Brew Smart, Not Hard: Why Homebrewing Is a Financial No-Brainer

Aditya Sundaray
Jul 24
2 min read

Updated: Jul 31

Hey, I’m Aditya. I look after the business side of things at MyOwnBrews, but more importantly, I’ve been obsessed with how something as old-school as fermentation can be such a modern-day money-saver.

Shelves and racks of wine bottles at a liquor store — Wine Section of a Liquor Store

Let’s talk honestly. Alcohol isn’t cheap anymore, not in stores, not in bars, not even in duty-free sometimes. And it’s not just the cost of the booze itself. You’re paying for packaging, transport, brand labels, middlemen, taxes stacked on taxes (trust me when I talk taxes and the heartbreak they cause), and by the end of it, that ₹1500 bottle you picked up? Maybe ₹300 of that went into actually making the drink.

So a while ago, I did what I always do when something feels inefficient; I broke down the numbers.

Do you feel like liquor shopping is just price comparison?

0%Yes
0%No
0%Depends on the time of the month

Brewing at Home = Massive Cost Control

When you brew at home, you’re making 3 to 4 litres of drinkable product for the cost of one premium store-bought bottle. The starter kit feels like a big spend at first, but honestly, if you even casually enjoy your weekends, you break even within two or three batches. After that? Every litre you make is easily 80% cheaper than something you'd buy off the shelf.

And here’s the better part: you’re not sacrificing quality. You’re actually gaining control over it.

Passion Fruit Wine Recipe

Less Waste. More Customisation. Better Margins.

When I started brewing, I noticed something interesting: I stopped wasting alcohol. No half-used bottles lying around. No experimental purchases that end up down the drain. Every batch was intentional. I made what I wanted, how I wanted, in the quantity I needed. Operationally, that’s efficient. From a business lens, it’s kind of beautiful.

Homebrewing is a Skill That Pays for Itself

With each batch, you get better. Brewing isn’t some dark art; it’s pattern recognition, cleanliness, timing, and taste. After a few tries, you start getting results that are way more satisfying than the ₹1000 bottle you’d grab off a shelf. And a few of our earliest brewers? They’re now doing tastings, selling bottles in their communities (where local laws permit), or just gifting their creations. Either way, it’s more than a hobby.

I’m not saying this just because I’m part of MyOwnBrews. I’m saying it because homebrewing is genuinely one of the most fiscally sound habits I’ve picked up in years. And in a world that keeps pushing consumerism, there’s something really satisfying about creating your own.

If you’ve ever been curious, come slide into our DMs or catch us at our next event in Goa. I’ll break down the numbers, no jargon. No pitch. Just what worked for me.

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