Upping my trade "game"

Establish regular trading partners. I rarely if ever check the trade forums, just send out beers when people I've traded with are looking for them.

 

Unfortunately, most times it takes big beers to land other big beers. Or, give up half your cellar. I was lucky enough to get a regular, generous trader in Tampa. He sent me a brandy Huna as a get well present. You need to find someone like that. But get your own. He's mine. Don't do a vag move

 

Tip...don't worry about Sexual Chocolate. Cool label, disappointing beer (very ashy). The BA version is ok, but not amazing. As for the others, hit releases when possible, build your "cellar" (only if you have a place to keep it properly stored, please), and yes give it time. I know during that first year of trading, the itch can get the better of you, but be patient. I also suggest, asking yourself before each trade: Why do I want this beer so bad? What does this beer have, that other easier to obtain beers do not? This has recently stopped be from caring about some big releases, that I would have gone crazy for a couple years ago. Just because everyone else wants it, doesn't mean it's going to be your thing.

 

Landing Sang Noir and Sexual Chocolate shouldn't be difficult at all. I'd think a limited brewery/local release would get it done. It's all about finding the right person.

Double Sunshine is a bit trickier since it's not released often, is only released in one place, and is done so in limited amounts. It's a fantastic beer, well worth hunting down if that's a style you enjoy.

 

Bottom line is you need to hit up limited releases to obtain other limited releases. Whether it comes via trading partner or from the general ISO:FT pool, some form of reciprocation is expected. The nice thing about trading partners, or other good BA's doing you a favor, is you may be able to get something and pay them back at a later date. (Or, you pay it forward and they will get you back later on)

You might want to consider getting involved in BIFs too. Good things will come to you in those, you just never know what they're going to be. If you do enough of them though, eventually you will check off many of your limited wants.

Double Sunshine is just tough due to location and timing. Let's put it this way - I've bought Lawson's bottles 5-6 times at the source, and I've never timed it right to obtain Double Sunshine. (I've had it on draft though)

I feel like Sexy Chocolate has lost a lot of its luster. The regular version is really no better than many bottles you could go buy on your local shelf right now. You can probably land it these days with shelf whalez...

 

In Sept velvet merkin comes out. DC is one of only 15 spots getting it. You should be able to get some good beers for that

 

1. Set up trades with people who live near your favorite breweries or distro areas

2. Bombard them with beer relentlessly

3. Profit

 

I don't think it is widely advertised because, you know beer should be free apparently...but the key to acquiring harder to locate beer is money. Sometimes you can trade time for money. But more often than not; money.

Take 5 minutes and add up your costs. I'd wager 20 trades, between packing material, shipping costs, extras, etc. has probably run you $400. That's $400 on top of the beer you bought and shipped in the trade.

Every one of the beers you mentioned above would get done for an over $4$ offer of quality locals. If you really want something take a month off from doing your other trades and roll that money into an offer for one of the beers you're after. Find a shelf 'loon that is crazy overpriced and offer that; buy a case of locals and eat the excessive shipping cost; make a drive for growler fill only offerings and ship a couple growlers.

As a side note - Sexual Chocolate not worth it. Sang Noir I've never had. Double Sunshine I've driven a 6 hour round trip to buy and was worth it 100%.

 

Re: double sunshine

One of the big mistakes I always see people doing when trying to land it is offering other IPA's. offer a nice BA stout or sour or something different and you'll have a lot better luck. Folks usually don't want to trade one of their favorite IPAs for something they might not like as much. Obvious exception is if you offer wayyyy over $4$ which I wouldn't really advise either, but that's your prerogative.

 

I second the regular trader sediment. I got a couple double Sunshine's just because, no agreeded apon trades. Maybe my connection, hopshopenstein, is nice but I think this is the standard with regular trading partners although he is badass and always hooks me up more than needed I don't think this is out of the norm with regular traders.

 

Basically watch Thecherryman and offer the reverse of every one of his ISO's and you will be known as the most generous trader ever

 

Upping your game? I don't get it, sounds like your into trading local stuff for local stuff you'd like to try. If you stay about even and find a partner who wants what you can deliver there's nothing to "up", sounds like you want to learn how to win a trade. Don't take offense here, it just sounds that way, not saying that you are. If your looking to get into the whale business and you don't have access in your area either with being lucky or knowing a source you'll have to buy in your stake and over pay big time. There are sites out there where you can buy what you want if your willing to burn up a few Ben Franklins plus. I've tried most IPA's/DIPA's I've really wanted with local special releases, no way I can get any of the true big brews unless I dumped cases of the stuff. And Lawsons DS has eluded me too, and I've to Waterbury twice, and it wasn't that weeks release. I'm not into chasing the big Stouts, BCBCS and BCBS are about where my limit extends, but if your into IPA's local for locals will work , special releases will will work, you just have to look to be square with whoever your dealing with. I've blown some trades, still do too, you get better with experience though, I think most think coulda done that a little better, at least I do, I kinda take our locals for granted, hard to put myself 1000 miles away and think damn I'd like to try that..

 

Just to add to the others, Sexual Chocolate is honestly not worth even trading for. Going after BA Sexual Chocolate would be a much better use of your time and money.

 

There's more than a few non BA stouts that are great too, FB, Wake N Bake, Black Note, PT5. Easier to get and all damn good. SC is ok, but at $20 a bottle it's pricy for what you get.

 

Upping your trading game is one thing but if you want to up your "whale game" see the thread in this section titles "Sorry".

 

The first rule to remember when using the 1-baby shipper is to put some air holes in there. I won't make that mistake again.

 

Julian B has it right, disposable income and or dumb luck , and the luck part has a lot to do with geography. The only whale I even got was a 1st year bottling of CBS. You can buy a Rare, KH, Cantillions etc, all it takes is paying the 10x the original purchase price .

 

Decent advice already- you can buy cascade and cantillon online, if you have disposable income at least! and I definitely think it helps to not try to trade 'like' beers, but to offer sours for stouts or IPAs for sours etc etc
Best advice- make regular trade partners who will quickly realize what an awesome trader/person you are and will destroy your porch just for fun. Then post up threads like this with three of your top ISO so we know what to send when it comes time to throw in extras

Muaaahaha