Things I Hate about Homebrewers

[kaconga]

If you do a true cost savings analysis you need to factor in your time. Apples( total cost of labor, material, freight of store bought brew) to oranges(partial material costs, don't forget the water)

Most brews take at least 6 hours (brew day, transfer, bottling/keg, and the assorted cleanup)

Even if you enjoy your hobby time should be calculated in.
Just my $.02

If you want to make it a Hobson's choice then yes factor in the time. We can never ever make 5/10 gallon batches with the cost efficiency of big craft breweries when you factor in time/overhead. However when you look at the actual out of pocket costs to the consumer then home brewing wins by a landslide each time on expensive beers. For the record my 60 dollar batch of dubbel factored in all my out of pocket costs.

 

[Devinv]

but I've found the best way to carbonate beer is with a Super Soaker.

It's 7am Sunday morning, I just got off of work, I just woke the house maniacaly laughing, almost crying. Thanks.

 

[RM-MN]

What I see in this thread is that some people like to spend way more money than I to make beer and some take way more time to do so. If they enjoy brewing as a hobby, what they spend on it is of no concern. They might be collecting and restoring old cars. While they might enjoy restoring the cars, they are hard to drink when they are done.

 

[unionrdr]

True. I spend a day on mashing, sparging, boiling & chilling with pb/pm biab, besides the rest of the process. I've enjoyed going back to AE & E/SG this summer & they've been a lot better since I got my process tweaked for pm. So it is enjoyable regardless. Being time well spent, I don't really factor that in.
Otherwise, I am a minimalist & don't go in for a bunch of expensive equipment, etc. I make good beers that people seem to like, on the rare occasion I get to share some. The stuff I've got is paid for by now & works fine for me.

 

[ericbw]

I sometimes brew while I'm doing other things (including working), which is ok if you time things right. So it's not like you are spending 5-8 hours dedicated to watching a pot boil.

Same as cooking a roast. 10 minutes of active time followed by hours of waiting.

As for cost, grain is cheap enough, esp in bulk. Yeast can be cheap or reused. But how are you guys brewing $15 batches when hops cost $2/oz?

I bought a pound of Willamette a whole back, which allowed me to make some cheap beers. Without that,, it would add $5 per batch for hops. And Willamette is cheap.

 

[RM-MN]

I sometimes brew while I'm doing other things (including working), which is ok if you time things right. So it's not like you are spending 5-8 hours dedicated to watching a pot boil.

Same as cooking a roast. 10 minutes of active time followed by hours of waiting.

As for cost, grain is cheap enough, esp in bulk. Yeast can be cheap or reused. But how are you guys brewing $15 batches when hops cost $2/oz?

I bought a pound of Willamette a whole back, which allowed me to make some cheap beers. Without that,, it would add $5 per batch for hops. And Willamette is cheap.

For some varieties of beer you only use an ounce of hops. Not every brew requires multiple ounces.

 

[unionrdr]

Well, brewing pb/pm biab & using only a couple ounces of hops, I've done batches for about $15.50 with local spring water @ 25c per gallon. Rehydrated dry yeast or washed yeast. 5-6 pounds of grains to about 3 lbs of extract. That can lower the over-all cost of a batch. But with all the wildfires,etc the last couple of years, prices for grains & hops have gone up.

 

[catdaddy66]

Some longtime brewers have invested mega $ in their systems, while others ( like unionrdr and myself) are working with just above bare minimum requirements. What we make and others make is Beer! Quality comes from application of knowledge gleaned thru reading and learning as well as experience.

Some may not read or learn anything beyond the instruction page from extract kits. Others digest anything and everything they can on the subject.

Like any hobby it's what you, the individual, make of it. You can spend any amount you want to (kinda like golf as a hobby) but applied knowledge and experience will be how you improve your process and product.

Oh, and by the way, a$$ hats come in all walks of life. It's a fact... Deal with it! Lol!


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[unionrdr]

I agree that it's applying the knowledge gained from experience & reading that make good beer. Making the most of what you have is the key otherwise.

 

[corkybstewart]

I love homebrewers. They are by far the most laid back and geeky people I know (both compliments).

Only at a homebrewing conference could you have 5,000+ people drinking and not even a cross word. Homebrewers rock.

A few might not have gotten that laid back yet, and seem to be annoyed by petty stuff- but they'll get there.

