tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21271644.post5657766677788117623..comments2023-11-02T07:13:53.064-07:00Comments on Beervana: Is Homebrewing the Cheap Choice?Jeff Alworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02930119177544342495noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21271644.post-13212448208109050992009-02-01T00:26:00.000-08:002009-02-01T00:26:00.000-08:00Squeaks,I just like to stir up some interest?;-}Squeaks,<BR/><BR/>I just like to stir up some interest?<BR/><BR/>;-}Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21271644.post-67654688102021322092009-01-31T21:42:00.000-08:002009-01-31T21:42:00.000-08:00Yep that's it, I do a single infusion mash in a 10...Yep that's it, I do a single infusion mash in a 10 gal rubbermaid cooler. I have never used software to calculate my strike temp (I do have a spreadsheet for calculating efficiencies and mash water volume), usually what I will do is add 165-170 water depending on grain temp and weight and stir with a mash paddle if I over shoot at bit. I can generally hit 152 easily, the most grain I have been squeakshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06233937766570404814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21271644.post-42513231652186179372009-01-29T23:24:00.000-08:002009-01-29T23:24:00.000-08:00I was curious, so I went to the homebrewtalk.com. ...I was curious, so I went to the homebrewtalk.com. It's a homebrew forum, but I found directions for simple Infusion Mashing Technique in a cooler. Is that your mashing method? Do you use a brewing program to figure out your Strike temp? Do you find the need for a mash out? What your Grist capacity?<BR/><BR/>Yes, an Infusion Mash is relatively easy and needs little additional equipment. I guess Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21271644.post-30053144031566556002009-01-29T15:27:00.000-08:002009-01-29T15:27:00.000-08:00Dr. Wort, You make a lot of good points but I hes...Dr. Wort,<BR/> You make a lot of good points but I hesitate when it comes to all-grain being really hard and technical, it's really easy and can be done fairly cheap. Search for brew in a bag on homebrewtalk.com it really doesn't have to be complicated, hell I mash in a 10 gal water cooler and get 80% efficiency and hold a temp of 152 easily for an hour. Extract beers will most likely taste squeakshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06233937766570404814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21271644.post-56136393580657311372009-01-29T15:01:00.000-08:002009-01-29T15:01:00.000-08:00i'm under dr wort's essay so no one will probably ...i'm under dr wort's essay so no one will probably see this ;)<BR/><BR/>one thing you forgot to factor in Jeff is the beer you drink while you're making beer (and bottling it), hah.<BR/><BR/>my wife and i made our first beer in November. we bought a starter kit from Steinbarts for $100 which included a "canned" recipe - in this case, an IPA. we spent another $50 or so on a stainless steel pot.<Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21271644.post-18319031387157664822009-01-29T13:52:00.000-08:002009-01-29T13:52:00.000-08:00Over the years, I've taught classes in home brewin...Over the years, I've taught classes in home brewing. Beginners Extract to Advanced All-Grain brewing.<BR/><BR/>It's really a progressive hobby if a person is going to be serious about brewing. Dabbling in brewing will only get you so far.<BR/><BR/>I've seen people get into home brewing for the wrong reasons. Cheap beer is probably a bad reason if you want to make brewery quality beer. <BR/><BR/>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21271644.post-83466682301505496282009-01-29T13:50:00.000-08:002009-01-29T13:50:00.000-08:00Jeff, I'll agree with you noobs probably can't cr...Jeff,<BR/> I'll agree with you noobs probably can't craft world class recipes, that's why the rest of us craft these recipes. The ones that aren't capable or comfortable crafting recipes can just use our recipes and make good beer without the technical knowledge. The other thing is that there a lot of prepackaged kits these days from sites like Austin Homebrew that will clone a lot of your squeakshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06233937766570404814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21271644.post-78115193407764214672009-01-29T13:05:00.000-08:002009-01-29T13:05:00.000-08:00Squeaks, I'll admit, deep in comments here, the di...Squeaks, <BR/><BR/>I'll admit, deep in comments here, the dirty truth: I'm an extract brewer. I have done all-grain in the past, but over the past decade, I've found it's too much work. With unhopped dry extract as a nice substrate, I can easily use specialty grains to create any style of beer. I agree that you can make exceptional beers this way.