Savings, not costs!

Get advice on making beer from raw ingredients (malt, hops, water and yeast)
guypettigrew
Even further under the Table
Posts: 2626
Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2010 7:10 pm
Location: Christchurch, Dorset

Savings, not costs!

Post by guypettigrew » Sun May 15, 2022 9:22 am

Every now and then there's a thread about how much our all grain beer costs to make. A fair enough topic, with mine costing about 50p a pint to include raw materials and electricity.

But how about looking at it the other way round--how much do we save?

Some huge approximations here, but let's assume I'm saving about £4 a pint compared to pub prices. Saving lots more compared to prices up in London!

Which is a saving of at least £160 for each King Keg full.

Next, let's assume I'm making a keg full every three weeks. A drinking rate of less than two pints a day, especially as some of it's shared with friends. So I'm probably making it more often.

A walloping great saving of just under £2,800 every year, minimum. Which offsets the cost of the kit very quickly!

There can't be many other hobbies which are such huge fun, yield wonderfully enjoyable results and save so much money, all at the same time.

Guy

User avatar
Jocky
Even further under the Table
Posts: 2738
Joined: Sat Nov 12, 2011 6:50 pm
Location: Epsom, Surrey, UK

Re: Savings, not costs!

Post by Jocky » Sun May 15, 2022 10:40 am

I put on the other thread about my Triple IPA recipe, making 16 litres for £58, but that would cost around £270 to buy (conservatively).
Ingredients: Water, Barley, Hops, Yeast, Seaweed, Blood, Sweat, The swim bladder of a sturgeon, My enemies tears, Scenes of mild peril, An otter's handbag and Riboflavin.

User avatar
bitter_dave
Even further under the Table
Posts: 2043
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2005 1:00 pm
Location: Whitley Bay

Re: Savings, not costs!

Post by bitter_dave » Sun May 15, 2022 11:00 am

I agree with you up to a point Guy, and approve of your attempt to make us feel better about our expenditure :) However, I think you have factor in the fact that we make more beer than we would otherwise buy, because we drink more than we would and perhaps give it away.

User avatar
Dennis King
Telling everyone Your My Best Mate
Posts: 4227
Joined: Sat Aug 11, 2007 7:52 pm
Location: Pitsea Essex

Re: Savings, not costs!

Post by Dennis King » Sun May 15, 2022 11:27 am

With the increasing cost of electricity I'm pleased I invested in solar panels several years ago.

User avatar
vacant
Even further under the Table
Posts: 2167
Joined: Mon Aug 20, 2007 5:39 pm

Re: Savings, not costs!

Post by vacant » Sun May 15, 2022 1:14 pm

Really? Who's taking they're homebrew into a pub to drink? Fairer to compare supermarket prices:

This is one one I head for: Flock (£3/l or £1.70/pint).

User avatar
Jim
Site Admin
Posts: 10250
Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 1:00 pm
Location: Washington, UK

Re: Savings, not costs!

Post by Jim » Sun May 15, 2022 1:16 pm

vacant wrote:
Sun May 15, 2022 1:14 pm
Really? Who's taking they're homebrew into a pub to drink? Fairer to compare supermarket prices:

This is one one I head for: Flock (£3/l or £1.70/pint).
You can't buy proper draught beer in a supermarket though.
NURSE!! He's out of bed again!

JBK on Facebook
JBK on Twitter

guypettigrew
Even further under the Table
Posts: 2626
Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2010 7:10 pm
Location: Christchurch, Dorset

Re: Savings, not costs!

Post by guypettigrew » Sun May 15, 2022 2:13 pm

vacant wrote:
Sun May 15, 2022 1:14 pm
Really? Who's taking they're homebrew into a pub to drink? Fairer to compare supermarket prices:

This is one one I head for: Flock (£3/l or £1.70/pint).
OK, still saving nearly £600 a year, and of course there's a variety of flavours from brewing my own.

Plus, why would I want to drink beer which has probably been filtered and pasteurised to get rid of the yeast?

Guy

Rookie
Falling off the Barstool
Posts: 3550
Joined: Fri Nov 23, 2007 5:30 pm
Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Re: Savings, not costs!