My wife and I have met homebrewers across the country through forums like this. She is constantly amazed at how friendly every brewer she's met has been, even the pro's at festivals.

 

[Dopeybrew]

Brewing is a hobby for me the money doesn't matter to me.
If the op doesn't like other brewers why come here or hang out with them? Are there snotty know it all brewers out there? Yea, but I don't associate with them.

 

[corkybstewart]

Expensive equipment doesn't make better beer, technique does and that doesn't really cost much. If you are a couple of years into brewing and/or brew a few times a year your equipment costs per batch are high. But if you brew long and often enough those costs become minimal. I've brewed at least 100 10 or 15 gallon batches so the $750 I spent to build a 3 tiered system is minimal per 5 gallons of beer. And building stuff to brew with is a major source of enjoyment for me. What costs me tons of money is traveling to exotic places to drink the local beer fresh at it's source.

 

[Braufessor]

As for cost, grain is cheap enough, esp in bulk. Yeast can be cheap or reused. But how are you guys brewing $15 batches when hops cost $2/oz?

I bought a pound of Willamette a whole back, which allowed me to make some cheap beers. Without that,, it would add $5 per batch for hops. And Willamette is cheap.

Yeah - hops are really about the most expensive thing.... even in bulk. Gotta buy by the pound and store in vaccuum packed glass jars in freezer (or similar method) to put a dent in those hop costs. You can get great hops for $6-$15 a pound. You can even get "expensive" hard to find hops for $20-$22 a pound.... that is a key. But, even then, if you are dumping 12-16 ounces of hops in a batch, it is pretty much impossible to make a $15 batch.

I generally buy 20 lbs or so in 1 lb Hop Union bags from my LHBS each december..... Lasts me the year...... and I brew a lot (50+ batches).

 

[Braufessor]

If you are a couple of years into brewing and/or brew a few times a year your equipment costs per batch are high. But if you brew long and often enough those costs become minimal. I've brewed at least 100 10 or 15 gallon batches so the $750 I spent to build a 3 tiered system is minimal per 5 gallons of beer.

Yep - I do this math too

I agree that you don't need expensive equipment to brew good beer. That said, I did buy a MoreBeer 3 tier 5 gallon (10 gallon pots) system over 15 years ago..... I think it was like $1200-$1300 at the time. Free shipping, Free 50lb bag of grain. Seemed like a lot of money at the time....... but looking back, less than $100 per year and it has probably provided more enjoyment for me than any other "thing" I have ever purchased. Pretty small price when compared to hours of enjoyment I have gotten from it. I spend more than I need to on brewing....... and I don't care. It makes me happy, it is my ONE hobby that I spend money on. I know for a fact that I will get my "money's worth" out of whatever I buy in enjoyment and relaxation.

Everybody brews for different reasons, with different goals and priorities. I agree with Yooper's sentiments earlier - In general, it is hard to beat homebrewers for their attitudes, helpfulness, good temper, etc.

 

[beernutz]

I sometimes brew while I'm doing other things (including working), which is ok if you time things right. So it's not like you are spending 5-8 hours dedicated to watching a pot boil.

Same as cooking a roast. 10 minutes of active time followed by hours of waiting.

As for cost, grain is cheap enough, esp in bulk. Yeast can be cheap or reused. But how are you guys brewing $15 batches when hops cost $2/oz?

I bought a pound of Willamette a whole back, which allowed me to make some cheap beers. Without that,, it would add $5 per batch for hops. And Willamette is cheap.

Not if you buy by the pound. For me it's close to $1/ounce that way. Vacuum sealer bags are your friend.

 

[grimzella]

I look at that part as an investment. Once I've made that investment sure I can make cheaper beer than buying it. But to me it really doesn't ever cross my mind. That's why its a hobby, a way I really enjoy spending my time. Time alone and with my fiancee, time to forget about being stressed about job perfection and missing budgets and all that other crap. When you get stressed about all that stuff what's the point?????

and remember, most of us BUILD our equipment.. saving even more $$$.
I mostly make Belgians.. Chimay blue is 15.99 for the corked bottle here in PA. I have been brewing for a few years now and all I can say is.. cha-ching!!
I know I saved money. Cheap setup coolers.. copper pipe.. LP converted to natural gas, dual in-line water filters, Chinook & Willamette growing in the back yard... list goes on. I got into homebrewing to save money.. Pennsylvania liquor tax is an outrage!! I refuse to pay it. unless I go out with some buddies.. then I support local breweries like yuengling, and Weyerbacher.

