The problem is that in order to save money on ingredients, you have to do all grain brewing and keg. In order to save enough to make it worthwhile, you have to brew large quantities at once. Some people do just this, but generally speaking, most people don't have the kind of time, space, or initial investment money it takes to make that kind of beer.

Your average hobby brewer uses malt extracts. The grain mashing has been done for you, and the results are concentrated into a handy syrup or powdered form. All you have to do is boil up the wort, ferment, and bottle. As a matter of fact, malt extract is commonly packaged along with the hops and other ingredients into easy to use "kit's". Unfortunately, all that processing and packaging costs money that probably far surpasses the cost of macro-brewed beer, bottle for bottle. If you are a shrewd buyer and are willing to buy in a little bulk, you can still get a decent price. Also, most goumet micro-brewed beer is quite pricey, and you may yet save money over those prices for the same type of product.


As a last thought. In the beginning, you will brew a lot of marginal tasting stuff out of ignorance and small errors. It's much like cooking. Brewing beer is easy. Brewing GOOD beer takes experience.