favourite ways to spend time together. YMMV of course...

 

[Varmintman]

No offense taken

Neither my wife nor I work so we spend all day every day pretty much together. Man reading that it sounds bad and it is not. It is good though to have some time alone and since my wife frowns on hookers I guess my alone time will be spent brewing

 

[tonybaloni]

In Britain home-brew is far cheaper than buying commercial beers.
We are very heavily taxed and the tax is based on % of alcohol content of the beer.
3 pints of barley wine costs over £7 approx $11
I have just made 40 pints for a total cost of £18 and even though it was a kit it tastes better than the commercial crap we get fed over here.