Comments on: Brew your own stimulus package

By: chri5

chri5 — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 23:37:47 +0000

The cost of ingredients is cheaper, but once you factor in equipment (brew kettle, keezer, etc) it is at best breaking even after many batches.

Oh well, being “cheaper” is just a good way to trick SWMBO into letting you start brewing anyway!

By: Deez

Deez — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:14:12 +0000

Yeah, and switching over to all-grain, then buying in bulk is supposed to cut down on the per batch (especially over 5 gal), but again, it’s the gadgets & setup costs that’ll get you. Plus, you’re probably adding at least 50% more time to your brew day, and as they say, time is money. Point is, it’s just more fun and satisfying to brew & drink your own stuff – even the bad batches (though that does suck, because even as a learning experience, you’ve just blown all that cash & time).

By: funkytrev

funkytrev — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 01:29:26 +0000

Anyone who claims they brew at home to save money lies. Thats not why we brew. We brew because we like good beer… And we like using our hands… And because we like good beer too!!

Even if it cost twice as much to brew 5 gallons than it did to buy 5 gallons, I would still brew. Probably not 3 times a month, but I would still brew at home.

Cloning 5 gallons of tecate? Not saving any money.
Cloning 5 gallons of 90 Minute IPA? Maybe.

Solution: Brew more than 5 gallons at a time. :)

My 2 cents.

By: Deez

Deez — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 16:51:06 +0000

It’s a hobby, and is therefore impossible for it to be cheaper. Even if per 5gal batch it was less expensive than buying 5gals worth of beer (it was slightly before the shortages, now it’s not really, depending on what you’re drinking), you’re still going to geek out on some gadget that’s going to blow the costing model out of the water.