Chriso
Broken Robot Brewing Co.
There's been a lot of talk lately of kits and contents and prices and fairness and a whole host of other catchy buzzwords thrown in. So I got a wild hare up my bum to price out some recipes from all the major OHBSes, and post 'em here.
A couple notes on my intent:
I'm focusing on the people who buy one, or perhaps two, batches at a time, but do not buy 3+ in advance due to their brewing schedule. These people are likely to have a small amount (4oz here, 6oz there, etc) of specialty grains left over from prior recipes, but are not likely to have a large stock of specialty grains on hand. For the sake of this experiment, let's assume that all 4 stores treat their customers equally well - after all, if I'm spending money somewhere, I EXPECT them to treat me as such. For now, since I'm doing one recipe at a time, so I'm not including any "special deals" on shipping. For example, MoreBeer gives you free shipping if you spend $59, and Northern Brewer gives you free shipping if you spend $200. Soon, I hope to get some multi-recipe scenarios priced and added, to see if these free shipping deals really do pay off. For now, we're looking at one batch at a time.
Up on the pricing block today are:
The rules are as follows:
Here they are, with recipes!
1. Bastardized Hobgoblin
2. American Pale Ale
3. Stout
4. Double IPA
5. Imperial Stout
6. 20-Gallon Sterling SMaSH (Or 2x 10 gallon or 4x 5 gallon)
A couple notes on my intent:
I'm focusing on the people who buy one, or perhaps two, batches at a time, but do not buy 3+ in advance due to their brewing schedule. These people are likely to have a small amount (4oz here, 6oz there, etc) of specialty grains left over from prior recipes, but are not likely to have a large stock of specialty grains on hand. For the sake of this experiment, let's assume that all 4 stores treat their customers equally well - after all, if I'm spending money somewhere, I EXPECT them to treat me as such. For now, since I'm doing one recipe at a time, so I'm not including any "special deals" on shipping. For example, MoreBeer gives you free shipping if you spend $59, and Northern Brewer gives you free shipping if you spend $200. Soon, I hope to get some multi-recipe scenarios priced and added, to see if these free shipping deals really do pay off. For now, we're looking at one batch at a time.
Up on the pricing block today are:
1. A rough approximation of Orfy's Hobgoblin
2. A fairly simple American Pale Ale
3. A pretty ordinary Stout - not one particular style, just a reasonable, mid-5%ABV stout
4. An IIPA, loosely based on EdWort's Stone IPA and also on PseudoChef's Heathen IIPA. New!
5. A crazy American Imperial Stout. New!
2. A fairly simple American Pale Ale
3. A pretty ordinary Stout - not one particular style, just a reasonable, mid-5%ABV stout
4. An IIPA, loosely based on EdWort's Stone IPA and also on PseudoChef's Heathen IIPA. New!
5. A crazy American Imperial Stout. New!
The rules are as follows:
1. Whole-kernel all-grain only, no extract here, and no pre-crushed grain. Everything will be a 1lb minimum because not all vendors support partial amounts.
2. Strive for utmost consistency, making as few sub's as possible.
3. Try to match quality - e.g. don't buy Rahr from one place and Munton's from another.
4. Same recipe, same yeast, from each vendor I visit. If liquid yeast, no ice packs, no nutrient, JUST yeast. (In reality I would buy ice packs. This is just for fair examination.)
5. All shipping is to zip code 68501.
6. NO WHOLESALERS. No North Country Malt, no Hops Direct, just RETAIL stores.
7. As a rule of thumb, I will use the cheapest 2-Row base malt available from each vendor, unless I am using "brand name", e.g. Maris Otter or Golden Promise. In most cases, this will be Rahr 2-Row. It may be Great Western 2-Row, or it may not even say what brand it is.
2. Strive for utmost consistency, making as few sub's as possible.
3. Try to match quality - e.g. don't buy Rahr from one place and Munton's from another.
4. Same recipe, same yeast, from each vendor I visit. If liquid yeast, no ice packs, no nutrient, JUST yeast. (In reality I would buy ice packs. This is just for fair examination.)
5. All shipping is to zip code 68501.
6. NO WHOLESALERS. No North Country Malt, no Hops Direct, just RETAIL stores.
7. As a rule of thumb, I will use the cheapest 2-Row base malt available from each vendor, unless I am using "brand name", e.g. Maris Otter or Golden Promise. In most cases, this will be Rahr 2-Row. It may be Great Western 2-Row, or it may not even say what brand it is.
Here they are, with recipes!
1. Bastardized Hobgoblin
9lb Maris Otter
1lb Briess Caramel 60 (omitting the Cara-Pils due to the 1lb minimum. Normally this would be 8oz C-60 and 8oz Cara-Pils.)
