Friends, I wanted to ask your advice about how to go about trying to downsize my cellar in preparation for a big move from Massachusetts to Texas in June. Allow me to set up the story a little bit... I discovered craft beer while I was in medical school in Michigan about 10 years ago, and when I moved to Boston in 2009 I brought my zeal for good beer with me. I've been around these boards for years, and was really active on the trade boards until about 4 years ago. Unfortunately, at about that time, I had a good portion of my cellar in a storage unit for a few weeks while I figured out new housing arrangements after a break-up. Long story short, my storage unit got robbed, and the bulk of my collection (including 20+ bottles of Cantillon, a bunch of Founders/Jolly Pumpkin/Bell's/Dark Horse/Upland/Goose Island rarities, a handful of '09-'11 Kate the Greats, and a bunch of other beers of both sentimental and trading value) was robbed. That pretty much knocked all the wind out of my sails, and I promised myself I would never accumulate a cellar again. So I stopped trading. In the meantime, I kept enjoying good beer, but limited myself primarily to tap rooms and beer that I wouldn't horde. I continue to see lots of my old trading/beer friends at festivals throughout New England, and I'm sure the beer bug will follow me for years to come. But it's now time for me to pursue the next phase of my life, and I'm moving halfway across the country. And I'm panicked about what to do with my remaining cellar. I have far more beer than I can drink between now and June, and a lot of it is leftover from my pre-robbery years (2008-2013). It has all been stored appropriately and catalogued. I'd be interested in trading a large number of bottles for a smaller number (in an effort to downsize), or otherwise to trade for non-beer breweriana. Any advice? I have a spreadsheet of what's left, and would be glad to share. Thanks a lot, and sorry for the wordiness... -G
The best way to downsize is to join good local Facebook trading/drinking group and sell the bottles close to cost, especially if you want to avoid shipping.
Agreed. Even if you just get cost at least you're not left with a bad taste in your mouth (albeit your storage space getting looted will surely always gut you). "Trading a large number of bottles for a smaller number," regardless of the reason/purpose, is effectively upgrading which is every beer geek's dream (anyone with a sizable cellar at least) and rarely an achievable reality. The only thing working in your favor is the vintages you're offering although for "new money" traders 08-13 is ancient history...
Selling bottles on Facebook for the MA groups I know of is frowned upon and most groups I see have a strict policy against it.
Even at cost or close to cost? If he's not profiting, I'm not really sure why it would be a problem with anyone, TBH. Groups that I run or I'm in down here in the Philly and surround areas welcome these opportunities of not having to work out trades all the time.
