Author Topic: Home Brewing. (Read 1232 times)

patnugent · « **on:** February 16, 2013, 05:11:59 PM »

Not sure if this belongs in the "Other Foods" section, but does anyone here home brew? I am about to order a kit and try to get started with it. Unlike Pizza, home brewing seems like it will actually be cheaper than buying stuff that someone else makes... Also excited to try to mimic some of mine and my wife's favorite beers... Mostly hers since I am not picky.

TXCraig1 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 16, 2013, 05:16:00 PM »

You should be able to make a pizza for a lot less $$ than you would pay for one of comparable quality.

tombiasi · « **Reply #2 on:** February 16, 2013, 05:46:07 PM »

Quote from: TXCraig1 on February 16, 2013, 05:16:00 PM

You should be able to make a pizza for a lot less $$ than you would pay for one of comparable quality.

I brew and there are others here.
First: Don't get into home brewing to save money.
Second: Don't buy a kit. Do research to see what you need and buy it from a home brew shop.
Third: Ask questions here.

Tom

patnugent · « **Reply #3 on:** February 16, 2013, 06:11:10 PM »

Not getting into it to save money, just one of the perks. With pizza if I was ordering it would not be of comparable quality at all, but any pizzeria in our area(suburbs of NYC) would be good pizza for less than $20 for a pie.

Already ordered a kit from Northern Brewer off the recommendation of a friend that brews pretty frequently. Looking forward to making some fun drinks.

JD · « **Reply #4 on:** February 16, 2013, 07:45:45 PM »

Quote from: tombiasi on February 16, 2013, 05:46:07 PM

First: Don't get into home brewing to save money.

Yep.

It's about the experience, not saving money. You can buy a pizza for $5, but what's the fun in that?

Which kit did you get?

patnugent · « **Reply #5 on:** February 16, 2013, 08:19:09 PM »

The "essential starter" with the Irish red. It's their mid level kit and go the Irish red over the wheat because by the time it's done it will be st Patrick's day.

TXCraig1 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 16, 2013, 10:30:15 PM »

Quote from: JD on February 16, 2013, 07:45:45 PM

It's about the experience, not saving money. You can buy a crappy pizza for $5, but what's the fun in that?

Qarl · « **Reply #7 on:** February 16, 2013, 10:40:40 PM »

I'm an avid brewer.

I built this system... www.theelectricbrewery.com

A great forum is www.homebrewtalk.com

I'll post some pics later.

Qarl · « **Reply #8 on:** February 16, 2013, 11:13:03 PM »

Pics of the system, keggerator, and some brews...

TXCraig1 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 16, 2013, 11:16:52 PM »

Wow!

Qarl · « **Reply #10 on:** February 16, 2013, 11:21:53 PM »

Craig, I can see the same about your pizza setup. LOL

norma427 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 16, 2013, 11:26:40 PM »

Quote from: Qarl on February 16, 2013, 11:13:03 PM

Pics of the system, keggerator, and some brews...

Qarl,

That sure is a sweet set-up for brewing!

Norma

JD · « **Reply #12 on:** February 16, 2013, 11:44:50 PM »

So beautiful Qarl

Quote from: TXCraig1 on February 16, 2013, 10:30:15 PM

It's about the experience, not saving money. You can buy a crappy pizza for $5, but what's the fun in that?

Good addition. Same goes for beer... What homebrew enthusiasts refer to as BMC (Bud, Miller, Coors )
I would say the same for Dominos, Pizza Hut, (insert third here)

patnugent · « **Reply #13 on:** February 16, 2013, 11:54:30 PM »

The problem with beer vs. pizza right now is that I can make a much better pizza than a chain... I am a sucker for them from time to time, and actually prefer them to a normal pizza spot because there is no hit or miss.... But I make my own pizza once a week. So a fix is always there. With beer... Beer is much more expensive per drink than most liquor and well, i dont even want to try my hand in wine... but if in the next year I can figure out how to make a decent delirium clone... Then I will be set... Wifes favorite beer... $20 for a 4 pack.... and worse case scenario, I get to drink the failed attempts.

pizza cost wise all approx:

1 batch dough - 3 pies

~$0.75 honey
$0.35 yeast
~$0.75 flour
0.01 salt
= $1.86
Fresh mozz
$4
1 red pepper
$2
1 ear of corn
$0,50
Garlic
$0.50
Olive Oil
$0.75
meat
$4
spinach
$0.75
artichoke
$0.75

Thats a guestimate for last weeks pie's not including energy(thinking from a business standpoint) Probably about half the price of a comparable pizza experience. just as much or more flavor.

tombiasi · « **Reply #14 on:** February 17, 2013, 08:48:12 AM »

Quote from: patnugent on February 16, 2013, 06:11:10 PM

Not getting into it to save money, just one of the perks.

It won't be a perk. You most likely will not save money because you will brew a better (and more expensive) beer.
If you consider some of the prices some places charge for a good craft beer you may save a little but not much.
Tom

DenaliPete · « **Reply #15 on:** February 17, 2013, 09:13:00 AM »

Yeah, I wouldn't really consider that brewing leads to savings, you're just relocating the funds.

I brewed once with a Roommate, and while its a very fun process, it isn't one that lends kindly to mistakes. One needs to be very sanitary and very precise. We miscalculated something while brewing (its been some years, so I don't recall what it was we erred on), and while we still received a drinkable product, it was far different than what we were shooting for.

I just had some homebrew of a co-workers a few weeks ago. It was his first attempt, and it tasted like feet.

Beer was fun to make, but more complex than I cared to delve into.

Serpentelli · « **Reply #16 on:** February 17, 2013, 09:26:54 AM »

Quote from: Qarl on February 16, 2013, 11:13:03 PM

Pics of the system, keggerator, and some brews...

Uh..... that thing is AWESOME!!!

Many skills on this site. Many, many skills.

John K

Qarl · « **Reply #17 on:** February 17, 2013, 10:58:21 AM »

Thanks for the compliments. To be honest, for the control panel and general configuration, I just followed all the steps here... http://www.theelectricbrewery.com/

I did my own twist on a few things (like polishing the kegs and using them for brew kettles), but the general plan is the same. It took about 9 months to build in my spare time on weekends and some evenings.

SquirrelFlight · « **Reply #18 on:** February 17, 2013, 08:29:07 PM »

I'm still in the brewing-from-extract-with-specialty-grains level of experience, although I think I may look into building a basic, inexpensive (I've been told $100-$150) all-grain setup for my next batch.

As far as a kit goes, I got my first one from my local homebrew shop (LHS), and it has done pretty well over the years. I'm a believer in the local shop approach. Every one I've ever been in has had pretty nice guys who want to help people make beer, and the only stupid question is the one not asked.

As far as inexpensive beer goes, that depends on what you drink. Many years ago my beer snobbery reached a level where the cheapest beer I drink comes in around $5/bottle. So, at $40 for a 5-gallon batch is a bit cheaper.... my beer isn't as good as the higher-end stuff out there, but it's as good as, if not better than everything else.

My wife just did her first batch this last week. She does pretty good with mead, so we'll see how well it comes out in about a week.

Qarl - sweet setup! Someday...

I love the pic of the... IPA? Amber? The one that only has about an inch left at the bottom of the glass

widespreadpizza · « **Reply #19 on:** February 17, 2013, 09:03:09 PM »

you has AB kegs chromed? holy %$# that looks sweet!