Typical Costs

[SmoothSmoke]

I want to start brewing but don't have a clue on where to start. What is the rough cost for a basic kit that I can brew up on my kitchen stove? I know this can vary, but I really have no idea on the price ranges. Well I've seen the Mr Beers football shaped kit for like 40 bucks. Thanks

 

[JStutz82]

Go to your local homebrew shop and go see. Most shops have a beginners setup for around 100 bucks or less that have everything you need to make good beer your first time. The ingredients they will give you and the instruction they should give you will be much better than a Mr. Beer kit. Its a great hobby and gets addicting very fast! Cheers!

 

[Maddoghoek]

Find your local brew stores. They will likely carry a starter kit of some kind with the equipment you'll need. Most will also have some pre-made extract kits you can brew. The extract kits are usually set up for a boil of 2.5 gal, so if you don't have a pot big enough for that you'll need one that will do at least 4/5 gallons. My advice on the pot is get the biggest you can afford. Stainless versus aluminum is up to you, and there's a great comparison in the stickies in this forum in the "This versus that" post.

You'll also need a sanitizer of some kind. Starsan is a fantastic no-rinse one that is a good cheap way to start.

Welcome to the hobby!

 

[jetmac]

Most LHBS will have a beginners class. Also get "The Book" How to Brew by John Palmer

Also listen to podcasts on The Brewing Network

 

[Pappers_]

http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/brewing/beer-equipment-starter-kits/basic-starter-kit.html

Whether you buy at a local store or online, this is the sort of kit you'll need. Then, you'll need an ingredient kit like this one

http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/...he-innkeeper-limited-edition-extract-kit.html

 

[Jayhem]

$100-$150 for a high quality "basic starter kit". You don't want to start on Mr. Beer because if you decide to go deeper into this hobby you will want to purchase a high quality starter kit anyway. People sell nice barely used starter kits in craigslist all the time for cheap!

 

[Brewnoob1]

I bought my basic starter from my local home brew shop. $69.99 plus the ingredients for my first kit. I walked out spending around $110ish. A fermenter, hydrometer, bottle capper, caps, sanitizer, airlock, some sort of siphon with a bottling end, plastic/metal stir spoon, and a pot for brewing is all you really need to get going. Of course, there is equipment that helps you get the job done easier and faster, but this is about the bare minimum you need to get going. Obviously, prices will range depending on what you choose. I'll just list general costs for stuff I've run across....

Fermenter - Bucket - $5-10 bucks
Hydrometer - Testing gravity - $5-10 bucks
Capper - $15 bucks
Caps - Depending on quantity, cheap
Sanitizer - Ranges from sizes and brand, but $15-40
Airlock - $3-5 bucks
Siphon - Can range with what you choose. Auto-siphon is easiest - $15-20 bucks
Spoon - $5-10 depending on what you choose
Pot - Can greatly range with what you choose. Size...stainless or aluminum...etc

 

[BlakeL]

I think it depends on your situation. I don't have room to store or brew 5 gallons of beer so I decided to go with one of Brooklyn Brew Shop's 1 gallon kits. When I went to Williams-Sonoma I was lucky enough to find one on sale for $20. The only other thing I needed to brew was an $8 10qt stock pot from Wal-Mart.

After brewing I spent another $27 on bottling supplies (Wand, Capper, Caps and extra stopper/airlock) and I bought some apple juice at Whole Foods to stock up on 1g jugs. From here I plan on brewing more 1g batches and might upgrade in the future to 2.5g batches using 3g carboys when I have more experience. So, if you're like me and don't want to go right into doing 5 gallon batches, you can spend less money.

 

[Bradinator]

Pro Tip:

If you want to save money on swing-top bottles (a home brewing godsend if your not kegging), buy them from your local bottle depot. It's a win-win for both of you. They make additional money on the bottles (I think they get 15-20 cents on return, so I offered them 50 cents a bottle, which is still a steal of a deal) and you save a ton as compared to buying new.

 

[Brewnoob1]

I think it depends on your situation. I don't have room to store or brew 5 gallons of beer so I decided to go with one of Brooklyn Brew Shop's 1 gallon kits. When I went to Williams-Sonoma I was lucky enough to find one on sale for $20. The only other thing I needed to brew was an $8 10qt stock pot from Wal-Mart.

After brewing I spent another $27 on bottling supplies (Wand, Capper, Caps and extra stopper/airlock) and I bought some apple juice at Whole Foods to stock up on 1g jugs. From here I plan on brewing more 1g batches and might upgrade in the future to 2.5g batches using 3g carboys when I have more experience. So, if you're like me and don't want to go right into doing 5 gallon batches, you can spend less money.

I have to agree, however think about your desires in the future. If you are sure (like me) that you'll enjoy the hobby, then go for what you don't really have to expand on since most kits are aimed at 5 gallons. I do think however that the smaller batch equipment has a place though for test brews etc. Just think about the desires and go from there.

 

[Calichusetts]

I would also agree that starting with a 1-2.5 gallon kit is a fantastic idea. Low cost, more managable, and you won't have 2 cases of crappy beer sitting around if you mess up. I would shutter to think of what I would do with 5 gallons when I first started experimenting with original recipes.

