Have you ever considered brewing your own beer at home and wondered if it’s a more cost-effective option than buying from the store? Homebrewing has gained popularity among beer enthusiasts who enjoy experimenting with flavours and recipes while gaining full control over the brewing process.
In theory, homebrewing your own beer can be cheaper than purchasing store-brought alternatives.
On average, you can produce a 330 mL bottle of all-grain homebrewed beer for about $0.70 for a 330ml serve, while purchasing a similar-sized bottle of craft beer may cost around $5.00. But it’s crucial to account for the initial investment in brewing equipment and ingredients, which can impact your overall cost-efficiency.
Once you’ve brewed a few batches, the savings become more apparent, making it a more wallet-friendly option in the long run.
Remember, there are variables in the process that can affect your total expenses, such as ingredient quality, recipe complexity, and techniques used. So, if you’re looking to save money and unleash your creativity, homebrewing could be an exciting and cost-effective way to enjoy your favourite beverage.
Price by Type of Home Brew
All-Grain Brewing
All-Grain brewing offers you the most control over your beer’s flavour, allowing you to select the specific grains, hops, and yeast for your desired outcome. However, it also requires more equipment and can be a bit more time-consuming.
Equipment
To start with all-grain brewing, you need to purchase a brew system to brew in. The easiest way to do it is to use something like the Brewzilla from Kegland. So we will use that in our estimates.
The cost of a Brewzilla All Grain System from Kegland will set you back about $605.00
You will also need a fermenter, a basic type will cost you about $30.00
On top of that you will need a way to package your beer. Bottles is the cheapest way and can often be got for free (or by buying and drinking beer).
Ingredients
Once you have your equipment, you will need to purchase grains, hops, and yeast. The cost per batch will vary depending on the ingredients you choose and the size of your batch.
For a typical 19-litre batch (basic ale with standard ingredients), the approximate costs are as follows:
- Grains: 4-6 kg of malted barley, roughly around $5 per kg, for a total of $20-30.
- Hops: 70 grams, with prices being about $18 for 250 grams, for a total of $5.00.
- Yeast: $4.40 for a single packet of US-05.
For a 19-litre batch, your total ingredient cost would be approximately $39, which is around $2.00 per litre.
Note: that this doesn’t include the initial investment in brewing equipment.
Extract Brewing
Extract brewing uses pre-made malt extract, which saves time and effort compared to all-grain brewing. It can also be a more affordable option, especially for new home brewers as it requires fewer tools and a smaller initial investment.
Equipment
For the sake of convenience, we will use the Coopers homebrew kit as a guide here. You can pick this kit up for under $130 and that includes the fermenter, PET bottles and the ingredients for your first brew.
Ingredients
For extract brewing, you will need to purchase malt extract, hops, and yeast. Here’s a rough breakdown of ingredient costs for a 19-litre batch:
- Malt extract: Depending on the type and quality, malt extract can cost around $30 per batch.
- Hops: The coopers tins come pre-hopped so you may not need any, but lets allow $5 for the sake of dry hopping.
- Yeast: The coopers extract kits come with yeast, but lets allow for a better yeast to ensure ok quality beer. $4.40 for a single packet of US-05.
With extract brewing, the total ingredient cost for a 19-litre batch would also be approximately $39, which is around $2.00 per litre.
In conclusion, both all-grain and extract brewing methods have differing costs, equipment needs, and brewing processes. The specific costs will depend on your chosen ingredients and equipment to tailor your beers. Home brewing can be a cost-effective way of enjoying your desired beer styles, with the price per litre generally being lower than store-bought beer.
Quality and Experience
When it comes to homebrewing, the quality of your beer heavily depends on factors like the recipe, yeast selection, and fermentation process. By carefully considering these aspects, you can elevate your homebrewing experience and create beers that rival commercial craft offerings.
The Recipe
One important element of homebrew quality is the recipe. By experimenting with various recipes, you can find the perfect balance of specialty grains, hops, and adjuncts that cater to your personal taste. It’s important to note that a well-designed recipe is essential for creating distinct flavours and styles, such as ales, lagers or stouts.
