I’ve been involved in many discussions about how to economically justify homebrewing. I don’t agree with the need for this; I consider homebrewing to be a hobby, thus something people do for the enjoyment of the process and end result. However, I think those who try to justify the economics of it are using the wrong argument.

Homebrewing is a hobby, and I don’t think the point of it should be to save money.

My Assumptions

For the purpose of this article, I’m going to assume we’re talking about making a 5 gallon batch of beer, which will produce 2 cases of 12 ounce bottles. I know that is not the “exactly correct” number, but I’ve never gotten the exact same number of bottles out of every batch. So, 2 cases seems like a good goal.

Also, I’m not going to break down full recipes, I’m just looking at total costs. I will post both the extract and all-grain numbers.

These prices are based on prices at online homebrew shops as of December 2020, and the commercial comparisons are based on prices I was able to find locally or talking to friends who live where the commercial example is more readily available. These are not aftermarket prices, but the actual retail price available to friends or I, without worrying about sale pricing.

Also, I am not going to get into the cost of equipment. I am only focusing on ingredient cost, since we’re just talking about going to the store to get beer versus making the beer ourselves. Startup costs for homebrewing vary and are limited only by your imagination and budget.

I will only include the cost for what is used, even though some of the ingredients must be purchased so you will have extra for a later batch. Your order price may be higher than the total amount for a batch.

The Common Argument

When I’ve been involved in these discussions, usually people talk about the making the cheapest possible batch of beer. For this example, I used the Munich Helles recipe from Brewing Classic Styles (affiliate link) and am comparing it to Pabst Blue Ribbon. This seemed like a decent comparison, since I know there are less expensive commercial beers out there, and we can brew a lower-alcohol, less expensive batch of homebrew. But I want a beer I actually want to drink.

PBR is 4.7% ABV, while the Helles recipe produces a beer about 5% ABV. Again, looking at the bigger picture.

The Price of PBR

At my local store, Pabst Blue Ribbon is available for $18.49 per 30-pack. If you buy 2 so you have approximately 5 gallons, PBR will set you back $36.98.

Price per 12 ounces: $0.62

The Road to Helles

Extract Version

7.6 pounds of Pilsner liquid malt extract – sold in 3.3 pound containers for $11.99 ($3.63 per pound) Affiliate Link to Briess Pilsen Light LME
1. Cost of Pilsen light LME used in this recipe: $27.58
0.5 pounds Munich liquid malt extract – sold in 3.3 pound containers for $11.99 ($3.63 per pound) (Affiliate link to Briess Munich LME)
1. Cost of Munich LME for this recipe: $1.82
0.25 pounds Melanoidin Malt (Affiliate Link) $1.86 per pound
1. Cost of melanoidin malt for this recipe: $0.47
1.1 ounce Hallertau hops – $2.19 per ounce
1. Cost of hops for this recipe: $2.41
Saflager S-23 (affiliate link) – $5.49

Total Cost: $37.77

Price per 12 ounce: $0.79

All-Grain Helles version

10 pounds Czech Pilsen Malt (affiliate link) $1.75 per pound
1. Cost for this recipe: $17.50
0.75 pounds Munich malt (affiliate link) $2.19 per pound
1. Cost for this recipe: $1.64
0.25 pounds Melanoidin Malt (Affiliate Link) $1.86 per poundCost of melanoidin malt for this recipe: $0.47
1.1 ounce Hallertau hops – $2.19 per ounce
1. Cost of hops for this recipe: $2.41
Saflager S-23 (affiliate link) – $5.49

Total Cost: $27.51

Price per 12 ounces: $0.57

Settling the Common Argument

Looking at the numbers, where the commercial beer costs $0.62 per 12 ounces, it’s not worth the extra cost of making the extract beer, but you can save a nickel per 12 ounces by brewing an all-grain batch. If you look at 48 cans of PBR rather than a 60-pack, you save $2.25 per 5 gallons.

The Better Argument

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale (recipe link at Brew Your Own Magazine) is pretty much the gold standard of craft beer. It’s now commonly available nationwide and was one of the first beers in the modern craft beer movement.

This beer is a crazy one for me. When I started homebrewing, I thought it was too bitter for my taste, but now I just really enjoy it. Our tastes do change over time.

The Price of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

Locally, I can get a 12-pack of SN Pale Ale for $19.49 in either cans or bottles, both 12 ounces. This means for 48 cans, the total price is $77.96.

