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Earlier today, the blog Michigan Beer Buzz posed an interesting question for these tough economic times: "Is it cheaper to brew your own?" They referenced an article on everyman financial advice site, The Simple Dollar, discussing "A Walkthrough and Cost Breakdown of Brewing Your Own Beer."Let's cut to the anticlimactic chase. The answer: It depends. The Simple Dollar states: "If you are comparing the cost of homebrew to the cost of well-made craft beers...homebrewing is actually quite cost effective. I used $35 worth of ingredients to make seven six packs of porter, a cost of roughly $5 per six pack. [However] this doesn't include...the cost of the equipment."
And again, these saving only translate from homebrew to upmarket craft beer. "If you're content just buying some Miller Genuine Draft," The Simple Dollar continues, "Homebrewing isn't going to save you much money (if it saves you any at all)." Plus this cost analysis is sans equipment (which can be less than you might think, but is still a cost). If you throw down for equipment, or start buying ingredients in bulk, that will save you money in the long run, but if you quickly discover that homebrewing isn't the hobby for you, you'll end up eating that initial investment as a loss.
So my advice: Attempt homebrewing as a hobby first, and then see if savings come in time. The Simple Dollar does a straightforward job of laying out all the basics -- even providing a recipe for a porter -- and, trust me, plenty more websites are dedicated to homebrewing if you want to get in on the craze.
But also beware of this counterintuitive twist: If you think you'll buy less beer, you might be surprised. As Michigan Beer Buzz says, "In fact, I think I buy more. You tend to want to try all of the new craft beer [because it] inspires you on future batches." If you're really looking to save money, you might just want to give up drinking all together!
[via Michigan Beer Buzz and The Simple Dollar]
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3-06-2009 @1:48PM Adrian C said... I have just started brewing my own beer at home with "The Brewhouse" kits. I am on my 4th batch now, and have been very happy with the results.
It definitely cost effective. Each batch yeilds 60 bottles, which costs only $24 CDN. That comes out to 40 cents/bottle!
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3-06-2009 @1:53PM midwifejen said... I'd have to agree with the "brew more, buy more" phenomenon. I brew because it's fun, interesting, and is another creative outlet for me. The more I got involved in brewing itself, as well as the homebrewing community... the more I grew to love beer. This led to buying a wider array of craft beers in general, in addition to ramping up my brewing frequency.
I'm a little more worried for my liver at this point than my wallet. ;)
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3-06-2009 @1:53PM Jason said... there's also a question of quality. yes, you can buy all the equipment you really need for $50 or less total...but you'll be hard pressed to make a great product with that, and there is always something else to buy. i started with a kettle, a carboy, and extract...and now have a much broader array of equipment and there's definitely more stuff i could use.
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3-06-2009 @2:01PM jsled said... For simple beers, and amortizing some equipment and ingredients (yeast, especially) over multiple batches, the cost/beer can be very good. For more interesting and bigger beers, the gulf closes. But, absolutely, once you get turned on to the large and wonderful taste and flavor space of Good Beer, you tend to seek them out (both commercial examples and the ingredients to brew them yourself), and the costs rise.
But homebrewing is awesome.
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3-06-2009 @2:12PM App said... If my wife asks, the answer is "yes".
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3-06-2009 @3:22PM christopher said... With patience you can get all your gear for next to nothing. The only indulgence I have is a carboy ($40) - all my other gear found its way to me (food grade buckets aren't that hard to find, mine were pickle buckets $2 each). What do you really need? A bucket/top, some tubing, a sauce pot. Save pop top bottles and 2L soda bottles for bottling. Even a hydrometer is a luxury you don't really need. If you just want to save money its probably not your bag. Half the fun is brewing, drinking is a pretty small part of it.
I find that I buy much less beer since I started brewing but I drink a whole lot more. While my per bottle cost is down I'm going through it faster so I'm not sure I've saved any money.
