Muling beer to Prague and Budapest

Can't talk specifically about Prague and Budapest but we get a lot of KBS and CBS in Ireland so maybe focus on Bourbon County as to the best of my knowledge it's impossible to get in Europe outside of trading for it or to be honest anything good from a well known local brewery that doesn't distribute internationally.

Maybe try putting something up in the in-person International trade forum to get something sorted in advance of coming over.

 

I agree with @LiamoMill that you may find a specific trade partner here on BA or even some Facebook groups.

 

Yeah.... I wouldn't try to just trade beers at a bar in Prague/Budapest. #1, their beer is incredibly cheap, so run with that. #2, even at craft breweries the staff I came across didn't seem too interested in the product, and weren't very personable. If you speak their language that might be different, but to me they seem like a hard lot. Meeting the brewer is a different story. So, finally, their beer selection is kind of limited, so I wouldn't worry about going with easy stuff. Even a Sam Adams '76 is something new and special to them.

 

People have enjoyed when I've taken canned IPA's over there but thats mostly been at breweries, not bars. They don't have to be special, just have cool names and they get off on that. If you do it just do it for friendship since as mentioned already beer is cheap in those two places and they really won't have anything that totally blows you away to trade for.

 

I'm not a beer trader and I usually don't check luggage (so can't bring or take home) but twice I did happen to check luggage on a trip to Prague. I would echo those that say don't trade at bars, just offer as a gift. (Obviously different if you arrange a trade with someone beforehand)

One trip in March 2009 I brought a six pack of OB Ten Fidy cans -- a couple I gave to folks I was meeting and the rest I just gave to bartenders. One was at Pivovarský Klub. I was back in October with my fall group ("Sticke Warriors") and the same bartender was on, he remembered me and we got the royal treatment, which impressed the guys

In 2015 the group was back in Prague and we left a few cans of West Coast IPA's (don't remember which ones) at Beer Geek and again, as we stopped in the next few days we we're warmly welcomed.

Of course it was easier in the "old days" when IPAs and such were rare, but I think people really appreciate a local(-ish) beer from somewhere they've never been.