The Reverse Beer Haul... has anyone else done this?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by MilwaukeeCrusher, Mar 15, 2013.

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  1. MilwaukeeCrusher

    MilwaukeeCrusher Pundit (956) Oct 26, 2010 Wisconsin
    Deactivated

    I've been lucky enough to travel quite a bit and visit quite a few breweries. While it is not always the case, the mere mention that I have craft from back home has often brought about excitement from employees of establishments. They seem happy to have a chance to try something different or in some cases do research on other brewer's takes in the comfort of their own surroundings. I generally just hope to trade it for something of equal value, although often the gratitude has led to the recipients giving back way more than I could have ever hoped for. Has anyone else tried this?

    It seems that people are more excited in certain areas than others... people in Portland seemed to have a sort of beer hubris about that sort of thing, but it seemed to make their day for people in Colorado, Michigan, North Carolina, and even parts of California (other parts not some much). On a few occasions, I was even given a rare release off the shelves in some distant dark stockroom.

    The reverse beer haul I think is a good thing, and maybe in some small way I'm helping promote craft beer. And with online distribution sites, it can be done most effectively (for finding out what product lines they can't get).
     
  2. DanK4

    DanK4 Initiate (0) Jan 17, 2012 Maine

    I'm all about this idea. Whenever I go back to MI to visit my family I always try to bring back a big haul of Bell's, ABC, and various others. A month or so back I went up to see the good ol' boys at Oxbow and brough them a sixer of Two Hearted along with some Brewery Vivant cans- just because I think the whole crew is wicked nice and they've been more than happy to hang out and have a few beers with my and my girlfriend. We need more of this kind of beer love.
     
  3. jRocco2021

    jRocco2021 Savant (1,071) Mar 13, 2010 Wisconsin

    I take a lot of my brews I trade for down to a local brew pub and split them with the owner/brewer, whoever is bar tending and maybe a few regulars. They usually give me some free beers on tap or will bring stuff from travels but I just do it because I think it's a waste to drink it by yourself and while I have friends who are into craft they are not always around when I decide to open a bottle but the bar is only a few minutes walk and all the people are great. Most importantly though they all love great beer so why not share.
     
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  4. StarRaptor

    StarRaptor Initiate (0) Jun 8, 2010 California

    When I went to Walt Disney World back in November you better believe I sent myself a box filled with awesome beers (mostly canned IPAs)

    We stayed on property using resort transporation so there was no venturing out to a bottle shop
     
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  5. spookyspeeg

    spookyspeeg Initiate (0) Feb 18, 2013 Connecticut

    I have to remember this next time I go. I was hoping to get some cigar city when I was done there last July, but just the usual Sam Adams, Coors or Yuengling
     
  6. kawilliams81

    kawilliams81 Pooh-Bah (1,893) Feb 27, 2009 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah

    I think you are missing the point of this thread.
     
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  7. kawilliams81

    kawilliams81 Pooh-Bah (1,893) Feb 27, 2009 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah

    Again, read op. getting off topic.
     
  8. MilwaukeeCrusher

    MilwaukeeCrusher Pundit (956) Oct 26, 2010 Wisconsin
    Deactivated

    One thing I thought about this is while I'm sure you're friends love your beer, I've seen when you bring it to people who can't it almost ends up like an EVENT. While some of these brewers are almost rock stars, in the beginning most if not all were like us and really like craft beer. It also is a great way to make friends in far off lands, as many on here can attest to.

    As I said at Stoutfest's party a few years back, the greatest thing about beer is it brings people together. Beer doesn't make people violent, just sometimes stupid people drink beer. Unfortunately society likes to blame beer for it.

    I hold up my Pako's IPA in acknowledgement of all my friends on here and again endorse the reverse beer haul. Besides, it saves postage for everyone.
     
    jRocco2021 likes this.
  9. Cenosillicaphobe

    Cenosillicaphobe Initiate (0) Jul 24, 2011 Maine

    Not brewers per se...but I do enjoy bringing along things from my travels/trades to share with the fine folks at my favorite beer store...they sure dig it...and I like both spreading the love and hearing their opinions on different brews...and last time we ended up sharing with Jan (brewmaster) from Sixpoint...and he was all snapping photos of bottles and such...way better than just drinking them in my boxer shorts in my recliner.
     
