Keggle Ethics Question

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melamst

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The snow is melting and we have had some flooding in my area. A few days ago I noticed an empty keg caught in an eddy just below an old dam/waterfall. My friend and I tried to fish it out to no avail. I came back the next morning and saw it floating down a swollen river. Didn't have the guts to go swimming for it. I came back that afternoon after the river had gone down and I found it deep in a muddy backwater. Had to wade through chest deep muck and freezing cold water to get to it.

The keg is from a local microbrew - one that is doing well, but isn't super large. I'm pretty sure I know what bar the keg came from (the only one right next to the river). The keg itself is very slightly dented top & bottom and is somewhat scratched. Still, it is in reasonably good shape.

I'd like to convert it rather than return it.

What are the ethical considerations? Should I keep it or give it up?
 
I think on a strict, black-and-white ethics scale, you know who the keg belongs to, you know it isn't you, so return it.

Now, in the reality of grey where most of us chose to live, the keg had clearly been discarded/forgotten about in the snow. Even if it hadn't been, the rightful owner definitely wouldn't have been as adventurous as you and waded in frozen muck to retrieve it - even if it hadn't been discarded. I say keep it.

This differs from a standard "rented the keg and wanted it so I kept it" scenario in that you didn't seek it out. In fact, you rescued the poor lonely keg from a fate worse than rust!
 
Do you really want to ask this question?

Ethics would dictate that you'd have to at least make an attempt to contact the rightful owner and let them decide it's fate.

Legally, it's found property (as well as any laws your state has about keg ownership). Typically (again I don't know the laws of your State) found property with a value over about $100 is supposed to be turned in to the police department, who will hold it for 90 days and then possibly release it to you.

The brewery probably pays $150-$200 for each keg depending on where it comes from, stamped logos, etc. Are they going to go broke because you kept their keg? Probably not. Will they be happy to get it back? Assuredly. They might even reward you with some brew.

The ethical choice would be to call the brewery and tell them about your find. Tell them that its damaged, and ask if you can keep it. Or, just take it back to the bar where you think it came from.

The practical choice for you might not be the ethical one...
 
1) Return the Magic Hat keg to the brewery. (I'm pretty sure that's them). Tell 'em you found it floating about.

2) Tell them that you are an honest man and can't willingly/ethically keep it.

3) Tell them that you are a homebrewer and that you really could use a keg to make a keggle out of it.

4) Collect (hopefully) a banged up keg for FREE from them, which you can then convert to a keggle.

5) Make friends with the brewer, and get the grand tour, and may be even a job.

Karma goes a LONG way.

M_C
 
1) Return the Magic Hat keg to the brewery. (I'm pretty sure that's them). Tell 'em you found it floating about.

2) Tell them that you are an honest man and can't willingly/ethically keep it.

3) Tell them that you are a homebrewer and that you really could use a keg to make a keggle out of it.

4) Collect (hopefully) a banged up keg for FREE from them, which you can then convert to a keggle.

5) Make friends with the brewer, and get the grand tour, and may be even a job.

Karma goes a LONG way.

M_C

This. If you return it, maybe they will be grateful enough to either let you keep it or give you a different one, and you will be happy with yourself for taking the high road.
 
I would feel wrong keeping a microbrewers keg. However, if it's AB or MC, I couldn't care less. Mine are all AB.
 
I don't know Switchback too well, but my guess is that they'll take care of you for your honesty. I know *I* would.

M_C

PS: the Bailey's is pouring freely :D

PPS: I'll be volunteering @ the VT Beerfest in July.

Yep, you're right. I'll never brew without feeling a bit guilty. Guess I'm calling Switchback tomorrow.

M_C - They're in Burlington: http://www.facebook.com/SwitchbackBrewingCompany

Good luck up there M_C! I've got a My Antonia right here in my left "gulp" hand.
 
Yep, you're right. I'll never brew without feeling a bit guilty. Guess I'm calling Switchback tomorrow.

M_C - They're in Burlington: http://www.facebook.com/SwitchbackBrewingCompany

Good luck up there M_C! I've got a My Antonia right here in my left "gulp" hand.

As someone else said, you may get rewarded in one way or another. Just tell them the story. They should at least fill a growler or tell you to keep the keg.
 
Here we go again... ;)

I must say thank you for the laughs on this one. Return a keg that was found in a river? Bravo!

I've never read such chivalry, such awesome integrity, as I do whenever someone mentions keeping a microbrewer's keg. What a sight to see! Imagine if you guys applied your high level of morality to everything in life! Even with just 'ye few, world peace would be but a speed-bump on the road to Utopia!
 
Pops... You ever heard of KARMA?

Karma can be a b*tch. :D

M_C

PS: A RIGHTEOUS man?? What happened to that?

Here we go again... ;)

I must say thank you for the laughs on this one. Return a keg that was found in a river? Bravo!

I've never read such chivalry, such awesome integrity, as I do whenever someone mentions keeping a microbrewer's keg. What a sight to see! Imagine if you guys applied your high level of morality to everything in life! Even with just 'ye few, world peace would be but a speed-bump on the road to Utopia!
 
Again, I wish I could say this with certainty (I don't know you guys obviously), but if the super-karma, super-moral, keg-returners-at-all-costs (except in the case of BMC)'ers applied such super-human righteousness to the rest of their lives as they do to micro-brewery kegs, the world would be a much better place.

