Quote:
Originally Posted by metaltim
you must be repitching? yeast is $8 by itself. I started repitching recently. last 6 batches have used only 2 white labs vials, so $16 has split into 6 batches.
A ~12 lb. batch plus say 3-4 oz of hops costs me about $20.
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Yes, I do 5 gallon end on end brewing. It sort of goes like this. 2-3 weeks ferment, 2-3 week lager, 2-3 weeks drink. Wash, rinse, repeat.
The 2-3 weeks is generally determined by the drink stage. Since I travel for a large portion of my job I may be home all week or maybe just the weekends.
I have a stock of saflager s-189 that is maybe 3 years old. I simply "renew" my batch about once every 6 months. And I am not entirely sure that is necessary. The use of that saflager is where the 8-13 difference comes from. I think I paid $5 or $6 a package for it. The grain is from a bulk buy I have participated in for the last 2 years. I get grain for less then .50 a pound. I used to buy extra crystal, but now I make my own. I also buy my hops for about $10 a pound, depends on hops.
so..
(some off the top of my head recipe)
12 lbs of grain at .50/lb $6
2 ounces of hops at $10/lb $1.20 (depends on recipe and hops)
Yest from the last batch Free
Cost $7.20
If I had to use another package of yeast $8
Cost $15.20
At the price of packaged yeast today I can not see why more people are not either culturing their own yeast or at the very least washing it down and keeping it in a jar for the next brew.