How Much Does Your Home Brewed Beer Cost A Litre To Make ?
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reVoxAHB
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So the wife sends me into the city this evening to purchase pillows for our bed (yeah, I know... If I had $1 for every AHB post that started with, "So the wife sends me into the city to purchase pillows" I'd be a rich man beyond my years :blink
I test drive the $50 synthetics, the $70 synthetic foam cores, the $90 goose feathers, the $150+ latex... and 6 minutes later I'm over it. I grab 2 of the $8.99 specials, and I'm outta there. Probably not the best long term investment, but if she's happy for the next 90 days, I'm happy.
And I do what any of you good brewers would do: make a B-line for the nearest brewery (in my case, the Portland Hotel on Russel St. / home of Squire)... was specifically after the Hop Thief on tap for a job well done.
I get there, and the kid behind the bar tells me the Hop Thief hadn't been on in like years (not true)! and in the same breath tells me he's only been working there for 30 days. He's juggling the 5 o' clock crowd, clearly under staffed.. doesn't offer a beer menu, etc. etc. I don't want to bother him and order something I hadn't tried: the Portland Pale.
$8.40 (pint)
I sit down, facing Russel street, grab the first sip and am overwhelmed by the fact that I brew far superior beer. That's not to say that it was bad or off by any means, or that I'm all cocked over with ego and my brewing (none apply). It was just average, which is fine.
And then it dawned on me: I paid less for my pillow ($6.30@ Myer 30% off sale) something which I'll use for the next 3-6 months, having spent time in travel to the city, time for selection, etc. than I did for a 6 minute pint of average beer at the local whatever.
Good god. Made me think of this thread.
I'm a chef. And I make a damn fine burger. That doesn't stop me from having a burger when I'm out and about, knowing I can make a "better burger" for less. It's when I wander into these dens where I'm suddenly ordering a $22 burger (I've seen far worse) that my sensibility hits the goddamned wall.
Beer is like that. I don't care what it costs me (actually thought about it tonight, and I'm on par with the $1/L scenario). Time is important, but I enjoy my time spent in brewing so is a win.
PP point on par tells me to keep brewing and keep drinking, irregardless.
reVox
I test drive the $50 synthetics, the $70 synthetic foam cores, the $90 goose feathers, the $150+ latex... and 6 minutes later I'm over it. I grab 2 of the $8.99 specials, and I'm outta there. Probably not the best long term investment, but if she's happy for the next 90 days, I'm happy.
And I do what any of you good brewers would do: make a B-line for the nearest brewery (in my case, the Portland Hotel on Russel St. / home of Squire)... was specifically after the Hop Thief on tap for a job well done.
I get there, and the kid behind the bar tells me the Hop Thief hadn't been on in like years (not true)! and in the same breath tells me he's only been working there for 30 days. He's juggling the 5 o' clock crowd, clearly under staffed.. doesn't offer a beer menu, etc. etc. I don't want to bother him and order something I hadn't tried: the Portland Pale.
$8.40 (pint)
I sit down, facing Russel street, grab the first sip and am overwhelmed by the fact that I brew far superior beer. That's not to say that it was bad or off by any means, or that I'm all cocked over with ego and my brewing (none apply). It was just average, which is fine.
And then it dawned on me: I paid less for my pillow ($6.30@ Myer 30% off sale) something which I'll use for the next 3-6 months, having spent time in travel to the city, time for selection, etc. than I did for a 6 minute pint of average beer at the local whatever.
Good god. Made me think of this thread.
I'm a chef. And I make a damn fine burger. That doesn't stop me from having a burger when I'm out and about, knowing I can make a "better burger" for less. It's when I wander into these dens where I'm suddenly ordering a $22 burger (I've seen far worse) that my sensibility hits the goddamned wall.
Beer is like that. I don't care what it costs me (actually thought about it tonight, and I'm on par with the $1/L scenario). Time is important, but I enjoy my time spent in brewing so is a win.
PP point on par tells me to keep brewing and keep drinking, irregardless.
reVox
tangent
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i'm amazed at the partial crowd.
paying more for inferior beer.
$2 a litre for a partial do you want to buy a bridge?
buy a whole bag of cheap malt and some high a/a whole hops.
I got given (that means free) some pride+ whole hops (13%a/a) and bought a #uckload of whole nugget for about $5. Culture some yeast or use a cheap packet of dry, AG brewing is waaaaay cheaper, and better beer hands down.
Some people still use excuses though
"Mumsy says I can't brew in the garage whilst the Mercedes is parked in the Sunday position. Since Father has taken up his new mistress I'm not allowed to leave fermenters in the guest room. Whoa am I and my spoiled friends."
Yeah, life is hard Paris
Make some beer, drink it.
paying more for inferior beer.
$2 a litre for a partial
do you want to buy a bridge? buy a whole bag of cheap malt and some high a/a whole hops.
