Friends paying for beer?!

[Marius]

I have a friend who has chickens, and I buy him eggs every week, another one sells records, and I buy him vinils every month.
This is what I do: When my friends come home they drink as much as they want for free, also when I go to their places I always bring them some beers. But sometimes they want to take some beers to drink at their homes, or to give them as a present to their families or whatever, then they ask me for a sixpak and they pay a reasonable price.

I must say that I meet 10 or 12 really good friens everyday at our music-association and most of them drink 2 or 3 litres of beer daily, they like my beer and that's great, but when all of them ask me for a sixpack they know that I can not afford giving it for free.

The same way I prefer to buy eggs to my friend because I know how his chickens live, in a meadow, with freedom, and I want to support his farm, he also prefers to buy beer he knows it's made with love and care.

Sorry about my English, It's long since I don't speak it.

 

[KAMMEE]

I like the idea of chilling only what you want to part with. The other idea is to treat it just like it was a byo party, and offer up just one or two of your own brews to your buddies and keep the rest stashed away. They can enjoy your brew, just don't let them go at it with Frank the Tank gusto.

 

[mosquitocontrol]

To me people are talking about different situations. If you are just have 1-3 friends over once in awhile and they drink some beer (a few) then its probably tacky to ask for money.

But, if your place tends to be the hangout place. With people spending hours there and drinking tons, say instead of going out for the night. Then a tip jar or asking for money is totally fine and necessary in my opinion. I'm guessing this is more likely the case. And its a few times a week.

 

[joety]

you're not selling commercial and technically you can't charge without a license.
But if it's to the point of them drinking your beer to the point you can't afford to brew for yourself, Put out a mandatory "tip" jar. Or if it's primarily 2-4 friends, then you all 4 can alternate who pays for batches.

I wouldn't automatically assume that unless you've done your homework. While Peurto Rico is part of the United States, it does have an independent legal and taxation system.

 

[FromZwolle]

coin operated tap? sounds like a great invention.

 

[janzik]

Why not try and get 1 or 2 of them brewing? Out of 6 people I'd find it hard to believe that at least one of them might be interested in brewing. Ask if anyone would like to attend a brew day, but let them know, there is no drinking before the boil (this is a good rule even if your friends weren't douches). If none of them want to try it out, are they really even your friends?

 

[Pappers_]

I have a friend who has chickens, and I buy him eggs every week, another one sells records, and I buy him vinils every month.
This is what I do: When my friends come home they drink as much as they want for free, also when I go to their places I always bring them some beers. But sometimes they want to take some beers to drink at their homes, or to give them as a present to their families or whatever, then they ask me for a sixpak and they pay a reasonable price.

Sounds great, Marius! I need a circle of friends who raise chickens, make cheese, bake bread, etc. That would be fabulous.

And your English was just fine - we got your meaning. It's great to have you and other international brewers here.

 

[Homercidal]

I'd let them know how much it costs to brew the beer, and keep track of how much each one is drinking. Obviously they aren't your friends if they aren't willing to pay for their fair share. Once they know what it's costing you, they should want to pitch in, either by buying ingredients, or slipping some coin.

I agree with not charging your friends, but a couple of moochers who only hang out to drink up your beer is not a friend IMO, just a ******.

If you stop offering it for free, someone will ask where the beer is, you just tell them you can't afford to make it for them all the time. Some will offer to pay to help out, and some will not. My guess is the hardcores will be the ones to stop coming.

If you made steaks on the grill, would you expect your friends to come over all the time and eat them up? Would they expect to be able to?

 

[FromZwolle]

make a few 1 gallon batches of prison hooch, they'll be much more reluctant to drink your homebrew after that.

 

[iron_city_ap]

Add a box of crushed ex-lax to the secondary and overpitch the yeast. Give each of the 2 worst a case.

 

[PinkyOFloyd]

Add a box of crushed ex-lax to the secondary and overpitch the yeast. Give each of the 2 worst a case.

GEEEZ! That's about as bad as prepping for a colonoscopy....

