Best/Worst Trade Extras

I will sometimes just ask what they are into. They tell me what they like and most people want some local stuff they can't get in their areas. I've sent mammoth, founders, Great Basin, Lake Tahoe brewing. No set rules really.

 

Cellar beer is great to give as extras if you're willing to part with it. I agree with Snoopy488, ask what styles they are in to. More often these days I've simply asked if skipping extras was okay; typically when I have more beer than I can drink, as extras tend to be beers best fresh. In this case, cellarable beers are killer extras! Doesn't take up space in my fridge. If I want to establish a good, regular, trading relationship with someone and I've had a good conversation with them/keep up via text I'll send higher quality extras because I know they'd appreciate it and will reciprocate. I check seekabrew.com prior to buying extras to ensure what I'm sending is out of distro for that person. Almanacs, Pliny, Marin Brewing, things that they can't get are usually the go to for me.

 

Best: TG Xhops (Gold label), TG Pompeii, WW Freak of Nature, CCB Jai Alai.
Worst: Can't complain about any extra I've received.

 

I'm new to trading and haven't run into this a lot, but as long as the beer is still good it's a good extra. I would be ok getting a cellared shelf beer like rochefort 10, but would be even happier to get something out of my distro.

 

Best: "vintage" Budweiser Black Crown ; made me laugh out loud when I opened it. I passed it on to someone (along with real extras) after quite some time to make it even further "vintaged". The person didn't comment on it though, so I don't think he realized it was a joke. Wonder if he drank that 2 year old Black Crown, I hope not.

Real best was a Barrel Aged Behemoth, a long time big want. Courtesy of @pauljrinaldijr , massively generous beer trader!

 

Most of my trades are now with regulars so we take good care of one another. The only "bad" extra I've ever gotten was a 7 month old bottle of PseudoSue. Best was probably either of my 2 surprise boxes, one containing a Sucaba and the other a B2 ADWTD.

 

The first Heady Topper I ever had was an extra, and I was ecstatic to get that. In terms of bad extras, I don't think that exists. Even if it's a 9 month old IPA that the trader just rediscovered in their fridge, it's still a free beer and a thoughtful gesture.

 

My biggest concern with extras is that I feel that with each box I have to top myself from the last one, because everytime I get my return box it feels like its better than the extras I sent which keeps this crazy cycle going where I try to include killer extras. I think at one point I will be sending better extras than the actual trade itself....
But per the OP BEST: GBS, HI SS, Sexual Chocolate, BA Board Meeting
Worst: Any IPA but thats just because I dont drink them so I really dont know. Although technically none of them have been bad because I give them to my friends who have all said that they have been delicious, so what do I know...

 

The first (and only) Heady Topper and Sip of Sunshine were extras in a trade. I was pretty excited for that!

 

Huna was probably the best extra I ever received. I offered to do an IP with the trader and brought it to the town he was in. He hooked me up with some great extras including Huna. The worst extra I think I ever received was a 4 month old Zombie Dust. :-(

 

week old Other Half Citra + Substance + Second Fiddle... amazing (getting him back on the next trade)

 

Beer it forward is just classy. Good on you, sir!

 

My first trade ever, @Jholcomb completely bombed my porch with extras: double daisy cutter, beer hates astronauts, JULIUS!!!! I was embarrassed by my local shelfies I sent. Definitely been lying it forward though.

 

Best Extras: Pizza Port Swami's IPA and Kook DIPA, Knee Deep Breaking Bud, Other Half Equinox IPA, Maumee bay Total Eclipse Breakfast Stout

Worst Extra: Toppling Goliath 1492 - bottled 08/27/15

 

Once got Blind Pig as an extra in a trade for Pliny. Ended up liking the Blind Pig more than the overrated Pliny.

 

Before I had either one of these when I was new to craft, ordered a Bling Pig, they accidentally gave me a PTE, I loved it. Then tried a Blind Pig and didn't like it, glad they made a mistake or I may have never tried a Pliny.

 

I recently helped a WI neighbor locate some Prairie Artisan Bourbon Paradise, for which he traded me a Central Waters Eighteen and a lot of New Glarus R&D beers.

As extras, he sent me a Central Waters Rye Barrel Stout, and a Side Project Fencerow. I was blown away. I hadn't included a single extra as the box was already quite full, and I let him know this before I even shipped it. Hell of a nice guy. I really appreciated that. Wisconsin has some fantastic beer, and some really amazing traders here on Beer Advocate. Cheers, Wisconsin!

Worst extras I've received to date: I received an old Clown Shoes IPA not long ago. 1) Clown Shoes is nationally distributed. 2) I'd sent local, limited stuff - The Wolf, from 3 Sheeps (bourbon barrel aged, and quite good), some New Glarus fruits, and etc.. 3) The trader knew all of this - they'd already received, and presumably drank, my extras to them. The extra they sent was well after the initial trade boxes were exchanged. Felt like a slap in the face - I'd have preferred no extras.

 

And this anecdote is not exactly about extras, but here it is anyway:

I ordered some beer from a retailer in California earlier this year - I was contacted a couple days later and notified that one of the beers I'd ordered was now out of stock. The retailer gave me three options - cancel the item, sub in something different of my choosing (comparable value), or (as they stated) they would sub in something "amazing".

I chose option 3. I wish that I had grown up watching more game shows, because I'd probably know better. Option 3, I found later when my box arrived here in MN, was a bottle of Founder's DKML. I was so angry that I stuck it in a corner where I cannot see it and probably won't find it until I sell my house.

 

My first ever trade included a can of Julius as an extra and the second, a bottle of PTE...in hindsight, I kind of blame those two guys for my borderline-addicting beer trading hobby

I often enjoy the extras as much or more than the beers I seek out - incredible generosity around here

 

Who is the retailer? One that has been discussed on this site is fairly notorious.