Rolled Out On: 10/21/2004 4:00 PM

The only drawback to homebrew is it's easy to make a boatload of 9% rocket fuel and get shamefully, lavishly drunk. The good thing is you're already at home.

Rolled Out On: 10/21/2004 9:34 PM

Um, I saw a $30 kit in hastings once... barley and hops were included!

Rolled Out On: 10/22/2004 9:54 AM

To clarify my earlier comments: the figure quoted included a 5 gallon glass carboy, around $20, and $30 for 5 gallons' worth of ingredients, which is fairly typical for what I make. You CAN spend less for ingredients if you just use a can of hopped malt, or more if you really want to experiment.

If you want to use a plastic bucket with a tap, make sure that its intake is positioned above the bottom of the bucket about an inch, or you will indeed get yeast sediment in your beer.

I like to ferment in glass, and use the bucket and tap for bottling. No one has complained about it yet.

Rolled Out On: 10/22/2004 12:58 PM

I suspect the startup costs amortize quickly. My dad makes wine, and figures his per-bottle variable cost at $2-$3 max. His red, white and port are all notably better than the average European bottle on the liquor store shelf, and make great gifts to his friends.

His most significant investment is time. Winemaking is a multistage process and, as mentioned about beer, there's much sterilizing, etc.; I doubt he even thinks about the out-of-pocket.

Rolled Out On: 10/21/2004 12:28 PM

Basic costs: about $100-$120 for the gear and your first batch, w/o the cost of bottles. You can no doubt get these donated, espescially if you say that you'll fill and return them.

On the siphoning, there's two ways. One is indeed a spout on the bucket, and the other is a gizmo (I forget the name) that allows you to start the siphoning without dipping your hands into the wort.

It is fun to do - think of it as cooking in slow motion. I don't get into the minutiae of specific gravities, acid levels and so forth, I just like being able to make a killer stout for half the price of Guinness!

Good luck and happy fermenting!

Rolled Out On: 10/21/2004 3:43 PM

I'm not even sure you'd run a hundred bucks. If you're going with kits, then all you really need is a five gallon vat, some tubing, a thermometer, a heating jacket, a gravity gauge, a bubble lock and some bottles. Plastic soda bottles are fine.

Siphoning's not hard - if you have clear tubing you can see the beer coming in tiime to not get a mouthful. A tap near the bottom doesn't really work as that is where the yeast sediment is and you stir it up.

The real thing you have to remember is hygiene. You've got to keep all your equipment spotless or you'll end up with several gallons of vinegar. Also, don't get into your supply too quickly. The difference in quality between two week-old brew and two month-old is huge.

The only drawback to homebrew is it's easy to make a boatload of 9% rocket fuel and get shamefully, lavishly drunk. The good thing is you're already at home.