Another perk of brewing

[Photopilot]

In my job I work as a subcontractor for the big freight companies. I mentioned I brewed to a UPS driver last summer, and he seemed very interested. Over the course of the summer I would bring him a beer or Apfelwein as they became ready. In exchange he would give me some of his organic eggs. He later promised some of his beef when he slaughtered some cows, which he raises just for personal use. I just got back to this run and brought him some of my newest beers and got this in exchange.

I would love to come up with a barter system where I could exchange my beer for other hand crafted items. At least it would give me an excuse to brew more.

 

[Zamial]

Welcome to the early days of America. Before we had enough money printed/minted we had whiskey. Goods were bought and traded with whiskey.

You are just subbing out whiskey for beer. It really is a fantastic idea to barter for things. Enjoy your home grown beef and HB!!!

 

[greaper007]

Nice, is it grass fed? I see that you live in SLC, no wonder he barters. That must be the only way to get beer in that town .

 

[FromZwolle]

my family bought a 1/4 cow once from a farmer friend of a friend of theirs. best steak i've ever tasted, and that was just slapped on a grill without any seasonings. enjoy that beef!

 

[Photopilot]

Nice, is it grass fed? I see that you live in SLC, no wonder he barters. That must be the only way to get beer in that town .

Most of my runs are to out of state, so I am not reliant on Utah 3.2 beer. I had not been doing what i do for long before I saw someone from one of our competitors checking into a hotel on a Friday, with a suitcase and a large duffel bag folded up on top. I asked what is the duffel bag for? "Beer" was the answer. There is quite a bit of Homebrewing going on in Utah and many microbrewerys, including a new one called Epic that can't even keep beer in its fridge. As fast as they brew it, it is gone. The only true bummer still in existence in Utah's archaic liquor law is no full strength beer on tap they are either 3.2 or 4 for micros.

This was a transaction more between friends. We go to the farmers market a lot but wont be needing it too much as our garden is shaping up well this summer. I am looking forward to trying to barter with beer from here on out though. Unfortunately most people in this area even outside of Utah don't approve of beer drinking when their friends are looking.

 

[steinsato]

I actually turned down a job offer in Utah about 10 years ago because of their liquor laws. Is it true you still need a "membership" or "sponsor" to drink in a bar?

 

[Photopilot]

I actually turned down a job offer in Utah about 10 years ago because of their liquor laws. Is it true you still need a "membership" or "sponsor" to drink in a bar?

No that went away recently, as almost did the "only watered down beer on draft" law but it was not to be.

You can only buy full strength beer in bottles at bars or the state liquor store, which is closed on Sundays and Holidays, the grocery stores are 3.2 or 4 %.

To give an example of how religion based the laws are here. Here are some examples a recent holiday had the liquor stores closed it was a state holiday but not federal or vice-versa, but they closed the doors and locked them but the employees still had to work that day. I think they were paid to stand behind the locked doors and taunt us sinners.

Another interesting recent legislation in Utah, the economy has made state budget cuts needed. They want to have each branch share in the budget cuts so they are trying to figure out whether to shut down the less popular liquor stores or cut back the hours in all of them. I am not sure how many depatments in Utah actually make a profit but liquor sales went up 5% last year. I guess getting drunk is recession proof. My guess is there are more bible-thumpers in the Utah Legislator than economists.

Sorry, rant over. Where was I? Mmmm free steaks good.

 

[SumnerH]

I actually turned down a job offer in Utah about 10 years ago because of their liquor laws. Is it true you still need a "membership" or "sponsor" to drink in a bar?

Nope. You used to need a membership (basically a $5 cover charge for a one-night membership).

They got rid of that when they hosted the Olympics in Salt Lake City, so that local businesses could cash in on the tourism.

 

[Photopilot]

Nope. You used to need a membership (basically a $5 cover charge for a one-night membership).

They got rid of that when they hosted the Olympics in Salt Lake City, so that local businesses could cash in on the tourism.

That law was temporarily put aside for the Olympics and then reinstated. It was removed finally just last year. They also did away with the "Zion Curtain" last year. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104155955. Let the partying begin.

 

[klyph]

I fully endorse the barter system, but according to the Federal Government, what you did was illegal. I also fully endorse breaking laws that don't make sense.

 

[FromZwolle]

I fully endorse the barter system, but according to the Federal Government, what you did was illegal. I also fully endorse breaking laws that don't make sense.

i fully endorse this statement.:rockin:

 

[JohnnyO]

Nice score fella!

Last year, we did a complete kitchen renovation. The guys that did the work were great. I served them homebrew every Friday afternoon when I got home. The work they did was not free. But they took care of us.