I got given (that means free) some pride+ whole hops (13%a/a) and bought a #uckload of whole nugget for about $5. Culture some yeast or use a cheap packet of dry, AG brewing is waaaaay cheaper, and better beer hands down.
Some people still use excuses though
"Mumsy says I can't brew in the garage whilst the Mercedes is parked in the Sunday position. Since Father has taken up his new mistress I'm not allowed to leave fermenters in the guest room. Whoa am I and my spoiled friends."
Yeah, life is hard Paris
Make some beer, drink it.
Tony
Quality over Quantity
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very true. and well said.
I have refined my costs by brewing larger batches, good efficiency and maxamising the efficiency of my system.
I source the cheapest gas, i dont just get swap bottles at the servo, i source my ingredients fron different places that offer great quality and price.
I do brew to save money....... thats why i started in the first place, but it has developed into something so much more for me now.
If malt went up to $4 a kg, i would keep brewing cause i enjoy the process, the smell, the edventure of formulating a recipe...... making the beer and seeing peoples faces when they try something new and like it.
I like tasting new things too
I like the gadgets as well. mmmmm the gadgets have me hooked.
cheers
Tony
Quality over Quantity
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:blink:
darren did you no chill................
do you have a bacterial infection.........???
that reminds me of a coment an engineer i used to work with made once.
HE was a practicing cathlic churchie..... didnt drink, smoke or swear.
if he split his finger with a hammer he yelled "FRIG IT"
one day he was standing around with us in the workshop and he must have had a rush of blood and deciced to try to be "one of the boys"
He picked up a 500mm long temperatrure probe and proudly stated at the top of his voice
"how would you like that shoved up your arse"
well............. all went quiet in shock ans just stared at him.
we all looked at each other and then burst out laughung.
he went red as a beetroot and left quickly
ahhhhhhhh i love moments like that.
cheers
:lol:
darren did you no chill................
do you have a bacterial infection.........???
that reminds me of a coment an engineer i used to work with made once.
HE was a practicing cathlic churchie..... didnt drink, smoke or swear.
if he split his finger with a hammer he yelled "FRIG IT"
one day he was standing around with us in the workshop and he must have had a rush of blood and deciced to try to be "one of the boys"
He picked up a 500mm long temperatrure probe and proudly stated at the top of his voice
"how would you like that shoved up your arse"
well............. all went quiet in shock ans just stared at him.
we all looked at each other and then burst out laughung.
he went red as a beetroot and left quickly
ahhhhhhhh i love moments like that.
cheers
:lol:
winkle
Teach a man to fish and play golf, and you'll neve
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If I can work up the courage I'll try the "A mill will make it even cheaper "to a very cynical SWMBO, that'd push my costs under $2 the way I see it. (I could just go to the Belgian Beer Cafe and buy 8 different beers whilst casually stating I could make these at home if I had a grain mill - mmm, that could work wonders )
)Hehehehe Tony, always the comedian,
Yes I do have bacterial infection in ALL of my brews, just like you
Fortunately, none of mine are pathogenic
If you are storing "no chill" beers then you are asking for trouble.
As a suggestion to you, go to work tomorrow and wire all your electrical connection negatives to the positives and see what happens
Brewing science is 100's of years advanced to electrical science. Maybe you could make some revelations
cheers
Darren
If I can work up the courage I'll try the "A mill will make it even cheaper "to a very cynical SWMBO, that'd push my costs under $2 the way I see it. (I could just go to the Belgian Beer Cafe and buy 8 different beers whilst casually stating I could make these at home if I had a grain mill - mmm, that could work wonders
Winkle,
Just go to your local Vinnies and buy a cheap food processor (dont use the "owners" food processor if you like your testies).
Nothing wrong with crushing your malt to pulp and flour. Many of the best brewers double mill and have alot of flour anyhow. The savings will help to sneak a mill in anyhow.
If you do use a food processor, just add grain and turn the whole unit on its side. Stop when it is mostly "crushed"
cheers
Darren
warrenlw63
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Long as it's cheaper a L than petrol, it's all good. Isn't it??? Guess this philosophy makes brewing in the UK look dead cheap, eh?
This is not a good thing to consider if one includes acquisition of gearh34r: I pay what I need to pay to get the gear I want once, without having to consider replacing it down the line.
The only way I can rationalise it is to weigh up 5 hours in a pub drinking beer at exorbitant prices per pint to 5 hours at home brewing beer over a pint or two, and I feel muchas better.
This is not a good thing to consider if one includes acquisition of gear
h34r: I pay what I need to pay to get the gear I want once, without having to consider replacing it down the line.The only way I can rationalise it is to weigh up 5 hours in a pub drinking beer at exorbitant prices per pint to 5 hours at home brewing beer over a pint or two, and I feel muchas better.
