Each week, Dear Penny investigates the answers to reader questions about saving money in Brooklyn. Send your stumpers to DearPenny@Brokelyn.com.
Yes, it can be cheaper to brew your own beer—if you make enough of it. Let’s break down some numbers. According to the guys at Park Slope’s venerable Bierkraft, there are in fact no places in Brooklyn that sell brew equipment. They recommend ordering a kit online at northernbrewer.com; a basic starter kit will set you back $75. You will also need to buy one of their ingredients kits, which range between $20-$40. Finally, you’ll need a brew kettle—any pot 2.5 gallons or greater ($40 at northernbrewer), and 48 to 52 pry-off 12-ounce beer bottles (about $30).
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House of Vans parties: always fun, always free.
The rains may dampen your plans this week, but the outdoors doesn’t have exclusive rights to free summer activities. Start off this week inside with an author talk at the Brooklyn Public Library featuring Sapphire, the author of Push and its new sequel The Kid, or pop in to the Franklin Park Reading Series (which features $4 pints). A rainy Tuesday is the perfect day to finally check out those weekly tastings at Bierkraft in Park Slope where you can sample five or six different beers. Thursday you can seek shelter inside the penultimate Vans House Party show featuring Against Me!, Japanther and Tokyo Police Club. Here’s hoping the sun returns by the weekend so you can check out the Go Folk Yourself Summer Fest at Cooper Park on Saturday or take the kids down to Jam On Dumbo, a festival of local family friendly bands, featuring puppeteers, face painting and more. See the rest of this week’s free offerings on our free summer calendar!
Each week, Dear Penny investigates the answers to reader questions about saving money in Brooklyn. Send your stumpers to DearPenny@Brokelyn.com.
Yes, it can be cheaper to brew your own beer—if you make enough of it. Let’s break down some numbers. According to the guys at Park Slope’s venerable Bierkraft, there are in fact no places in Brooklyn that sell brew equipment. They recommend ordering a kit online at northernbrewer.com; a basic starter kit will set you back $75. You will also need to buy one of their ingredients kits, which range between $20-$40. Finally, you’ll need a brew kettle—any pot 2.5 gallons or greater ($40 at northernbrewer), and 48 to 52 pry-off 12-ounce beer bottles (about $30).
Read the rest of this entry »
