College is plagued by bills. From tuition payments to Comcast and SMUD, it has become an inevitable, and unpleasant, constant in life. This summer, however, I was struck with an epiphany on how to reduce my expenditures on the biggest weekly grocery item of mine: beer.
It was sparked by a nostalgic memory I share with my two brothers; a warm sunny afternoon spent messing the kitchen tossing grains, hops, malt extract and yeast into each other. After a couple very complicated steps later and an agonizing month-long wait, we were drinking our very own hand crafted home-made beer that had a memorable taste of ale similar to a Sam Adams.
Like walking right into a light pole, I stunningly realized that customers are spending a minimum of $11.00 per twelve –pack (if on sale) on their favorite micro-brews such as Fat Tire, Sam Adams or Sierra Nevada when taking a trip down the beverage aisle at the local Food Source; while home brewers can spend as little as $7.50 per twelve-pack while creating a product that is comparable in taste and quality.
Brewing your own beer at home is a cost effective option of ensuring your parties are never in short supply of beer without giving up one’s gas money for the week. After the initial investment in the proper equipment, which ranges from $90-$150 depending on how frivolous one is, a payment of $35.00 on ingredients can be turned into five gallons of pure, liquid nectar.
It’s not always easy to start new projects or learn a new skill. As a busy college student or faithful employee, life can become a zero sum game where one activity comes at the expense of another. Home brewing has become a positive new hobby as it requires a mere approximate four hours to make before placing it under the stairs and forgetting about until its ready the next month.
The rewards of making your own beer are not exclusive to saving money however. Home brewing is a hobby, and it does require a bit of hard work, research and time (three weeks minimum to sit), but the end result is a creation that you can be proud of and is worth every effort.
The first sip of one’s own batch of beer is like receiving the first paycheck for the first job one ever had. There is a beautiful aroma consisting of a blended mixture of accomplishment, success and satisfaction in knowing that each pint is a deserved reward for the work and patience put into it.
I recently finished my first five-gallon batch of beer by myself without my genius brew master brother-in-law at my assistance. Admittedly, I was a bit anxious about how it would turn out. But beyond my own expectations, the beer is vibrant in color, full in flavor, and strong in aroma, leaving a large frothy top once poured in a glass.
If necessity is the mother of invention, I can oddly say I’m glad I am a poor, thirsty college student. When faced with the challenge of spending less on essential groceries (beer is essential), necessity had thrown me in a new, cost-effective, hobby that I thoroughly enjoy and would now do just for enjoyment it brings.
Plus, nobody will remain unimpressed at the Sunday’s football game party when delicious, hand-crafted beer is served refreshingly cold.
Makes me thirsty.
ReplyDeleteThat said, this column has some good stuff going for it, but here:
"This summer, however, I was struck with an epiphany on how to reduce my expenditures on the biggest weekly grocery item of mine: beer."
My questions is, really? The biggest (as in most expensive)?
And while I understand that the author is convinced he is saving money, he needs to take the cost of making beer and compare it directly to the cost of buying beer. Apples to apples. Or in this case, perhaps, pints to pints.
Good column idea and overall interesting. But it needs some of foam blown off to make it better.
Ok then, how much does the author spend?