brewing economics

[stan]

i've only done beer kits so far. and i understand there's more to it than economy..but i wondered if there is a cheaper way to brew? i reckon i can brew 5 gallons of beer for about 14/15 pounds. is extract brewing or all grain brewing any cheaper? or more expensive?

[GrowlingDogBeer]

All Grain Brewing is certainly cheaper if you are talking purely ingredients.
I could brew 10 Gallons of a Black Sheep Ale clone for about £17.00.

What we also have to take into consideration though, if we are purely talking about finances is the cost of the Gas and electricity to heat the water and maintain the boil. Also the cost of the kit required to produce it.

An All Grain set up can be put together quite cheaply, or it can cost a lot more than you are prepared to tell SWMBO

It suppose it comes down to how often you plan to brew as to what investment in kit is worthwhile. I think I have probably spent approx a grand on equipment, that includes things like installing a sink in the garage, buying a shed to move some of the garage contents into, to make room for the brewery in the garage.

I have sourced all my fridges from freecycle, but the kegs and brew vessels and fermenters all cost money.

So even though ingredients wise I can brew 80 pints for £17.00, I need to take fuel into account (approx £2.00 per brew) and the cost of the equipment.

Working on the basis of the volume of beer I have brewed on this brewery, which is fairly new, I am already under 2.00 a pint though, and the more I brew the cheaper it will get.

[Dennis King]

Apart for the savings all grain tastes a lot better

[Titch]

treat it as any other hobby. that is what I am doing. golf or fishing
all cost lots to start.
the bonus with this is no long walks or sitting in the cold.
just great beer