Sharing homebrew! Yes or No?

[ed5388]

Badger I'm in! Like the idea! Plus now that I'm cutting a lot of people off my free beer list ill have plenty to spare! Lol

 

[Yooper]

I guess I'm not explaining it too properly in my original post. What I mean by feedback is basically a "hey thanks for that brew it was good or not my cup of tea." But I guess what I'm most annoyed about is I have a friend in KY and one in NE that beg me to send my latest brews cause "they wanna try it so bad!" So after the $15-$30 cost of shipping out multiple brews I never get a response other then "hey got your package!" Would just be nice if people appreciated the gesture a little more. Just seeing if I'm the only sucker or if others had similar experiences, but I'm not in any way looking for a "professional critique" from my friends and family!

The problem with sharing, and shipping it, is that most people who don't brew think "cool, free beer!". They really think that since it's homemade that it's cheap/free. So whether they like it or not, it's still a "free sample" to them so you won't ever get feedback.

I make soap (which is an even more expensive hobby than wine or beer making) and while people will plunk down $5 a bar or more for homemade soap at a Farmer's Market, I don't even get a response when people ask me for samples to try beyond "Thanks" but not another word.

I just stopped giving stuff to people who don't give feedback or at least come back and tell you "thanks again!". It makes my life far easier, that's for sure, as well as cheaper!

 

[Yooper]

I hope I didn't mislead you guys, I don't mean lots of beer or ciders.... I mean like five of us sign up for the swap And we send one beer to our five beer-pals (like pen-pals but different... Lol)

I am a totally poor paycheck to paycheck guy But I think I could **** five individual beers to five individual people: HELL, I'm gonna get 5 cool brews in return anyway

Please see our rules and guidelines for beer swaps in the "sampling and critiquing" area. Thanks.

One or two trading via PMs is fine. anything bigger and you'd have to go through the organized swaps or otherwise get approval. Thanks.

 

[BadgerBrigade]

Ok, sorry about that....

I didn't know, but I'm going to that thread now....

 

[BadgerBrigade]

One or two trading via PMs is fine. anything bigger and you'd have to go through the organized swaps or otherwise get approval. Thanks.

Hi Yooper, I found the "sampling and critiquing" area, but to swap just one or two seems cool but a few more would rock and give us way more variety! Is there any chance I can set up some kind of brew exchange with a total of four people here?
Ed5388 is open to do a trade... If it is okay or if I may seek permission from someone I would like to get 3 more of us to do an exchange....


Is there any way to make this happen?
If it is pseudo against the rules Am I allowed to PM members and talk about the idea?

 

[Yooper]

Hi Yooper, I found the "sampling and critiquing" area, but to swap just one or two seems cool but a few more would rock and give us way more variety! Is there any chance I can set up some kind of brew exchange with a total of four people here?
Ed5388 is open to do a trade... If it is okay or if I may seek permission from someone I would like to get 3 more of us to do an exchange....


Is there any way to make this happen?
If it is pseudo against the rules Am I allowed to PM members and talk about the idea?

You can PM people and discuss it! I'm not able to set up another swap right now, as I'm in the middle of finishing up organizing the biggest one of the year.

 

[Evan_L]

I'm sure part of it is that they know what they are tasting, and that it's good...but they don't speak the language yet. If you went to a foreign country where you didn't speak the native language, and went to someone's home for a meal, how would you convey any of what you are tasting other than nodding and smiling. They might know what they are tasting but don't know how to put it in beer language yet, all they can do is smile, nod, and say "it's good"

 

[neophilus]

Usually I'm trying to keep brewing expenses down. Shipping home brew sounds like a crazy expensive way to share beer. Paying to ship to friends and getting nothing in return, even constructive feedback, sounds really crazy!

I share some homebrew with people I work with. If someone doesn't comment it even mention they drank it they don't get any more. I pass out one four pack at a time to people I think will like the beer only.

 

[RIC0]

OP...... Put me on your free beer list....:rockin:

 

[BadgerBrigade]

You can PM people and discuss it! I'm not able to set up another swap right now, as I'm in the middle of finishing up organizing the biggest one of the year.

So, wait a minute, this is normal? This swapping thing? AWESOME!

As soon as I'm done with my pear/apple cider combination I will definitely want to trade to try other people's.....
If anybody reads this and is interested please PM me

 

[BadgerBrigade]

Paying to ship to friends and getting nothing in return, even constructive feedback, sounds really crazy!
.

Common guys... How much could 3 or 4 beers cost to ship? And if we do a little swap with each other you know the brew people are people who would really appreciate it!! Besides, you will get a brew for every one you send...

 

[unionrdr]

More than you think,not all that cheap. 2 bottles padded,bagged,padded more & boxed cost $11.33 to MI via UPS.

 

[BadgerBrigade]

More than you think,not all that cheap. 2 bottles padded,bagged,padded more & boxed cost $11.33 to MI via UPS.

Ouch! Did know it was that pricey?

Ok, so to ship 4 will be about $22.....
Pricey, but still not bad to share the fruits of our labor with people who would appreciate it...
$22 is still not bad when you think about the fact that we will get 4 in return from all around the US.
Still sound fun (and worth it) to me

 

[ed5388]

Ouch! Did know it was that pricey?

Ok, so to ship 4 will be about $22.....
Pricey, but still not bad to share the fruits of our labor with people who would appreciate it...
$22 is still not bad when you think about the fact that we will get 4 in return from all around the US.
Still sound fun (and worth it) to me

Badger I sent you a PM

 

[unionrdr]

When you get somethin back,yeah. Otherwise,feedback is good.

