I have a bit of a gear spending problem so I’ve very much in the red, but I have an expanding roster of recipes that I absolutely love, that I can’t buy anywhere. That’s priceless.
When I was first home brewing (around 2011-2012), I was saving money. But the moment I decided to buy "nice" gear, that changed. Back when it was BIAB in a cast-off pot for 2.5 gallon batches on the stove, it was cheap. I now use a wort chiller that cost me more than ALL my gear back then. Adjusting for inflation, taking into account rising beer costs at the store, and shopping as frugally as possible: I still think I won't ever save as much as I already have spent in gear alone. I brew because it's fun, not because it's cheap.
I think the only reason I like to make my own beer and drink my own beer is…one… just to see what the results are and two because then I don’t have to go to the store all the time buy beer it might be the same price, but, well, in some cases, I guess.. Hey, I do both ha ha great content bro cheers 🍻
Even if you spend $50 on a batch of good beer you'll can money home brewing. The price of craft beer is much higher than it was 3-4 years ago. A lot of the beers are $1.5-2 EACH. I try to keep my costs as far down as I can, including gear. I pretty much only buy stuff on sale, including extract and hops. I'd say most regular beers I make are about $25-28 for a 5gal batch, which is roughly 50 cents for a beer. The imperials are closer to $1. I made a quad the past year for right around $1.5 a beer. The average price of any Belgium beer is $2-4, and the quads are much more expensive, closer to $7-8. You can absolutely save money making your own beer. But I think most people don't start home brewing (beer) with the intention to save money on drinking. If they did, they would probably make country wine or cider from grocery store apple juice. A batch of skeeter pee is like $10.
5 gallons finished beer = $50 ingredients. 5 gallons ~ 53 twelve ounce beers ~ $0.94 per beer or $22.56 per case. For comparison, a case of Busch costs $21.98 at Walmart right now. One reason I homebrew is so I don’t have to drink Busch 😆
Personally I started brewing because of the lack of availability of good German wheat beers, and the ones I could find were pricey. Aside from that I really enjoy the process and the learning, so it's less about the cost and more about the hobby and challenge.
@@NWsmallbatchBrewing The real savings for the homebrewer begin to kick in when you compare costs of brewing more expensive craft beer vs buying it. $20 for a 4-pack…sheesh 💀
I think it's worth the effort. I love testing things out, but the most fun for me is sharing the beers. As for cost, it' much more economical to brew than to buy here. We love fresh German Lagers and Belgian Beers the Belgians are spendy and really hard to find locally. Plus it's really easy to lower the costs if you want to. Cheers
I think I would put a +1 next to the less of a hang over theory as after my last Oktoberfest bender in Munich I woke up in the morning feeling like a champ, where as if I did the same with store bought beer I would have been dead for a week. Similar results with my home brew.
Maybe it’s the local competition and also maybe they just lost their drive. I mean you really do have to have some kind of drive or or emotional energy to keep you going like an engine like a turbo engine like a jet engine you know you gotta really know that that’s what you wanna do to keep it alive and going And that takes a special person indeed definitely I love making beer and I definitely have that drive and maybe one day before I die. I might be able to start something up but if anything I love just brewing beer you know it’s fun hell yeah bro cheers 🍻 competition
I try to keep my ingredients under 50 of month. What sucks is that I don’t have a local homebrew supply store even close to me, so I have to buy online and have to pay for shipping.
I can appreciate your perspective on this, but I do think there are ways to cut costs and actually save money, with exception to the initial investment of the equipment. Our equipment depreciates from the moment we buy it. We will never get back what we invested. In reality the advantage to brewing our own is multi-dimensional. Education, variations, experimentation, and lastly savings. Quality is dependent on the investment without question. Great provocation of thought Steven. Cheers.
@ I buy everything in bulk, so even the most expensive recipe is gonna cost me $30 max. I agree with you though if you are buying kits or just the amount of grains/hops you need then it gets expensive real quick. Cheers!
I Drabk Duvel in Belgium back in 1970’s-1980’s. Duvel at Total wine is like$5 a bottle roughly. I can make that beer for $1.06 a bottle. Now exactly like it? Maybe not but itt is very close. I tried them side by side. Now if your beer is bud or coors etc then prob definitely not worth it
I have a bit of a gear spending problem so I’ve very much in the red, but I have an expanding roster of recipes that I absolutely love, that I can’t buy anywhere. That’s priceless.
Award winning recipes no less I’m sure!
@@preuc3367 haha! Some are, some get killed in competition!
When I was first home brewing (around 2011-2012), I was saving money. But the moment I decided to buy "nice" gear, that changed. Back when it was BIAB in a cast-off pot for 2.5 gallon batches on the stove, it was cheap. I now use a wort chiller that cost me more than ALL my gear back then. Adjusting for inflation, taking into account rising beer costs at the store, and shopping as frugally as possible: I still think I won't ever save as much as I already have spent in gear alone.
