How do you limit beer consumption off kegs?

[jnr1005]

I just started brewing so I don't have this issue yet, but I can understand the concept. I get the same feeling when I spend a lot of money on craft beer and a group of friends comes over and starts drinking it like its bud lite... On the other hand I look forward to sharing my creations when they are done. I think in the long run, maybe you need to limit to you pouring the tap beers and maybe have a "free for all" section of the fridge for the beers you want to share.

I know as much as I want to share what I brew with my friends, I will put a stop to it if it seems like my house just becomes the "free beer" house. It takes too much time and money for people to act like it grows on trees. Sometimes you just have to put your foot down, otherwise some people will take advantage.

 

[dryboroughbrewing]

I've had a few people overindulge on my kegs, which is fine, I take it as a compliment. However, if they obviously just want to get ripped, I gently nudge them to the apfelwein tap. Takes care of them in short order, and takes about 5 minutes to make.

 

[geckholm]

My friends can drink as much as they care to. We had some friends over a little bit ago and we polished of 7 1/2 gallons...no big deal, I can make more or buy some while it is fermenting/conditioning.

I have a dual-tap on my kegerator, if there is a brew in there I don't necessarily want to lose quickly....when more than one or two people come over, I just disconnect the liquid post. If anyone asks what's on the other tap, the answer is nothing, I have something conditioning in the other keg. Not ready yet.

I agree with a couple of the others, beer is a communal drink, I share as much as possible.

 

[Crito]

I disconnect what I want to save. Doesn't happen often. I usually want the keg gone so I can keep brewing.

On a side note, had a friend bring one of his friends that I also knew. My friend didn't tell me in advance. I let the friend in but the other person I told that he wasn't allowed in my home. (That guy was a d-bag and annoying). I felt pretty good. My friend only stayed for a few. The other guy waited in my friend's car. Hehe

 

[beaksnbeer]

Like this have more then they can consume. If there is something off limits I explain or switch a keg out

 

[bleme]

My friends can drink as much as they care to. We had some friends over a little bit ago and we polished of 7 1/2 gallons...no big deal, I can make more or buy some while it is fermenting/conditioning.

I wish I could afford to do this. It just isn't realistic for a lot of us. I live in Central California and only ran the air conditioner 4 days this summer because every penny matters. I limit myself to one beer a day and that is exactly what I offer my guests.

 

[amfukuda]

I'm lucky in that most of my friends don't care for anything but coors but the few that do have helped me brew or build stuff for brewing and a couple are even nice enough to leave a little money for the next batch

 

[jpalarchio]

1. Brew more.

2. Invite your friends over on brew day so they can see the effort into creating beer is and let them know that's about 40% of it; make them stay through cleanup. (Maybe they take up the hobby themselves).

3. If it's a repetitive issue, find new "friends" that are more respectful.

 

[geckholm]

I wish I could afford to do this. It just isn't realistic for a lot of us. I live in Central California and only ran the air conditioner 4 days this summer because every penny matters. I limit myself to one beer a day and that is exactly what I offer my guests.

I brew inexpensive batches … maybe avg $15 per.

 

[luke_d]

Ugh this problem!! Why is it that people think that we have unlimited beer?! Once we had some friends over, and as I was going to show one of them my beer closet with my fermenting beer, conditioning bottles, equipment, etc...I walk in on one of our other friends who had already chugged down three 12 oz bottles of Imperial Stout that had been bottled for only about 3 days. Probably didn't taste the best, haha!

And I certainly don't have a problem with sharing, I love it! And if he would've asked I would've given him just about however much beer he wanted (within reason), but I thought it was pretty damn disrespectful to just go behind my back and start chugging beers that weren't even ready. Definitely smacked him.

 

[Randy_Bugger]

Tell your friends there is a three beer limit or whatever limit you choose. If they don't respect your limitation, then they lose their beer privilege. If they don't stop by your house after being cut off from beer, then they probably aren't the kind of friends you need to keep.