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3-06-2009 @4:48PM anita said... it depends, for sure. if you get one batch that tastes funky, or you simply don't enjoy, it can take all of the savings off the table in one fell swoop. and that's not counting the "oh crap, the entire laundry room is full of beer and broken glass" episodes that happen from time to time. (Not to us, of course. ;) )
We used to homebrew a lot, but the quality of craft brews have come way up, and the availability and price (at least in California and Washington) are so good that it just doesn't seem worth the hassle for the end result. I'm sure there are folks out there making much better homebrew than we ever did. :)
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3-06-2009 @6:50PM NBDroo said... I've brewed at least once a week, just switching to all-grain rather than extract batches around thanksgiving... I work at a homebrew supply warehouse, so my cost is relatively low, plus I use professional homebrew (does that make sense) equipment... Mash tuns, pumps, 25 gallon pots with therms. and valves... I gotta say. It's extremely addictive. We have about 6 or 8 regular employees who show up just to help or do their own batches. We drink what we made the month before, (tap system) and grill some venison or brats... maybe a walleye or nothern fillet... we have fun. Last brew day we made 40 gallons between 3 of us, two lagers and a cream ale. Tomorrow it's a pale ale or a bitter with organic hops locally sourced. Can't wait!!
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3-06-2009 @7:16PM Kyle said... "Homebrewing is neither difficult nor expensive, but it is up to the brewer to make it as difficult and expensive as his wife will allow"
Definitely treat it as more of a hobby than a money-saver.
Sure, it starts out cheaply, but then you get large stockpots, pumps, immersion coolers, dedicated fridges, kegging systems....
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3-06-2009 @10:18PM Mike said... I agree, it has to be a 'love' thing first, and then a saving money thing. It really is fun, and some of the kits are very well made and have quality ingredients. You can always upgrade in the future to more robust equipment, but a kit is a good way to start. If you're looking to save $$$, stick to diet soda or Bud/Coors! BTW, this is the kit I ended up getting. http://cli.gs/ANdAL4 Had it over a year now.
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3-09-2009 @10:26AM Lee said... There are ways to get the cost of the beer cheaper. First of all, with the equipment, you gotta look at it as amortizing over time. The real cost from batch to batch will be for the ingredients. All grain brewing is cheaper than extract brewing, and if you're diligent, you can reuse yeast. Another homebrewing friend of mine was quite proud of himself a short while ago because he estimated that the total cost for brewing an all-grain batch of beer was something to the effect of $10 for 7 sixpacks. This, of course, was not factoring in the amortization cost of the equipment and assuming the yeast cost was zero since he paid for it with the purchase of a previous batch of ingredients.
So... Is it cheaper than purchasing? It can be, but even under the best of circumstances, you do need to ask yourself what your time is worth. It'll take effort. If you value your time little, go for it. If you value your time alot, then homebrewing should be a hobby and not a cost-saver.
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3-09-2009 @8:58PM Winker said... I forwarded this article to my brother and here was his reply:
Interesting, thanks for forwarding. I can get 5+ gallons/50+ 12oz servings for about $27 in ingredients so about $.50/serving and it's decent beer comparable to a micr none o this Miller Lite crap. The equipment is and investment the way I'm set up with kegging, CO2, tap, refrigerator but I wouldn't ever go back to bottles, PITA. Plus I'm sure we'll be able to drink enough to pass that break even point. I think I'm on my sixth batch or so.
Bottoms up!
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3-13-2009 @3:22PM Dustin said... Yes its more expensive Period. To leave out the cost of supplies is silly because you'll need them anyway. And don't forget time is money and this is a long process- not even the boiling and simmering, but all of the sterilizing you'll do- forget about it.
But price ain't the point- finding ways to make cheaper beers- leave it to big business to iron out cost savings, brewing your own beer doesn't even make sense if you are trying to save money- it'll make much more sense to buy a 6 pack.
If your interested in the process or making something original- thats why you homebrew.
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5-01-2009 @2:50PM Paul Rogers said... My Brother is a money saving skinflint! He buys and renovates old houses. In the shed of one house he found an old fashioned wooden cider press, renovated it and now has it in his garage. He's scrounged everything, including the apples and now has over 200 gallons of 7 to 10% proof cider that hasn't really cost a penny!
I refuse to drink it - I've seen what he's like in the mornings!
Paul.
http://www.local-bargains.co.uk
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5-01-2009 @6:36PM Paul Rogers said... My Brother is a money saving skinflint! He buys and renovates old houses. In the shed of one house he found an old fashioned wooden cider press, renovated it and now has it in his garage. He's scrounged everything, including the apples and now has over 200 gallons of 7 to 10% proof cider that hasn't really cost a penny!
I refuse to drink it - I've seen what he's like in the mornings!
Paul.
http://www.local-bargains.co.uk
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