The Locals HINTS AND HAULS THREAD

I think that is sort of where I am -- I was able to get a 4-pack of KBS early this year, but knew when it was available at the bottle shop and got there about 1 minute after opening. The funny part is that when I actually tried it, I didn't like it that much -- I just don't think I'm that big a BBA fan, and that's what most whalez are. As for other limited releases, last year I was able to get 6 or 8 Hopslams at two different places, but I loved it and drank those myself. I did the same with Nugget Nectar, which I heard a lot about so I bought 2 6-packs, and I thought it was overrated. And one other semi-local place had a "lottery" where I got the chance to buy one Black Note which I haven't tried yet. But none of these involved waiting on long lines or fighting crowds.

I still prefer to go into my local places and buy one (or occasionally two) bottles of a bunch of different things, then drink what I like as opposed to what I'm "supposed to" like. And I have ridiculous distribution near me, so can try lots of things. But trading real locals is an even better way to do that.

 

I've traded a few things. Most recently something to get something really specific I wanted for my brother. Other than that I have tried to keep it mostly on the shelf finds type trades. Darkness is the main beer we have to trade in MN and really, I just like keeping them and enjoying them.

 

From MN I am always up for trading for Abrasive, Pentagram, Coffee Bender and Darkness when they are available.

 

I definitely get not being a whale hunter (or even a dolphin hunter, KBS isn't exactly a 'whale' ) especially if your area is more 'wasteland' than 'oasis'. Just about no matter where you are there's going to be some good locals, and you can always trade locals:locals with others to get regional things that are relatively easy to come by like New Glarus, Three Floyds, Alpine, etc etc.

Surly (in your case) is a good enough brewery that is (for the moment) limited distro enough that you can send it out and get back other folks' locals with ease. I do recommend stocking up on things like Darkness or Pentagram to have as trade chips for somewhat more rare items (say, non-rare Hill Farmstead, or other limited releases).

I also love what you said about trading in and around BIFs... I've got a handful of trading partners on BA from before I got into BIFs, but I've hardly touched the ISO:FT forum since I got into BIFs, it's just not necessary.

 

Trade for easy to get shelf beers. A few local shelf beers in my area that are usually on wants list, example of what I saw yesterday on shelves:

Pure Hoppiness
Red Poppy
Woot Stout 2.0
Pliney (usually on shelves for 1-2 days - limit)
Russian River Sours (Temptation, Consecration)
Prairie Bomb (limit of 1bottle)
Cantillon (small bottle format - 3 different kinds)
Grapefruit Sculpin - semi want
Almanac sours and Gose

 

Things like KBS, Black Note, Abyss are about as whalez as it gets here for non-local breweries. I know they're not considered that on BA. Releases for all of them were ridiculous with truck chasers, etc... and frankly for beers that aren't worth that kind of effort.

Honestly, Furious, Overrated and Bender are good enough for most people that haven't had Surly in my experience. I can get some quantity of darkness every year but I generally cellar and drink that myself. Pentagram sat this year for quite some time as the price point has gotten kind of absurd on it. I didn't hold on to any though (sent out more than one in a BIF, which I rather enjoyed).

TG released Assasin last weekend and it was insane. Thought about trying to go get some, but I would've had a slim to none chance and had to drive a long ways to get 1 bottle that I wouldn't have even traded.

 

I just recently started hearing beers like this called Dolphins instead of whales(whalz to be cool), but I normally just refer to them as Big Fish. Dolphins is kinda funny.

In terms of the hunt and how things are referred to, I think it's different for people in different areas of distro. The Chicago-land area is pretty lucky to get a lot of stuff from both coasts as well as the midwest. So for me, when things like Parabola are released, I consider that a Big Fish and I don't mind leaving work for 20 minutes to grab a bottle. And if I get extra Big Fish I like to trade for other things like that which get big distribution outside of the brewery, but just not to my area.

I think of whales as not only brewery release only items, but things that are just so over hyped. I've seen BVDL sell for $350 at times, which is just stupid. Paying 7x the original price is lunacy, and I am largely against extortionists buying and selling beer just for profit.

 

I really enjoyed all three of those actually (Coffee Bender a bit less so, too much coffee/not enough anything else for me), and Pentagram was also great when I had it at a share. I haven't had Abrasive or Darkness from them yet, but I look forward to the chance some day.

 

Abrasive is my favorite beer of theirs, hands down. It's a winter seasonal that first drops in Nov/Dec through early February. Hoping to get out to Darkness Day for the first time this year too so I should have a few of those.

 

ridiculous...anytime you want to send Pliney and Red Poppy this way feel free to reach out Also wouldn't mind giving the Grapefruit sculpin a shot

 

I love Abrasive too, that beer has a flavor that will stick to your pallet for days. I'm gonna try to head up there for Darkness Day this year. I've just heard too many good things not to experience it at least once. I'll have to look for you up there.

 

you want to be best buds?

 

I just met up with @mklisz and his girlfriend, who are the epitome of advocates! I was on the fence for the Locals 2.0 but consider me joined! He killed it with this gift basket of NE beers:



I just hope I can live up to expectations in this thread!

 

So many good beers on this list. I love the IPAs from Alpine.

 

No one is going to hate getting Pizza Boy growlers from you. I promise!

 

This is an awesome collection of beer! Those Framinghammer variants are huge wants. Sounds like an awesome meet up!

 

Woah! I wish I could see those on shelves. Around here, Bells and Founders distro pretty well. KBS and Black Note are hard to get and not worth the chase. However, Expedition or FBS are pretty easy to get. The Abyss is also not too hard to get... until this year. I heard our allocation will dwindle down.

 

Not directly related, but they're all local to somewhere! Picked these up in the last couple days in my travels through northern California. Why can't beer near me be like this (okay, we do okay, sorry for all the real wastelands out there).

 

Was really surprised to see Sucaba just sitting around on the shelf... Never had it, so looking for to it (and really everything else I picked up as well).

 

All of those FW beers are sitting on shelves in various places in California... just ridiculous... when I was there in mid June, I saw multiples of ALL of their BA beers sitting on shelves in various bottle shops all over the place... enjoy Sucaba, it's my favorite BA BW along with Mother of all Storms and Bourbon County BW, althought the Central Waters BW is great too..