The Frugal Brewer

[azazel1024]

@unviewtiful
I still have to try Costco. I don't know that my local one has propane refill, but I'll check. Every other place near me is generally in the ~$4 per gallon range PLUS $5 for the fill itself (the heck!?!). Makes it around $21 for 19-20lbs in your tank versus about $17-18 for a tank exchange. Still slightly cheaper per pound of propane, but not by a lot and the couple of places that do fills are a lot less convenient than any of the dozen places near me that swap tanks.

 

[passedpawn]

I have a 100 gallon propane tank behind my house. Its only use is for my in-ground spa. At one time I thought about running copper line and installing another regulator and using that tank for brewing. I get the gas really cheap and they come and refill it for me occasionally. Wonder if anyone has done this?

 

[passedpawn]

@WildTim
I live in Florida. Our basements are behind our house and filled with water. Basements are one of the things I really miss from the north.

 

[broadbill]

@passedpawn...you can run other appliances off of that tank (grill, turkey fryer, etc), but I think they all have to be made stationary.
Of course you can probably the plumbing detachable, but I don't know what the legality of that is, strictly speaking.

 

[allentwnguy]

@azazel1024.... One thing you have to watch is how much propane you are getting. The Home Depot fills are only 15 pounds!!! I go to a local gas company, Irish Carbonic and Propane, for both CO2 and Propane. Their propane fills are 20 pounds for $21.75. Tanks now have a safety shut off when a tank is filled to full. Irish pumps it in until it stops by itself.

 

[wysiwyg]

My LHBS said they wouldn't care if I brought my base grain in to use their mill while buying and milling specialty grains. Maybe yours will let you too?

 

[allentwnguy]

Great article! Love the pool idea, is that a valid reason to get a pool? I think so!
Kidding aside there is no substitute for research and DIY in equipment for making beer. And also knowing what you want for your end "set up." I knew I wanted to brew all grain so from the beginning I did, I never brewed with extract. I collected equipment for just over a year. 95% was bought on sale. I went HD igloo with my MT and HLT. I bought the fittings, false bottom on sale and put them together. It cost me about 100 for my false bottom mash tun, I saved at least $50. Even as a DIY'er I easily have $1500 in gear... yeah I know! But that includes some big ticket items like my keezer (new freezer, 4 Perlick 630SS faucets), a gear driven malt mill and 8 ball locks. Most all (not the mill) was on sale.
Bottom line is that the beers I like to drink cost $12.99 a six pack and up. Going out you are lucky if you can find one on tap and even a decent beer on tap is 6 bucks now. So when you do the math you can break even in your first summer. Yeah I know!!!

 

[LTshooby]

Completely enjoyed this article! I have only brewed once and am gearing up (literally!) to brew my second time. This article was interesting and entertaining! Thank you!

 

[Adub71]

Good article. I have friends who like to make these crazy beers at like 8-12%, with all kinds of ingredients...runs the all grain cost to over $50 for two cases. I like to do brews under $30 per 5 gal. Of course, doing a higher alcohol beer or a beer that needs a specialty yeast increases your cost. I almost always use dry yeast, as it is way cheaper than the vials/smak paks (again, unless doing a funky beer).
And harversting the yeast sludge at the bottom is the cheapest, but subsequent yeast pitchings will reduce the activity of the yeast (you won;t get as much attenuation as when originally pitched), plus you have to worry about off-flavors and the occasionally infection.
I wish I lived near you. I have two LHBS near me, and it;s highway robbery what they charge for a 50# sack of 2 row - $68! I can get it online, with shipping, for $54. Plus, I don't loose an hour driving, don't have to pay two tolls, and don;t use gas (better for the environment).

 

[ChrisfromAbby]

Want free ice in large quantities? Try your local arena. The Zamboni usually dumps ice shavings in a pile by the back door... Just back your pick-up over and shovel in!

 

[KLAAYHAUS]

Well done, I do many of these as well. Switching to All-grain is the biggest savings for sure!

 

[allentwnguy]

@ChrisfromAbby
I don't know how "sanitary" that ice is! Ever watch a hockey game with all the spitting, blowing the nose and the occasional blood? That all stays on the surface and gets shaved off.

 

[CrustyOldDog]

You all probably already know and do this. Home Depot sells water in five gallon plastic carboys for about $13 including the deposit on the carboy. Just keep it.

 

[dragthewaters]

Excellent article, thank you for your hard work. I'm curious about your comment that electric is the cheapest heat energy source. I wondered if you have done some comparative number crunching (electric vs propane vs natural gas vs firewood vs whatever) to convince yourself. I don't have enough technical info or expertise to figure out how to do that (make some realistic calculations), so far. I'm about to upgrade my brewery size-wise, moving from electric stove boiling 3 to 4 gallons, to a big brew pot in which I'll be boiling probably 15 gallons plus. I just assumed I'd have to use a propane stove out on the porch. If electric would be cheaper, and if I can get a hold of some kind of immersible, powerful electric element maybe I should consider that. If you have any comments, please share.
thanks again for the article, cheers

 

[ATHB]

Great article full of great advice and entertaining stories. Love the food coloring for the star san. No problems with it staining?

 

[passedpawn]

Nope, food coloring does not stain anything. Been doing this for many years. I use red starsan in the kitchen, too, e.g., on cutting boards.