<BR/><BR/>Where we part ways is that a novice Jeff Alworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02930119177544342495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21271644.post-35281747591469729332009-01-29T10:59:00.000-08:002009-01-29T10:59:00.000-08:00Jeff, I do live in beervana just down the road in ...Jeff, I do live in beervana just down the road in Salem. I still disagree with you, hell I have a pale ale that I as well as many others think is way better than anything they can get commercially. Sure I do all-grain but people should not be afraid of extracts and steeping grains. The trouble is that many people rely on old ways of brewing and myths that have been perpetuated over the years.squeakshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06233937766570404814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21271644.post-82466778589746931922009-01-29T10:54:00.000-08:002009-01-29T10:54:00.000-08:00I had a neighbor in Corvallis that equipped his ga...I had a neighbor in Corvallis that equipped his garage with a pretty sophisticated home brewery and his brews went straight to kegs stored in a refrigerator. After the initial fixed cost of all of the equipment (he was a tinkerer and an engineer and hand built all of it), he was able to quite easily produce exceptional beer at a very low marginal cost, so it is definitely possible.<BR/><BR/>But,Patrick Emersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17242234148546323374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21271644.post-7120278423178570202009-01-29T09:32:00.000-08:002009-01-29T09:32:00.000-08:00I am waiting on the last few boxes from morebeer d...I am waiting on the last few boxes from morebeer dot com, so that i can try my hand at brewing. Beers and meads, I have been sorta making meads at a friends equipment, so i said WTF i should get my own gear, and $825 later, i have put a big dent in my plastic, and should be making my own beer very soon. I hope this works out, if not i know i can sell of most of the gear to friends.Bradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05872057923886020316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21271644.post-26731880456799770012009-01-29T09:31:00.000-08:002009-01-29T09:31:00.000-08:00The other thing that is not true is that you "can'...<I>The other thing that is not true is that you "can't make good beer from the start" if you follow basic methods like the ones on howtobrew.com your sure to come out with a very drinkable beer from the start.</I><BR/><BR/>If you are an Oregon beer geek and your standard for "drinkable" is are the beers of places like Hair of the Dog, Double Mountain, Russian River, Cascade, Roots, etc, you're Jeff Alworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02930119177544342495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21271644.post-7874669609178691122009-01-29T07:39:00.000-08:002009-01-29T07:39:00.000-08:00Agreed, you shouldn't homebrew because it's cheape...Agreed, you shouldn't homebrew because it's cheaper, I try to tell everyone that gets into the hobby that you should look at it as something fun to do not something that is saving you money. If you are doing extract brewing you really don't need a lot to make batches, I think too many people get caught up in buying the prepackaged homebrew kits because it's easy but really all you need is a goodsqueakshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06233937766570404814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21271644.post-7454344310719184612009-01-28T15:06:00.000-08:002009-01-28T15:06:00.000-08:00ehhh, the startup with good equipment and a first ...ehhh, the startup with good equipment and a first recipe for me was around $350. i do mini-mash, and bottle in 22oz bottles. Since i find myself buying a lot of Stone beer, and i have already made a damn good Stone IPA clone, it's saving me quite a bit - $60-70 for a hopped out the ass recipe where i can get 25 bottles versus $4.99-$5.99 for a single bottle is quite a bit of savings imo. It also Fowl Birdwatcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07203224852960639647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21271644.post-49681263726146587272009-01-28T15:01:00.000-08:002009-01-28T15:01:00.000-08:00Jeff, Sounds pretty "right on." Only one typo.... ...Jeff, <BR/><BR/>Sounds pretty "right on." <BR/><BR/>Only one typo.... Extract is "MORE" expensive than Grain. You intended to say that, but flipped it around.<BR/><BR/>One "funny" thought... If you want to save money home brewing beer it can definitely be accomplished, but if the $150 start up cost is too much money... You probably should be paying your bills rather than buying or drinking any Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com