I'm an East coast resident who'd love to try Pliny, Jai Alai, Westy, Bernardus, et al (or even HT, honestly, since I'm not planning on driving up to VT). My assumption is that if you're trading good/exceptional beers, one should be able to offer something similar in return. Right? So, there's my dilemma: there isn't much I can get here (imports or craft) that most people can't get elsewhere. SE CT isn't exactly a haven for super rare beer. I could of course offer local brews for trade, but we're not talking the same quality here. What's a reasonable way to go about this? I'd really like to try some of the more fabled awesome beers, but I feel sheepish even putting up an ISO thread without knowing that I could offer something else at least in the same ballpark.
You should change you mind and consider driving to Vermont and loading up. You will then have all that you need for your ISO's.
I starting trading this year, but am quickly knocking off my wants through the generosity of fellow BA's. I started trading locals for locals, sometimes blind, this is a great way to start building up your gots. Also I did a Locals Noob LIF and my sender hooked me up, BCBS, Peruvian Morning, Plead the 5th, KBS, Surly, etc. I sent a nice big box out but it was all stuff I can get locally such as Alesmith, Odell, FW, and others. So it takes time and money but eventually you can build your self up, of course if you ever want to get to the 'pro' level you either need lots of time or money. Time to pursue rare beers worth trading for or money to buy these beers and trade with them.
Pliny is found on the shelves in Northern California, Jai Alai can be found around the Tampa area, and Heady has distribution around Waterbury VT, so you just need to find someone to whom these beers are local. St Bernardus can probably be found in CT if you make an effort. List Westy as a Want and maybe someone will hook you up if you get into trading. Westy is a local if you happen to live in Vleteren (east or west), Belgium.
Nothing you mentioned is considered "rare" beer so to speak. With that in mind throw up an iso saying ft:ct locals iso (what you want). Jai alai will be easy, I will bring you some next time I drive up if for some reason nobody offers but they will. The rest should be relatively easy as well for nebco or Cisco or jacks abby or a host of other things just let people know you're trading and they will come
What is a "shelf beer" in your area doesnt exist in mine or someone else's, so you could certainly find ways to trade. Just looking at seekabrew.com shows me you have Allagash, Captain Lawrence, Cisco, Ithaca, Maine, NEBCO, Weyerbacher, and many more that aren't on the shelves here, or lots of other places. Post a trade offering locals for locals, or offering your locals for some of the things you're looking for, and see how it goes.
You visit CT regularly? I find that interesting, since I'm a native Floridian (Miamian, who lived in Tampa twice, actually), but I've spent a few years in CT. That's a good point. I forgot Allagash, which isn't universal, is pretty easy to get here (not all varieties, but enough). I realize some of my examples might not be "rare" for a pro trader, but they're all limited distro, hence the issue. VT isn't that far away for HT, but it's far enough when you've got a toddler and a brand new baby overdue; hard to convince the wife that trip's worth it. Thanks for the feedback, everyone!
NEBCO barrel aged releases or growlers should land you anything on your list and even more. IMO it's probably more worth it to just drink the NEBCO beers instead. A lot of people come on here seeing all the fuss over certain beers and overlook the quality stuff being made near them.
This raised to the thousandth power. The more I get into beer the more I appreciate the local stuff more because quite frankly most places have small batch local breweries that make damn good beer just as good as most things worth trading for. Op pointed out some very specific examples of stuff that is worth trading for once to try but beyond that grab some local stuff (two roads from where you described your location) and drink up because the small up and coming breweries are the popular breweries of tomorrow and are really good.
I've had a few of the really local brews - Cotrell, Grey Sail, among others - but nothing's been particularly impressive (haven't tried New England Brewing yet, though, so that's now on my list). As Cody pointed out, mostly it's not about downing Plinys (Plinies?) by the dozen, it's about trying out these respected and nearly fabled beverages. I love a good Westmalle; why not see if Westy really is that much better, after all? Or Jai Alai compared to, say, Hoptimum?
Your in CT you get Ghandi Bot, Fuzzy Baby Duck growlers, an easy flip for Pliny/Blind Pig/Jai Alai etc. Your looking for a locals 4 locals and you can probably get most anything within reason. Chicago has some great locals, 3F stuff etc. You have plenty of ammo.
Ghandi Bot alone will land you everything on your short list except Westy. Westy isn't terribly difficult to trade for either. Also, Bernardus should be available at a good store near you.
Bernardus I *think* is available in CT, can't remember if I bought it here or not. I do know for sure it is available in MA, usually its in my cart when I'm at Yankee Spirits in Sturbridge stocking up on things. Roguer, you may want to hit 395 and take a quick roadtrip up to MA if you are in SE CT. Might be able to find some nice stuff just over the border. Even from the shoreline to the border is at most maybe an hour drive. Don't drive up for a 4 pk of something, bring about $150 and make the trip worthwhile.
Drive 30 minutes to Coastal and buy Gandhi Bot. Or even better, drive an hour and enjoy an afternoon at the brewery and get it fresh. You can get all you listed except West with G Bot.
I keep hoping Gandhi Bot will make it as far East as New London; no luck yet. With one toddler and one newborn, it's hard to justify taking a few hours off to go on a beer run. Not impossible, mind, just difficult.
Dude - VT is absolutely fucking gorgeous. Drive up there, grab some HT and HF and drink at every bar in Burlington and Montpelier. Miles better than what you're looking to 'trade' for.
Hey, Rog (with whom I've just started a trade)--like a couple of people have said, don't underestimate the generosity of fellow BAs . . . I've only been trading about 4 months, and I've been blown away by surprise boxes, awesome extras, etc. My first several Headys were all extras. There are some great people here.
I've been skiing back in VT, it is gorgeous. Sadly, it's also almost 5 hours away (and I reiterate the toddler/newborn concern). My wife wants to take a trip up there once our daughter is a liittle older (than 4 days), but it's going to have to wait. I'm very excited about my ongoing trades, as well; going to be able to mark off a couple "Wants." Thanks everyone for your replies and tips. Prost!
