Lawson's - what does it take to get a in a trade?

You should utilize your access to Cigar City beers. They have enough rare and limited brews to land you some Lawson's.

 

definitely doesn't take whales (most of them don't, that is). the "regular" stuff like Double Sunshine, normal IPAs/APAs, even a few of the darker brews, take somewhat limited beer on a $4$ basis. essentially just pay attention to who's going to VT or the monthly farmer's market, or who can go buy whatever's released that week to the 3 stores that get Lawson's bottles, and hit them up

you'll have some before you know it

 

No whales, just the most ltd of the Vermont brews in regard to distro. It's a hassle really, but worth it, Everything I've had has been first rate. Probably takes ltd release brews one cannot get in Vt.

 

I was lucky enough to grab a double sunshine recently as part of a trade and it's certainly worth a bit of effort to try. I'd imagine you'll get one a lot easier than me.

 

What are/were you offering? Allocations are generous, the beer not really expensive. But I am surprised its so difficult to pull Vt brews, it's a drive to get them is the only thing I can think of, nothing is really easy and close except HT for the local guys, but they're very tradable. I'd be flipping them if I could they would make for simple uncomplicated trades.

I'm sure Huna would work.

 

You can score beers like Chinookered,Permagrin Rye,session ipa,etc. from Lawson's w/regular shelf beers.You just need to have something tasty that a person who can nab Lawson's would like to try.

From CT,ur talking atleast a 6hr. round trip,so to get something like double sunshine,you may have to offer somethin up a little extra special in most cases.

Cheers and Good Luck !

 

the thing is that it's a long drive for the majority of people who buy them - or they go to a very small amount of locals. so you do have some people that drive 6 or 8 hours roundtrip to get the beers to trade them, but I think at that point most people are just inclined to keep them.

the other thing is that VT guys just live in beer trading paradise. Cherry Rye for 1x HF growler, Cali Huna + Life is Like for a case of heady are just 2 offers (!) I saw in the last couple days. the locals have probably traded for most pedestrian stuff by now.

 

If you live in Waterbury you are in trading paradise, but with the local IPA heavy breweries I'd expect IPAs in return wouldn't be of much internist. Even from Waterbury Lawson stuff is an hour round trip HF a bit more, so I can understand how sometimes it can be a tough pull.

 

Yeah and Waterbury is a small place. Burlington a small city but still you aren't talking about all that many locals.

 

I live minutes from the VT border and make frequent trips to HF, the lawsons farm market releases, etc.

Getting around in VT is not easy. It may take you 2 1/2 hours to drive 100 miles. This isn't highway driving, it's mountain roads, country farm roads, two lane no pass country highways. Even in the middle of nowhere the VT speed limit is 50 miles an hour on these country highways. In good weather it's a journey, in bad weather it can be a nightmare.

Having said that, it's a beautiful state, and a relaxing drive.

I think most people who trade these beers factor that in, and most people who arent' from around here trying to trade FOR the beers have no idea.

"accessibility" doesn't just mean CAN you get there, but also means how hard is it to get there.

 

To add a "local's" perspective to this. I live in Burlington, which almost exactly an hours drive to the Warren Store. They usually get their delivery in around 10am, and I try to arrive around 10:30. I left work at 9:30 this morning and got to the store at 10:29am. I walk in, check the cooler, no Lawson's. I'm thinking the delivery is just running late. No luck, it actually came a little early and has already sold out. They got 20 cases (240 bottles) and sold out in an hour. So if folks are wondering why it seems so difficult to trade for, it is because it is damn hard to get in the first place. The farmers markets are really the only way to get it consistently, and that is pretty much a 6 hour commitment between getting there early to get a ticket and waiting for your number to come up.

All this to say I basically don't trade Lawson's any more because it takes so much effort to get.

 

I walked in today at 940 and was shocked to see it already on sale and flying out the door. To anyone that says double sunshine should be traded for "limited shelf" or Huna probably hasn't had to deal with the pain that comes with trying to get it.

 

So are you saying Huna shouldn't be able to pull a double sunshine? Something tells me you weren't at this past Huna day.

 

I will start out saying that I am a bit biased on this topic.

Many of the pervious posts are spot on, but there is one undeniable fact, most people that are able to purchase Lawson's beer drink the stuff, in case you are not aware it's pretty darn tasty.

You need to offer beers that are not readily available to those with access to Lawson's. Remember, just because your offer, does not mean some one wants what you offer.

 

I make trips to VT twice a year, with a side visit to my son stationed in Ft Drum NY. Its a long drive from about anywhere to get to Waterbury, and from there HF is maybe 45 minutes to an hour drive , the last few miles on a gravel road. Warren Store is 30 minutes south of Waterbury on a busted up road they were repaving last time I was there. Hotels are few and expensive. I'd never ever do this in the winter, I can't imaging on crappy roads in the snow. It feels like half a days drive to get from Waterbury to I95, if you look VT is a very long state north to south, and not a lot of major roads that go east to west. It really is a pain even if you live there, and the beer is so damn good it would take something outstanding to move it, and it's probably not more IPA's. The Huna was only as example, but I would think beers of similar availability and quality would be a good starting point. It takes more to pull Lawson and HF Growlers, and I didn't even factor in the time waiting in line at HF, which can be really time consuming. My last time there with maybe 12 people in line it still took over an hour. I've never hit Double sunshine, both times Chinookered, which is also damn good, so you never know what's coming out week to week.

 

I wasn't. But I've had Huna and DS many times and I wouldn't trade them 1:1. You could say we're just veering into personal prefs now but I know many people that agree with me. Like someone said above, if you actually score it you probably aren't eager to trade it. Huna pops up at every tasting - not the same for Lawson's.

 

If I had 4 bottles of DS and someone offered up a 1:1 for Huna, in a second. If your part of a tasting group in VT or upstate NY, and Huna pops up at every tasting they're certainly trading something to get it, and Vt brews would be my guess as part of the flip. Just sayin, and guys who stood the test in Fla for Huna certainly aren't giving it away, it takes good beer to pull one.