So after scheduling off from work, making hotel reservations in two towns, buying tickets to a game, and buying passes for a tour, my friend who was supposed to visit me and engage in all of these activities bailed at the last minute. He lives 10 miles south of the Surly brewery. I offered him the opportunity to send me a couple bottles of Darkness as an opportunity for consolation. Instead of doing it right away, he waits two weeks--they were out, of course. "Should I hate him, Darlin'?"
I don't recommend it. That is a ridiculous amount of money for $36 worth of beer. Be patient and try to strike a trade with someone. I am sure that many other will chime in with the same advice. PS. The dude selling the bottles is a jerk.
Agreed. One of the gents in a tasting group I recently joined offered to pick me up a bottle as he was already going to Darkness day and wasn't going to buy his full allocation. This was the first time I met him. And he totally followed through, and sold it to me for $18 the second time we got together for a tasting. Big thanks to jjheinrichs! Sounds like your (former) friend is a douche. As is the guy in Minneapolis.
I advise looking through the rules listed at the top of the trade forum, and then watch the forums for trade listings that actually get done. Determine what you have or can get to trade and then what you want to try. Make offers based on acquired knowledge, accept feedback from BAs (don't take anything personally around here!), and adjust trade offers based on that feedback and response to your trade offer. There are plenty of very helpful resources already available on trading and many BAs willing to chime in on what makes a successful trade. A lot of new folks jump in without taking the time to learn what is going on. Those folks often end up flamed and/or without a successful trade offer.
That's an excellent tutorial. I appreciate you taking the time to explain all of that. I'll be a mere consumer of the trade forum posts for a few weeks to learn the nuances and practical components. Then, I'll probably avail myself to what seems an excellent resource for getting things that would, otherwise, not be available. Thanks again!
Also check these pointers out from BA Alewatcher: http://alewatcher.blogspot.com/2010/11/new-trader-tips.html