1lb UK Chocolate malt (only need 4 oz, but again, 1lb minimum for grains)
2 oz British hops (Fuggle where available, Note any substitutes. Schedule: 1 oz @ 60min, .5 oz @ 20min, .5 oz @ Flameout)
1 packet Safale S-04 (due to lack of Nottingham availability)
Midwest Supplies: $25.40 plus $9.69 shipping = $35.09
Northern Brewer: $30.38 plus $7.99 shipping = $38.37
MoreBeer: $27.25 plus $12.39 shipping = $39.64 - *Fuggles not available, used EKG instead.
Austin Homebrew: $32.97 plus $6.99 shipping = $39.96
1lb Briess Caramel 60 (omitting the Cara-Pils due to the 1lb minimum. Normally this would be 8oz C-60 and 8oz Cara-Pils.)
1lb UK Chocolate malt (only need 4 oz, but again, 1lb minimum for grains)
2 oz British hops (Fuggle where available, Note any substitutes. Schedule: 1 oz @ 60min, .5 oz @ 20min, .5 oz @ Flameout)
1 packet Safale S-04 (due to lack of Nottingham availability)
Midwest Supplies: $25.40 plus $9.69 shipping = $35.09
Northern Brewer: $30.38 plus $7.99 shipping = $38.37
MoreBeer: $27.25 plus $12.39 shipping = $39.64 - *Fuggles not available, used EKG instead.
Austin Homebrew: $32.97 plus $6.99 shipping = $39.96
2. American Pale Ale
8lb Pale 2-Row malt (Assume Rahr, note any exceptions.)
1lb Cara-Pils
1oz Glacier 60min
2oz Cascade 1oz 10min, 1oz dry hop
Safale US-05
Midwest Supplies: $18.70 plus $9.11 shipping = $27.81
MoreBeer: $20.36 plus $11.56 shipping = $31.92
•MB: Took off $1.75 for 1 extra ounce of Glacier - sold in min 2 oz increment. Actual total = $33.67 including "bonus ounce".
Austin Homebrew: $24.96 plus $6.99 shipping = $31.95
Northern Brewer: $25.63 plus $7.99 shipping = $33.62
1lb Cara-Pils
1oz Glacier 60min
2oz Cascade 1oz 10min, 1oz dry hop
Safale US-05
Midwest Supplies: $18.70 plus $9.11 shipping = $27.81
MoreBeer: $20.36 plus $11.56 shipping = $31.92
•MB: Took off $1.75 for 1 extra ounce of Glacier - sold in min 2 oz increment. Actual total = $33.67 including "bonus ounce".
Austin Homebrew: $24.96 plus $6.99 shipping = $31.95
Northern Brewer: $25.63 plus $7.99 shipping = $33.62
3. Stout
6lbs Pale 2-Row malt (Assume Rahr, note any exceptions.)
2lb Munich (regular 10L if asked)
1lb Roasted Barley
1lb Flaked Barley
2oz Willamette at 60 min
White Labs Burton Ale Yeast (WLP023)
Midwest Supplies: $23.50 plus $9.40 shipping = $32.90
MoreBeer: $24.77 plus $11.95 shipping = $36.72
Austin Homebrew: $30.57 plus $6.99 shipping = $37.56
Northern Brewer: $31.27 plus $7.99 shipping = $39.26
2lb Munich (regular 10L if asked)
1lb Roasted Barley
1lb Flaked Barley
2oz Willamette at 60 min
White Labs Burton Ale Yeast (WLP023)
Midwest Supplies: $23.50 plus $9.40 shipping = $32.90
MoreBeer: $24.77 plus $11.95 shipping = $36.72
Austin Homebrew: $30.57 plus $6.99 shipping = $37.56
Northern Brewer: $31.27 plus $7.99 shipping = $39.26
4. Double IPA
12lb Pale 2-Row malt (Assume Rahr, note any exceptions.)
1lb Munich
1lb Victory
4oz Cascade (1oz each at 60 min, 15min, flame-out, & dry-hopping) Due to the shortage, I'll note any substitutes I have to make.
Safale US-05 Yeast
Midwest Supplies: $25.50 plus $9.98 shipping = $35.48
Austin Homebrew: $34.75 plus $6.99 shipping = $41.74
MoreBeer: $29.54 plus $14.04 shipping = $43.58
Northern Brewer: $40.71 plus $7.99 shipping = $48.70
•NB does not have Cascade, so I used 4oz Cluster hops.
1lb Munich
1lb Victory
4oz Cascade (1oz each at 60 min, 15min, flame-out, & dry-hopping) Due to the shortage, I'll note any substitutes I have to make.
