This has to be one of the most insidious hobbies ever.

[edgeofblade]

addictive, just like this forum..

I'll tell you what's addictive about this forum. The way you people tap into my mind. Any question. ANYTHING has been 100% answered here.

Here. Let me test it. Give me "ghost pepper brew"....

Yep... someone's already done it.

 

[malweth]

I'm in the same situation! First beer will be bottled in a couple weeks...

Beware of the DIY forum. There's about 30 things I want to make (I've already made that stir plate just because I could ). Once you peek in, though... the pictures will make you stay.

 

[superjunior]

I'm in the same situation! First beer will be bottled in a couple weeks...

Beware of the DIY forum. There's about 30 things I want to make (I've already made that stir plate just because I could ). Once you peek in, though... the pictures will make you stay.

the DIY forum is insidious, addictive AND contagious..

 

[mferreira]

I am a fan of building while you go, but....

Lets see, I got lucky on Craigs list and found a used set 5GAL all grain. That was my starter kit for $350. It was a great deal because the guy had everything in pristine condition. Must have used it twice.

Now I do 10GAL all grain, I have a march pump, a RIMS with PID, counter flow chiller, 4 keg kegerator from TRUE, built a fermentation chamber with PID, and have a 15GAL conical fermenter.

I figure I am now in it for $1500.

 

[BIGREDIOWAN]

My wife was just saying the other day, "I thought this was supposed to save us money on beer?" I told her to not get caught up in the details and that I had to have all of these things. She knows I'm full of it, but she puts up with it. She asked me why I always have to pick the expensive hobby since I love golf and now brewing beer. I already planted the seed for a keezer in her mind, but she doesn't know how much the entire process will cost. She'll only know about the initial cost of the freezer I get. If I can get one off of craigslist for $75 to $50 she won't pay attention. It's all about playing the game...............*evil laugh*

 

[vortexla]

Yeah my SWMBO asks me how exactly I'm saving money with this hobby, to which I respond by asking her how another pair of shoes saves us money.

 

[scotched]

I'll tell you what's addictive about this forum. The way you people tap into my mind. Any question. ANYTHING has been 100% answered here.

Thankfully the homebrewtalk sever is decently fast, and it's search function works well. This instant question gratification doesn't slow the addiction though.

 

[Lumberg1]

I started brewing a year ago and it hasn't gone away. I've spent weeks eating nothing but raman and mac and cheese so I could have some kegs and two new batches

Story of 2011 for me so far. I've eaten ramen pretty much every day so far so I could afford my new 20gal kettle, 15gal conical, CFC, new propane burner, and 2 new kegs. In a few more weeks I should be able to finish my fermentation chamber and build a new kegarator. 

 

[glenn514]

For most of 2010, every Internet order was for recipe items AND equipment. I am at the point now, however, that I think...yes, I do think...that I have all the equipment I need. WANTING more equipment is a whole other story! But I have decided to use what I have and NOT buy more "stuff." We'll see how long I can hold out!

glenn514

 

[Redwiggler]

My brew partner and I are in it for about 1100$. Haven't even tasted a home brew yet! But, I do have 15 gallons fermenting in my new home-made ferm chamber and 100 beers conditioning!

Isn't funny when your friends want to pitch in for half of the ingredients and expect half of the beer!!

Go big or go home!

 

[Homercidal]

just get it out of your system all at once.

Damn you!

How could I have never seen that site before??

 

[VoodooManX]

Got a mr. Beer for christmas. After the first batch i was buying a 5 gal setup. After bottling 2 batches of 5 gal, bought a kegerator a 2 cornies. Once the thaw hits i'll be looking at all grain. The pipeline is starting to flow now(finally). Oh, and i have the best wife ever!

Sent from my iPhone using HB Talk

 

[kpr121]

Isn't funny when your friends want to pitch in for half of the ingredients and expect half of the beer!!

This is kinda where I am at with my buddy. I have all of the equipment, and he pitches in half for the ingredients for each batch. We have kinda worked out a system where I end up kegging the batch, then we bottle 12-20 for him to take hom with him. We are of course drinking past batches every brew session.

I don't mind paying for the equipment, because I would be buying it anyways if he wasnt involved. But recently he has been pitching in for some of the new toys, like a stirplate I just made, a second burner, etc.

To me its worth it to be able to brew two seperate batches fairly easily with a helper, plus who wouldnt want to hang out with their boys on a Saturday. Our brewdays usually end up turning into parties where everyone comes up to hang out at the bar all night. Then we drink all the homebrew and have to start over again. Vicious cycle!

 

[CousinDave]

Well, I'll be bottling my first batch tomorrow night.
Of course if I had followed the kit instructions instead of listening to you guys I'd probably be opening the first bottle tomorrow and not liking what I was tasting. Instead I waited and left it in the fermenter for 3 weeks.
By the way, the Party Pig I ordered was on my doorstep when I got home today, so half of the batch will go into the Pig.
Just another purchase for the insidious hobby.

 

[kal]

If you add up the total costs for your first few batches (including all equipment), the price per bottle will go up and be a lot more than you could buy a decent craft beer in the store.

If you stay committed, you can eventually get it down to the price of a can of Milwaukee.

If that's the goal. Remember that not everyone homebrews to save money. I don't. It's a hobby and I enjoy it. Many hobbies cost money. Homebrewing, even with a setup that most people would consider 'expensive', is still one of the cheapest hobbies out there.

I spend my days in spreadsheets, Word documents, and other fuzzy/non-descript work that's hard to describe. For me brewing is also about being about to point to something and proudly say "I made that with my own hands".

Of course, the beer/liquor stores here in Ontario Canada are crap for selection (they're regulated), so I also brew because I can't get 99% of the things I want to drink.

Kal

 

[MDRex]

You think this is bad? Try also being a gearhead. The money I have thrown at cars over the past 8 years would have paid for one hell of a brewing opperation. Luckily for me this hobby has actually taken over my interest, so the car thing is more off to the side for the time. Still, it's never wasted money if you enjoy the time and money spent on the hobby.