If you don't brew beer...why not?

brewing beer made me appreciate lagers more. or hybrid styles such as kolsch.

 

Was getting into homebrewing before I moved to Paris. There are numerous reasons why I have not started here.

1) I used to live in a 15m2 apt=175 sq. ft : I now live in a "mansion" 35m2=385 sq. ft. IMO that isn't enough room to homebrew the way that I would like.

2) Now that I work in the beer industry, I enjoy spending my free time with my wife and doing other things.

Side-bar: I guess that you can say that I will be brewing, because I am working on a project to start commercially brewing in France, so, no real need to homebrew.

 

You got a whiskey barrel before you've even gotten off the extract...interesting.

 

It sounds fun, and I want to try but how many dollars do I have to spend before my first batch turns out "good"?

 

Space / Time + Money^3 - desire = reality.

 

Get a friend to split the cost with you. Read as much as you can. Concentrate on sterilization. You most likely will think your first few batches are great until you start reading about off flavors and what causes them. I still do extract kits but I now understand how to tweek them to make them great.

It's like making BBQ sauce. You take a cheap bottle of Hunt's then add some Tabasco and a little Brown Sugar and Worcesterchire a bit of Bacon cook it down longer and now it's edible.

As far as cost $300 out the gate for your start up and first kit. As you get hooked you will spend more.

 

Yep... The barrel does all the work. Found a fresh Balconies Barrel for $80 and ran with it.

 

Time ,money and space.

 

I get confused by people who say home brewing doesnt save any money. After the initial investment in equipment the cost is very low. I can make a batch of beer for around 17 to 18 bucks , so just about 2.00 a six pack. I brew all grain , I buy my hops wholesale by the pound so I get them for well under a buck an ounce , I buy my grains online where I can get free shipping , I reuse yeast cakes when I get a good batch or use dry yeast which I can get a really good flavor from. I use beer bottles I save from beer I purchase and buy my caps by the gross which makes it cheaper. Cost , other than the equipment you need , should not be a factor. 2.00 a six pack and Ive loved about all the beer I have made. I also made my equimpent at start up for around 60.00 , it was a ghetto set up but it worked and it was cheap , built all my own stuff that could be built

 

With my one gallon kit, and the extras (pots. strainers. auto siphon and such) I'm probably out maybe...$100-$120? And a grain recipe costs about 15 dollars after the first batch

 

I have a very small house with no spare space. As soon as we move I will explore this more.

 

I'm not sure I understand the money situation. Brew in your kitchen with partial boils, use Home Depot buckets to ferm in, buy in bulk, reuse yeast. Since moving back to extract, I brewed an 11% RIS for less than 50 bucks

 

Everyone says homebrewing is difficult.... Its easy as hell people!!!! If a dummy like me can make an IPA that blew my doors off, ANYONE can!! Been brewing for almost 2 months and I have 2 bros that went in with me, we never run out of beer and I haven't bought beer in over a month. I LOVE IT!!!!! And get Beersmith, takes all the guess work and complexity out of brewing!

 

For some people, even an additional $20 can mean something more dire.

ever been poor?

Now admittedly, this isn't the best hobby to be in if you're broke, but still.

 

Because of time and I'm an idiot that would fuck it up and waste time and money.

 

My buddy And I brewed an Irish Red Ale completely shitfaced and it turned out brilliant.... dont let intelligence stop you!!!

 

I hear ya, but beer can be brewed for much cheaper than I do. And we're talking about $50 for two cases of 11% damn good imperial stout. People pay that for a single bottle on a regular basis on this site.

 

I took a brew class just so I was more knowledgeable about beer..than my wife surprised me with a "Mr. Beer" I had my designs on something a little more grand when i was ready..now I really want to give it a whirl but the friging style is American Light and I throw up at the thought of that...trying to figure out what to do next

 

right but this included cleaning of everything beforehand and after as well as getting that water up to temperature. He's bought a lot more stuff to hopefully make things more effective and quicker. For instance we probably have never had a 15 minute cooling.

 

And those people are "suckers"