Price per 12 ounces: $1.62

SN Pale Ale Extract Version

6.6 pounds light liquid malt extract (affiliate link) – $11.99 per 3.3 pounds
1. Cost for this recipe: $23.98
0.25 pounds light dry malt extract (affiliate link) – $5.49 per pound
1. Cost for this recipe: $1.37
1 pound crystal 60 malt (affiliate link) – $2.41 per pound
1. Cost for this recipe: $2.41
0.5 ounce Magnum hops (affiliate link) – $2.41 per ounce
1. Cost for this recipe: $1.21
0.5 ounce Perle hops (affiliate link) – $2.41 per ounce
1. Cost for this recipe: $1.21
4 ounces Cascade hops (affiliate link) – $9.22 per 4 ounces / $2.31 per ounce
1. Cost for this recipe: $9.22
US-05 Dry Yeast (affiliate link) – $3.99

Total Cost for 5 gallons: $43.39

Price per 12 ounces: $0.90

SN Pale Ale All-Grain Version

10.25 pounds 2-row pale malt (affiliate link) – $2.30 per pound
1. Cost for this recipe: $23.58
1 pound crystal 60 malt (affiliate link) – $2.41 per pound
1. Cost for this recipe: $2.41
0.5 ounce Magnum hops (affiliate link) – $2.41 per ounce
1. Cost for this recipe: $1.21
0.5 ounce Perle hops (affiliate link) – $2.41 per ounce
1. Cost for this recipe: $1.21
4 ounces Cascade hops (affiliate link) – $9.22 per 4 ounces / $2.31 per ounce
1. Cost for this recipe: $9.22
US-05 Dry Yeast (affiliate link) – $3.99

Total cost for 5 gallons: $41.61

Price per 12 ounces: $0.87

Winning the Better Argument

When we compare the cost for 5 gallons of SN Pale Ale ($77.96) vs Extract ($43.39) vs All-Grain ($41.61), we see this is a pretty good argument for the economics of homebrewing. By homebrewing, we can cut the cost of obtaining a delicious beer nearly in half.

The Best Argument

If you can find Dogfish Head 120-Minute IPA (link to recipe on American Hombrewers’ Association site), it is undoubtedly a delicious beer that changed what people thought was possible for beer.

It’s good we established early in this article that we are only looking at the cost of ingredients. Because while this example is a great financial argument, it’s going to require some extra work and time to make it happen. This beer is a month-long commitment to dry-hopping and feeding extra fermentables to your batch.

The Price of Dogfish Head 120-Minute IPA

This beer is one many beer nerds still consider to be a white whale, in that it isn’t commonly available nationwide. It also is not produced constantly, which increases its rarity and desirability. I got to try it on draft a couple years ago, but haven’t seen the bottles for longer than that.

A friend who sees it where he lives said it was $40.00 for a 4-pack of twelve ounce bottles. If you have the wherewithal to pull it off, 2 cases worth of Dogfish 120 will devour $480.00.

Price per 12 ounces: $10.00

DFH 120-Minute Extract Version

11.5 pounds light Pilsen LME (affiliate link) – $11.99 per 3.3 pounds / $3.63 per pound
1. Cost for this recipe: $41.75
0.5 pound English amber malt (affiliate link) – $2.20 per pound
1. Cost for this recipe: $1.10
11 pounds Dextrose (affiliate link) – $17.99 for 12 pounds / $1.50 per pound
1. Cost for this recipe: $16.50
2.4 ounces Amarillo hops (affiliate link) – $4.39 per ounce
1. Cost for this recipe: $10.54
2.4 ounces Simcoe hops (affiliate link) – $3.29 per ounce
1. Cost for this recipe: $7.90
2.4 ounces Warrior hops (affiliate link) – $2.41 per ounce
1. Cost for this recipe: $5.78
White Labs WLP001 (affiliate link) – $7.99 per PurePitch packet
1. Cost for this recipe: $7.99
White Labs Super High Gravity Yeast (affiliate link) – $7.99 per PurePitch packet
1. Cost for this recipe: $7.99

Total Cost for 5 gallons: $99.55

Price per 12 ounces: $2.07

DFH-120 Minute IPA All-Grain Version

16 pounds Czech Pilsner Malt (affiliate link) – $1.75 per pound
1. Cost for this recipe: $28.00
0.5 pound English amber malt (affiliate link) – $2.20 per pound
1. Cost for this recipe: $1.10
11 pounds Dextrose (affiliate link) – $17.99 for 12 pounds / $1.50 per pound
1. Cost for this recipe: $16.50
2.4 ounces Amarillo hops (affiliate link) – $4.39 per ounce
1. Cost for this recipe: $10.54
2.4 ounces Simcoe hops (affiliate link) – $3.29 per ounce
1. 7.9+Cost for this recipe: $7.90
2.4 ounces Warrior hops (affiliate link) – $2.41 per ounce
1. Cost for this recipe: $5.78
White Labs WLP001 (affiliate link) – $7.99 per PurePitch packet
1. Cost for this recipe: $7.99
White Labs Super High Gravity Yeast (affiliate link) – $7.99 per PurePitch packet
1. Cost for this recipe: $7.99

