Some thoughts on cost

[gregb]

I have noticed that alot of brewers make the comment about things adding up the cost of a batch.

I will admit that if I can cut a cost I will, but I do find it helpful to rationalise the homebrew costing as follows

(All prices approximate based on my local HBS and supermarkets, and in $Aust.)

Assumption: That a special brew is at least as good as a premium beer from the commercial breweries.

Cost of a case of premium $45 ish

Tin of top quality mix $15
Liquid Malt 1kg $10
Hops either bags or plugs $5
Good yeast (Saf) $5

$35 you got at least 2 slabs from the batch. Down to $17.50 a slab. Can anyone remember when a slab was that cheap at the Bottlo?

$1.45 per stubby - bugger all really.

So head on out and grab the ingredients to do that special brew that you've been thinking of. You're so far ahead that it wont make a lick of difference in the long run.

BTW I dont recall ever going over $30 for a batch myself, but I got the base kit ( a Coopers Stout) on deep special from the Supermarket.

Cheers,

Greg

[Isaac]

A decent brew kit (say, Coopers premium range) should only cost around $12. Some of these include good yeasts - Coopers Pilsner and Bohemian Lager include Saflager - so there may be no extra expense there.

Assuming you need the extra malt, you can pick up unhopped liquid extract for under $9 for 1.5 kgs. Coopers Brew enhancer 2 is around 1/4 to 1/2 DME (not sure) and will substitute for an extra kilo of liquid malt extract in a pinch - and that's only $5.

Hops can be had in bulk and stored in the freezer for about $50 for a kilo (and that's the expensive stuff like Saaz - you can get Pride of Ringwood for under $25 a kilo), and assuming an ounce per brew the hops work out to be under $2 per brew.

Saf yeast - if you have to buy it - is about $3.50 for the lager strain and a shade over $2.00 for the ale strain.

This takes it to around $25 - pretty good value. At $35 I start to think it's better to buy. In any case, I'd shop around a bit - the prices mentioned are a little bit of a ripoff.

[gregb]

I had rounded up to demonstrate that even at the very top dollar, it is still heaps cheaper than any thing you can get in the bottlo.

I brew mostly for the variety that I can get with some simple variations to the mix etc.

Cheers,

Greg.

[morry]

The most expensive brew I have made cost about 45 bucks.
But it was:
Muntons Orig Bitter
2kg Dextrose
1.5kg Light Malt
Safale

So we got our moneys worth.

[Evo]

Yeah, the James Squires range was up around $20 a can (apparently that's why my HBS pulled it). Add to that some malt, hops and yeast and it's getting up there. There's also the "Fresh Wort" kits that are around $30.

But I mean $30 - $35 for two cases of a top drop that you've made yourself. It's basically half the price of VB and ten times nicer. Still VFM (value for money) I say !

[wombat]

i'm with you guys. i just can't stand hearing someone whinge about how $30 for 2 cases of beer is expensive i mean, you could always use a generic brand can of beer and add a kilo of bulk purchased sugar and you'd have your beer for less than $10, but the taste difference....
-wombat

[Marty]

The James Squire (Malt shovel) range you only need to add water. It costs around $17-18 x 2 (only brews 11 ltrs) but you don't need hops/sugar/malt extract etc. I reckon paying $35 for the best part of 2 1/2 slabs is pretty good. My last brew cost me $33 and I got 1 slab of stubbies and 17 longnecks out of it. Compare that to $50 for a slab of James Boags or Cascade and it's pretty good.

It's not just about value though. I brew because I like experimenting. I like being able to create a beer that I want to drink. You also get the satisfaction of doing it yourself. It's pretty cool when you give a home brew to a mate and they say "that's pretty good" (or words/expletives to that effect)

Marty