 

[Senneffe]

you're not selling commercial and technically you can't charge without a license.
But if it's to the point of them drinking your beer to the point you can't afford to brew for yourself, Put out a mandatory "tip" jar. Or if it's primarily 2-4 friends, then you all 4 can alternate who pays for batches.

Charge them for hearing your lecture on how to make homebrew. Kind of like buying a map to a party rather than paying for the beer you drink at the party. :fro:

 

[Mischief_Brewing]

I may be alone here, but if you're gonna share it with them, asking them to pay for it is a bit... tacky. If a buddy of mine pointed to a "tip" jar every time I came over and had a beer, I may actually put in, but I would probably think less of the guy.

I love to share my beer with everybody I meet. If I go through a case in a day with my friends, that's on me. If you don't want them to drink it, don't offer it to them, don't tell them about a new recipe you're psyched about, and don't tell them the progress on your batches.

You don't have to share your homebrew. And if your friends really only come over to drink your brew, then that is a problem. But if you like to make it and you like to share what you've made with others, I think that cost is on you. UNTIL they start making requests. Then you are totally within rights to ask them to poney up. Just my two cents.

This ^

I put out the tip mug during parties when I know we'll kill nearly 2 batches and I'll have a bunch of people not-so-known to me there, otherwise I feel it's a bit tacky to ask for donations from people I invite over to drink.

As for a situation where you get a regular group that starts to assume that they can come over whenever for free beer, a little chat about the costs involved in that "free" beer is warranted.

In the end, you know what you need to do. But I love reading everybody's limited-view take on it...

 

[duffman2]

I haven't charged a penny yet out of 20 or so batches. But.....the neighborhood is starting to stop by on a regular basis so I think I got everyone hooked!

So, soon enough I can start my plan on using homebrew to make a million dollars and then I can begin my quest to............... take over the World!!!

Mmwahaha, mmmwhahahhahahhahhaaaa!

 

[olllllo]

There are no legal loopholes. If you accept money you are selling beer.
If you think I'm wrong, send an email to your state's alcohol control board with your wacky ideas. Then post their response here.

It's a separate question as to whether you would be charged/convicted.
It's a separate question as to whether it's tacky.

 

[ThatGuyRyan]

I recently got my neighbors who are a bunch of younger guys into brewing, well they come over and drink my beer and help clean up. After 4 weeks of brewing every weekend they still love it but at least one of them has passed out before the brew day ends every week! I guess it’s a bad thing having Dogfish Head 120 on tap at 16%+ on brew days! They offered to buy my beer since day one but I really wasn’t interested in selling it. But every week the amount of guys coming over grows and grows. I brew mostly large beers 9% ABV and up so at 10+ gallons per brew the cost is not cheap. So I finally took them up on their offer and told them if they buy a bag of grain every other brew then I will cover the yeast, hops, propane and the brewing equipment and we will split the batch(s) and I will give them a third of each. They also asked how to speed up the process since they haven’t learned to pace themselves yet so I told them I need a plate chiller and pump and I was handed $100 last week and more is being collected. Others that I regularly share my beer with either share their own brew or if they don’t brew they send over some good micros or pay for drinks when we are out and such. I guess I am lucky that so far everyone who has tried my beers have offered some sort of compensation. Gas grass or ass nobody rides for free.

 

[DmentD]

I have to agree that the tip jar is a bit... unorthodox. I make homebrew to enjoy and share with my friends. There is an unspoken agreement in our tribe that if you're a beer drinker and you're coming over, and unless otherwise stated that beer will be provided for all, you bring a six/twelve/case to contribute (depending on the size of the crowd). All beer is community property unless specified otherwise -- this way we get to try some new and old favorites of the other drinkers. Again, I may be hanging out with a more considerate crowd than most.

