Any particular reason you DON'T homebrew?

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Too many other "hobbies" to try and pick up another for me.  I don't have enough time in the day to truly focus on most everything I'm already involved in and I'm retired.  Plus, I can pick up a 30 pack for less than $20 that will last more than a few days.  I guess I just don't have the time to brew my own and wait for it to be ready to drink.  More than a few years back I got into micro brews but being in the military we moved around a lot.  I got tired of trying to find another micro that I liked and went to a macro that I already liked.
 
I used to be a hard-core brewer.  I was doing all-grain brewing back in the 80s, when you had to make your own equipment (as inexpensive commercial equipment didn't exist back then).  Came up with some recipes which are still used today by some of the microbrews in the region.  Then, I moved, and subsequently married a woman who couldn't stand the smell of fermenting beer, she also didn't like giving up the closet space; I got out of the habit of crafting beers.  Eventually all the brewing equipment was sold or lost in subsequent moves.  Every now and then I run across one of my old hydrometers or vinenometers, and smile.  But I realize it is unlikely the hobby will be picked up again.  I tend to do a hobby only as long as there is something new or different to do.  By the time I got out of it, the boundaries of what could be done had been fully explored, and all the ground-breaking techniques had been developed.  I had pioneered the reverse-mash process (for people who preferred lighter tasting beers) and using nuts in beers (back when everyone believed the fat from the nuts would cause the beer to go rancid), and developed the techniques to make these processes work.  Perhaps when I retire the hobby will be picked up again, but for now the time (and space) does not exist to follow the craft.  Best of luck to all you home-brewers, it was a fun hobby.
 
 
I usewd to, but without a basement it is hard to find a place cool enough to brew in the Summer that stays below 70F.  Yes, I tried a dedicated closet, Son of fermentation chiller, etc, etc.
Not hard at all search "swamp coolers" for home brewing (you may need to add some ice bottles for the first three days to keep temps in range but worth it IMO)
 
I did it years ago. Stopped for 2 reasons:

1. My daughter was about 6 or 7 and liked to be involved in everything in the kitchen. So I let her help me make some IPA over spring break. When she went back to school, the teacher asked the students what they did over break. So of course she raises her hand and says, "I helped my dad make beer!" Yeah, we got a call from the principal about that one.  
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2. I wasn't heavily invested in equipment. I was using one of those "Mr. Beer" kits. Don't laugh, it made some pretty fine beer. So when the holidays rolled around, I tried making a Christmas spice ale. It turned out ok, but the spices permeated the plastic barrel, and never went away. Ruined the next two batches of lighter ales, so I tossed it. 
 
Haven't in a couple years but, I just got home from the brew store with ingredients for two 10 gallon batches.  Going to brew the day after thanks giving.
 
I used to brew until I had kids, and a real job, and land to take care of!

Maybe someday I'll brew again. Wife says I have too many hobbies as it is!
 
I tried brewing back in the 70's.... had bottles blow up.... had stuff boil over on kitchen stove.... tried 2 batches... finally gave up....
 
 
What keeps you guys from brewing? Seems like most of you like doing things yourself and perhaps have a least a bit of space for it.
I don't homebrew.  Takes too much time and trouble in contrast to the cost and availability of excellent locally produced craft brews at reasonable prices.

That said, I used to homebrew twenty years ago.  I had a lot more spare time, I drank a lot more beer, there were far fewer craft brewers, and I lived in a small town with little availability of decent beers.  
 
Oh no.  I was thinking about this exact topic last night and now I randomly found this post........  My smoker is packed away for the winter.  I'm making biltong to scratch the itch but I thought hey, wouldnt it be great to make my own beer haha!

The last thing I need is another time sink and a drain on my wallet.  Waaayy too much stuff sucking me dry already haha!  But in all honestly, is making beer in anyway cost effective?  I cant recall, but I think 24 Yuenlings costs around ~$19 in my area and I can immediately sit on my deck chair and crack it open.  What would the ingredients cost for a decent 24 pack of craft beer and how much time would it take to prepare?

