There are a few beers I've been ISO for a while, nothing too rare or crazy, in fact probably somewhat cliche by true beer snob standards. I've been unable to find any in my area, despite having some very well-stocked shops and friends in the industry, so I thought I might see if trading were an option. Reading over the rules, I'm a little unsure how this works still and I want to make sure I'm abiding by BA TOS. So, if I'm looking for a beer, I just post an ISO post looking for the beer? But I don't have a beer cellar, nor do I generally keep beer on hand for very long. Is that a trading faux pax... like I can't just ask what beer that might be exclusive to my region/area someone might want in exchange for something exclusive to their region/area? Is that "muling"? I had been thinking I could just post something like "hey who would be willing to send me some pliny (for example) in exchange for something from any brewery around me" and I could go find something they would want to trade for, but now I am thinking that might be a no-no. Could a kind and patient veteran please help a newb who's just trying to figure out options to come by some stuff that has eluded him for far too long? Thanks!
There are posts similar to what you are describing with the poster listing a specific ISO with no specific FT's. I think that trade partners are more responsive to specific deals though. You could start with getting a group of a few good brews from your area and post those as your FT. You should also keep an eye on or search the ISO/FT forum for beers that you have access too. And then respond to those posts. If you post an ISO for a specific beer, and you don't have the FT beers in hand make sure that you make that clear to your potential trading partners. It stinks to make a deal and then have the partner not be able to actually get the beers they agreed to send.
I'd recommend posting something like "ISO: Beer X, Y, Z // FT: Singlecut, Grimm, etc..." (replacing Singlecut & Grimm with other local distro as necessary). You can leave it open ended and hopefully that'll spark the conversation. If you're looking for shelf bottles and nothing rare or too limited, you should be able to find someone looking to swap their locals for yours. Out of curiosity, what beers are on your list for "ISO" - and what northeast beers do you have available around you?
Thanks guys! Sorry to not respond sooner, but didn't get any notifications for the thread. Right now, ISO Pliny and Heady Topper. Other than that, lots of things I'd like to try but can't find. Check out my Wants list. Also, I've been dying to get more of Monk's Christmas by Klosterbrauerei Weissenohe (https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/6063/54685/). Import and not a common request, I know, but I absolutely LOVED this beer and couldn't find more of it this past holiday season. As for my area, I live in Ithaca, NY. We have some pretty good bottle shop, but some things just seem difficult or impossible to get. Breweries Local to Me: - Ithaca Beer Company - Bandwagon Brew Pub - Hopshire Farm & Brewery - Cortland Beer Co. - Bacchus Brewing Co Breweries Nearby: - Wagner Valley Brewery - Horseheads Brewing - Upstate Brewing Company - Middle Ages Brewing - Galaxy Brewing Company Breweries In My Region - Singlecut (limited) - Grimm (harder to come by, sells out fast) - Ommegang - Abandon Brewing - Matt Brewing Company / Saranac Brewery - Southern Tier Brewing - Ellicottville Brewing - Empire Brewing Company - Good Nature Farm Brewery - Lake Placid Craft Brewing (Maker - Evil Twin Brewing - Brooklyn Brewery - Nedloh Brewing - CB Craft Brewers - Sixpoint Brewery - Magic Hat Brewing - Westbrook Brewing - Keuka Brewing - Three Heads Stuff Shops Near Me Usually Have: - Unibroue - Stillwater - Great Lakes Brewing Co. - Allagash Brewing Company - Jack's Abby Brewing - Mikkeller - Goose Island - Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales - Almanac - Flying Dog Brewery - Allagash - Telegraph - Bell's - Prairie (limited) - Dogfish Head - Clown Shoes - The Bruery - B Nectar