 

[Marmike600]

I have a similar issue. My two friends came over and helped me brew my first batch (recently) and then came over to help bottle it (this last weekend). Now they want to know how its being divied up. I spent all the money and did all the dry hopping and tending. In the mean time, I have brewed an IPA and some mead (both still going). Am I then supposed to feel inclined to divie'ing up everything?

They havent put any money or anything into this but feel entitled to a "share".

 

[Safa]

I'd tell them that they will get their third of the beer when they pay their third of the cost. If they dont want to pay then they are only entitled to 1/6th of the beer. Friends will understand (unless you drive 2 BMW's, then they will probably think you are just being tight)

I make it clear that my friends can drink my beer when they visit, but I paid for it and I got grey hairs over it so the beer is still mine, no one is entitled to anything!

 

[metanoia]

Sorry to be the guy that didn't read the whole thread, but I at least did a search!

Besides entering competitions (which cost money to enter as well), try and locate a local cicerone. There's a good chance there's one at your local brewery, brew pub, LHBS, home brew club, or beer store! There is one at our local beer and wine store, and her husband is one as well, in addition to being a home brewer himself. I recently asked if it'd be possible to bring in some home brew for tasting analysis, and she said she'd be more than happy to try some.

 

[ed5388]

True

 

[Yooper]

Sorry to be the guy that didn't read the whole thread, but I at least did a search!

Besides entering competitions (which cost money to enter as well), try and locate a local cicerone. There's a good chance there's one at your local brewery, brew pub, LHBS, home brew club, or beer store! There is one at our local beer and wine store, and her husband is one as well, in addition to being a home brewer himself. I recently asked if it'd be possible to bring in some home brew for tasting analysis, and she said she'd be more than happy to try some.

Another good place is to go to a homebrew club meeting. They are very helpful, have beer tastings, and provide great feedback. If you live in a place where there are homebrew clubs, I highly recommend them as a great place to share homebrew. Some clubs have fantastic brewers, and you can learn so much from them.

If you just want feedback, entering a BJCP competition is a good thing to do. You'll get back scoresheets from judges, with helpful tips as well as have a chance to win prizes. I think competitions are good because all of your friends may say, "great beer!" but a BJCP judge will give non-biased feedback and judge according to BJCP guidelines.

Here's the link to upcoming comps: http://www.bjcp.org/apps/comp_schedule/competition_schedule.php

Keep in mind that the competitions are honest, and some people think they can take criticism but it turns out they can't. I've seen quite a few people, in person and here on the forum, get bent out of shape because their beer scored a 25 and they thought it was the best beer in the world.

But if you want honest feedback with tips for improvement, a non-biased judge is the way to go!

(And no, please don't send me beer to judge- I have plenty already!)

 

[kaconga]

I ask a simple question when trying to get feedback. "what didn't you like about it?" Typically this elicits the more appreciated responses. Too sweet/hoppy, undercarbed or overcarbed, odd smells or flavors. I then put these up against the guidelines and see how close I was to style. Usually it works well.

 

[ed5388]

Ouch! Did know it was that pricey?

Ok, so to ship 4 will be about $22.....
Pricey, but still not bad to share the fruits of our labor with people who would appreciate it...
$22 is still not bad when you think about the fact that we will get 4 in return from all around the US.
Still sound fun (and worth it) to me

Hey badger your pm inbox is full. Didn't get the email

 

[Phyrst]

I saw my neighbors sitting in their back yard a few weeks ago so I took them over a sixpack of homebrew. I gave them a raspberry wheat. I know they are BMC drinkers, so I figured it would be a good gateway beer for them into craft brew. They said thanks, but never mentioned if they liked it or dumped it down the drain. I was a bit ticked off and figured that was the last time I was going to share it, but then I was talking about homebrew on facebook and she commented "Bring some over any time!", so I guess all is forgiven now.

 

[johngault007]

I have a similar issue. My two friends came over and helped me brew my first batch (recently) and then came over to help bottle it (this last weekend). Now they want to know how its being divied up. I spent all the money and did all the dry hopping and tending. In the mean time, I have brewed an IPA and some beer (both still going). Am I then supposed to feel inclined to divie'ing up everything?

They havent put any money or anything into this but feel entitled to a "share".

I am sort of a control freak with my process, so I usually let people hang out and learn while I'm brewing, and offer whatever beer I have on tap. Some want to help and I usually only need help cleaning, which doesn't get high participation. But you are right, if they didn't contribute any money to the cost of the batch, equipment, or hard labor that was agreed to be paid in XX number of beers, you don't owe them anything except a smile and a thank you for hanging out and keeping you company.

 

[highgravitybacon]

When I make really ****ty beer, I always pretend like its some really delicious special beer and give it away. I keep all the good beer myself.

 

[ludomonster]

I dew all my brewing at my friend's place with his equipment. I let him take as much as he wants, which usually amounts to 3-4 bottles. He dry hopped my last beer, so he got more beer out of it. I don't have any problem with paying the beer tax. I've also gone halfsies on a batch of cider.

 

[Marmike600]

I dew all my brewing at my friend's place with his equipment. I let him take as much as he wants, which usually amounts to 3-4 bottles. He dry hopped my last beer, so he got more beer out of it. I don't have any problem with paying the beer tax. I've also gone halfsies on a batch of cider.

Yea, that would be different. If they had an interest in making their own beer and just used my equipment, cool. I think they see it as "Mike is making beer. If we go over and lend moral support, we can have free beer". Hell, if they had chipped in on the initial gear expenditures and then came and helped with kits, that would make them more welcome to my beer. My issue is the $300+ worth of gear, $40+ each kit, and then them wanting their handout.

Oh well, Hakuna Matata or in HBT speak RDWHAHB.

 

[ludomonster]

Ask them to bring beer next time you make it.