The cost of our hobby, dang dawg!

[how1]

Bought a keg and then i didn't have enough room in my fridge for my bottled beer, so I bought a chest freezer and a temperature controller. now i need a bigger brew pot. Somebody at work asked me how much money I save by brewing my own beer! The way my brother-in-law goes through my beer he must think I make it for free!

 

[shoreman]

The key is to just be happy with your gear and work on your recipes - you can make some of the best beer with a single pot BIAB & plastic fermenter & bottle.

Just like golf - a new $500 driver will only shave 1-2 strokes off your game. A blickman kettle can only take you so far.

I've been brewing on and off for 10 years - just rebuilt my gear and going super simple - 3 gallon BIAB setup & cooler mashtun for no sparge brewing 5 gallon - I plan on spending more time on my recipes than building new gear

 

[ralex999]

Interesting thread. Someone once said that there will never be a beer that taste as good as the one you make. I think we are all in pursuit of that one special brew that when we taste it, we stare at the ceiling for two days. Reminds me of the joke about the guy who walks into a bar and says "I'll have the same as the guy on the floor."

 

[Snafu]

How1 You need this.

 

[lumpher]

it really is about the journey. i've pieced together everything (including my pride over a few equipment mistakes), but i've learned a lot about a lot of things getting to where i am. still those full-electric setups look sweet...

 

[Cruzn4aBrewzn]

Shopping for stainless prep tables and a stainless sink. Cha ching

Costco has a smaller stainless prep table for a really reasonable price! I think it's like 6' by 3' or something like that. Might be worth checking out. I eyeballed it last time I went in there.

 

[Griff777]

actually it is called "accessorizing" women learned how to do this long ago.

She might brag about the 20.00 dress she bought and how much she saved, but when you add the shoes, handbag, bra, hat, makeup, pantyhose, perfume, ..... you get the idea.

 

[joelrapp]

I had a buddy ask me to break down my rig item by item w/ costs so he could build something. Of course I did it for him then proceeded to get really pissed off at him. It made me actually see how much I'd spent on that damned thing. Wouldn't trade it for anything but ignorance is bliss.

 

[EarthBound]

Yeah, I've found more often than not, I should have ponied up the big money originally as opposed to constant little upgrades.

The constant little upgrades are what I love most about this hobby/obsession.

I'm more of an engineer/builder than I am a brewer/drinker.

 

[rico567]

Yeah, I've found more often than not, I should have ponied up the big money originally as opposed to constant little upgrades.

.......or, in my case, realize that once I departed from strict K.I.S.S. principles, my equipment expense would go from my current $500 or so worth of equipment to exponential lengths. So- still brewing in the cheap pot, on the cheap turkey fryer, cheap orange cooler MLT, in the cheap white buckets. Cheap, cheap, cheap. Makes some good beer, though.

 

[Emmett]

This thread cracks me up.

Brewing is my cheap hobby.

 

[Molybedenum]

.......or, in my case, realize that once I departed from strict K.I.S.S. principles, my equipment expense would go from my current $500 or so worth of equipment to exponential lengths. So- still brewing in the cheap pot, on the cheap turkey fryer, cheap orange cooler MLT, in the cheap white buckets. Cheap, cheap, cheap. Makes some good beer, though.

This is what I'd subscribe to. The other point is that quantity line, too. I asked myself, "Do I really need to brew more than 5 gallons at any time?" The answer, for me, is an emphatic no. I can always schedule another brew day in the same week, and it wouldn't be a big deal.

At that point, there's no reason why I'd need to go over an 11 gal brew kettle (for higher gravity 5 gallon batches), or the DIY Converted Rubbermaid MLT. I'm at a point where I just don't need additional equipment.

At some point, there might be a decision to "go pro," but that's a set of problems and expenses that only apply to that decision. I don't need to go there to be a hobbyist homebrewer, however.

 

[TomSD]

This thread cracks me up.

Brewing is my cheap hobby.

I'm that way with straight razors. For me it is an end to a goal not really a hobby, not saying that is the case for you. I got what I needed, learned how to use it and now shave for damn near free with little initial output.

The folks I see on the razor forum took it the other way putting all kinds of money and time into the hobby with huge collections of blades and refurb tools and expensive brushes and whatnot.

Brewing on the other hand... yeah, not saving any money here.

 

[DougMagic]

I should call my brewery Craigslist Brewing Company.

First kit $0 - thanks mom-in-law
MLT $25
Carboys - 2 6 gallon 2 5 gallon 1 3 gallon $60
Keggle $15
Fryer $10
Temp Controller $50
Fridge $0
Immersion Chiller $40
Keg Setup $50

Total $250...