Starting a beer cache for beer trades?

Locals for locals trades are a great way to start trading. Your profile doesn't list where you are, but depending on where you are at, a normal shelf beer for you might be something special for someone else, and vice versa.

I'd take it easy to start. Lurk the forums a bit, try to get a sense of how things work. Read through this and other similar answers to questions close to yours. http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/entry-paths-to-trading-iso-ft-vs-bif.58502/

Also two good resources:

 

I have no idea what you mean.

 

Locals for locals are some of the best trades, I need a Santa Fe local now that I think of it for some Elevated IPA.

 

As others have said, your best tasting locals will get you some one else's best tasting locals every time. In the past when I traded more these were my favorite trades. To me best tasting locals includes beers like White Rajah, Headhunter, Outrage, Zombie Dust, Knuckle Sandwich, Boy King, all of which are as good or tastier than any other beers, and gettable for locals of equal quality.

 

Hophead.

Also, Pliny and Heady are now officially locals, not shelf wales, so these are good to ask for too.

 

I sprinkle Citra cones on my breakfast cereal.

 

Where do you live? Nearly every area has decent stuff for trade on shelves. It may not land you the most rare stuff in the world, but you can certainly find other people to trade with.

Also, never underestimate stuff that seems old hat to you as being new and exciting to somebody else.

 

Agree with this last sentence. Psychologically, your impression of a beer's desirability typically goes down each time you drink it and/or see it on a shelf; but, it may still be wanted by others elsewhere.

For example, I live in a pretty "enlightened" craft beer area, but BA Boris sits perpetually at $18-$19, Bruery beers stay a while at $15-$22, and even 3F Golden Blend hung out a few days at $26-$27. As cbeer said, those beers aren't going to land you walez typically, but they can definitely trade for some good quality stuff.

 

Keep in mind, when these friendly folks refer to "locals" it's generally more of a regional term...Midwest locals for Cali Locals...Like Ballast Point Sculpin for Bell's Hopslam. I'm 500 miles away from Bell's, but still consider it a "local" in the trading forum.

 

Yeah, but you're 500 miles from ANYTHING!

 

I'm actually only about 80 miles from Thunder Bay as a crow flies...I just need the lake to freeze so I can make the walk over.

 

Russian River is your answer I think. RR regular stuff trades pretty well and if you hit the brewery for a release I think you will be pleasantly surprised by what you can land with their limited stuff.

 

They don't do growlers, but even the regular stuff like Supplication, Consecration, etc. can get you very good locals. Plus if you like IPA's fresh Pliny the Elder (less than a couple weeks old) will get you awesome stuff like Heady Topper, Zombie Dust, etc. Trading is great, but expensive.

 

Yes, the don't do growlers of Younger.

 

Get a Russian River 3L of anything for the most part and people will beg for it.