Calling Austin Beer Works out!

Discussion in 'Southwest' started by BgThang, Jun 17, 2013.

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  1. BgThang

    BgThang Initiate (0) Dec 23, 2007 Texas

    Just inquired about purchasing a 1/6th keg of peacemaker beer from party barn in ATX for a party I am having, and was advised that brewery policy was no keg sales for kegerator use.
    I guess I will go get another 512 keg. I love the ABW guys, and this pains me not to be able to have it on tap. I say 1/6 is a can. A very big can but come on guy's I have a kegerator for a reason.
     
    Austinbeerworks likes this.
  2. wsnich

    wsnich Initiate (0) Apr 26, 2010 Texas


    It may be due to keg theft. I wouldn't fault them on that one.
     
    leoingle likes this.
  3. BgThang

    BgThang Initiate (0) Dec 23, 2007 Texas

    People with kegerators I would believe are less likely vs. people renting the taps and such. Put a higher deposit on those kegs.
     
    leoingle likes this.
  4. aschwab

    aschwab Initiate (0) Mar 3, 2009 Texas


    I have a 512 branded keg sitting in my keg room.

    I got it from Specs when I traded in another keg. I am keeping it until I get another keg and Specs will get it back.

    It could be they just do not like people keeping the kegs as long as they do.
     
  5. Austinbeerworks

    Austinbeerworks Initiate (0) Oct 23, 2010 Texas

    We have lost over 100 keg shells by selling through off-premise retailers. Each keg costs us about $125.

    To prevent that from happening further, we now only sell kegs if we know exactly where they're going. Some retailers are not OK with that policy, so they no longer carry our kegs.

    If you would like a keg for a special event or just for home use, email me at [email protected] and I'll work with you to find the closest and most convenient location where you can pick one up.

    Just think how cool it would be if we could sell you a keg directly...
     
    UT-Alex, Kuemmelbrau, Ford and 12 others like this.
  6. leoingle

    leoingle Initiate (0) Jan 28, 2013 Texas

    This makes total sense to me and understand totally.

    BTW, I had your DIPA at Cottonwood last week and it was damn good.
     
    Austinbeerworks likes this.
  7. GregoM

    GregoM Initiate (0) Apr 25, 2013 Texas

    I second that DIPA @ Cottonwood
     
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  8. AdamR46

    AdamR46 Initiate (0) Nov 18, 2011 Texas

    Thanks for the great response Austin Beerworks. I hope to visit you guys soon.
     
    Austinbeerworks likes this.
  9. BgThang

    BgThang Initiate (0) Dec 23, 2007 Texas

    Thanks. Thats why I love you guys. and your beer! It sucks that duche bags do that to a local craft beer place. Email is on its way. I was just shocked when I was told no, never had that happen before but it's understandable. thank you for clarifying.
     
    thebigyellowjoint likes this.
  10. 13DegN

    13DegN Devotee (368) Mar 25, 2012 Texas
    Trader

    Last I had a conversation on the topic, keg theft/"loss" was a big problem.

    Sites like http://www.kegreturn.com/ try to recover some losses.

    Reports like the below show one of the places they go:
    Texas made it illegal to recycle a keg unless you are the manufacture, brewer, or rep of.
    Still, keg theft/loss is a problem. Laws get ignored in some cases.

    Some home brewers use them for their brewing setup. http://www.tastybrew.com/forum/thread/222242 AND they believe they "paid" for it with the deposit. (Sad)

    They should make a deposit a lot, lot higher but easier to say than do when some in the chain don't have anything to lose, so what do they care.

    Some states regulate the deposit amount and keep it low; not sure why. $120 deposit would likely get a lot of kegs returned. Many would gripe about it though. So ultimately we all pay for the"lost" kegs when we buy beer.
     
    nsheehan and Austinbeerworks like this.
  11. ext1rpate

    ext1rpate Initiate (0) Feb 21, 2011 Texas

    I've honestly never heard of a place charging less than 100 bucks for a keg deposit.
     
    BgThang likes this.
  12. aschwab

    aschwab Initiate (0) Mar 3, 2009 Texas

    I believe the one I have from Specs was originally $20. It has been rotated in and out for 5 years now so I can't remember.
     
    air likes this.
  13. Hanzo

    Hanzo Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2012 Virginia

    Why is losing kegs such a problem? Same as renting anything, require a credit card and if they don't return the keg within a given timeframe you charge them for the replacement cost of the keg. Problem solved.
     
    mrkmrk likes this.
  14. aschwab

    aschwab Initiate (0) Mar 3, 2009 Texas

    What is a reasonable timeframe?
     
  15. Hanzo

    Hanzo Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2012 Virginia

    I don't know, 30 days? I am just asking why this is any different than if you rent a tiller or something. If you break it or don't return it you bought it.
     
  16. BgThang

    BgThang Initiate (0) Dec 23, 2007 Texas

    What if I bought a Brooklyn black chocolate keg and wanted to age it for 3 years.?
    Edit: I guess I could transfer it to a corny keg for aging.
     
  17. BgThang

    BgThang Initiate (0) Dec 23, 2007 Texas

    After reading those articles I still do not see the reason, if you paid a $50 or $100 dollar deposit you get your money back instead of selling it for 13-30 bucks. doesnt make since. Seems to me the bars and other clients that leave the empties out back are more responsible for the loss. So back to my point, I do not believe people with kegerators are the issue here.
     
  18. Hanzo

    Hanzo Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2012 Virginia

    I mean my system isn't perfect (are there really people out there that age kegs?) but there has to be a way to limit the risk for the breweries while still making their kegs accessible.

    EDIT: How much are deposits now for most kegs?
     
  19. BgThang

    BgThang Initiate (0) Dec 23, 2007 Texas

    Yes it has been done. Bars do it all the time. Some people with the space at home do too.
     
  20. Hanzo

    Hanzo Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2012 Virginia

    I know bars do it, I just haven't seen many home cellars with kegs in all the show off threads. So I figured it wasn't super common.
     
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