Yeast Selection
Yeast selection also plays a significant role in beer quality. Different yeasts impart distinct flavours and textures, making it crucial to choose the right strain for your desired beer style. For example, ale yeasts are known to impart fruity esters and robust flavours, while lager yeasts create a cleaner, more crisp taste. Don’t hesitate to experiment with various yeast strains to find the one that best complements your recipe.
Fermentation
The fermentation process is another crucial aspect of homebrew quality. Properly controlling fermentation temperature, ensuring adequate oxygenation, and practising good sanitation techniques can greatly impact the flavour and aroma of your beer. It’s essential to monitor and adjust these variables throughout the brewing process to achieve optimal results.
Make Beer You Enjoy
One of the most appealing aspects of homebrewing is the personalised experience it offers. As a homebrewer, you have complete control over the ingredients, techniques, and equipment used in creating your beer. This level of control allows you to tailor your brewing process to suit your individual preferences and produce unique, customised brews.
Homebrew Versus Commercial Beer
When it comes to brewing your own beer, you might wonder how it stacks up against commercial or store-bought beers. Let’s dive into the differences between homebrew and commercial beer, focusing on factors like cost, quality, and the overall experience.
One of the main reasons people choose to brew at home is the cost savings. While the initial investment for brewing equipment and ingredients can be a bit pricey, once you get started, the cost per litre of homebrew is usually lower than commercial beer.
You can expect to pay around $0.5 for a pint (473 mL) of homebrew, while an average pint of commercial beer costs $12 at a pub in Australia. Of course, this will depend on your choice of ingredients/the type of beer chosen at the pub, but it’s undeniable that brewing your own beer can lead to significant savings in the long run.
Quality is another factor homebrewers often cite as a reason for brewing their own beer. Though commercial beer, particularly from local breweries and craft brews, can be fantastic, they may not always cater to your specific tastes.
By brewing at home, you have complete control over the ingredients and process. This allows you to create a beer that perfectly suits your palate, without any hidden preservatives or chemicals. However, it may take some trial and error to perfect your recipe and process.
Comparing homebrew to commercial beer highlights the various benefits and drawbacks of each option. While neither option is categorically better than the other, the decision ultimately comes down to your personal preferences, tastes, and priorities. So, decide what aspects of beer and brewing are most important to you, and enjoy your journey into the exciting world of beer.
Brewing Process
Brewing Equipment
When you start your homebrewing journey, your first step is to invest in brewing equipment. Essential items include a kettle, mash tun, fermenter with airlock, thermometer, and chiller.
To ensure proper sanitation, you’ll need a good sanitizer and a fridge or fermentation chamber to maintain consistent temperatures.
As a homebrewer, bear in mind that although there is an initial cost for the equipment, it will pay off in the long run, making your hobby more affordable.
Ingredients and Additions
Your homebrew beer’s ingredients play a vital role in determining the overall cost. The main elements include malted grain, hops, yeast, and water. You can save money by choosing all-grain brewing, which allows you to purchase your ingredients in bulk.
Consider reusing yeast to cut down expenses further. Monitor your electricity usage as it also factors into the overall cost of brewing beer at home.
Bottling or Kegging and Storage
Proper bottling and storage are crucial components of your homebrewing process. You’ll need bottles, caps, and a capping device. To save money, consider reusing commercial beer bottles or asking friends and family to save their bottles for your use. Sanitise the bottles and caps thoroughly before using them for your brews.
The alternative to bottling your beer is storing it in a keg and serving it directly from that. This is a much higher initial investment though and for those looking to save money, bottling is the cheapest option.
Hidden Costs
When considering homebrewing beer, it’s important to be aware of the hidden costs associated with this hobby.
While the basic ingredients for brewing, such as malts, hops, and yeast, can be purchased for a reasonable price, there are additional factors that may affect the overall cost of homebrewing.
Start-up Equipment
To begin homebrewing, you’ll need to invest in start-up equipment like fermenting vessels, siphon, hydrometer, and sanitizers. This initial investment can be costly, but keep in mind that these items will be reusable for future batches.
Raw Ingredients
While it’s possible to find cheap beer kits with pre-packaged ingredients, many brewers prefer to customise their own recipes using a variety of malts, spices, herbs, and other additives. This can result in higher costs, particularly if you’re experimenting with different flavour profiles.
