Hey friends

I am thinking about setting up a home brewing operation in my basement for personal enjoyment/consumption.

I like beer. I am a chemical engineer.
I think it would be pretty awesome to be a beer engineer.

I have been looking over the equipment and set-up costs and was wondering if anyone here has done this before.

By my economic analysis I estimate I could be spending between $150 - $300 for the equipment and probably about $50 per 5 gallon batch. Using a nominal price of $8 for a 6-pack of "good" beer, it looks like my initial investment will pay back after 7 - 15 batches (35 - 75 gallons!).

Do these costs look reasonable?
Anyone have any advice?

No but i'll pre order 10 gallons ok.

I had one of those Mr. Beer things. It's kind of a hobby for perfectionists, you have to disinfect everything and keep everything at the right temperature and what not. The startup costs are somewhat high. The beer was pretty good, but it always came out too carbonated, not sure why, but no big deal. I quite doing it because it was just too much work to do it.

quitter!

It does appear to be a lot of work, but it is primarily on brew day and then a week or two later on bottling day. It will at least keep me from harassing Lady on those days.

I plan on starting with a basic kit and working up to a more elaborate set up. If anyone is interested I could probably document some of this monumental undertaking.

I think it will be a good outlet for my nerdy engineering tendencies while still appearing cool (I am all about appearing to be cool).

ROFL, Ohhh Behavvvvveeeeeee!

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"Down with democracy... we need more dictatorships"! Galamoth
"Derms, celebrate your independance"! Babz

Additional advice: I gave some to my boss and he loved it. Of course I didn't get promoted so...

Gig had all the equipment and had made his own beer for quite awhile. He loved doing it, but then had to give it up when Doctor said no more alcohol. I'm sure he'd tell you to go for it and have a good time doing it.

I went to a bluegrass festivle last summer and our camp had a homebrew contest i got to taste alot of the flavors, they were all really good.

Ok OK 30 gallons pre ordered and that's my finnale offer.

I'll send you a six pack with one of them poisoned for the ultimate TK!

I had a very good friend many years ago who worked at a home brew/bike shop. Yes, it was owned by hippys. I learned two things:

One, there is no governmental regulation on the alcohol percentage of home brews, we as americans have no idea what "just one beer" is truly capable of. Canadian beer doesn't even hold a candle to this stuff. I had a pint of raspberry lager one day, and had to walk home.

Two, and I don't know the actual scientific background on this, but apparently hopps is the only plant legally grown that is related to marijuana. Like I said, hippys.

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hops*

I want a 6-pack, no a case, aw shucks... send a keg!

Ohhh, and leave my hippys alone!

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"Down with democracy... we need more dictatorships"! Galamoth
"Derms, celebrate your independance"! Babz

Aw now, I joke, but they were my hippys too...

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