Mission Impossible: Three Floyds in DC area?

Just trade for it. The extra cost for shipping is what you'll pay for an online place or likely anyplace in DC in markup. Easy to get all the standard FFF stuff trading as it's all basically off the shelf. Even ZD is fairly easy to get with a good local sixer.

 

I think that might be overstating the ease of getting 3 Floyds stuff via trade, especially the more in-demand stuff like Zombie Dust. I certainly can't think of a sixer I could find on the shelf right now that would bring ZD back in return.

 

ZD would be the only exception since it's basically brewery only... though you can buy two cases of it soooo hopefully someone would let it go for something pretty reasonable.

Gumballhead, Dreadnaught, Robert the Bruce, Arctic Panzer, etc. are all shelf available in Chicago so it really shouldn't be even remotely tough.

 

I was at D'Vine's on 14th, which had Lost Abbey (cool), but it was at least $10 over what I'd pay to ship it here from California on my own (not so cool).

Something has to give at some point, but I'm not sure what will come first. Craft beer bubble? We haz it.

 

I would agree that sometimes the prices get out of control for the out-of-market stuff, but other times they are totally reasonable, and the stores that sell that stuff typically charge very normal prices for the in-market stuff. I don't know why everyone gets so worked up about this. Sometimes you can get great stuff you wouldn't be able to get otherwise for decent prices. I would gladly pay $7 for a can of Surly Abrasive or Heady Topper, and I bought a bottle of Surly Syx for $30, which would've been what it would've cost to buy it online and have it shipped to me, but without the hassle. If you don't like it, you don't have to buy it, but to call that we stop supporting these stores for bringing us beers that we couldn't normally get in this market? That seems a bit silly.

 

I'm totally with you on this. Yes, the out of market stuff is expensive. They're paying a lot to get it. Am I going to buy the expensive RR sour or Dreadnaught bomber that's sitting on the shelf? Rarely, if ever. But I'm not going to stop patronizing a store because they have it, especially when their distributed stuff is priced fair/on the cheap side.

 

It's not like trades are free! You've got to come up with an equivalent amount of beer in terms of $4$, throw in some extras, get boxes and bubble wrap and then pay for shipping. Plus you need to go through the time and effort of finding someone to trade with. Sometimes, especially if I just want 1-2 cans of Surly or something along those lines, it's a hell of a lot easier to pay $6 for Furious than trade for one can. Sure, if you want 2 4-packs, it's going to add up quickly and break the budget, but I love that I can walk over to Conn. Ave. Wine & Liquors and buy something like that instead of having to go through the effort of trading for it.

OP: Sorry to get off topic here. I would say that if you're looking to get a bunch of 3 Floyds, trading for it probably makes the most sense. If you just want to try Gumballhead or Alpha King, buy the stuff at Conn. Ave.

 

When was the last time you were in Chicago? I went to 3 Binny's and one of local store in July, and I saw exactly 2 bombers of FFF total. In four stores. Binny's has to put a limit on Gumballhead when they get their case (usually singular). And then, there is Zombie Dust...

I have always been fortunate with FFF stuff. Having to drive past Munster on my way home always helps

 

I moved to DC from Chicago at the beginning of August. Gumballhead can be somewhat tough at super popular stores within the city. However if you make some trips to Evanston, Skokie, etc. you won't have any issues at all. Go to Evanston and it will be at Evanston 1st and Whole Foods more often than not. I've never, ever had trouble getting anything except ZD. I'm actually shocked about Binny's because I went to multiple Binnys over my last two months there and didn't really have an issue w/ all non-ZD FFF stuff.

Oh and gumballhead is sometimes in the back at Binny's so you definitely need to ask for it. Maybe that was the issue?

 

Went to cincinnato for a wedding last year, hopped over the border to Indiana. Some tiny Podunk town had cases of Fcc everywhere, plus a series of seasonal bombers going from Oct back to may. Got a couple cases while I was there.

It seems easier to get it in small towns than chicago

 

$6.99 for a bottle of Alpha King is ridiculous. If I got a sixer it'd be $42 plus you have to pay DC's high tax (go Virginia!) Many traders from the midwest seem to like Troegs, 21st Amendment, etc. that are available in the DC/VA area and seeing how easy it is to get 3F beers from their core collection for those people, it is possible to do strictly $4$ plus it is nice getting the extras or other local beers not available in either area in return as well. I guess it all boils down to personal preference. If someone is able to "walk" to Conn Ave and buy beer, no wonder they can afford to live in DC especially in that neighborhood.

Cheers!

 

I used to work in Adams Morgan. On nice days, I'd walk from 18th & Florida to the Foggy Bottom Metro. There's nothing wrong or elitist about getting off your ass and taking the "ankle express" around the city.

 

All the stores I went to were within Chicago. That shit gets eaten up. But, like I've said, I've never had a problem getting FFF, so I've never had to have my Chicago people go on a mad goose chase