Man tired of rising beer costs begins home brewing - saving nearly £3,000 in three years

A man who'd become frustrated after the price of a beer down his local rose to £6 decided to take action into his own hands, delving into the world of home brewing.

Chris Banks hasn't looked back since spending £700 on home brewing equipment over lockdown, and says he spends less than one pound on each pint, sinking 528 since beginning his brewing journey in 2019.

According to Chris, 43, he has made savings of nearly £1,000 a year since switching to brewing at home, a total of £2,850 over three years.

He now even prefers his own brews to anything he can get at his local village pub, and can even replicate the distinctive tastes, scents, and textures of favourites such as Sierra Nevada and BrewDog.

Chris now prefers his own beers to those he gets down the pub (Triangle News)

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Chris, of Bothwell, Glasgow, said: “If you brew an absolute belter it is really popular and people come round. If you get the barbecue fired up and get the beers in, you get everyone round.

“When you get it right it is so good. Last year when the sun was right, we just sat in the garden and drank out of the keg which was brilliant.”

The geologist has even cut his very own tap room into his shed wall, a mini establishment he calls “The Spaniel and Stratigrapher" after himself and his dog. He now intends to rebuild this inside following a house move.

Chris has even cut his very own at-home tap room (Triangle News)

Chris is now able to store as many as 170 pints at any one time. (Triangle News)

Warning that a single brew can take up to five hours, Chris continued: “If you want to brew really top quality beer that takes a little bit more investment in equipment and time to skill up.

“And once you start you can’t interrupt it - you’ve got to have that block of time to focus and it’s got to be ultra-hygienic. But I enjoy it, and I can’t see a time when I am not doing it.”

Having expanded his kit, Chris can now store as many as 170 pints at any one time. However, there have been some "stinkers" along the way, including a jalapeno IPA he says was like “drinking heartburn ”.

However, this ill-fated experiment didn't put him off trying more unusual flavours. For example, he recently brewed up a batch of Biscoff-flavoured beer that tasted more like plums.

Have you found a way to replicate your favourite treats at home for less? We pay for stories. Email us at julia.banim@reachplc.com