(PS... somewhere on this forum I posted the legalese regarding keg transfers in NY State. Cliff notes? Whether craft, micro, or BMC, you can keep it in NY... extra points if you fish it out of a raging river).
 
Be sure to flame the bar that lost it.... Quite the boy scout to fish it and return it but as the others said the potential reward could be pretty awesome!
 
Here we go again... ;)

I must say thank you for the laughs on this one. Return a keg that was found in a river? Bravo!

I've never read such chivalry, such awesome integrity, as I do whenever someone mentions keeping a microbrewer's keg. What a sight to see! Imagine if you guys applied your high level of morality to everything in life! Even with just 'ye few, world peace would be but a speed-bump on the road to Utopia!

Again, I wish I could say this with certainty (I don't know you guys obviously), but if the super-karma, super-moral, keg-returners-at-all-costs (except in the case of BMC)'ers applied such super-human righteousness to the rest of their lives as they do to micro-brewery kegs, the world would be a much better place.

(PS... somewhere on this forum I posted the legalese regarding keg transfers in NY State. Cliff notes? Whether craft, micro, or BMC, you can keep it in NY... extra points if you fish it out of a raging river).



It all starts with the man in the mirror.
 
I'll have to go find a keg and test your theory out since I don't use keggles ;)

Of course, I promise it will be from Sixpoint or Brooklyn Brewery, both highly respectable craft breweries worthy of having their kegs returned even after quests Indiana Jones would be jealous of!
 
Thinking about it today while brewing; I got my keg from work in September after noticing that it had been on the back dock for what I guessed was two years. Funny thing is it's a AB keg that was filled with Flat Tire??? Got it home and emptied it(still half full) and noticed a best by date printed on the side of February 2008(gross). Really don't feel bad since the back dock is where the empties go for pickup and this had been sitting for that long. Pretty sure it was written off quite some time before I got to it.
 
Post 2: Now I have started talking to distributors about getting damaged kegs as I do feel there might be some karma to brewing in a stolen keg.
 
OK: Here's the follow up.

I called Switchback. They're going to give me $30 to return the keg AND an old keg to use as a keggle. KARMA BABY!!!

Thanks all. I'm not sure I'd have gotten the $30 without your advice. +1 for HBT & +1 for Switchback Brewery.
 
OK: Here's the follow up.

I called Switchback. They're going to give me $30 to return the keg AND an old keg to use as a keggle. KARMA BABY!!!

Thanks all. I'm not sure I'd have gotten the $30 without your advice. +1 for HBT & +1 for Switchback Brewery.

Wow dude that is awesome! They went beyond cool giving both. I think either of those would be nice of them to give you for returning. :mug:
 
30 bucks will get you a pretty low end hooker OR a tiny bit of blow.

As much as I like your advice, he really needs a few hundy to make that happen right. Unless he doesn't mind a low end BJ from a homeless streetwalker.
 
Awesome - both sides of that transaction are worthy of praise.

Mt. Hood poster - go to Full Sail, they will sell you damaged kegs if they have any at the moment. I paid $30 each for mine.
 
30 bucks will get you a pretty low end hooker OR a tiny bit of blow.

As much as I like your advice, he really needs a few hundy to make that happen right. Unless he doesn't mind a low end BJ from a homeless streetwalker.

Don't underestimate the quality of service from an elderly "escort". They can usually manage to remove most of their teeth.
 
Very cool story! I don't know that I would have done the same thing as you in this situation. I'm glad you made out the way you did. I had the opportunity to tour switchback last summer. They are great. Amazing beer and amazing people! I can't wait to visit again.
 
My hats off to you and those at Switchback. You ended up with what you were looking for anyways a keggle and when I get the chance to buy some Switchback product I will as they done good by you
 
Here we go again... ;)

I must say thank you for the laughs on this one. Return a keg that was found in a river? Bravo!

I've never read such chivalry, such awesome integrity, as I do whenever someone mentions keeping a microbrewer's keg. What a sight to see! Imagine if you guys applied your high level of morality to everything in life! Even with just 'ye few, world peace would be but a speed-bump on the road to Utopia!

I know you're being sarcastic, but I think that living my life by a certain set of rules DOES make the world a better place. It hurts to hear it made fun of like that. Maybe it's just the little 86 year old man who needed help yesterday, but he told me that I made his day yesterday. And he definitely made mine. "Applying your high level of morality" was supposed to be an insult, but I think it's sad to think that the moral choice was mocked. I'm very disappointed in you for that.

Sometimes doing the right thing is simply just the right thing to do.


OK: Here's the follow up.

I called Switchback. They're going to give me $30 to return the keg AND an old keg to use as a keggle. KARMA BABY!!!

Thanks all. I'm not sure I'd have gotten the $30 without your advice. +1 for HBT & +1 for Switchback Brewery.

Good for Switchback! And good for you on doing the right thing.
 
I know you're being sarcastic, but I think that living my life by a certain set of rules DOES make the world a better place. It hurts to hear it made fun of like that. Maybe it's just the little 86 year old man who needed help yesterday, but he told me that I made his day yesterday. And he definitely made mine. "Applying your high level of morality" was supposed to be an insult, but I think it's sad to think that the moral choice was mocked. I'm very disappointed in you for that.

Sometimes doing the right thing is simply just the right thing to do.

Yooper, I agree with you. However, I do believe living in a city that chews you up as NYC will do has a lot to do with why he sees the world this way. NYC is a very very cruel place.

Staten Island at that. Yeesh. ;)

To the OP, congrats. That is a total score. Glad it worked out for you.
 
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