Total cost for 5 gallons: $85.80

Price per 12 ounces: $1.79

Dominating the Best Argument

When you look at the cost of 5 gallons of DFH120 ($480.00) vs Extract ($99.55) vs All-Grain ($85.80), you can start making strong arguments about saving money by homebrewing. DFH 120 is an extreme example of the possibilities, which seems fitting given it was the founder of the “extreme beer” movement.

Even by brewing brewing the extract version of DFH 120, you save 79%, which is a strong argument for how you could save money by homebrewing. But investing $100.00 in a batch of beer is still pretty intimidating.

What Can We Learn?

I will go back to what I said at the beginning of this article: “Homebrewing is a hobby, and I don’t think the point of it should be to save money.”

As a homebrewer, I make a weird combination of beers similar to beers priced near SN Pale Ale to bigger or stranger beers that are more expensive. For me, the joy and challenge of homebrewing is the process and exploring flavors.

The biggest point, though, is that I can produce beers similar to hard-to-get offerings that may not be available in my area or aren’t made anymore. But mostly, I make the beers I like or allow me to explore flavors that intrigue me.

#BrewUpAnAdventure

2020 has been an interesting year; filled with uncertainty, fear, change, and anger. But there’s one October tradition that remains a bright spot in a dreary year: Zymurgy Magazine’s Best Beers in America.

This isn’t your typical top 10 list, where someone sits down and comes up with a list of their favorites. Zymurgy magazine is the official magazine of the American Homebrewers’ Association. Every year, they poll their membership of over 45,000 avid homebrewers. These are some of the nerdiest of beer nerds, with a passion for exploring flavors and recognizing quality brews.

Due to the nature of the organization (being nationwide), and the size of the membership, the beers that populate this list may not qualify as the truly best beers in America. Not to say these beers aren’t amazing, but simply that the beers that bubble to the top of this list must be widespread enough or have enough notoriety to be consumed nationwide.

The Top 3

Looking at the top 3 Best Beers in America, the names are easily recognizable. At least to those of us who’ve been homebrewing for a while, these 3 beers are probably 3 of the most common recipes brewed, tweaked, and traded among homebrewers:

#1 – Bell’s Two Hearted Ale – This beer has been brewed for many years by Bell’s Brewing. One of the unique things about Two Hearted is the fact they use a single hop variety for the entire recipe: bittering, flavor, aroma, and dry hop are all Centennial hops. The recipe has been available to homebrewers for years, and we enjoy the beer both for its flavor and as a test of our brewing ability.

#2 – Russian River Pliny the Elder – Vinnie Cilurzo, the founder of Russian River Brewing released the recipe for Pliny as soon as people started asking for it. He knew few people would able to enjoy this beer at his brewery in California. This beer was one of the original “double IPA” beers. Aggressively hopped, bursting with flavor and aroma, this beer set the bar for hop heads when it first released. Pliny is a powerhouse. It was voted the #1 beer in America for 8 of the first 15 years of its existence, even though its distribution is significantly more limited than the current availability of Bell’s Two Hearted Ale.

#3 – Sierra Nevada Pale Ale – The argument has been made this is the most important beer in America’s brewing history. SN Pale Ale is a beer that changed what people thought beer had to be and launched the craft beer industry as we know it. Other similar beers emerged as contemporaries to Sierra Nevada, but none of the others have survived since 1979. At a time when beer was defined by light lagers, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale came blasting out of the gates loaded with bitterness, citrus hop aroma and the flavor of grapefruit balanced against a mild malt sweetness that hints at toast & marmalade.

Not Just Great Beers

These beers are not just delicious beers I would be happy to enjoy any day with good friends. The brewers who made these beers looked at what was available and said, “That’s not good enough!” and set out to make beers that satisfied their tastes.

I am grateful to the brewers of these beers that stepped out of what was expected and paved the way for brewers (both homebrewers and commercials) to explore unique and interesting flavors in beer.

That mindset is part of the inspiration behind the line I close many of posts with: “Brew up an adventure!”