12 Days of Xmas Hints and Haulz

But unfortunately doesn't eliminate you.... (joke)

 

Absolutely not, but his first hint eliminated me. I was concerned that in my case it wasn't obvious.

 

Keystone, state ending in A, I think you've got the attention of us PA boys...

 

Hrm... you like keystone? I could make a special shipment......

 

I'm just the opposite in this one from my Locals box. I feel like I might not have 'brought it' well enough to my Cali target over there. So here my target has quite a few 'wants' that I should be able to hit so hopefully the main box will consist of wants and an extra box, if I'm lucky enough to put one together will be his 'santa' wish list. I've already reached out to some previous traders to try and locate some harder to get stuff. We shall see how this pans out.

 

If I'm not mistaken, you shipped over 400 ounces in a BIF with a 225 oz max. I think you brought it fine. I was concerned with whether my last shipment was "good enough", but was lucky enough to hit some wants and have an appreciative/expressive target who took lots of pictures, so I'm convinced now that it was fine. I think what we all lose sight of is that it doesn't have to be walezbro or from Vermont or California to be a great haul!

 

Hint #2: I've got 3 of my target's wants on hand, perhaps a fourth. They will also be getting two of one of their wants!

 

I only had one thing on their wants list in my cellar... womp womp fail. Lots of trading to do, we don't get many midwest gems here in CT!

 

Good point Mike about my Untappd...
Nick, I agree with Mike, I've never seen a box of yours that you should worry about.
Regarding unrated beers, if you've had it and like it enough that you'd be happy receiving it, go for it. Tired Hands beers, for example, are usually only rated a few times but I've never heard a complaint. I agree growlers are tough in this particular concept, unless it's an extra, or a late-sent second box.

 

I'm torn on putting a local sour growler in my targets box or not. He appears to like sours and there is a good one on at Pizza Boy. I'll either be a last minute sender and have it as the first day's present or send it as an extra in a separate box.

 

I guess my thoughts are if you can fill a growler a day or two before sending, and "assign" your target to drink it on day 1 or 2, you might be able to get away with it.

Also -- one other observation -- both @jawas and @Littlelotte88 made comments about not being able to easily meet a lot of wants or our lack of distribution -- I think our area of the country has a lot of really good stuff that people don't know about yet, I've shipped some and when folks around the country see the pictures, they all seem to want it. Also, while you don't want to send a whole box of "unknown" beers, I think it's kind of cool for your target to try something new and have limited expectations, only to be surprised how good it is.

And that's not even getting into things like Carton and Kane and NEBCO which have ridiculously limited distro

 

Great suggestion @Mikexw ! I have a good list of high rated well known locals, and traded for two others of their wants, so I have three total. I am going to try to do more but somethings I have no chance at getting.

 

What Mike said is absolutely correct. I know it is in my 'Santa list' but I'll reiterate it here. My wants (some of them) are whalish. I'm not expecting 12 big bottles or even one big bottle. I'm perfectly happy with 12 beers I've never had before or even 12 that I rate really high. It's only beer. Many times I think people fail to either recognize or remember that.

I am super excited to open 12 beers over 12 days. Christmas was always my favorite holiday as a kid. Since growing up it lost a lot of luster for many reasons but this BIF has me excited for it again in a big way. Thanks @bevoduz!

 

Hint 2: shipping south

 

^^^^^ I agree completely.

 

This... soo much this!

 

At one point I thought that the beers I've sent weren't all that great too. But what I have since realized is that they are just as good as what someone else in another part of the country gets. But my mantra is "Never send anything that I wouldn't drink or not be happy receiving".

I think we all have limiteds and whales on our Wants lists, but what is just as awesome is getting something you have never heard about. I'd still be happy if I got 0 wants sent to me and I got a box of great beer that my sender would think I like. But they can certainly send me an Assassin too .

 

There was a topic in the MidAtlantic Region about NJ Distro, and talking this week with a couple of my local beer managers, the issue in NJ is politics in the distribution of beers intrastate. We get a decent amount of stuff, but firestone boxes sit and rot in one beer store while others can't get it for their customers that would consume the said beer rotting in another county. Just doesn't make any sense.

I think my Christmas list is fine, but if I was in Cali, I think I would send a "much better received" box, than finding things that we can get in and around NJ, MD and NY. Trying to trade cali shelf for NJ shelf isn't always easy, unless they really want carton cans.

For me it isn't about Whalz only bro, but as others have stated trying regional beers in the styles I prefer that I could never get here and hopefully doing the same. If I can find something in my cellar that might make them happier than it would for me, than sure that should be the spirt of BIF, instead of give me all your best beers, and expect your box to be someone's else's hoard to replace your whales. Again, what might be a shelf beer to you, might be a really cool rare treat for someone else.