One way to offset this expense is to buy ingredients in bulk such as hops and yeast from us here at the Yeast Platform.
Labour and Time Commitment
Homebrewing can be a time-consuming process, taking anywhere from a few hours to several days per batch.
Your labour during this time may not have a monetary cost, but it’s essential to factor in the value of your personal investment.
Remember, brewingsmaller batches may result in less output for your effort compared to brewing larger quantities.
Gas and Energy Usage
Homebrewing requires the use of propane or natural gas for heating your brew kettle, and electricity for fermenting and other processes.
These energy costs, while usually minimal, should be taken into account when comparing the cost of homebrewed beer to store-bought options.
Maintenance and Replacement Parts
As with any hobby, regular maintenance and replacement of parts can impact the overall cost of homebrewing. Items like gaskets, airlocks, and tubing may need to be replaced over time, while larger investments like a grain mill or kegging system can add to your overall expenses.
Additional Brewing Supplies
There are several smaller items and consumables you’ll need to consider when brewing, such as sanitizers, nutrients, and potentially harvested yeast. These ongoing expenses can add up over time, but they’re essential for ensuring the quality and flavour of your homebrewed beer.
By taking these hidden costs into account, you’ll have a better understanding of the true expense involved in homebrewing and be better prepared to make an informed decision about whether it is the right hobby for you. Remember that while store-bought beer may be more convenient, the satisfaction of crafting your own unique brews can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience.
Economies of Scale
When considering economies of scale in the context of homebrewing beer, it’s essential to bear in mind how your production size can impact the overall cost. As the quantity of beer you produce increases, the per-unit cost drops, providing more value for the time and resources invested in your brewing process.
To save money by brewing at home, you must take into account not only the cost of ingredients but also the equipment and utility expenses needed to create the perfect pint. In Australia, homebrewing can indeed lead to cost savings over store-bought beers, especially if you aim to match the quality of craft beer produced by local breweries.
By producing in larger batches, the cost of each pint decreases, making it more economically viable to brew at home. For instance, you may find that the price per litre or pint of your homebrew drops as you increase production volumes. This demonstrates the potential economies of scale that can be achieved while brewing in your own home.
It’s useful to keep track of your expenses and assess how your homebrew compares to the average price of a pint in your area. A few factors to consider when determining the overall cost of your homebrew include:
- Ingredient costs: Consider the price of grains, hops, yeast, and any additional additives.
- Equipment: Factor in the cost of brewing equipment, such as kettles, fermenters, and bottles.
- Utilities: Don’t forget to include energy costs for heating and cooling, as well as water usage.
Taking these factors into account, compare the price of your homebrew to that of locally available beers, both from mainstream brands and local breweries. By brewing at home, you have more control over the quality of your beer, which means you can potentially create a superior product at a lower cost.
In summary, you can achieve economies of scale by brewing beer in your own home, allowing you to save money and enjoy a quality pint at a lower overall cost. Keep an eye on your expenses and production parameters to ensure your brew remains an excellent value for your money.
Conclusion
By choosing to homebrew, you can enjoy beer at a lower cost compared to purchasing craft beers. When brewing at home, you’re likely to experience a cost of around $0.70 per 330mL bottle, whereas commercial craft beers can cost around AUD 5-6 per 330mL bottle. Admittedly, macrobrewed beers can be cheaper, at approximately $2.00 per bottle, but homebrewing still offers significant savings over craft options.
There is an upfront investment required when it comes to homebrewing, including purchasing equipment and ingredients. However, after a couple of batches, the cost of these initial investments will be offset by the savings made on each beer. It’s not just the financial aspect that makes homebrewing appealing; you also have the opportunity to tailor your beer to your preferences and enjoy the fresh, unique taste of your creation.
In summary, by opting for homebrewing, you can:
- Save money compared to buying craft beers
- Access cheaper beer that caters to your taste
- Develop a rewarding hobby that enhances your beer enjoyment
Remember, though, that the savings from homebrewing come over time, so you’ll need to be patient and dedicated to ensure you reap the full benefits of brewing your own beer. Enjoy exploring the world of homebrewing and cheers to your brewing success!