When I started brewing, my original intention was to have a batch or two on hand (paid for out of my own pocket) that I would have as home stock, then split further batches 2 or 3 ways with my more committed friends, dividing the cost of materials evenly and having them contribute labor to help brew/bottle/etc. It has actually evolved into this: I have pretty much paid for and made everything so far. My friends contribute tremendously to my bottle stock -- they are rabid collectors of pop-top beer bottles now, and will tailor their own drinking selections to match my bottle-style needs. They have also contributed a little bit of labor on bottling day (got one buddy who finds it a downright enjoyable zen-like activity). They have enjoyed my beer at the various get-togethers and haven't abused my hospitality.

They are getting the itch to make some for themselves, now. They will buy the ingredients and save up bottles for themselves. Since I own the gear, and have the know-how, they will come to my place and brew under my tutelage, doing the lion's share of the work. Every stage of the process will involve their hands. At the end of it all, they will take home 2+ cases of their own beer, paid for by them, using their own bottles. The agreement is that I don't store anything that they themselves own... the bottles (empty or full), for example.

If this goes well, I can see this eventually leading to them buying a primary and a secondary fermenter of their own so as to not disrupt my capacity to brew, and borrowing what they need to do the rest. If that goes well, I see them buying the rest of the gear, bit by bit, to do it all themselves. This is the best evolution I can envision toward bringing others who aren't as zealous as I am into the homebrewing fold. It builds a greater appreciation for the work and expense that goes into the process, as well as expanding my immediate community of brewers.

Soon, we take over the world! Mwa-ha-ha. *cough*

 

[iron_city_ap]

GEEEZ! That's about as bad as prepping for a colonoscopy....

The odds of them drinking any of the next batch go down pretty quickly though.

 

[FromZwolle]

I have to agree that the tip jar is a bit... unorthodox. I make homebrew to enjoy and share with my friends. There is an unspoken agreement in our tribe that if you're a beer drinker and you're coming over, and unless otherwise stated that beer will be provided for all, you bring a six/twelve/case to contribute (depending on the size of the crowd). All beer is community property unless specified otherwise -- this way we get to try some new and old favorites of the other drinkers. Again, I may be hanging out with a more considerate crowd than most.

When I started brewing, my original intention was to have a batch or two on hand (paid for out of my own pocket) that I would have as home stock, then split further batches 2 or 3 ways with my more committed friends, dividing the cost of materials evenly and having them contribute labor to help brew/bottle/etc. It has actually evolved into this: I have pretty much paid for and made everything so far. My friends contribute tremendously to my bottle stock -- they are rabid collectors of pop-top beer bottles now, and will tailor their own drinking selections to match my bottle-style needs. They have also contributed a little bit of labor on bottling day (got one buddy who finds it a downright enjoyable zen-like activity). They have enjoyed my beer at the various get-togethers and haven't abused my hospitality.

They are getting the itch to make some for themselves, now. They will buy the ingredients and save up bottles for themselves. Since I own the gear, and have the know-how, they will come to my place and brew under my tutelage, doing the lion's share of the work. Every stage of the process will involve their hands. At the end of it all, they will take home 2+ cases of their own beer, paid for by them, using their own bottles. The agreement is that I don't store anything that they themselves own... the bottles (empty or full), for example.

If this goes well, I can see this eventually leading to them buying a primary and a secondary fermenter of their own so as to not disrupt my capacity to brew, and borrowing what they need to do the rest. If that goes well, I see them buying the rest of the gear, bit by bit, to do it all themselves. This is the best evolution I can envision toward bringing others who aren't as zealous as I am into the homebrewing fold. It builds a greater appreciation for the work and expense that goes into the process, as well as expanding my immediate community of brewers.

Soon, we take over the world! Mwa-ha-ha. *cough*

i really wish i had known a brewer like you when i started out. Borrowing equiptment before i had to shell out the cash for my own would have been great.

As it is, none of my (current) friends are mooches. My good buddy has even helped brew a few batches, and covered the cost of ingredients too. When i did have the guzzlers over to my house, the byob was an unspoken rule. I love to share my homebrew, but in limited quantity.

 

[BraveSirRobin]

I may be alone here, but if you're gonna share it with them, asking them to pay for it is a bit... tacky. If a buddy of mine pointed to a "tip" jar every time I came over and had a beer, I may actually put in, but I would probably think less of the guy.

