[CounterPressure]

Oh, they have "Interests"; like vacations unloading piles of cash. I should have been more specific and said, interests in anything that has legitimate tangible value.  Not things that are a net financial negative.

you mean like homebrewing? 

Lol, Ok, but to be fair, I'm not sure if even that's a great example. I bet if I purchased beer made commercially, I would be spending more than I do now.  I went for a few years recently, purchasing beer at the distributor just due to time and work. I'd almost guarantee I spent more then than I have on brewing since. 


I'm not trying to say never waste some time and money on fun stuff, but how about doing something useful once in a while...



If I compare my "hobbies and interests" I had as a kid, going back to say age 8-15, every one was beneficial in my life, and in a number of ways.  Directly, they make up what I've done in business my entire life.  Additionally, helping my 2 brother in laws build homes during that time has also been extremely beneficial.  From laying block to framing to roofing, and lots of stuff in between.  I simply DO NOT call repairmen. I build my own stuff.  I do a lot of things that are unquestionably a net positive. That I also have interests that are not going to pay the bills, I'm fine with it. I have almost no bills anyway! 

[dmtaylor]

I agree with CounterPressure; his experiences match mine pretty closely.  And as for the "every generation thinks the next is crappier" or whatever, consider the possibility that this time it might actually be true.  If this is getting old, it makes sense because you and I *are* getting old.   

[Megary]

I agree with CounterPressure; his experiences match mine pretty closely.  And as for the "every generation thinks the next is crappier" or whatever, consider the possibility that this time it might actually be true.  If this is getting old, it makes sense because you and I *are* getting old.   

My experience says it is 100%, unequivocally not true and is nothing more than the same old curmudgeonry.  And yes, I am getting old.  But not old yet!   

YMMV.

Peace out. I've said enough.

[Steve Ruch]

@Megary and Steve Ruch, Seeing as this is a very new development at MoreBeer, I suspect something similar is going to hit everywhere else pretty soon. For instance, last week MB was $8 like NB is now, but who's to say what NB will be next week. As to the others, I'd likely have to pay shipping and who's to say what price that puts me at then.  Often the 'base' price doesn't tell the whole story.  How much is it shipped and sitting in my fridge...

At more than $2 less it doesn't take very many to cover the cost of shipping

[hopfenundmalz]

How do you spend $150 to make 5 gallons of German Pils?

[dmtaylor]

How do you spend $150 to make 5 gallons of German Pils?

Sounded to me like an exaggeration but I've also seen examples where people are spending absolutely absurd amounts for some batches.  Wow, they must be rich (in my Jason Hervey voice).

[BrewBama]

How do you spend $150 to make 5 gallons of German Pils?

We don’t get to choose if we live or die. Death is certain. We only get to choose how we live before we die.

[CounterPressure]

How do you spend $150 to make 5 gallons of German Pils?

Sounded to me like an exaggeration but I've also seen examples where people are spending absolutely absurd amounts for some batches.  Wow, they must be rich (in my Jason Hervey voice).

The worst I've ever done is making Pliny the Elder kits from MB where I have $100 in a 10 gal batch, plus other accessort things which probably drives it up near $115-120 (guessing).  The money there is mostly in the hops, and I simply buy the kits because it's easier and I have no leftovers of items I seldom use.  They (and about every mail order supplier) do have other kits which are even more expensive.  Anything with honey in it gets that cost added in too.  Cha-ching... That isn't cheap any more either.

[hopfenundmalz]

The quoted price above was something I questioned. I brew a lot of German Pilsner.

Quick back of the envelope math. Buy in bulk. 10 gallon batch.

20 lbs Weyermann Pils $32
8 Oz Hallertau Mittelfrüh hops $8
Yeast Wlp 830 $16 make it $20 with DME for starter.
Everything else, add $10

So I would have $70 in a 10 gallon batch. $35 for a 5 gallon batch.

If buying malt by the pound or hops by the Oz, it goes up quick.

 My system costs were a long time ago.

[fredthecat]

White labs, but related. There definitely is a certain cutoff point where most people realize the high tens in dollars for a single yeast type is not worth it.

[hopfenundmalz]

In my example above I used a Liquid yeast since this is a liquid yeast thread. I've been using Diamond dry yeast for my last several Pilsners.

[CounterPressure]

^^^^^ fredthecat
Doesn't surprise me when you consider the headaches involved in selling it along with the nature of the product doesn't lend itself well to mail order. At the places where I buy, liquid yeast is now north of $20 by the time you get ice to ship it with. That's probably not enough to stop some people from using their favorite yeast, but I can say for me it's definitely enough to keep me from experimenting.

[skyler]

How do you spend $150 to make 5 gallons of German Pils?

I was more thinking about hypothetical homebrewers, but if you buy all the “best” ingredients and pitch 2 packs of premium yeast and buy all the additives (brewtan, clarity ferm, yeast nutrients, etc.), then pay shipping on top of that, you can approach and maybe exceed $150. I know a place that sells craft malt for $3.50/lb and have encountered brewers who buy two yeast packs (1056) to pitch direct without a starter. Would that be 4 packs of lager yeast? 2 packs of white labs at $16/pack and it adds up.

[Richard]

I brewed a Denny Kong IPA this year, and it used an armload of hops, some of them cryo-hops. That was an expensive beer, even though I used dry yeast, but it was worth it!!

[hopfenundmalz]

How do you spend $150 to make 5 gallons of German Pils?

I was more thinking about hypothetical homebrewers, but if you buy all the “best” ingredients and pitch 2 packs of premium yeast and buy all the additives (brewtan, clarity ferm, yeast nutrients, etc.), then pay shipping on top of that, you can approach and maybe exceed $150. I know a place that sells craft malt for $3.50/lb and have encountered brewers who buy two yeast packs (1056) to pitch direct without a starter. Would that be 4 packs of lager yeast? 2 packs of white labs at $16/pack and it adds up.

As I said, buy in bulk, the ingredients I mentioned were quality German items.  Most homebrewers are thrifty.

I need to get my but in gear and brew a Denny Kong to clean out the freezer full of hops.