I brew because it's fun, not because it's cheap.
@@markpeever496 very true. Plus the cost of adjuncts and hops adds up. Hazy ipa's aren't cheap to make
I think the only reason I like to make my own beer and drink my own beer is…one… just to see what the results are and two because then I don’t have to go to the store all the time buy beer it might be the same price, but, well, in some cases, I guess.. Hey, I do both ha ha great content bro cheers 🍻
I started brewing 34 yeas ago thinking it would be a great hobby. I'm still at it and contue to enjoy brew day. Cheers 😁🍻
Even if you spend $50 on a batch of good beer you'll can money home brewing. The price of craft beer is much higher than it was 3-4 years ago. A lot of the beers are $1.5-2 EACH.
I try to keep my costs as far down as I can, including gear. I pretty much only buy stuff on sale, including extract and hops. I'd say most regular beers I make are about $25-28 for a 5gal batch, which is roughly 50 cents for a beer. The imperials are closer to $1. I made a quad the past year for right around $1.5 a beer. The average price of any Belgium beer is $2-4, and the quads are much more expensive, closer to $7-8.
You can absolutely save money making your own beer. But I think most people don't start home brewing (beer) with the intention to save money on drinking. If they did, they would probably make country wine or cider from grocery store apple juice. A batch of skeeter pee is like $10.
5 gallons finished beer = $50 ingredients.
5 gallons ~ 53 twelve ounce beers
~ $0.94 per beer or $22.56 per case.
For comparison, a case of Busch costs $21.98 at Walmart right now. One reason I homebrew is so I don’t have to drink Busch 😆
Personally I started brewing because of the lack of availability of good German wheat beers, and the ones I could find were pricey. Aside from that I really enjoy the process and the learning, so it's less about the cost and more about the hobby and challenge.
@@brewingbadTN ya I'm not buying Busch beer....ever. The style of beer and adjuncts does make a difference in cost.
@@NWsmallbatchBrewing The real savings for the homebrewer begin to kick in when you compare costs of brewing more expensive craft beer vs buying it. $20 for a 4-pack…sheesh 💀
@@NWsmallbatchBrewingdon’t be hating on the good ole Busch beers. Lol
I think it's worth the effort. I love testing things out, but the most fun for me is sharing the beers. As for cost, it' much more economical to brew than to buy here. We love fresh German Lagers and Belgian Beers the Belgians are spendy and really hard to find locally. Plus it's really easy to lower the costs if you want to. Cheers
I think I would put a +1 next to the less of a hang over theory as after my last Oktoberfest bender in Munich I woke up in the morning feeling like a champ, where as if I did the same with store bought beer I would have been dead for a week. Similar results with my home brew.
Maybe it’s the local competition and also maybe they just lost their drive. I mean you really do have to have some kind of drive or or emotional energy to keep you going like an engine like a turbo engine like a jet engine you know you gotta really know that that’s what you wanna do to keep it alive and going And that takes a special person indeed definitely I love making beer and I definitely have that drive and maybe one day before I die. I might be able to start something up but if anything I love just brewing beer you know it’s fun hell yeah bro cheers 🍻 competition
I try to keep my ingredients under 50 of month. What sucks is that I don’t have a local homebrew supply store even close to me, so I have to buy online and have to pay for shipping.
There are online vendors with free shipping on ver $59 or so. MOREBEER etc
I can appreciate your perspective on this, but I do think there are ways to cut costs and actually save money, with exception to the initial investment of the equipment. Our equipment depreciates from the moment we buy it. We will never get back what we invested. In reality the advantage to brewing our own is multi-dimensional. Education, variations, experimentation, and lastly savings. Quality is dependent on the investment without question. Great provocation of thought Steven. Cheers.
When you have to pay for $60 AUD for a slab in Australia, yep, its cheaper.
Have you ever bought a 5 keg from your local brewery? Depending on the beer it’s much more expensive.
@@wrayzor97 haven't in a long time
$50 for 5 gallons vs $50 for two four packs of craft beer?
@@giantbeat1 well that's really not true d
Depends on what you are making....stouts and ipa's can get expensive
@ I buy everything in bulk, so even the most expensive recipe is gonna cost me $30 max. I agree with you though if you are buying kits or just the amount of grains/hops you need then it gets expensive real quick. Cheers!
Its worth it because i made it
@@rfox2014 that's Fair I agree
I Drabk Duvel in Belgium back in 1970’s-1980’s. Duvel at Total wine is like$5 a bottle roughly. I can make that beer for $1.06 a bottle. Now exactly like it? Maybe not but itt is very close. I tried them side by side. Now if your beer is bud or coors etc then prob definitely not worth it