Being that I am not in the area of distribution for Founders -- at least, not yet -- I have no idea how difficult it is to go out and get some KBS. I have heard of people walking uphill both ways in ten feet of snow to wait in line for hours while the people in front of them have mules cutting at the last minute, and that the max at the brewery release is twelve bottles, but have also heard that the bottle count has been raised. All that in mind, how difficult would it be to find someone who could get a case and trade it? I can only assume that the general answer around here would be the best chances for quantity would be to do numerous smaller trades. Also, just some basic info like cost point would be appreciated.
My market tends to get plenty of KBS to go around. Getting a case (in past yrs) has not been a problem for me. The issue probably has less to do with availability though and is more about cost (plus shipping) when talking about a case of KBS. KBS runs $20-22 a 4 pack here, so a case is $120+
I've had a few cases of beer shipped to me, most recently some WnB, which is a little less than 120$, but I did get a case of Pliny, 120$/case, shipped a while back.
Finding someone that is willing to ship a case is the key, particularly with Founders reporting that they made more KBS this year than in previous years.
Why would the increased production have a negative effect on someone's willingness to ship a case? If I were shipping a case, I would just send it in 2 boxes. It adds a bit to the shipping, sure, but as long as the other side of the deal was enough to subjectively account for that, then I don't see any big deal.
This one is probably just a function of what you are offering up. A 4-pack or two of KBS trades quite reasonably, but I don't think you'll get a full case from one person at the same reasonable rate. You'll either need to offer up something a little better to get that case in one shot, or just do 3-4 separate trades. Either way you're paying for it with the rarer beer or the extra shipping...
