hype train at full speed

To me this is partly (how much I don't know) a numbers game. There is more traders in the Midwest than in CA, more good shelf relase beers in the Midwest, thus these beers get elevated.

 

You can get Parabola off the shelf (granted, it sells quickly, but still) in some places on the east coast. KBS, however, has left the station. Back in 2009, you could get a case of it in PA (where I lived then) if you knew where to look. Now, it's 1 bottle limits at ~$8 per bottle or more at most places. You pretty much have to know or blow someone to even get a 4 pack of that stuff.

 

I struggle with breaking this down geographically. I see issues and have dealt with good dudes and jackoffs from all areas.

 

If folks would just stop offering exclusive and low bottle count brewery releases for mass-produced shelf beers, then this wouldn't be an issue. Stop buying into the hype y'all!

 

I think if everyone from CA placed a self imposed trade embargo on proprietor's the problem may be at least temporarily alleviated

 

I completely agree: assholes are ubiquitous as are nice folks.

 

It doesn't help that a lot of our stuff is easily available out there - AleSmith, Ballast Point, Green Flash, Lagunitas, Deschutes, etc. Asking for Gumballhead and Daisy Cutter for Lil Sumpin' Sumpin' and Mirror Pond would be fair, but they already have the ladder. Instead, if we really want something we have to offer beer that is somewhat scarce to us. The Midwest and East Coast definitely have an advantage on what's readily available. It sucks, but that's the way it is.

 

Agreed. While I would never laugh at the offer, Parabola has been much easier for me to get the last few years than KBS by far. I remember two years ago a store in DC getting at least 5-6 cases of Parabola and it sitting on the floor for a week at ~$16-17 a bottle, while KBS was a hunt to get a 4 pack or single bottle. Also FYI, in my experience KBS is $21-24 per 4-pack. Think this might have just been a case of not realizing the prices and availability of th beers.

To the OP, I think it just depends on where you are:

East Coast complains about hype/whalez/trading for Cali, mid-West, Florida, Vermont.
Cali complains about hype/whalez/trading for EC, mid-West, Florida, Vermont.
mid-West complains about hype/whalez/trading for Cali, EC, Florida, Vermont.
VT complains about hype/whalez/trading for Cali, mid-West, Florida, EC.

and so on. The trading forums have gotten so crazy with people only trading for whales or the new hot beer and other people offering the house for a whale and setting the market that it's hard to get normal good trades done anymore (aside from with friends and established trade-friends). Everyone seems so scared of not "winning" the trade; isn't quite as fun as it used to be for me.

 

A trade post for 4 KBS for a bottle of Parobola would result in inbox explosion. A trade post of one Parabola for 4 KBS gets you crickets.

 

Someone make a Beckett/Wizard for beer.

 

This^^

 

Lately I view most tradeworthy beers and trade for quantity, 1 rarer beer on my end for 2 or more on the other's end. I find we each end up with beers we want, but I get more of them. In my mind we both 'win', but I am in the minority with this approach.

 

I trade using other websites. Everybody I deal with is super chill and we normally shoot for $4$ without any real regard to rarity. I've traded Beat, FFaC and other beers without asking for a whale in return.

 

Then don't go on the trade forums. Why are you compelled to trade if your desire is to drink "good beer"? There's plenty of delicious beer around you.

 

At some point, you have to ask yourself if the trade is really worth it when you can find and drink amazing beer being released here. Not every brewery distributes out-of-state and there are more breweries popping up each year.

 

There's a simple solution. Don't make the trade if you feel you're being taken advantage of.

 

It doesn't matter to me as I can happily live with only beers brewed in California. The grass, while nice on the other side isn't necessarily greener

 

Join F.U.C.T. and you should be able to gain some leverage in trades.