 

[Photopilot]

I fully endorse the barter system, but according to the Federal Government, what you did was illegal.

Why? Because the beef was not FDA approved, probably not enough hormones to get the FDA stamp

I have to go back and read my original post but there was no bartering in this transaction. I simply gave a friend a number of beers as a gift and in return I have been gifted some eggs and beef. I had no idea he had such assets when I started giving him samples of my brew.

As I work in the transportation industry and spend almost 200 days on the road, I run into a lot of acquaintances (delivery drivers, hotel shuttle drivers, etc.). If I see them often enough and like them I usually find out if they drink beer and what kind they like, then try to give them one of mine they might enjoy. Even BMC drinkers respect a hand crafted beer, and you become that guy that has a house full of beer. It may be my imagination but I feel treated with much respect by those who wish to be so well endowed, or maybe they are just hoping for more free beer. I have even given some mechanics a beer to enjoy after work. All were appreciative except for my Mormon coworkers who kindly refused my offering but showed admiration when they found out i had brewed it myself.

I personally admire anyone who has a skill and can create something whether it is in wood, pottery, leather, painting, etc. I think many people admire this trait and if ones skills are in making beer you are doubly admired.

 

[passedpawn]

i fully endorse this statement.:rockin:

I endorse your endorsement.

 

[homebrewer_99]

A lot of people don't know that bartering is taxable...a service worth "something" for a product worth "something".

What that "something" is worth is propably based upon some outrageous pay scale nowhere near your specific geographic area...

In my opinion (incidentally, worth NOTHING), it's best these discussions are not recorded...(not only is Big Brother listening, but he has turned many sheeple into Big Babies...).

 

[homebrewer_99]

I endorse your endorsement.

I have a time sensative endorsing statement over your previous endorsement of his aforementioned statement...

 

[passedpawn]

I'm still trying to figure out why ignorance of the law isn't a good defense. But the insanity defense is still fine and dandy.

So, regarding taxable bartering transactions and such, it would take a team of paralegals to find the pertinent laws. How the **** can a UPS guy and a homebrewer know. Judas priest.

 

[homebrewer_99]

I'm still trying to figure out why ignorance of the law isn't a good defense. But the insanity defense is still fine and dandy.

So, regarding taxable bartering transactions and such, it would take a team of paralegals to find the pertinent laws. How the **** can a UPS guy and a homebrewer know. Judas priest.

I hear you.

It's right up there with...if the common man is supposed to pay his taxes then the tax laws should be simple enough that he doesn't need others to do it for him. DOH!!!

Lawyers have really screwed up this world in the past couple hundred years. On a positive note, they are relative newcomers compared to politicians who have been doing it for thousands of years...

 

[BeerWars]

They also did away with the "Zion Curtain" last year. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104155955. Let the partying begin.

WOW - I never knew such things existed. Gotta love when religious people impose their mind-set on mature adults who obviously don't see eye-to-eye with them.

I had a friend that grew up in the Mormon church in Utah, went to college in Utah and then moved to Chicago for a job. He thought it was all BS and lived like a normal guy in Chicago (drank, smoked cigars, drank caffeine *gasp). Despite his strict Mormon upbringing I never saw any remnants of his indoctrination.

WELL, we get courtside tickets to the NBA Finals Bulls vs. Jazz. We sit down - the hostess comes over and I order 2 beers. He said he wasn't drinking - I gave him the stink-eye - like a "good" buddy I winked at the hostess and told her to bring 2 beers and keep them flowing. What I saw next took me by complete surprise. He freaked the f*ck out. He stared down the hostess and forcefully told her not to bring a beer for him and was going a mile-a-minute about how we were courtside on national television and someone in the state of Utah may recognize him; and bring shame to his family. I asked the hostess to get Miss. Sally a Diet Coke (which he drank about 5 gallons a day) and he freaked out again about them seeing him drink caffeine. I was amazed that far removed from Utah; he was still scared to be himself.

 

[Conehead]

We barter for everything here in Canada. Taxes of course is the main reason. I have bartered with beer many times. It feels good to screw the gov't over and over.

 

[SpanishCastleAle]

Doesn't seem like bartering to me, seems like they're gifts. Every year I give my siblings/parents/friends/etc birthday gifts and every year they give me birthday gifts, it's not bartering.

 

[Zamial]

We barter for everything here in Canada. Taxes of course is the main reason. I have bartered with beer many times. It feels good to screw the gov't over and over.

I am not in Canada but I feel the same. I mean even here in the US if you homebrew you are circumventing the fed+state taxes on the beverage!