How Expensive Is It?
Your basic brew kit will set you back $100 to $200. And that's if you need every bit of gear. You'll always need bottles, cleaners, sanitizers, bigger kettles, and so on, and there's always another gadget you can buy. However, your per-batch costs are predictable.
For each batch you'll purchase grain, extract, hops, and yeast. That's less than $40 for 50 handcrafted bottles. With microbrews ranging from $6 for a six pack or $10 to $20 for special bottles, 80 cents a bottle is a great savings. Experienced all-grain brewers can manage a batch for less than 20 cents a glass.
Every shop carries a basic starter kit. For around $100, you get the most basic gear and your first beer. The precise contents of the kit vary, but standard items include a fermenter (a bucket), a glass carboy, siphoning gear, a bottling bucket, a bottle capper, caps, and chemicals for cleaning and sanitizing. To start brewing you'll need a large pot (20 quarts) and 50 bottles.
