I hope I'm on the correct forum. So I have a set of 10, 11, 12, and 13 Parabolas. Yes this is not an ISO/FT thread just wanting some advice as to what to ask for in return or better yet if you had the beers in hand would you just drink them or trade them. The bottles are at a temp controlled facility. Yes, I'll probably get a troll or two but on the real...I need some honest advice/help from some savvy beer Jedi's. I like all styles but since these bottles are vintages I'd like to get something in return of equal value "rarity". Does not have to be exact bottle count 4 for 4 can be 4 for 2 etc. No DL. Thanks
I would definitely drink them, but if you really want to trade them I would go for stuff that you can't normally get here in Cali, BCBS, KBS, Dark Lord, some Hill Farmstead stuff With a line up like that I'm sure you could almost get anything you ask for
Well you bring up a good spectrum of beers. The ones you mentioned I've had with the exception of Hillfarm Stead. Those brews seem quite the challenge unless you want to clear your cellar or give up one of your children. I appreciate the advice. My inclination is to drink up just as LotsofLupulin had suggested. I will marinate on this for a while and will see what other BA'ers have to say.
I'd drink. I drink for the experience. I cellar bottles for the experience, to see how age affects them and to see how they taste side by side. Invite some friends over for a special event and get all 4 going. The experience of sharing a vertical of 4 incredible beers with friends will surpass any hyped beer you could acquire in a trade.
Drink them! The thing about parabola is they aren't that "rare" and at @$15 not that expensive, yet soooo tasty. It's hard to get equal quality and value. Save yourself the shipping costs, and hassle and enjoy whatcha got.
Couldn't have said it any better man. I will be having a get together soon so that will be one of my treats along with other brews. Most of my friends suggested what you mentioned while others we're play the field. At this point I'm going to pop them open and see how they handle side by side. This will be an interesting evening I say.....
With the exception of the first year, Parabola was/is widely distributed. With that said, even the 2010 isnt that difficult to come by, even though there was only 1000 cases (12,000 bottles) produced. For some reason they just dont have the hype of something like Bourbon County (California connundrum.) You will get more out of drinking these with friends than you will out of trading them. I had the 2010 and 2011a a few months back and theyre tasting great, so drink up and enjoy!
Considering you made this thread, you probably know what you're doing, and you probably already know what Parabola tastes like. Yes drinking a vertical is awesome, but ultimately you probably also want to try something you'd never otherwise get a chance to try. IMO trying several equally awesome beers trumps having the same awesome beer 4 times, even if its in a vertical. You also didnt mention WHAT kind of beer you are looking for, so its tough to start naming the equivalent beer in trade value but if I were to estimate in dollar amount what you'd be looking at, I'd say about $90. I figure the 2010 would be $30, 2011 would be $25, 2012 $20, and 2013 will be $15. Obviously these values are totally subjective, but I'd say $5 per year in aging is a fair price.
I think the max you might get in return is limited because of three factors: 1. Verticals are tricky to trade 2. Parabola is an annual release with wide distribution 3. The vintage years you're dealing with are right in line with the beer trading/cellaring boom, meaning there are still a fair number of these bottles to be had. (Think baseball cars from the late-80s/early-90s.) If you're set on trading them, you're probably better off breaking the vertical and working out something for them each individually. Search ISO/FT and see if you can get a sense for what people are offering. If it's the sort of "return of equal value rarity" you had in mind, have at it.
I would never pay a premium on aged shelf beers myself, especially for a beer that tastes best fresh. So I'd call it $60
if you cellar beers only to trade them away then you are missing the whole point of aging the beer in the first place.
I appreciate all the in put. Most that has been discussed I've thought about in some form or fashion. Quite impressed how people see different angles to the story. Thx for the great advice gonna just open them with friends and enjoy the experience.
