Is home brewing cheaper than buying beer? Home beer machine vs bar vs grocery store

Can making beer at home really lower what you spend on beer? It can, particularly compared with bar or taproom prices. Pinter is an all-in-one home beer machine that takes you from brewing to pouring, with beer costing $2.17 per pint. The machine is often free with selected beer plans, which can remove the upfront equipment cost.

Here's how that compares with traditional home brewing and grocery-store beer.

Is home brewing cheaper than buying beer?

Home brewing can cost less per serving than bar or taproom beer, especially if you brew regularly. A traditional homebrew kit has an upfront equipment cost; once you have the gear, future batches mainly need ingredients and cleaning supplies.

For a simpler way to brew at home, an all-in-one home beer machine like Pinter handles brewing, conditioning and pouring in one system. Fresh Presses start at $2.17 per US pint, with 12-pint packs currently ranging from $25.99 to $38.99, depending on style and ABV. The machine is often free with selected Fresh Beer plans, which can remove that upfront cost; check the current offer terms. You get fresh draft beer at home, ready to pour from the same machine.

Beer costs compared

For a regular taproom drinker, the cost difference adds up: 12 Pinter pints come to about ~$26 in Fresh Presses, compared with $72 for 12 pints priced at the sample’s $6 median. That’s about $46 less for the beer, and selected Fresh Beer plans can even include the machine.

Pinter makes fresh beer at home a practical option without the extra equipment and bottling involved in traditional home brewing.

Want to learn how Pinter compares to home beer taps or kegerators? Read our guides.

What goes into the cost of brewing beer at home?

Traditional home brewing

With traditional home brewing, you buy the equipment first, then ingredients for each batch. You’ll also need to account for sanitiser and cleaner, plus packaging such as bottles and caps. Buying ingredients in larger quantities can bring down the cost of later batches, but you’ll need somewhere to store them. Bottling also adds time and extra steps between brewing and pouring.

Brewing with an all-in-one home beer machine

Our all-in-one Pinter brings brewing, conditioning and tapping together in one machine. You don’t need a separate fermenter, bottles, keg or CO₂ setup. Each Fresh Press makes 12 pints and currently costs $25.99–$38.99, depending on the beer style and ABV. That works out at about $2.17-$3.25 per pint.

Selected Fresh Beer offers may include the Pinter at no extra charge. That can reduce the upfront equipment cost; the Fresh Press remains the recurring cost for each new batch.

How to calculate your cost per pint

Start with the beer you’ll actually pour, not just the batch size on the label:

Cost per pint = Total batch or pack cost ÷ pints poured

For a Pinter Fresh Press, divide its price by 12. A $25.99 pack, for example, works out at about $2.17 per pint. Use the price of the specific Fresh Press you choose, as styles and ABVs vary.

To include equipment, add its cost to your first batch, then spread that amount across the pints you expect to make over time. If a qualifying offer includes the Pinter, you basically get the machine for free.

Your break-even point depends on what you usually buy. Compare your home-brew cost with a bar pint if you’re replacing pub visits; use the price of your usual packaged beer if that’s the alternative.

When does a home beer machine make financial sense?

Pinter makes sense when fresh beer at home is something you’ll enjoy regularly. If you often buy draft beer or like hosting friends, a 12-pint Fresh Press gives you plenty to share. Fresh Presses start at $25.99, or about $2.17 per pint, with the price varying by style and ABV. Selected Fresh Beer plans may also include the machine, reducing the upfront cost.

The value is in more than the price per pint: you choose the style, brew it at home and serve it fresh from the Pinter. It’s a rewarding middle ground between managing traditional home-brewing equipment and picking up beer that’s ready to drink. A supermarket multipack may cost less; Pinter is for people who want fresh beer on tap and enjoy making it part of the occasion.

Price is only part of the decision; you also want to enjoy the pint at the end. After tapping our Sunlit Lager, Pinter customer Rick said -

So, is home brewing cheaper?

Often, yes. Pinter brings brewing, conditioning and tapping together, with Fresh Presses starting just at $2.17 per pint and selected plans sometimes including the machine. For anyone who enjoys draft beer, it's a practical way to make fresh beer at home for less than a typical bar pint.

Grocery-store prices vary by beer and package size. To decide what suits you, consider what you like to drink, your usual serving size and how often you'd use Pinter.

Beer and home brewing costs: FAQs

About the author

Jess D’Amico

Community Director

Jess D'Amico is one of Pinter's brewing experts, here to share everything she knows and keep the brewing community connected with the team behind the scenes.