Casey Brewing and Blending

The donation is to a great cause. I'm a person who has made the drive from Austin the past two months and I would have gladly done it again if time permitted this go around. The donation would be absolutely no problem and I would welcome it. It's funny you mention breweries charging a donation, read the SW post about Jester King and what they are doing to get Cantillon to Texas. Basically paying for the license. On top of that, they're delaying Zwanze day, charging $50 a ticket, for a 4oz pour and the opportunity to buy bottles, and that $50 is being donated to a Political group that lobbies the legislature to change our antiquated beer laws. Lovely idea in my opinion. That's a $50 donation to support a beer cause. I think $20 to support a great cause like Challenge Aspen is even more worthy. Again, that's my opinion, I know how passionate people get about their beer. I understand disposable income is different for everyone, but like was stated before, if the $20 bothers some, you shouldn't be buying beer.

Nice discussion by the way.

 

I've seen posts in multiple forums and spoken to people that have kept talking about this "tax write-off" he is going to get. But, I would think the donation is only going to directly offset the additional ticket revenues created. Basically the brewery is a net zero flow-through from the whole transaction while the charity is up ~$4k.

Otherwise he could have pocketed the ticket revenue, been taxed on it, and been up a few $k. #taxesbrah

 

He could probably also lower them by $5-7 each too . Just saying that I don't think his primary audience looks very hard at the sticker price.

I see the $20 a little like the random fees that airlines throw at people. If your ticket is an additional $20-50, most people don't know or care. It's the cost of flying and there usually aren't a ton of options. However when they toss it at you at the kiosk or once you're in the air...oh man, look out. Not quite the same, but that's the way I see it. He could have figured that $ into many different places, but this it how he did it. Maybe it was just easier? This is our option this month. If someone has a better idea (whether I agree with it or not), bring it up.

Most of us agree that something had to be done about the lines. Not necessarily for us, but for their neighborhood. It's not built for it. Without changing his business model overnight, tickets hopefully solved that one issue. He also wants to support the local G.S. economy, which he has. It's a great town, but it's not like I'd be singling it out if he wasn't there. I know I'm not alone in that. We'll see where things go.

 

You're thinking from a cash flow, not taxable income, perspective.

Think of this this way: I'm your neighbor. I'm moving and I decide to give you $10,000 worth of old TVs, computers, etc. You take the $10,000 and then give it to charity. Because you were the one who actually made the donation to charity - regardless of where the $$ actually originated - you reduce your taxable income by $10K on this year's taxes.

If ticket-buyers were contributing directly to charity, then they would be eligible for the tax writeoff. But they're not. Casey Brewing/Blending will be making the donation, hence they get the tax writeoff. Make sense?

 

Hah, thanks Kenny Bania. Context here was based on years of living in Chicago and seeing what Black Friday became in recent years. It used to be fun. Now people drive from store to store picking up as much BCBS as they are allowed to buy. Those are the "wrong type of people" for lack of a better term.

I think what Casey is doing with these releases is exactly what makes beer fun for many of us and it attracts the right kind of people.

 

I can't tell if you're serious here. I assume you see that in your example, you got $10k worth of income which you must (under law) report as income to the IRS. You then donated it, which is a tax writeoff and reduces your taxable income from that transaction to effectively 0. If anything, this eats into REAL charitable deductions he might otherwise make as there is a real (but probably not relevant in this case) limit on corporate charitable deductions.

I'm no tax lawyer, just an engineer who likes beer, but I'm pretty sure you're off base here.

 

I see what you are saying. But I would assume I wouldn't report that old stuff you gave me as income on my return. On the other hand, I would think he would be forced to report the ticket sales as additional revenue (taxable income) and therefore the donation would also offset those 1:1.

 

No you're talking

 

^^^What he said. Troy will see an extra $4k in revenues, offset by a $4k charitable donation. Zero net impact on his taxes next year.

 

I think this is worth it. Yes, it makes something that is expensive more expensive. But it also guarentees that you'll get a spot. What if you drove 6 hours and still missed the release? You'd probably pay $40 to get your bottles in that scenario. This ticket scheme brings order to the chaos. Clarity to the confusion.
In the meantime I have 2 bottles of Casey. How soon should I be consuming them? They are being stored in my wine chiller at 51 degrees.

 

I'm not sure whether it's the $20 or the threat of a ban from next month's (probable) Apricot Cut release, but the fact that around 30 tickets remain as of this morning shows that it was the correct move.

 

I wouldn't call it probable yet...

 

Yeah, "possible" would have been a better choice.

 

No matter when it is, I'm not looking forward to that drive during ski season. No amount of tickets can fix I70.

 

Do you have a quality product that people are willing to drive 3 hours for and willing to stand in line for 12 hours for? If you do then maybe you can make me a customer too.

Have you ever been to a Casey release? Do you understand how the releases have worked for the last year? It sounds like you have not, because if you did then maybe you would understand why some people are "happy that we are being made to donate to charity for the privilege to purchase his product".

 

I have been wondering what the best option is, during ski season. I think leaving at 3 or 4AM might actually be better than mid-morning (if ticketing is still in place). As far as the return trip, later that day, I have no idea what to expect. Is heading east on I70 a little better, mid-afternoon?

 

Heading East on I70 anytime after 2PM on a Saturday during ski season is a recipe for awe inspiring rage. Thankfully, I hail from the Springs, so I'll take Hoosier pass and skip the tunnel of love.

 

Once winter kicks in I have no idea what I plan to do. Right now I'm just crossing my fingers and hoping that someone discovers a means for personal teleportation. Either that or drone technology improves dramatically.
If not, I suppose I'll get to know the folks at the BW Antlers better. No clue if it'll be better or worse on Friday night or Sturday morning, but it'll be worth researching.

 

There might be a toll lane (have heard up to $30) on I-70E for us Denver area folks.

"The project, part of CDOT’s comprehensive plan to improve travel in the I-70 Mountain Corridor, will upgrade 13-miles of Eastbound I-70 within CDOT’s existing right of way. The upgrades will create the I-70 Mountain Express Lane; a wide shoulder that – only during peak travel periods – will operate as a third travel lane. The I-70 Mountain Express Lane will be dynamically priced to keep traffic moving. Prices will lower when CDOT wants to encourage drivers to use the lane and rise as the lane reaches capacity."
Source: https://www.codot.gov/projects/I70mtnppsl

Car pooling to Casey BB might be the way to go during the ski season. Need to start a separate thread for that one! Casey car poolers!

I'm not supporting the toll in any way. I'm sure many locals have heard the story already, but just thought I'd put the info out there for others.

 

We have never charged for the 'right' to purchase beer. Each quarter, for two years now, we have a party at our brewery. Ticket cost for the party covers a glass and tasting tickets. We do release beer on those days, but typically have all or most available for sale in our taproom the following day.