How much brew do you give away?

[deharris]

I'm in the early stages of my career as a homebrewer and find that I'm giving lots of my beer away to friends (who are happy to receive free brew). So my question is:

How much homebrew do you give away? Has this amount changed over time? Who do you give it to? Do you get anything in return???

 

[cweston]

I don't give away all that much. I hve a few friends whom I know appreciate my brews and I give them six packs every now and then. Or, more likely, I invite them over to taste my latest masterpieces. I don't expect anything in return--getting the bottles back is nice.

 

[david_42]

Mainly I take beer to club meetings. That's where my friends are and they bring beer, too.

 

[Brewing Clamper]

I give out lots of beer, but not in bottles. Basically, my friends come over to bbq or just party and attach themselves to the tap. 6 of us have empty a keg in a night easily. Fine with me, more brewing opportunities!

 

[brewt00l]

At this point, a couple six packs get distributed to friends and co-workers

 

[Schlenkerla]

I don't usually give beer hand outs. Sometimes to my FIL and more often w/ my HB Club but thats more of sharing and exchange. However, if people come over to the house, I welcome them to just about everything in the fridge.

I don't make a habit of passing it out, I don't care to start that practice either. I like having a large supply on hand and passing it out to people requires me to remember who has my PET's.

 

[abracadabra]

I think a six pack makes a great Christmas or birthday present. After all who needs more crap that you dont' need, don't want, won't use, etc.

Friends and family are welcome to what's in the fridge when they come over but as far as just handing out free beer to people I don't think it a great idea or practice. I believe most people think that if it doesn't cost something then it's not worth anything.

 

[Schlenkerla]

Friends and family are welcome to what's in the fridge when they come over but as far as just handing out free beer to people I don't think it a great idea or practice. I believe most people think that if it doesn't cost something then it's not worth anything.

I can't agree more.

 

[Wheat King]

this christmas i gave away quite a few singles as gifts, wth some homemade labels. otherwise, i give a few to the select few who i know will appreciate tasting each batch.

 

[EdWort]

I'm stocking up on 32 oz. Tecate & Carte Blanca bottles to use as Christmas gifts.

Less bottling that way, plus I think it's nicer to receive a good 32 oz buzz as a gift.

Carta Blanca sells for $1.99 at the store, but it needs lime.

 

[bradsul]

I give away quite a bit. I brew so much I make WAY more than I could possibly drink myself (well, more than I SHOULD drink myself). Lets me brew often and for variety since I get bored drinking the same thing over and over.

I do keep track of who has how many bottles since I use PET. I also make it clear to people that if they want more beer I not only get the bottles back, I get them back clean.

 

[Brewing Clamper]

...I also make it clear to people that if they want more beer I not only get the bottles back, I get them back clean.

Good idea. One thing I've found is that I rarely get the bottles back. Actually, only once did I get bottles back.... bastids!

 

[user 574]

I never give away beer, but they are free to come to my house and consume from the taps. Bottling is evil

 

[Flyin' Lion]

I give away entirely too much, but everyone who receives it is more than appreciative. I normally make sure that all I lose is a 12 oz. brown bottle as I have more than enough, but I lost one of SWMBO's blue swing-tops when a repairman never returned it (he came back several times and I reminded him repeatedly).

Unfortunately, of all the wine I've given away, I've only got back three bottles (and those are about $2.50 a piece). Though, those tend to go to people I don't plan on seeing again, and they make excellent gifts.

 

[BierMuncher]

I never give away beer, but they are free to come to my house and consume from the taps. Bottling is evil

Ditto...

Though I always bottle a 6 or 12 pack half way through a keg and stow them away.

Then for family events, I'll throw a variety into a cooler and take along 15-20. Not so much to "give" away, but to enjoy myself and share.

But yeah...when company comes over, the kegerator right off the kitchen works overtime.

 

[ohiobrewtus]

as little as possible. I started giving it out to all my buddies, but then all they did was want more for free so now I only give out my beer to the two of my buddies who also brew - on the condition that they also send some my way of course. :rockin:

 

[HenryHill]

I would never just hand over my brew.

But damned if family and friends just consume all they can and feel no conscience to lay down some beer funds...thinking of just MOUNTING a cash box to the tower to remind people there's no such thing as a free buzz.


Quote:
Originally Posted by abracadabra
Friends and family are welcome to what's in the fridge when they come over but as far as just handing out free beer to people I don't think it a great idea or practice. I believe most people think that if it doesn't cost something then it's not worth anything.


On the contrary, I think people will take 'free' anytime they can get it.