Safale US-05 Yeast
Midwest Supplies: $25.50 plus $9.98 shipping = $35.48
Austin Homebrew: $34.75 plus $6.99 shipping = $41.74
MoreBeer: $29.54 plus $14.04 shipping = $43.58
Northern Brewer: $40.71 plus $7.99 shipping = $48.70
•NB does not have Cascade, so I used 4oz Cluster hops.
5. Imperial Stout
15lb Pale 2-Row malt (Assume Rahr, note any exceptions.)
2lb Special Roast
1lb Biscuit
1lb Roasted Barley
2oz High-AA Bittering at 60min (Galena, Magnum, Warrior, whatever I can get from the suppliers)
2oz American Hop at 10min (I want to choose Galena for bittering and Cascade for flavor/aroma, but due to the shortage, I'll price whatever I can get. I'll note what variety is coming from each supplier.)
Wyeast American Ale WY1056 (Just to try something besides White Labs.)
Midwest Supplies: $36.25 plus $11.24 shipping = $47.49
•MW: 2oz Galena bittering, 2oz Cascade aroma.
Austin Homebrew: $49.95 plus $6.99 shipping = $56.94
•AH: 2oz Galena bittering, 2oz Cascade aroma.
MoreBeer: $43.20 plus $16.92 shipping = $60.12
•B3: does not carry Biscuit malt, or Wyeast. Substituted 1lb Victory malt, and WLP001 yeast. Used 2oz Columbus bittering, 2oz Cascade aroma. B3 does not have Magnum/Galena/etc.
Northern Brewer: $53.71 plus $7.99 shipping = $61.70
•NB: 2oz Galena bittering, 2oz Cluster aroma. (NB doesn't have Cascade).
2lb Special Roast
1lb Biscuit
1lb Roasted Barley
2oz High-AA Bittering at 60min (Galena, Magnum, Warrior, whatever I can get from the suppliers)
2oz American Hop at 10min (I want to choose Galena for bittering and Cascade for flavor/aroma, but due to the shortage, I'll price whatever I can get. I'll note what variety is coming from each supplier.)
Wyeast American Ale WY1056 (Just to try something besides White Labs.)
Midwest Supplies: $36.25 plus $11.24 shipping = $47.49
•MW: 2oz Galena bittering, 2oz Cascade aroma.
Austin Homebrew: $49.95 plus $6.99 shipping = $56.94
•AH: 2oz Galena bittering, 2oz Cascade aroma.
MoreBeer: $43.20 plus $16.92 shipping = $60.12
•B3: does not carry Biscuit malt, or Wyeast. Substituted 1lb Victory malt, and WLP001 yeast. Used 2oz Columbus bittering, 2oz Cascade aroma. B3 does not have Magnum/Galena/etc.
Northern Brewer: $53.71 plus $7.99 shipping = $61.70
•NB: 2oz Galena bittering, 2oz Cluster aroma. (NB doesn't have Cascade).
6. 20-Gallon Sterling SMaSH (Or 2x 10 gallon or 4x 5 gallon)
40lbs Pale 2-Row malt
4oz Sterling - 1/2 Bittering, 1/2 Aroma
2 packs Safale US-05
MoreBeer: $60.41 plus $0.00 MoreSaver! shipping = $60.41
Midwest Supplies: $46.90 plus $17.91 shipping = $64.81
Austin Homebrew (*1): $69.93 plus $6.99 shipping = $76.92
Austin Homebrew (*2): $75.94 plus $6.99 shipping = $82.91
Northern Brewer: $80.46 plus $7.99 shipping = $88.45
Notes: Austin Homebrew (*1) is using the Bulk 40# 2-Row product. Austin Homebrew (*2) is using two 20# packages of by-the-pound 2-Row. MoreBeer free shipping starts at $60, so it is pure luck that we came out $0.41 over that.
4oz Sterling - 1/2 Bittering, 1/2 Aroma
2 packs Safale US-05
MoreBeer: $60.41 plus $0.00 MoreSaver! shipping = $60.41
Midwest Supplies: $46.90 plus $17.91 shipping = $64.81
Austin Homebrew (*1): $69.93 plus $6.99 shipping = $76.92
Austin Homebrew (*2): $75.94 plus $6.99 shipping = $82.91
Northern Brewer: $80.46 plus $7.99 shipping = $88.45
Notes: Austin Homebrew (*1) is using the Bulk 40# 2-Row product. Austin Homebrew (*2) is using two 20# packages of by-the-pound 2-Row. MoreBeer free shipping starts at $60, so it is pure luck that we came out $0.41 over that.