Post by Rookie » Sun May 15, 2022 3:14 pm

Don't forget the cost of petrol getting to the pub and home. And who doesn't have a bar meal when they're out for the evening?
I'm just here for the beer.

User avatar
MashBag
Even further under the Table
Posts: 2140
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 7:13 am

Re: Savings, not costs!

Post by MashBag » Mon May 16, 2022 6:58 am

... And that isn't as close, because a lot of pubs have shut. So you drive further and in reality drink much less. And then pay extravagant prices for coke.
guypettigrew wrote:
Sun May 15, 2022 2:13 pm
OK, still saving nearly £600 a year, and of course there's a variety of flavours from brewing my own.

Plus, why would I want to drink beer which has probably been filtered and pasteurised to get rid of the yeast?

Guy
Spot on guy. I think £600 saving is about right. For one bottle from the supermarket everynight. Not hard to pay back the brew kit.

Not to mention.... Mates round for a barby, Christmas, birthdays.... And you have the stock to hand.

User avatar
MashBag
Even further under the Table
Posts: 2140
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 7:13 am

Re: Savings, not costs!

Post by MashBag » Mon May 16, 2022 7:02 am

guypettigrew wrote:
Sun May 15, 2022 2:13 pm
There can't be many other hobbies which are such huge fun, yield wonderfully enjoyable results and save so much money, all at the same time.
I can only think of the stilling & winemaking. Both very similar processes 🤔

clarets7
Piss Artist
Posts: 231
Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2018 8:56 am
Location: Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire

Re: Savings, not costs!

Post by clarets7 » Mon May 16, 2022 8:00 am

MashBag wrote:
Mon May 16, 2022 7:02 am
guypettigrew wrote:
Sun May 15, 2022 2:13 pm
There can't be many other hobbies which are such huge fun, yield wonderfully enjoyable results and save so much money, all at the same time.
I can only think of the stilling & winemaking. Both very similar processes 🤔
Growing your own fruit and veg - the savings may not be as great but the quality and taste are what I'm looking for, just as with my homebrew.
"The paradise of the rich is made out of the hell of the poor" - Victor Hugo

WalesAles
Falling off the Barstool
Posts: 3899
Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2013 11:07 pm
Location: South Wales UK.

Re: Savings, not costs!

Post by WalesAles » Mon May 16, 2022 1:52 pm

MashBag wrote:
Mon May 16, 2022 6:58 am

And then pay extravagant prices for coke.
Mash,
You must have a rip-off dealer! #-o [-X

WA

User avatar
MashBag
Even further under the Table
Posts: 2140
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 7:13 am

Re: Savings, not costs!

Post by MashBag » Mon May 16, 2022 5:26 pm

clarets7 wrote:
Mon May 16, 2022 8:00 am

Growing your own fruit and veg - the savings may not be as great but the quality and taste are what I'm looking for, just as with my homebrew.
I agree. We grow a lot of our own, but the saving (if any) is negligible if you offset the costs.

User avatar
MashBag
Even further under the Table
Posts: 2140
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 7:13 am

Re: Savings, not costs!

Post by MashBag » Mon May 16, 2022 5:27 pm

WalesAles wrote:
Mon May 16, 2022 1:52 pm
MashBag wrote:
Mon May 16, 2022 6:58 am

And then pay extravagant prices for coke.
Mash,
You must have a rip-off dealer! #-o [-X

WA
Blimey. I wonder if they put their prices up 😂😂😂

User avatar
MarkA
Lost in an Alcoholic Haze
Posts: 592
Joined: Fri Mar 14, 2014 11:26 am
Location: Aberdeenshire

Re: Savings, not costs!

Post by MarkA » Tue May 17, 2022 4:52 pm

bitter_dave wrote:
Sun May 15, 2022 11:00 am
However, I think you have factor in the fact that we make more beer than we would otherwise buy, because we drink more than we would and perhaps give it away.
I agree, I wouldn't drink half as much (or even a quarter as much) if I had to buy beer all the time!

Post Reply