Finding sources for "impossible" beers

They recently changed that law.

 

I more or less fell into trading after posting a pic of a big Double Sunshine haul on the "post a picture of your latest haul thread". Guy got in touch asking if I was willing to trade some and off we went. Since then, I have contacted a guy or two about stuff I wanted to get, based on trade threads they had put up, and have developed what I consider to be a couple great relationships. Now I don't mind asking after stuff and am sure to offer up things when I am headed on a beer trip. Also, if any of your friends or family travel for business it is worth asking them to pick things up. I try to do the legwork myself, like finding out where the local stores are and what they might have as I want to make it as easy as possible. That said, the people that have looked for me have found the hunt to be fun as well. One buddy was in Denver and basically brought back a whole suitcase full of great stuff. So for those of you who want to trade, post a few pics in the "what are you drinking now" and the "latest haul" thread. You never know who might get in touch.

 

I think you mean they are able to open a retail store, seperate from the distributorship, using the "deli" license. For example Bella Vista Bev opened Hawthorne's across the street from the distriborship. A "deli" or 6pk store can sell any number of bottles, the limit is based on total number of ounces (192 I believe). A distributor is considered "wholesale", the packages may not be altered. None of the distributors I've been to in PA will allow you to break a case.

Distributors are "D" license: http://www.lce.state.pa.us/portal/s...or_control_enforcement/5900/guidelines/510717

 

I'm still trying to do that! not that I have too. It doesn't take that much legwork to find everything I need in town, but yea, being in good with a distributor can only make things better right? : p

 

This, entirely and completely. After a few months of trading, you just start learning where to go for what. I have people that I've traded with that are in or near Vermont, Indiana, Cali, Texas, etc and they're all good traders. When I want Heady or Pliny or whatever, a lot of times, I don't even make an ISO/FT post, I know the people that can get it and I know what they want. So getting "impossible" beers can be done relatively fast now, but it took me some time to get to this point.

However, if you're stalking for White Whale type shit, it's always going to be tough, no matter who you are. There's just only so much out there. Hair of the Dog Dave is going to be hard to get no matter who you are.

On a side note, Black Tuesday is not that tough to get, especially if you're in Cali. Same with Floyds (but for different reasons). Spend a day going to different good liquor stores in the area, get some rare RR shit and have at it. I know you don't want to spend a TON of time, but it's one Sunday and it will go along way establishing yourself from then on. And once you build good relationships with Floyds and Bruery traders (especially if they are Reserve members), you're good to go for those beers any time.

 

Unless you want to camp out at the brewery on release day or try to buy tickets online to the release party, it's not any easier in California as compared to anywhere else. At least we don't usually have to wait in inclement weather, I guess...

 

What I meant was that California has a lot more well known, prominent breweries that people desire their product.

 

Understood. It just seems like I haven't seen the things I used to be able to buy easily (like Pliny the Elder) on store shelves in years and the limited releases (like the variations on Alesmith's Speedway stouts, for example) have already been utter circuses for years.

But if we're discussing beers that are commonly available in California that just aren't distributed outside the area, then yes, there are plenty of options.

 

I think a lot of this is about expectations. Sometimes people just walk in the door here and expect to be sipping on the top 10 within a week. You quickly learn (if you're a reasonable adult) that it just doesn't work that way.

 

True, but it is still hard for us to find them. I have taken off work early because a beer store got a case of a beer I liked that is quite hard to get, and went and bought the case immediately. There are so many beer-nerd/wannabe-hipsters in the SF bay area that it is hard to find some of the good stuff.

I'm new to all this trading/online craft beer stuff. I got into it when I heard about the Beat release and came home with about 3 cases, and have amassed quite a collection of personal "wants" because of it. I did offer to gopickitupformebro for 2 people and from that generosity, I was able to land a ton of my wants just as a Thank You to me for waking up at 4am and guilting my best friend and his gf into waiting in line with me for beer for my bday present.. Out of 36 bottles, 18 were gopickitupformebro'd, and out of my 18, I have 5 left after giving a lot away and trading some.

However I don't think most people have $800 to spend to stock up on a ton of rare beer, or lots of friends who are willing to get up at ungodly hours of the morning to wait for a beer.

The other thing I've noticed is people trade-hoarding stuff for insane ISO's... take a look at Prop these past few weeks...yes, this is totally a fluctuating market, but wanting 3 Beat ($60) for 1 Prop ($20-25) is kinda a slap in the face.

I've learned real quick after a few PM's to people who I would like to trade with, and whom I wouldn't shake their hand if I met them.

 

My local watering hole plugged me in with a couple distribution people. Being in Ohio we have a 12% cap but a lot of beer passes through to other states that aren't even distributed here and they graciously work the system to get some of these. Not all the time but its nice when it happens. A few months ago one of them got me 6 parabolas which was an amazing gesture. I return the favor as much as possible when I travel.

 

I'm hoping that being able to butter up distribution people with homebrewed beer will be an asset for fast information and quick leads, if I ever have that option. That's way I always frequent similar watering holes to yours ^^

 

Being a beer enthusiast is starting to resemble the life of a plain clothes cop.

 

Man ,well put.Great minds think alike and I do allot of the same things you mentioned.

 

Maastricht is only a hour from Brussels- home of De Cam, Drie Fonteinen and Cantillon. Come buy a few beers from each of them and bring it back to the States. These beers are great for setting up trades. If you are unable to find the beers you are after, post in the BeNeLux page as I am sure someone there will know where to look or set up an IP trade with you,

 

How does trading with the States work
Isn't it very costly re shipping

 

Zid has provided you with the only practical solution I can see.

You don't want to spend time hunting (shopping) for hard to find beers.
You don't want to trade for them.
You don't want to buy them online.
A tasting group can be as much hassle and as time consuming as hunting for beer.

What else is left but doing your homework and taking advantage of what comes your way during your normal travel or trips to the beer store and spending a bit of extra time looking to see what chance has brought your way?

 

No they didn't.

What changed is that some grocery stores have established restaurants on the their premises and they are allowed to buy an "eatery" license and sell beer because they sell food for consumption on the premises. Eateries can and have been allowed for a long time to sell 6/12 packs. Retail distributors are not allowed to even open cases and do a mix/match. They still have to seel the case as it is shipped from the brewery.

 

I am about to complete my first trade, I'll let everyone know how it goes, I expect smoothly since the people I'm trading with are pros, Colorado Local for Southeastern Local.