DC beer trading?

Discussion in 'Mid-Atlantic' started by fire34fighter, Feb 19, 2014.

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  1. fire34fighter

    fire34fighter Initiate (0) Dec 31, 2013 Virginia

    So I'm pretty new to the beer world...Outside of OTWOA are they any beers around here that are moderately easy to pick up that trade really well? Also I normally just go to total wine, norms some, red white and bleu every once in a while, and ashburn wine shop for my pick ups..(live in sterling VA) any places I should add to my list?

    Sorry if this has been posted 100 times already..Searched a few things and didn't find what I wanted.
     
  2. C20Percent

    C20Percent Initiate (0) Aug 24, 2011 Virginia

    As Hardywood and Cigar City continue to push up, you might find other beer that trade well. I've been able to trade AleWerks pretty easily -- at least the Bourbon Barrel Porter, Cafe Royale and Bitter Valentine. DuClaw has SBJ and some BA offerings that are trade-able. Outside of DC Brau and AleWerks, most stuff I trade is not local. Nugget Nectar has been easy to trade in the past, but I find that changing a bit. Virginia and DC are doing a lot of good things with beer -- in a few years there should be a lot of trade bait. Not really seeing much from Maryland.

    Also, you should add The Wine Cabinet in Reston -- you should follow them on Facebook. They will get stuff that doesn't make it into Total Wine. They're sort of like a Norms (lite). And, it never hurts to take a look in Wegmans. They're usually very quick to get Stone releases. I've found BCBS in there.
     
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  3. stereosforgeeks

    stereosforgeeks Maven (1,409) Jul 10, 2005 Virginia

    I dont know about trade value but Right Proper is doing some nice stuff.
     
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  4. nimbleprop

    nimbleprop Initiate (0) Apr 4, 2008 District of Columbia

    I think the DC beer scene has been a little bit of a slow burn to date when it comes to out of market attention. I saw a post last week on another site about "How happy are you with your local beer scene?" and I can honestly answer that at about a 8.5 or 9 out of 10. DC Brau is a staple of my refrigerator, whether that's cans or growlers. I joined the 3 Stars Illuminati society with a group in hopes that those bottles (we have two memberships) land us some stuff down the line. Atlas has been good so far, couple bottlings with more on the way. Even Chocolate City has Mister Mayor which may interest some. Good brewpubs in the area too (Right Proper, Mad Fox, Bluejacket, hell even Franklins).

    All that said, I don't think anything we've got (including Alewerks, Blue Mountain, Hardywood, Devil's Backbone, Adroit Theory) is landing some of the big name walez out there. Is Cafe Royale or Hoperation Pink better than a BAPiaPT or 110K+OT? Unquestionably, in my opinion. Does that mean you could trade one for one? No, you can't today. The commoditization and fetishization of beer has been covered ad nauseum so there is no need to go into it here.

    I guess I am just trying to say that I that I count myself very lucky to be a craft beer drinker in the DC market. If that means I miss out on a wale or .rarez here and there, then I will live.
     
  5. jacewg

    jacewg Initiate (0) Jan 7, 2012 District of Columbia

    Completely agree. Trade value of a market's beers should be about #1,247 on the list when it comes to evaluating the beer culture of a particular area.

    Between DC Brau, Port City, Blue Jacket, Flying Dog, 3 Stars, Lost Rhino, Hardywood, Right Proper, Franklin's, Mad Fox, Right Proper, Monocacy, etc. etc. etc, we are doing damn well.

    That said, to people who know what they are, Cafe Royale and BB Porter carry big trade value, at least from what I've seen.
     
  6. fire34fighter

    fire34fighter Initiate (0) Dec 31, 2013 Virginia

    When does Cafe Royale usually get shipped out?...I've called a few places trying to find it recently but noone has it..

    Also, I wasn't trying to knock the DC area in terms of the beer quality...Just trying to find a few things that trade pretty well so I can get some stuff on the west coast/some stuff that can be hard to find..
     
  7. RocketFrogDavid

    RocketFrogDavid Initiate (0) Apr 29, 2010 Virginia

    I think there are plenty of things that you can trade from DC to out of market places, it all depends on what you are looking for. We get the hard to get Firestone Walkers for example, KBS, Founders Backstage series etc. While not local products there are plenty of Gems that come through that people out of our market at searching for.
     
  8. jacewg

    jacewg Initiate (0) Jan 7, 2012 District of Columbia

    Sorry my response might have come off a bit harsh. DC Brau OTWOA obviously trades pretty well as does their hoppy stuff from growlers (when it comes out, Solar Abyss, For Others, Alpha Domina Mellis, etc) I bought Cafe Royale a few weeks ago at Metro on Columbia Rd. near Adams Morgan. Metro Liquors near convention center as well as Connecticut Avenue generally get Alewerks small releases.
     
  9. Eriktheipaman

    Eriktheipaman Initiate (0) Sep 4, 2010 California

    What are you hoping to get out of trading? Stuff that you might like but have never tried, or some crazy one off bottle release from somewhere like Lost Abbey?

    I suggest setting up a few local for locals trade. Those are the trades I've enjoyed the most by far. Find an established trader to help walk you through the process as well.
     
  10. jacewg

    jacewg Initiate (0) Jan 7, 2012 District of Columbia

    Other brand that we get here that trade generally well: Nugget Nectar, Hopslam, Firestone Walker (although not generally to the West Coast). I also imagine there are people out there who would trade for Flower Power which is here now. And of course the limited Hardywood stuff (GBS, Bourbon GBS, etc.) trades well
     
  11. jacewg

    jacewg Initiate (0) Jan 7, 2012 District of Columbia

    We also get a generous amount of BCBS, which will trade for things you've never had assuredly.
     
  12. nimbleprop

    nimbleprop Initiate (0) Apr 4, 2008 District of Columbia

    This is what I was trying to get at.
     
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  13. Eriktheipaman

    Eriktheipaman Initiate (0) Sep 4, 2010 California

    And I think you nailed it. Haven't traded on BA for quite a while, but I bet the OP could find some nice people who also have badass locals.
     
  14. fire34fighter

    fire34fighter Initiate (0) Dec 31, 2013 Virginia

    Thanks for all the feedback. I currently have a few trades going with one local. I guess I'm just really new to the whole beer world and don't have a good grasp on what trades to where, and when to get stuff.
     
  15. zefarrett

    zefarrett Initiate (0) Oct 19, 2013 Maryland

    check out seekabrew.com and do the compare states. if i don't forget, thats generally what i go off of when i try and include some "local" extras to other people
     
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