Start small, make sure you truly enjoy it, then figure out where you want to go. It would also help to brew with others to see their equipment and if you want to go there.

EDIT- If it helps...I started with 1 gallon kits and am still doing 1 gallon, just my own recipies. I plan on going to 2.5/3 gallons sometime soon but I almost went out and spent hundreds on 5 gallons when I am realizing more and more than I enjoy stovetop brewing and small/easy to handle/manage batches.

 

[jCOSbrew]

Check out the Midwest supplies Groupon. You get a basic equipment kit + ingredients + a $25 gift card for <$70. Just add a stock pot.

If you want to start with smaller batches you could always split the 5 gallon kits into 2x 2.5 gallon batches. The small batches will also allow you to do a full boil on the stovetop.

 

[brewmaster89]

Craigslist is a great tool for beginning beer kits. I have seen tons on my local one and then as you advance there are great deals as well.

 

[spokaniac]

+1 on the midwest groupon. 2 friends have gotten that and been happy with it. For under $70 you get two 5 gallon batches and all the equipment except for a stock pot.

 

[SmoothSmoke]

I would also agree that starting with a 1-2.5 gallon kit is a fantastic idea. Low cost, more managable, and you won't have 2 cases of crappy beer sitting around if you mess up. I would shutter to think of what I would do with 5 gallons when I first started experimenting with original recipes.

Start small, make sure you truly enjoy it, then figure out where you want to go. It would also help to brew with others to see their equipment and if you want to go there.

EDIT- If it helps...I started with 1 gallon kits and am still doing 1 gallon, just my own recipies. I plan on going to 2.5/3 gallons sometime soon but I almost went out and spent hundreds on 5 gallons when I am realizing more and more than I enjoy stovetop brewing and small/easy to handle/manage batches.

First, I'd like to thank everyone for their help.

From my basic understanding, most stuff sold is for 5 gallon kits? Are ingredients, equipment for 3 gallon sizes harder to come by? I'm assuming that the 3 gallon size would be good for my kitchen stove? I like the idea of the 2.5/3 gallon batches. From my calculations that's about 26 to 32 bottles of beer. I think that would be perfect and would give me more opportunities to brew often as space is a concern with me.

Thanks again

 

[D_Nyholm]

It seems most come in 5 gallon kits, but you could always just build your own recipe or scale down a well known recipe very easily.

One other thing that I would consider for you is an immersion Chiller. It takes my 5 gallon batches down to pitching temp in about 15 minutes. It would work faster on a smaller batch instead of having to deal with water baths or just no cooler chilling.

 

[BrewinHooligan]

If you want to do smaller batches, Mr Beer is just fine as a fermenter. Their refills are not cost effective though, but 5 gallon kits can be halved and fermented in a Mr Beer. When/if you decide to upgrade, a 6.5 gallon Ale Pail is about $10-$15 and you can get an 8 gallon aluminum pot for around $20 when you decide 2.5 gallons at a time just isn't enough. That's the route I went since the wife bought me a Mr Beer for Christmas and I still use the Mr Beer for things like Apfelwein and small test batches.

 

[Jcoz]

I think it depends on your situation. I don't have room to store or brew 5 gallons of beer so I decided to go with one of Brooklyn Brew Shop's 1 gallon kits. When I went to Williams-Sonoma I was lucky enough to find one on sale for $20. The only other thing I needed to brew was an $8 10qt stock pot from Wal-Mart.

After brewing I spent another $27 on bottling supplies (Wand, Capper, Caps and extra stopper/airlock) and I bought some apple juice at Whole Foods to stock up on 1g jugs. From here I plan on brewing more 1g batches and might upgrade in the future to 2.5g batches using 3g carboys when I have more experience. So, if you're like me and don't want to go right into doing 5 gallon batches, you can spend less money.

Why do people love the swing-tops? I happen to have a couple cases of them from coming back from Germany, but I just fail to see what makes them much different...it only takes a second to cap a beer and caps are cheap....

I dont know what the fuss it about.

 

[slacker1]

There are a number of reasons I prefer swing-tops:

1. I store my rinsed empties in a garage and the swing-top prevents dust and other stuff from getting into the bottles before I need them.

2. I don't need a capper and caps, just some gaskets if needed.

3. They come in a proper 500ml size - those 12oz bottles barely begin to satisfy a healthy thirst.

4. There is an aesthetic satisfaction to the pop as you release the top that you just do not get with a capped bottle.

 

[Calichusetts]

Why do people love the swing-tops? I happen to have a couple cases of them from coming back from Germany, but I just fail to see what makes them much different...it only takes a second to cap a beer and caps are cheap....

I dont know what the fuss it about.

They rock...16oz swing tops are amazing...I fill from an auto-siphon so I can close them with one hand while filling the next. Not really an advantage over capping but I like it

 

[badhabit]

If you are willing to start slow (LME) you can begin with as little as a used 2 gal pot, a racking cane and some plastic tube, a pinch type lock for the tube, 2 five gal plastic buckets one with a lid, an air lock and a capper. Easy under $25. Bottom line is that you will spend as much as you are willing and if you enjoy what you are doing much more over time. You don't have to do it all at once, unless you want to and of course have the resopurces to do so.