Do you circumvent bottle limits?

One bottle, yes. But not one store. There's almost a half-dozen within a few miles of me, and each place knows my face. To be honest, though, I think this is the last year I go hunting around. Too many awesome brews that are readily available without having to hit a bunch of places to make a six pack of.

 

this.
So much. I can't stand the "well if it's an X bottle limit, can my _______ (insert bf/gf/husband/wife/grandpa/dog) buy X bottles too?" There's a reason why there are limits, and it's not just to piss you truck chasers off.

 

I don't have the time or resources to be pulling these kinds of shenanigans.

 

If going to multiple stores counts, then a little bit. I try to abide for the most part because I wouldn't want to be 'that guy' who hoards and ruins it for other people. Part of beer advocacy is letting others get their share too, not just me getting mine.

 

I got no problem with you bringing a husband/wife or good friend to a brewery release to get that extra bottle... provided that the other person at least tries the beer with you. That means that they have enough of an interest in beer that they want to check it out and see if they like it. If they do, split both bottles with them. All good. If they don't, they at least tried it and you've got your bottle to yourself that you would have had anyway. It's a fun hobby that someone you care about is taking time to do with you. Nothing wrong with that.

I do not agree with bringing people who don't care for beer or have much interest in it solely for the purpose of trading the additional bottle(s) or racking up ten extras to sit on, especially if it's a small/local brewery that isn't distributed nationally. Let the locals who love the brewery enjoy their beer.

However, the older I get, the less I really care. There's tons of beer out there that's pretty good and readily available, and there's tons of special release beer that is crazy expensive and is nowhere near worth the price, yet people keep lining up for it. The only beer that I'm somewhat upset about limits on is BCBS. Used to be able to get that year round because nobody bought it and I really wish I could have tried the Vanilla Rye, but life goes on.

That said, I still think you who try to actively cheat the system are dicks and I've got no problem saying so.

 

I can circumvent bottle limits because I work in the industry and a few of my customers are really liberal when it comes to purchasing limited release with me. The best deal I was ever offered was the opportunity to purchase a case of BCBS at cost, I declined. Also did circumvent a bottle limit through BevMo's online store where there was not a limit on Parabola. I also get a great discounts on case purchases through a couple of my customers as well.

 

I picked up my one bottle of Karbach Vanilla BBH on Monday evening and there was a one bottle limit. The guy said just come in tomorrow and get another and I'm like no I am set. So I posted here that they had some there, and the next day I went by in the evening and they still had some so I grabbed another one. Didn't feel guilty.

 

Personally, I play by the "rules". I get to try a new limited release, or an old favorite, and so does a lot of other people. It's a win/win as far as I'm concerned.

 

If I am able to get more than my allotted share of a special release, its pretty much guaranteed that I am going to share those bottles with 4, 5, 6+ friends that were unable to acquire it. Is there an assumption in this thread that the circumventers aren't sharing? If I was able to get 6 Parabola's, I would share one bottle with 5-6 friends, and put the other 5 in my cellar and label them to drink in 2016, 2017, 2018, etc. Would I use/pay a mule...never.

 

I used to circumvent bottle limits to a small degree when beers were new to me - an extra bottle or two at releases, never anything egregious. It was always for me to drink, not to trade. I stopped doing it now that I'm more seasoned at beer drinking. Other people muling doesn't bother me if they are drinking it/sharing it with friends and it's not ridiculous (like walking out with a case on a limit 2 release). It really rustles my jimmies when someone snags a case and immediately puts it up in the trade forums to try to "win" trades off his haul.

Also, if you are going to bring mules, just a quick public service announcement - please don't bring/use heroin junkies who are so high they don't what they are doing or where they are. I had to deal with that once at an Allagash release. Worst time in line ever.

 

To me the only way this would really bother me was if you buy it to resell and make a profit or hoarding something you don't like just to trade it. If you use mules or whatever to get a extra bottle or two to enjoy yourself - I have no issue with it. I've done it myself a few times. Example - the day I knew KBS got delivered to my local shop, I went and got my 1 bottle. Then on my way home I sent a text to a few non-craft beer friends asking if they would get me one if they were nearby. I ended up with 6 this year. I still have 4. I've also asked co workers to pick me up something rare if its near them. All good in my book.

 

I think my wife and check book are very happy that there are bottle limits. Especially after a few tastings.

 

I stick by the limits per store, unless something is still there a week later, and even then I may or may not pick it up. This year's KBS, I got some at a store where I sort of know the guys - I'm not on first name basis but I recognize them. I couple days later I was at another store where my family has shopped for years and years (this was the first place I bought when I turned 21, they didn't card me, saying they've known me so long I wouldn't try anything stupid.) anyways, they've never been known for their beer selection though it is getting better, but I figured I'd give it a shot and asked if they had it. They did so I got another 4pack from them.

 

It's NYC. Distributors may or may not give retailers bottle limits. I just call around till I find the right price and no limit.

 

It's tricky though, when you say they are "stealing from beer geeks". How can you assume they are hoarding it all for themselves. Some may be purchasing for friends who couldn't be there on that day. Whether or not that's fair doesn't detract from the fact that the beer is still going to another beer geek. Or maybe they're purchasing extra to trade with someone not fortunate enough to live in that distro area. So maybe some are hoarding for themselves so they can show off, but I refuse to believe that every person who brings a mule with them is doing it for that reason.

 

I don't try to get around limits. Things that never crossed my mind are in this thread. There's two of us 99.9% of the time at a brewery or a store - never thought "I can get one, so can the missus". Never thought about going back at shift change, following day, etc. Haven't even thought about going to more than one store. I don't chase down a ton of limited releases - I generally know the ones I want, but even then I won't do anything extraordinary to "score". I just figure if I'm there at the right time it will happen, and they can always make more beer. Maybe I'm just too casual about the whole thing.

 

There are obvious common sense examples where someone is technically circumventing limits, but it's fine.

But generally speaking circumventing limits is a total dick move and it blows my mind that people engage in it and justify it.

 

No... I certainly don't need 8 bombers of some rare release, 2 is always a nice number, or just the one 4 pack etc..

As long as I am able to get a decent review out of it that's all I really need.

 

If you find a store that doesn't have limits, you're not circumventing any limits.

I didn't vote - out here in the boonies no one has ever heard of a bottle limit, the store managers just hope the expensive stuff sells.

 

Scientists are working on a Beer Truth Retina Scan. Honestly, however a store deems the best method of selling rare beer should be honored.