Controllong how much people drink from a kegerator

[jmiracle]

The idea of having a tip jar for people you've invited into your home makes me uncomfortable. Offering food and drink is one of the most basic elements of a civilized society. While it's true that homebrewing takes more time than most food preparation, it's just a matter of degree. If my buddy's wife made cookies should I toss her a couple bucks? Should I throw him a quarter for a glass of iced tea? I mean, we're friends, reciprocity if nothing else shoud apply here. I think it's bad enough to go to my one friend's house and know that I have to bring my own 2-liter of soda because he's stingy with his beverages other than tap water, it doesn't seem to be anything I'd want to emulate.

I think you get back in one form or another what you put into graciousness and hospitality.

 

[Desert_Sky]

Tipping is definitely not mandatory. Its mostly for my friends and family who like to show up the weekend of a new keg, and then hang around until its gone.

I like to brew, and theres no way I could drink all that I brew. The jar was actually my friends idea. It just helps with the rising cost of brewing. Help keep the cost to me low and there will continue to be beer flowing.

 

[EricK The Red]

Get one of these and let your mooch friends know you're packin'!

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=57486

 

[Fusorfodder]

If it's a party centered around drinking, I'd say make a keg fee known in advance. If it is something a bit more restrained but still with ample beer flowing, then just hook up a keg of BMC and switch over to homebrew as the party is dwindling. That way people have had their fill to drink, and it won't look like you're being stingy with your precious. Essentially, you're just holding a treat for later. With a smaller party of closer friends/associates just go right ahead start and finish with the homebrew. These smaller gatherings involve your closer friends or people you wish to impress the most and even if a keg gets drained it will be worth it.

 

[springer]

I dont normally offer my home brew to everyone. I do share it with friends who enjoy a more robust beer. Why would I even offer someone who drinks only Bud or Bud light a HB Stout or IPA?

Same with booze if someone ask's for burbon and soda they aint getting Knob creek . My son in law will take Jamason and dowse's it with ginger ale drives me nuts

I would go with samplers first then a 12 oz glass if they like it . And have on hand plenty of main stream beers so people have a choice. But if you open the taps be prepared to have them emptied.

 

[IrregularPulse]

I dont normally offer my home brew to everyone. I do share it with friends who enjoy a more robust beer. Why would I even offer someone who drinks only Bud or Bud light a HB Stout or IPA?

To bring them away from the darkside of course! My friends have started trying more flavorful beers since I've been drinking good beer. I'm so proud of my buddy johnny who use to be Bud and BLight. Now he stocks at least Killians and Amberbock instead. Can't even stand Bud Light anymore. I love hearing people say that! Even if I just bring one person over. Also my wife is my proudest accomplishment. She used to be a miller girl preferring liquor. Now (pregnant) she loves when I open a really hoppy beer so can smell it. She used to worry about craving wine since she can't have it. Now she complains because she constantly craves my beer that she can't have.

 

[brewhead]

http://www.wa-gunnet.co.jp/english/cool/img/wa-swbb(t.jpg

 

[david_42]

I agree with the smaller glasses approach. People will almost always take a full glass, regardless of how small or large the glass is. 4-6 ounces is right for a tasting. I always take a 4 ounce sample glass to club meetings and parties.

You can make a jumper and split kegs. I'll do this when I want to take more than a growler to a club meeting, but don't want to drag a CO2 tank and a full keg. A half keg starting at serving pressure will dispense completely.

 

[olllllo]

A half keg starting at serving pressure will dispense completely.

That's a great tip!

 

[ytsejam]

I haven't built a kegerator yet, but I have a great solution for me.

I have an attack parrot!

If I set his cage on top of the kegerator he will threaten anyone who comes near (except me), if I open his cage, he will probably attack outright.
He's just looking out for me.

 

[chthonik]

I put out a tip jar at my haunted houses (attended only by my friends) all the time, and I'd do it for beer too, if it was homebrew. Of course, all my friends know I don't care if they think I'm being obnoxious. Some of them even expect it! If my friends know the work I've gone to to make them happy, they show their appreciation.

I like the idea of a lecture- then only the ones who are really interested will hang around! I probably would emphasize the labor rather than the cost (since my beer winds up being cheaper if you don't count the labor).

I personally want a real bar once I have a kegerator (which is still a ways off). And no one but my brew buddies and wife will be behind the bar!

I wouldn't be offended by a sign asking me to go easy on the homebrew. Small cups are a good idea no matter what else!

 

[shafferpilot]

Ya know, the first party at which homebrew was served, people sampled and enjoyed. At the second one, no one bothered to stop by the store to get their own alcohol and I got wiped out! A tip jar with the sign, "The Honor System governs this beer, please donate appropriately" along with the simple explanation that if I don't get some kind of money back on the homebrew, then I can't afford to keep making it, cleared up the issue. My friends bring beer with them again, they just bring less and throw a couple bucks in the jar.

