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Cost per case

Norton

Norton

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Joined
Oct 2, 2010
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Location
Livonia MI USA
My guess is that the cost per case can not get much below $15 when home brewing a decent beer.
Has anyone calculated their average cost. I think my $70 Brew kit should pay for itself after about 8 uses.
If you can brew 2 cases for the price of a good case in bottles at the store.
Or as the wife says this will cost you more in the long run after calculating energy use.
And should I be concerned with this? I do not think so.
 
My ingredient cost per 5 gallon batch for most beers is generally less than $20 and yields more than two cases.  I heat with electricity at a cost well under $0.50/batch.  Overall it's much cheaper than buying beer.  But it's a hobby and wouldn't have to be cheaper to be enjoyable.
 
If you drink (FYB) Fizzy Yellow Beer than you can buy cheap junk from The store for a good price and a cheap drunk. But if you savor finely crafted  beer (at $8.50 a six pack) you will save a small fortune. 8.50 x 4 is $34 a case times 2 is $64 for two cases of good homebrew. I sip and savor beer. If I am somewhere where I can't get craft beer. I drink water. After all, it's cheaper than Bud and it tastes the same!
 
Good points, I do not purchase the cheap stuff  but usually a good Canadian beer.
I think that the cost will still be less in the long run. .50 per 12 ounces would still
be about 1/2 of what I would pay at the store. 
 
I am with everyone on the whole cost thing. My favorite craft beer costs $19.99 a six in Illinois which is over $160 for two cases (taxes kill it). I can brew a comparable clone for around $40.00. So depending on your tastes you can save a lot.

Plus the fun of experimenting and concocting new and exciting beers.
 
Ingredients aren't my issue, it's the equipment.  Just like the very first CD of Windows 7 cost a billion $; the second disk was a $1.  Same thing with big pharma and their new drugs.

Mentally, I have to write-off equipment costs on that first beer made or I would be crying in every pint. :'(
 
Similar to my first kettle http://www.foodservicewarehouse.com/browne-halco/58-13140/p5153.aspx the rest you can probably find on craigslist close to you for cheap. Just watch for deals. Also http://www.mcmaster.com/ is a good place to get the small parts for whatever you cant find at a local hardware store.

Most expensive thing is the carboys which I use 6 gallon better bottles with much success. I also have 2 - 6.5 gallon glass my wife found for me for $25 each. Took some time to collect and the other stuff I had fun building. Attached is the latest batches to get you thinking. Mmmmmmm Beer
 

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You know the 6-8% beer you pay $3-4 a bottle for?  You can brew similar or better for about $0.70.

(after equipment is purchased for all grain and you buy in bulk.)

Equipment costs spread over how many "bottles"?  I've made 70 5 gal batches in the last 5 years.  I think the equipment cost is now down to $0.08 per "bottle".  I keg most so don't have bottle cost anyway.
 
All I can say is that I've spent a load of money & time on this hobby. Yea, a batch is cheap to knock out two cases for pennies on the dollar. But If I count EVERYTHING I've paid to brew beer and serve it... well let's just say our homebrews are truly priceless :p
 
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