YooperBrew said:
Some of the commercial beers I buy are more expensive, like $7 a six pack. I like good beer, and drinking good beer. I'd rather have two really wonderful beers than 6 of something that I don't love. So for me, I save money by making my own beer. But that's not why I do it. I do it because I'm a beer snob!
I have to agree. Even being an extract brewer, a normal batch of beer does not cost me more than $25. That is two and half cases for the same price as a single case that anything decent would cost me at Sams Club or Costco.
Now if you want to factor in the cost of equipment, etc, and amortize that out over time, then yes, each beer does cost a bit more, but I look at this as a hobby with a very enjoyable final product, not as a way to save money on beer. That being said, how much do you really need to spend on equipment? You CAN spend thousands, but you don't NEED to.
I mean, what do you really need for some really good extract with grains brewing?
All these links are for retail locations within five minutes of my house, so your prices may differ slightly.
A brew pot
$20 (buy two, and you can do full size five gallon batches on your stove top)
6.5 gallon primary
$21 (I find them on Craigslist for $15 or less)
5 gallon secondary
$20 (again, Craigslist for $10 or less)
racking cane
$3.25
syphon tubing
$.50/foot (cheaper to get it at Lowes, about $.18/foot)
carboy cap
$3
bubbler
$1.25
bottles
$11/case (again, Craigslist, usually free)
capper
$15
hydrometer
$12.50
bottle brush
$2
carboy brush
$5
grain bag
$6.50
strip thermometer
$3 (not necessary, but nice to have)
dial thermometer
$10 (you probably have one in your kitchen somewhere already)
So for a total of $161 (less if you have a pot that will work already, and if you can find good deals like I do on Craigslist, etc.), you have a system that is BETTER, in my mind, than the starter system that MoreBeer charges
$205 for.
With the amount that you save over commercial beer, you will pay for that kit in the first five batches that you make.