BIF, etc. How does it work?

1. Find a BIF accepting noobs, one for which you can guarantee that you meet the requirements for entry (find BIFs here). All BIFs have entry requirements. Some may be specific (send x number of ounces of BA sour beers), some more general (send x number of ounces of BA rating 85+ beer).

2. BM the OP and express your desire to enter; provide trading references if necessary (looks like you won't have a problem with that).

3. BIFs are essentially games. Some BIFs you join with the expectation that you'll send a box to a stranger and that you'll receive a box from a different stranger. Others, I'd say most, are gambling/sports related. Boxes are sent contingent upon the outcome of particular sporting activities (e.g. picking a team for the NBA playoffs; the more your chosen team wins, the more beer you win). The rules are established at the beginning of the BIF, and people keep track throughout of which BA deserves which beer from which other BA. The BIF leader is responsible for this, but everyone chips in, because the job is big.

4. Once the requirements for sending/receiving beer are met (e.g. the NBA Finals are over), let the BIF leader handle address exchange and acting as an intermediary between sender and receiver. This caused me the greatest consternation during my first BIF, but in fact it's just a trade with a few more steps.

5. Chances are in every BIF you'll send at least one box. Make sure it meets the requirements of the BIF (ounces, beer styles, BA rating, etc.), and then try to hit your target's Wants or load it up with tasty locals.

6. During the BIF, keep checking the BIF thread, because people may establish side BIFs, discuss BIF outcomes, or in general just banter.

7. When you receive a box, be sure to post a picture in the BIF thread and tag the sender.

8. Have a great time. BIFs are, as your buddy says, "the way to do it." You end up making a lot of great friends and showcasing your local brews.

GL @Mugsbat

 

since you're in Florida you might consider joining the MLB 0-13 BIF... we're going to need someone to pick up the Marlins for Round 3

 

Looks like there's already a nice outline, but since I posted this to a different thread a couple days ago, a quick copy/paste won't hurt anyone:

In general, a BIF is a group of people that come together to send beer to each other in a format similar to a Secret Santa gift exchange, everyone is given their target and they fill a box to the BIF's specfications (this one was SWTFYW ship whatever ...; but many have a theme such as one I did recently that was Barleywine themed). Once targets have gone out, people do hints and guess their sender for fun, but boxes are shipped out during a predetermined shipping window, or by a deadline date; I've never seen one done where the box doesn't go out until the sender is guessed (but I like it!). Once boxes start arriving, recipients will post beer **** displaying their haul and cursing their sender for the amount of structural damage they'll have to repair as a result of the box that decimated their porch.

There are also competitive BIFs, such as for the NCAA Tournament, NBA Finals, or World Cup, where you fill out a bracket or answer questions (like a series of prop bets) and you have a winner who gets boxes from the losers (or multiple winners, it varies).

Then there are LIFs, or "lottery it forward" where someone is just giving away beer, no reciprocating expected, based on whatever criteria they choose, could be similar to a competition BIF (answer a series of questions and whoever gets the most right wins) or pure 'out of a hat', and these are commonly done like a raffle with the funds going to charity; you missed a few good ones through spring, but more pop up pretty regularly.