 

[ram5ey]

The thing to remember is that this is a hobby. It is also whatever YOU want to make of it and no one can fault you for that just like you can't legitimately fault them for doing it completely different. Frankly that's why this community is so great. We all have different ways and they are all great for us individually. No one is going to come to my house and force me to brew a decoction.

Although it would be hilarious if that did happen.

Chill out.

 

[Trox]

5. People who use the cost savings to justify their brewing beer. Brewing your own beer WELL does not save you money...

So what your saying is if someone doesn't drop thousands of dollars on this hobby like you they obviously can't brew beer "WELL"?

1. Those homebrewers who denounce a process because it didn't work for them. ie) "I get nothing out of decoction mashing so therefore it must be crap."

 

[Bobby_M]

I would rather spend 1000 hours reading posts about what techniques did or did not work for someone than spend another second reading this meaningless rant.

 

[Bobbybob]

People making long whiny lists about their point of veiw. That is what I hate.

 

[day_trippr]

If I responded with what's in my head right now I'm pretty sure it would get me a Time Out from the mods...

Cheers!

 

[cmoewes]

5. People who use the cost savings to justify their brewing beer. Brewing your own beer WELL does not save you money.

Bull. I can brew an excellent case of 22 oz bombers for $25. Try buying 24 bombers for that. You are going to spend on average, $6 per bomber, or $144 dollars.

Troll.

I agree. All you have to do is eat that one $500 batch of IPA once in a while (what we don't amortize our capital expenses??)

Double-troll

 

[The542]

So, you've been part of this forum since May of 2012, but haven't participated much. Probably gained a ton of insight, but this is how you lash out at the entire community? Don't know what made you think hitting the submit button on this thread was a noble idea.

 

[Flipadelphia]

You're all falling for a classic troll post.

Stop responding.

 

[homebrew212]

So, you've been part of this forum since May of 2012, but haven't participated much. Probably gained a ton of insight, but this is how you lash out at the entire community? Don't know what made you think hitting the submit button on this thread was a noble idea.

You're right...I have gained a ton of insight from this forum and others but that doesn't mean I can't have an opinion on the quality of homebrew out there. People must care what I have to say if this post is on its 6th page. If what I was saying was meaningless there wouldn't be so much discussion.

Also, did I ever say what I was doing was "noble?"

 

[scarekrow]

5. People who use the cost savings to justify their brewing beer. Brewing your own beer WELL does not save you money. Besides, what is wrong with buying great commerical beer, there are lots of breweries doing great stuff and they should be supported. We brew beer because it's fun, not because we're saving anything...time certainly isn't one of them.

Did any of you read the whole paragraph? Apparently not.

 

[jbaysurfer]

People must care what I have to say if this post is on its 6th page. If what I was saying was meaningless there wouldn't be so much discussion.

Don't confuse successful trolling with inspiration of meaningful conversation. You've done the first, not even remotely anything close to the second.

 

[Billy-Klubb]

I was gonna read the entire thread, but then I was all like "flocc that, son!" and skipped to the last page and started posting like a champ without reading any more posts. put that in your pipe smoking thread and smoke it.


my big gripe with the colony of home brewers is #7. but it's not overly proud, it's arrogant. win some awards? good for you! I'm happy for you. acting like you're a brewing god because of it? just don't talk to me. I've brewed good & great beer. but just like the tough guys, there's always gonna be someone better than you.

 

[evrose]

You're right...I have gained a ton of insight from this forum and others but that doesn't mean I can't have an opinion on the quality of homebrew out there. People must care what I have to say if this post is on its 6th page. If what I was saying was meaningless there wouldn't be so much discussion.

Also, did I ever say what I was doing was "noble?"

Strawman response.

No one said you couldn't have an opinion. What some are questioning is the judgement used in voicing that opinion, particularly in this forum.

Also, multiple pages of people essentially saying that you come across as a horses-arse doesn't validate your thesis. In fact, it does quite the opposite.

 

[unionrdr]

Sounds to me like he struck some nerves. While not the most eloquent of posts,I dig what he's getting at. Everytime you try to roll with the punches, you get knocked on the ground, by all this BS goin' down! Time is truly wastin'...