 

[jmiracle]

Would you guys really stop making it if nobody chipped in?

 

[Denny's Evil Concoctions]

I've been thinking of carbing some water and yellow food coloring and adding that to my 3rd tap labled bud light. That way the bud drinkers won't bother with the homebrew. lol

 

[shafferpilot]

Would you guys really stop making it if nobody chipped in?

I'd still make some for me and swmbo, but otherwise yes

 

[RockfordWhite]

There was actually a computer project online somewhere a couple months ago about a kegerator with a computer built in that everybody got a glass and was able to recognize how much everybody drank and limit them to a set amount...

 

[IrregularPulse]

Would you guys really stop making it if nobody chipped in?

Like ShafferPilot said. I would still make it for personal consumption but wouldn't let my friends and everybody just help themselves. It's like if you took beer to a party and your friends all just drank from your cooler the whole time. I don't think any one would expect their friends to do this without reimbursement. This is no different. Even more so a big deal since you can't just run to the store when they drink it all. I'd be happy if friends threw some tips in the jar or even if they were like hey, I would love this kind of beer, will you make it and buy the ingredients, then I'd brew it and put it on tap.! In fact I tihnk I'll suggest that to some friends. If there is any kinda particular they'd like tell me, Give me money for ingredients and I'll brew it for them and keep like a 12 pack for my labor. That'd be cool.

 

[RookieBrew]

Set out some disposable plastic shot glasses with a signs inviting them to try it, making sure they know it's homebrew. It keeps it positive and inviting but still ensures that if they draw a full glass they are probably fans. I like the idea also of using smaller glasses in general to ensure fewer half full brews...

 

[InkPouchMan]

Well you got me thinking and I have invented a solution for you.

How about a remote control?

That's exactly what I thought when I read this. Of course, a remote can be used in many ways... for instance, electrify the taps so that a sneaky pourer gets jolted if you don't deactivate it. A genuine beer security system!

Oh, and yes, I am kidding.

Another idea: have a keg of BMC in there with your homebrew and use the remote to switch between them. If your guests are the type who don't understand the idea that homebrew's not for getting hammered, they won't notice/care anyway.

 

[olllllo]

Famous last words right there.

And, for those with the tip jars, you have to be careful about that. They can backfire in a couple ways.

First, even if they seem okay right now, they will become unseemly at some point in your life. For example, I did not mind it so much in college. Nobody had any money, so a tip jar would come up from time to time. Even then, though, it typically was an open party that did not require an invitation to attend. I never minded a tip jar when I went to some party hosted by someone I did not know (e.g., There's a kegger at [random address]! We're going!)

Second, the idea of hospitality and the message of a tip jar are incosistent. Didn't you invite these people to your home in the spirit of hospitality and to enjoy the pleasure of their company? Or did you invite them over to show off your brewing efforts, maybe get some "attaboy"s and to subsidize your brewing habit? Are you hosting a party or running an enterprise? A tip jar suggests the latter in each case.

Third, as I observed at those parties with tip jars, dropping a buck in the tip jar changes many guests' attitudes. As far as they are concerned, they are now customers, and they are going to live it up. You might wind up with eight bucks, three empty cornies, and a bunch of drunk customers. If you blow a keg right after someone drops in a tip, will you offer a refund? Do you really want to put one or more of your guests in a position where they must decide whether to ask?

There are too many other ways to control consumption, rather than raising the price. Still, I wouldn't mind what Funkenjaeger has to say on this matter.


TL

I'm in total agreement.

I suspect that the tip thing is breaking down on age/ses.

 

[shafferpilot]

The people who come to my house are personal friends. They understand that it takes money and time and expertise to make my beer. They are happy to contribute to my brewery. And they bring some of their own preferred commercial brews that often times stay in my fridge at the end of the night.

Does anyone actually make their keggerator available at a college kegger? If so, tip jar or not, those kegs will be empty by 11pm. Every kegger I ever went to had a team of bouncers and a cover charge. A tip jar wouldn't ever be an effective way to compensate the hosts in that setting.

Personally, I don't have any interest in hanging out with anyone who is trying to turn themselves into a wasted a$$hole. With my beer or otherwise. If you're inviting people that you don't trust to be honest into your house, then you are asking for big trouble well beyond the keggerator!

People that i invite to come to my house are my guests, but that doesn't mean that they have any right to bankrupt my brewery. I expect my guests to contribute to the party. Bring beer, wine, snacks, deserts, music, games, etc. We all have the most fun when a little piece of each personality is included. If they want to have my beer, they can toss a couple bucks in the jar. If that's insulting to them, I don't give a $hit: it's my house, my beer, my rules. If they don't like to put money in the jar, they can drink their own beer and leave mine alone.

 

[IrregularPulse]

Well said Shaffer, Liek the post before you This thread mostly comes down to age and your personal group of friends.