  10. bifrost17

    bifrost17 Initiate (0) Dec 16, 2011 Washington

    I'm fortunate enough to live walking distance away from my favorite beer bar in Seattle, and also fortunate enough to have a very generous trading partner located in the Chicago area....(durb777 is the man!!) I always try to bring something good with me from recent trades to share with the owners of the bar. I love to share good beer with good people that can appreciate, and discuss the beer with me.
     
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  11. raczkowski

    raczkowski Initiate (0) May 16, 2011 Florida
    Trader

    if i am going on a trip, i tend to bring about 12-24 beers with me...i travel as a side job and one of the first things i look for onBA is the stores to hit up. i bring non-distoed beer with me to give to the employees at store, especially cigar city or Goose Island for states that have a ABV cap. i have done this a few times an gotten reciprocated very nicely with swag from these stores and discounts/free beer. i am reallystarting to enjoy allowing others to try beer they cannot nomally get. my part time job is pretty sweet too. get to hit a lot of the best beer stores in the nation.
     
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  12. MilwaukeeCrusher

    MilwaukeeCrusher Pundit (956) Oct 26, 2010 Wisconsin
    Deactivated

    Do you get more joy out of trying the more popular beers or are you like me? I always get pretty excited if I make a discovery... maybe it is sort of how I choose my music. Status quo is so boring and then I generally have something new for friends to try that I'm somewhat sure they didn't have.
     
  13. ASasquatchHoax

    ASasquatchHoax Initiate (0) Mar 13, 2013 California

    I'm new to beer but picking things up from travel sounds really great. I always like to open bottles of something I picked up with friends. Although knowing what to pick up isn't the easiest thing since I don't know that much. Still a great idea
     
  14. beerinmaine

    beerinmaine Initiate (0) Jun 20, 2009 Maine

    Very timely, as I just got back from Oxbow where I *possibly* reverse-beer-hauled some goodies, and *possibly* have done this on a somewhat regular basis for a while now, and might have been talking to them about a brewery-to-brewery reverse beer haul later this spring. It's a pretty cool habit. :slight_smile:
     
  15. WassailWilly

    WassailWilly Initiate (0) Sep 8, 2007 New York

    Was going to do this very thing at a Total tap takeover coming up . I have a couple bottled beers that were never available here so figured I would bring with and share at the bar ..
     
  16. loafinaround

    loafinaround Initiate (0) Jul 16, 2011 New York

    I have an entire reverse haul beer friendship thing going on.... every time we meet, we exchange piles of brews that we've picked-up for each other just because.... we expect nothing in return at all... but are often surprised with something in return...

    (not to mention it's fun to talk about all those different beers as we gurgle them down one by one...)
     
  17. raczkowski

    raczkowski Initiate (0) May 16, 2011 Florida
    Trader

    Well after reading on here I love the discoveries. I went to hop city thanksgiving I. Atlanta and walked away with 200 worth of beer and growlers bc I couldn't get the beer down here. Everywhere I go I'm
    Looking for beers I can't get down here that are rates high on BA or highly sought after. Once ran into 2011 BCBS at a store back when it was rare and hard to get and first time I tried it. So I'm like you but always have beer with me to give the guys that help me in the store.
     
  18. TheGoldsmith

    TheGoldsmith Initiate (0) Jan 20, 2013 Missouri

    A true advocate of beer!
    I like this idea for it's results, but also in terms of taking local/regional brews that you like and spreading them out to where they don't necessarily reach. It may only be a trickle, but I think it's a good way to initiate interest in those lesser-known breweries and put them on the path to success.
    But also just the awesomeness of sharing beer with anyone, it's a beautiful thing man.
     
  19. Cenosillicaphobe

    Cenosillicaphobe Initiate (0) Jul 24, 2011 Maine

    Exactly...there is almost nothing better than sharing good beer with good people...always makes me smile.
     
  20. Dope

    Dope Pooh-Bah (2,751) Oct 5, 2010 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Interesting concept, I like it. I travel to MI from MA at least once a year and I like to bring back lots of local midwest goodies. I share them with a few of my favorite guys at the local stores back home. I never thought of taking MA beer to MI though. Do you bring them to stores? To bars? To breweries? How do you strategize the whole thing? Do you just seek out people who are really into beer and then mention you brought some stuff? Or do you just show up at a brewery with beer and let people come to you? Just curious how the whole thing goes down with a bunch of strangers.

    Dope
     
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