National Homebrew Club Ireland

General Discussions => Chit Chat => Topic started by: nigel_c on January 15, 2013, 12:54:39 PM

Title: Brew day costings
Post by: nigel_c on January 15, 2013, 12:54:39 PM
Has anyone ever worked out the cost of a brew day? Say a 23l batch with a 2 Argos kettle boiler ? Would be interested to see how it adds up. AT the moment water charges do not apply but that will add a bit extra onto the bottom line some day. Just starting a brew now and it got me thinking.
Title: Re: Brew day costings
Post by: DEMPSEY on January 15, 2013, 02:32:47 PM
Hey Nigel,there a job for you to do. You have being a prolific brewer and would be perfect to do a costing. It would be your first article for the homepage. :)
Title: Re: Brew day costings
Post by: Rossa on January 15, 2013, 03:34:21 PM
I think it's roughly 18c a kw. running a kettle of 2.5kw for say 2 hours is 2*2.5 = 5*18= 90c

grain at €1 a kg = 5
yeast New dried = 3
Hops ~3

suppose 12€ at most. reuse yeast and it'll be less than €10
24c per .5l for 25l. That is probably on the higher side. Does that sound right?
Title: Re: Brew day costings
Post by: Hop Bomb on January 15, 2013, 04:44:19 PM
QuoteAT the moment water charges do not apply but that will add a bit extra onto the bottom line some day.

I was just thinking that last night. Im thinking of collecting my worth chiller run off & using that for future brew days. Has anyone else done this? Im thinking one of those large blue barrels with a tap on it. Ive got a 12v pump which would make transferring it a lot quicker.
Title: Re: Brew day costings
Post by: Ciderhead on January 15, 2013, 05:20:43 PM
I use initial hot water from chiller to wash everything.
some recirculate through ice buckets, loads of hb tubs with ice blocks from the freezer.
Mine flows at 9L per minute
Title: Re: Brew day costings
Post by: Ciderhead on January 15, 2013, 05:24:01 PM
QuoteI think it's roughly 18c a kw. running a kettle of 2.5kw for say 2 hours is 2*2.5 = 5*18= 90c

grain at €1 a kg = 5
yeast New dried = 3
Hops ~3

suppose 12€ at most. reuse yeast and it'll be less than €10
24c per .5l for 25l. That is probably on the higher side. Does that sound right?


I punch in ingredients costs in inventory in Beersmith, it tells me exact costs and I also deduct those volumes automatically from inventory when I run a brew :)
liquid yeasts brews run between 18 and 25 depending on grains and more expensive hops
Not plugged in most recent grain or hop buys, will it halve ;D