The Locals HINTS AND HAULS THREAD

being in the beer wasteland of Alaska, I've developed a pretty sweet beer air travel system. I use an 8-gallon action packer that travels with me from AK to wherever i'm going, usually just full of bubble wrap unless I'm doing an IP trade or taking beers to some friends outside. It comfortably fits 14 bombers, and comes back to AK full of delicious beer from wherever I just was. With creative packing, I can usually fit a few cans in as well. I've used this system on probably 40+ trips over the last few years, and have had one broken bottle due to some crappy repacking by TSA in Fairbanks.

Of course, it works well for me as I get two free checked bags anywhere I go... And... 14 bombers and the action packer itself weigh about 38 lbs, so well under weight.

 

not again...

 

I'm not against using clothing, ON THE WAY BACK. If you're travelling TO somewhere with beer, it's a bit risky to use the only clothes you'll have with you. Personally though, I always take an extra piece of luggage more than my non-beer baggage requires, knowing that I'm going to have beer. As long as I have time when packing, in the extra space I put in bubble wrap, big ziplocs, and diapers (I have toddlers, so they're easily on hand). I put a bottle and a diaper in each ziploc, then bubble wrap it a bit. The diaper helps keep the beer from ruining your clothes if it does break in transit. This is probably all overkill, but it works for me.

Another option, cost comparable to paying for a checked bag, is to ship ahead of yourself, hotels are usually cool with packages arriving for their guests, and you can schedule a FedEx pickup at the hotel if you can't get to a dropoff.

This is what I did for my Houston trip: I FedEx'd a 12 shipper to my hotel to go with some bottles/growlers in my luggage, and on the way home I had a few bottles/growlers in my luggage to go with the three 12 shippers I FedEx'd home (my hotel had a courtesy shuttle that took me to a FedEx dropsite). Given that you're flying SW and not paying for checked bags, that's probably the better route this time, but in the future the shipping option works well too.

 

Can I get a hot tub!?!

And by hot tub I mean haul pic. Or the girl from 4E.

 

A little slow to post, but here is the first box I received from @justanewby .

Pizza Boy Hop Tart - awesome!
BP Sculpin - permawant!
Spring House Braains - never tried it
Troegs Flying Mouflan - new to me
Spring House The Astounding She-Monster
Pizza Boy Sunny Side Up Little Amps Double Coffee - tried it and loved it!

Thank you so much for this first box. The second one should be arriving later today and I can't wait!

 

Slow roll my hints will ya? Yeah slow rolling the ****...

 

Good thing nobody sends the minimum... that's a nice start, but at 152oz, frankly I'd be a bit bummed if that's all I got (I suppose that's amplified by the fat that I've had or can grab all those beers)

 

Holy shit! @Vinithing destroyed my porch, and i might need to pay for back surgery for my girlfriend who carried it in. Pr0n either tonight or tomorrow morning. Let's just say I'm headed straight to the local beer shop tomorrow to increase my oz-age because of this epicness.

 

I told myself I was completely done shopping, but I ended up adding a couple more locals anyway. One is a year-round and is one of my favorites within its style, the other is a (very early) seasonal that might not be rated super highly, but seems pretty sought after anyway. Assuming I don't go back on my promise to myself, final volume is a smidge over 400oz. I'll post the ratings numbers once it's packed up and completely finalized.

 

Dropped my boxes off at Fedex on my way home and I came home to a box on my porch. Love it when that happens!! It's not from this BIF, but I thought you all would like to see some pr0n while waiting on others to post theirs. This awesome bomb is from @sandman3479 as side trades that started up from the Stout BIF. All these are new to me and big time wants.



Trillium Congress Street
NEBCO Zapata Bot
Grassroots Convivial Suarez
Hill Farmstead Dorothy
Jack's Abby Peanut Butter and Jelly Barrel-aged Framinghammer
Trillium Fort Point

Incredible box @sandman3479, much thanks!

 

YESSSSSSSSS! I assume everything is intact... A couple of those are GABF winners from this year. I recycled the box I received from @heystevec, that thing was ridiculous.

 

I agree with you, I would be bummed too if this was it (even though that Sunny Side Up is insanely good... and gone already. ). It makes sense to most of us but I think it would help noobies to know of a more realistic "minimum" to ship.

Any thoughts?

 

I guess I have a few thoughts. 1. Did he meet the minimum? If so, then I think gripes/bitches/comments are unwarranted. 2. If we wanted higher minimums they should be lifted during the rules phase. 3. Wasn't there another box going out? Was it just swag/food?

*I don't know the shipper at all but think that calling them out for meeting minimums before all boxes have been received is premature at best.

 

Yes it met the minimum, so you're right, I should keep my big mouth shut; that was an a-hole comment; no excuses, I apologize, and thank you for calling me out on it as I should have been.

With that said, please allow me to explain where I was coming from. First, I only even considered saying that because yes, it was stated that another box is on its way, and I did not get the impression that it was treat/swag only, so I figured at the time that it was a safe smart-assed comment to make. Secondly, it was not at all meant to be a 'call out', or even directed at the sender himself, it was meant as a general observation on how small an amount the 'minimum' looks like compared to the awesome boxes we're used to in this group.

