Beer "Hoarding"

I bought 5 bottles at 2 different local stores and don't feel too bad about it. My local shop had a 1 bottle per day limit and I bought a bottle Thursday when it arrived. I stopped in Friday after work and they still had some left, so I bought another. Then I called them Saturday morning and they told me they still had some left, so I bought my third then. I walked down the street to a smaller store and, very surprisingly, there were 2 sitting in the corner on a bottom shelf so I grabbed them and checked out. This store had them in stock for over a week and somehow was selling them for $12.50.

I guess I'd feel bad if I bought an entire case or a half case the day it came out, but 5 bottles over a few days isn't bad. Not really my fault if nobody bought it

 

Is there a time limit? If it just came out, how long is an appropriate amount of time to wait before its not considered hoarding?

 

Four bottles of Parabola isn't hoarding, but you should feel guilty about committing one of the seven deadly sins.

 

Which store was it?

 

I usually go by the rule of three when I'm buying something:

1 bottle to drink
1 bottle to share
1 bottle to cellar

But there are always beers that are exceptions to the rule.

 

I've never had that problem as every place around here limits to 1 bottle. I don't know how strong I would be if it was just there for the taking.

 

I think clearing out a store of a limited release is a bit of a dick move unless it is the last one or two.

 

Working as a beer buyer I have mixed feelings on hoarding. Stores that hoard mass amounts of beer in the back upset me mainly. I usually have anywhere from 15-30 beers stockpiled in the back for the customers that give us good business and just haven't had the time to swing by. As far as being a customer I never feel guilty about buying whatever is left on the shelf. If the store employees aren't aware of the rarity of each beer that comes in than that's the beer buyers fault. I not only attach "1 per customer" signs next to each bottle but also keep a list up front for the cashiers. Also it's pretty crazy how they had 6 bottles shelved in the first place. I would have bought all 6 and sold or shared with friends who either haven't had it before or weren't able to buy one like I usually do. So I guess what I'm trying to say is don't feel guilty haha.

 

Late last year, when Moat Water came out, the shop had 12 in stock when I showed up and no limit. I only bought 3.

Now I regret that I did not buy all of them :-(

 

I think that it depends on what you are going to do with it. If you are planning on trading it--just don't gouge somebody. If you are planning on drinking it and/or sharing with BA friends, I see no problem with it. If you are buying them all up just to turn around and resell at a profit - congratulations, you are scumbag beer-scalper and I fart in your general di-rection.

 

I am tired of seeing people talk about how they spread the wealth by trading bottles....as if that isn't a self-serving gesture that isn't intended to boost your collection of valued beer.

As for the original question, I buy one bomber/750/six pack/4 pack at a time. I have never cellared a beer, so only buy what fits in my fridge. Were I to cellar, and had a larger beer expense, can't say how I would deal with that.

 

I think it's hoarding if you are holding on to them for no specific reason but if you trade them off for something then you are just a well considerate individual

 

I only have a bit of an issue with the actual beer store. Why wouldn't they place a limit on a beer that is really tough to acquire? It seems they should care a little more about their customers.

To the OP...if there's no limit, well, then that means no limit!

 

I will say I've never had good luck on the releases, but I am not in the store every day asking after stuff either. Usually I know when I want something and just keep an eye out for it. The only thing I ever recall buying all of was Jack's Abby Pumpkin Lager for the wife - five singles, and they had been there a while. I didn't feel overly bad about it, but that is hardly in the same category as Parabola. I don't drink huge volumes, so my buying is naturally conservative as I don't like stockpiling to far ahead. And there's the money - I've been dissapointed by the hype train before and I don't trade. If I bought a screamin' pile of something and found out I didn't like it, I'd have to find some new friends really fast ! Basically, I leave some on the shelf for the next guy, intentionally or not.

I think the hoarding business is when the purchase is just possession - not to drink it (which I can't even imagine), share it, or I guess even trade it (kinda sharing, but could cross the line). Buying just to do the "my precious" thing or sell it at a profit - uncool. Bought four to drink and/or share, left two on the shelf, I think that's cool. It's kind of a personal moral or ethical thing in my thinking. My opinion and a buck and a half will get you a cup of coffee...

 

Do whatever it takes to get max beers, otherwise you aren't going to win. Anyone waiting in line for BBPt5 release yet?

 

Unless there is a limit I try to get two at least. If it a REAL GOOD OR REAL Rare beer I may try for three but I always leave some behind for the next guy. Everyone deserves a little luck now and then. I know I get pissed off whe some ass cleans out the shelf then sells them at an inflated rate. I will try one and if it is ageable and I like it I will put it away for a later date. If not I will throw it out for trade or send it to a buddy on the east coast who keeps me current with brews available there and not here. But hoarding is not something I do. Why deprive fellow BA's of the opportunity while helping avoid (hopefully) some of the gouging and rip offs that seem to be so common anymore.

 

I have scheduled an intervention with family and friends. They are coming over this weekend to help clean the fridge from all of the beer that has been accumulating over the past year. I feel bad about them having to drink old Hopslam, Celebration, and FBS, too. What was I supposed to do? Leave it on the shelf for some other BA to use?

 

Where?

 

I don't think it's just semantics to say that "community" extends beyond geography . . . when I send beer for free to a friend or as part of a trade to a BA, I consider those folks my community, too.