Sure its a hobby and all, but I'm just curious if its worth it in time/money.  Thanks!! 
 
As true for most hobbies, it isn't as much about the financials as the sense of enjoyment one feels.

It's been a LONG time since I brewed as noted above, but out of curiousity I glanced at Northern Brewer website: http://www.northernbrewer.com/brewing/recipe-kits

Looks to be $35-$45 for ingredients to make approximately two cases depending on the chosen style.  That doesn't count the requisite brewing & bottling equipment or the losses from any batches that go bad (which happens sometimes).  

So it seems a fair bit cheaper to homebrew than to buy many craft brews, but not staggeringly so.  I can get good craft beers at around $13-16/12pk here, so I'm paying around $10/case for someone else to do all the work.
 
I stopped brewing because I found I liked brewing better than drinking beer.  Had so much I had to give it away.  Don't really drink anymore so I doubt I'll take it back up.  Sister has the equipment for the occasional batch of wine.
 
I found this site.  Pretty cool.  But it seems like the clear consensus is that home brewing is a hobby and you should forget about what it costs.

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/

I did stumble onto a device called Picobrew, a Kickstarter project.  Looks sick. 
 
I don't because I live in a house with a wife and 4 kids under the age of 6. I however have a buddy that grows his own hops, and brews his own beer, makes stove-top shine, etc. I'm the friend who hunts and fishes with a wife who is a phenomenal cook who like canning, so often as not I benefit from his skills as he does mine. Win - Win for everyone...
 
 
I found this site.  Pretty cool.  But it seems like the clear consensus is that home brewing is a hobby and you should forget about what it costs.

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/

I did stumble onto a device called Picobrew, a Kickstarter project.  Looks sick. 
Well, that's true with most hobbies.  But with making beer, you get to enjoy the fruits of your labor.  Seriously though, the big expense is getting the equipment, once you have that you really can save money (the ingredients for the two 10 gallon batches I mentioned above only cost $90).  And the equipment doesn't have to break the bank.  One can get a starter kit with all the basic equipment and ingredients for one 5 gallon batch for under $100.  After that, you just need ingredients.  That being said, one could spend thousands of dollars on equipment was well. 
 
 
I just bought a Mr Beer kit to try it for the first time!  Are these kits any good?
I’ve never used a Mr Beer kit but I've heard of them. When I first started I used extract kits that consisted of crushed grain, dry malt extract, liquid malt extract, hops, and yeast. With those you did your boil or brew. You can make a pretty decent beer with extract but nothing like all grain. All grain is what I have done for the past several years. I crush my own grain and brew exactly as a brewery would, just on a smaller scale. This gives me the ability to brew a beer just as good as any brewery. Often times I try a beer I really like and I start working on a clone recipe. Usually within a few tries it’s hard to tell the difference between what I brewed and the store bought one. From what I understand the Mr Beer kit has basically everything in a can, sort of like a beer concentrate you mix with water and ferment, no boil or actual brew. I don’t want to sound critical but I can’t see that being very good. I would compare it to a just add water soda extract compared to a CocaCola. It may be drinkable and it may give you an idea if you want to continue the hobby and upgrade. Usually when people are first starting out I recommend a starter kit like the one linked below and at least a seven gallon stainless steel pot.

http://www.northernbrewer.com/brewing/beer-equipment-starter-kits/deluxe-brewing-starter-kit

Also, a great book for beginners is How To Brew by John Palmer. You can buy a copy or read the entire book online. Hope this helps. Cheers!

http://www.howtobrew.com/
 
 
I just bought a Mr Beer kit to try it for the first time!  Are these kits any good?
My Cousin has been using one for about 8 years now. It makes decent beer, and doesn't take much effort to get it done. I was given one and have made cider with it, but not beer. I used to home brew for many years, but all from scratch. Its a good starting point to see if you like the hobby.
 
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