Nevertheless, in retrospect it was totally inappropriate. Lastly, and again no excuses, just explanation; I also pointed out, and I think this is a large part of why I had the reaction I did, that all of those beers are generally available to me, which severely reduces the 'wow' factor. Fortunately that's completely irrelevant to the guy receiving the beer. Another part of it is that because it's bombers and growlers, it's only 6 different beers, which I think is what struck me most. Again though, it's a completely moot point as it's not the only box, I was just pointing out how vast the difference is between 'the minimum' and what people actually send. Though poorly conceived and written, my comment was intended to be a compliment to the group as a whole, this shipper included. Again I apologize that what I said missed that mark so badly.

Since you asked, the minimum is the minimum. Really, it is. That said, I don't think I remember seeing any boxes from rounds 1 or 3 (round 2 was an exact quantity, so irrelevant) that were much less than about 250oz, which I think is a good number to shoot for; going above and beyond that is unnecessary but certainly appreciated.

edit: and yes, that Sunny Side Up is frickin awesome. I immediately regretted not taking a growler of it home for myself when I was there.

 

Deliveries are late
Don't bring it in the rain
That's what BA's say mmm-mmm
That's what BA's say mmm-mmm
My beer gets to you too late
But I don't give a shit
At least that's what BA's say mmm-mmm
That's what BA's say mmm-mmm
But I keep cruising
My Fed Ex truck won't stop movig
It's like I got this problem
In my back
Saying I'm going to screw you right
Cause the traders going to trade trade trade trade trade
And the takers gonna take take take take take
Douchbag I'm just going to shake shake shake shake shake
I shake your box, I shake your box
Your bottles gonna break break break break break
And the bitchers gonna bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch
Douchebag I'm just going to shake shake shake shake shake
I shake your box, I shake your box
I always miss your street
I've tossing from my seat
And that's what you don't see, mmm-mmm
that's what you don't see mmm-mmm
I'm driving on my own
I make rules up as I go
And that's what you don't know mmm-mmm
That's what you don't know mmm-mmm
But I keep cruising
Your box I keep on losing
I'ts like I got this revenge
In my mind
Saying kiss your damn box good-bye
Cause the traders gonna trade trade trade trade trade
And the tickers gonna tick tick tick tick tick
Douchebag I'm just going to shake shake shake shake shake
I shake your box, I shake your box
Your bottles gonna break break break break break
And the takers gonna take take take take take
Douchebag I'm just gonna shake shake shake shake shake
I shake your box, I shake your box


I got my locals box today.

Surly glass
Indeed IPA
Indeed Midnight Ryde
Surly Overrated
Surly Hell
New Glarus Moon Man
New Glarus Strawberry Rhubarb
War & Peace Imperial Coffee Stout
Toppling Goliath Golden Nugget
Clown Shoes ITSACA Loonidragon
Steel Toe Brewing Size 7 IPA
August Shell Brewing North Country Brunette
Bent Paddle Day Pack Pale Ale
Bent Paddle Black Ale
Bent Padle Golden IPA
Odell Mycenary DIPA
New Glarus Cran-BIc
New Glarus Scream
Surly Furious
Surly Fest

An outstanding box from @mkhartnett. I did share one with @UcDru. Can't wait to dig in! Thanks!

 

Who's drinking with me this fine Thursday night?



Man @mklisz can pick them...

 

I certainly am, a MO from Maine right now, but earlier me and a couple buddies did what we call a "drive-by bottle share" and opened these:


speaking of, while I thanked you guys on Untappd, let me do it here as well:
Thank you to @Ncpogs, @jdhowe, @valrxman, and @WesFoxlove for these four. My buddies and I enjoyed them all (well, they aren't gose fans, but they gave it a shot; I loved it, my favorite that I've had of the style)

And the MO:

 

From the little that I know about the other members of this forum, based solely on the comments expressed in this thread at-large, I have a feeling that the comments were not meant as a call out. My impression is that Lehighace06 and edhizdeid both know that more is on the way, and the comments were only intended in jest. I think that this comment--

would support that assumption.

Either way, I certainly agree that is is worth reminding ourselves that the minimum is set at the beginning of the BIF and different members have different abilities to participate at different capacities, and I appreciate your reminder @PA-Michigander.

I think that I can safely claim that all members of this forum hope to be generous in the contents of the package they send and hope to make their receiver happy. I know that I am thrilled at the aspect that my target will appreciate the time and effort that went into crafting my box(es), no matter if I send 200 or 400 oz. One of my favorite things about BA--as new as I am to this community--is how excited so many of the members (including everyone in this BIF) seem to be about sharing in the love of good beer and helping others to experience the same joy of good brews. In that vain, I can't wait to see the rest of the Pr0n! Bring it on!

Edit: Obviously, posts happened while I was crafting this response... Cheers to the sense of community that exists here and the ability of all members to communicate openly and honestly--After all, it's just (darn good) beer!

 

Yes, they did. Even before getting back to my computer and seeing @PA-Michigander's comment, the realization that what I said was likely to be misconstrued was starting to eat at me. Mea culpa.

 

Sick glass! I visited Cambridge brewing company last ebf great spot!