I love to share my beer with everybody I meet. If I go through a case in a day with my friends, that's on me. If you don't want them to drink it, don't offer it to them, don't tell them about a new recipe you're psyched about, and don't tell them the progress on your batches.

You don't have to share your homebrew. And if your friends really only come over to drink your brew, then that is a problem. But if you like to make it and you like to share what you've made with others, I think that cost is on you. UNTIL they start making requests. Then you are totally within rights to ask them to poney up. Just my two cents.

I tend to agree with you on this. I'm not going to charge my friends that come over and have a few beers. By the sounds of it, the friends aren't just stopping by whenever they please to drink. I just can't see inviting someone over and charging them to drink my beer. I'm sure that over time the cost to homebrew will even out with something that they paying for when they host parties. If you want to save money, don't have them over as often. That's just my $.02.

 

[joety]

I can't see any problem with them buying the ingredients and you brewing the beer, but I doubt that's one of the "wacky" ideas you are referring to.

 

[olllllo]

Wacky, no.
Wacky would be buying claiming that the grain was for dog bicuits and the beer provided was free.

But there is a clear relationship between purchased ingredients and beer sales. I mention this because that is specifically how excise taxes are audited.

Obviously, it's not worth anyone's time on a small scale, but you can see where it would land you in trouble if say things got a little more enterprising even if the pints of beer were free. If a PR firm provided ingredients to you for weekly beer parties, etc.

 

[Mischief_Brewing]

It's only illegal if you get caught. But if you do get caught...ouch!

 

[brewagentjay]

I agree taking money for beer is illegal. However, I really think honestly it's not different then making something say a pie and selling it at a bake sale........

Problem isn't with the act, it's the law that is wrong. But it's the law. So I'm in bama where it's still illegal to brew it so what's another law or two.......

Rock on & Brew on, as long as your friends and you are cool with what you decide to that is all that matters...........

 

[Ouroboros]

make a few 1 gallon batches of prison hooch, they'll be much more reluctant to drink your homebrew after that.

Depends. I know some people who would never turn their nose up at a good toilet-bowl sangria.

 

[Ouroboros]

Couldn't you avoid the legal issues by calling it a "tip jar" and making tips "optional".

And by optional, I mean that you are widely recognized as a freeloading prick for drinking like a fish and not contributing to the time and monetary costs. People generally respond well to shame. Perhaps not while they are drunk, but certainly the day after. Ask anyone who's woken up with a throbbing headache and some hazy regrets.

 

[starrfish]

I've gotten a buddy into brewing... he's done 4 batches on my equipment he's hooked now and is getting all his own stuff. all it took was 1 of my milk stouts and he was in! He pays for his own ingredients, cleans the equipment and bottles his own. only takes up one of my three buckets. about once every other month

invite them over for a brew day have them pony up for ingredients (or help them make a recipe and have them order everything they need) and say "this one is yours" all 5 gallons" make them bottle and clean all equipment... show your pain. drink your "share" for equipment rental and it comes out right (I usually drink several of his beers as they age and get a full 6-pack for equipment "rental" which works out fair. If some don't help brew have some domestic swill on hand... LOL bud light wheat while others are drinking a great home brewed hefe!

"teach your children well" as the old song goes...

 

[Bearscratch]

My friends always want to pay me and I just say "your money isn't good here". Really I wish they would drink more so I had more reason to brew more. It's fun being the beer guy in the bunch.

 

[skidaddytn]

I'm saying +1 to making friends bring over some food... buy me some burgers to go with that beer!

 

[starrfish]

I hear ya bear! but this guy is getting "walked on". I brew enough that I can bring out a bunch of homebrews and i don't care. I'm going camping in july and I'll have a mixed case of home brews that I plan on doing a tasting with. all on me.

I've had plenty of times I've been offered money but I'm just happy to have good beer newbs taste what good ales really are. But if they are abusing that privilage... make them work for it!