There is an old saying, "FREE beer ALWAYS tastes better".

 

[rcbrew]

I guess I do more "sharing" than anything. Usually share a few with friends while golfing, social parties, etc, then send a few home with them after. Gets tough trying to remember who has bottles that need returning. Gets to be a pain, especially right now with 15 gal in secondarys, trying to get bottles back. But, friends seem to really enjoy it.

 

[zoebisch01]

I give away quite a bit. My brother came down and sampled many of my brews, and then went home with a 6'er of 3 (x2) other kinds. One other thing I do is swap them for commercial beers sometimes.

 

[user 574]

thinking of just MOUNTING a cash box to the tower to remind people there's no such thing as a free buzz.

I like. Maybe a little "not for profit, donations appreciated sticker" one of our artistic members could create for our kegerators. I was also thinking of an old slot machine that the payout is kind of stiff. Then they can drink all the beer they want since they'll slap more quarters in the one-arm bandit when buzzed.

 

[Schlenkerla]

I will say SWMBO friends are good about offering funds up for the beer they drink.

In fact one of them gave me 50lbs of corn sugar!!!

I don't like the idea of giving away beer unless the favor is returned in some way. Like one of my non-beer drinking buddies stopped in a brew pub in Portland and grabbed me a bunch McMennimans and I traded up cider in exchange. It was a good deal.

 

[Yooper]

I sound stingy, but now I rarely give any away. I have two good friends (a couple) who we socialize with nearly every weekend. If it's a house get-together, I bring the beer or wine. I do give them beer and wine on occasion- they LOVE the homebrew and every wine I've ever given them. They also bring me scrubbed bottles, corks, etc. They've started making some welch's wines after enjoying mine and she makes Mr. Beer batches and shares. These are not my favorites but we do drink them once in a while. The only other person I still give beer to occasionally is my son's girlfriend's dad. He loves beer (especially MGD) but he was crazy about my Dead Guy clone. He also brought me back bottles that were so clean they were actually shiny!

No one else gets my beer! They don't really appreciate it anyway and would just as soon have a BMC. They are not worthy of my homebrew.

 

[homebrewer_99]

I really don't give it away as much as share it at my house.

Now, I've known this friend for over 20 years and he came to visit. I gave him 3 - 5 liter ini-kegs with 3 different beers in it so he can enjoy his July 4th a bit more...

 

[fritz_monroe]

First couple of batches, I think I gave away about half of what I brewed. I think I wanted to "show off" what I was making. Now that I'm 8 or 10 batches into it, I only end up giving away a six pack or so. I found that many of the people I gave beer to didn't seem to appreciate the effort that went into it, they just wanted the free beer.

I still give some away, but I tend to just take a growler with me to family events. That goes over pretty well.

 

[onecolumbyte]

I'd give away the lot if asked enthusastically enough. I don't think my beer is appreciated enough. It's not like anyone leaves a full glass around but I never get requests. I'm beginning to think it's "expected" of me. I just wish they'd beg for a little of my beer!

 

[Schlenkerla]

I'd give away the lot if asked enthusastically enough. I don't think my beer is appreciated enough. It's not like anyone leaves a full glass around but I never get requests. I'm beginning to think it's "expected" of me. I just wish they'd beg for a little of my beer!

I think you just want the attention and you want to critize them if they do not quaff the entire glass.

Sometimes I don't offer some beer because I know they will not like it and will be forced to drink it in my presence or leave it half drank. I try to offer out the lighter stuff that BMC drinker will find ok. Giving a good IPA to them can be such a waste of good beer.

 

[olllllo]

I agree with desertBrew.
If you drink my beer, you're going to have to suffer my company.

 

[Yuri_Rage]

I give away quite a bit. I've been saving a few brews to send home to my Dad and the in-laws. I just gave away a six-pack as a birthday gift for a friend.

Friends who come to visit usually have a few glasses. A buddy came over last night and had about 5 pints. I forgot to mention to him that it's 8.5% ABV. He was pretty drunk by the time he went (walked) home.

Anytime there's a social event in or near my house, I bring at least a keg, if I have one to spare.

Fortunately, I brew 15 gallons at a time. Start brewing 10+ gallon batches - you'll find ways to share it!

 

[DeathBrewer]

i'll give away bottles or six-packs as gifts sometimes, but mainly i just break out a case whenever i have a few friends over. haven't had a party in a while...i think we're due

 

[Brewsmith]

I've given away 4 complete brews as well as numerous six packs and what gets sampled when people come over. Friends can drain kegs fast.