When is it ok to ask people to chip in for ingredients?

[ajbram]

So before Xmas, I brewed a batch of Molasses Porter that amounted to 54 bottles. I had probably 8 before relatives arrived, and gave away 6 to a co-worker who came over to learn about brewing and helped me out on Brew Day. That left 40 bottles. Over the course of 3 days bracketing Xmas, those 40 bottles disappeared, primarily into the bellies of 2 members of my wife's family. I think I may have had 8. Here in Canada, a case of craft beer costs upwards of $45 and I had made the mistake of mentioning that I had basically made 2+ cases of what amounts to craft beer for $30. I think the wife's fam took this to mean that it was open season on my beer, as it was cheap enough to drink it like clearance priced BMC.

While I am thrilled that people enjoyed my creation, and it did provide me with an excuse to brew another batch of porter sooner than I would have, this pissed me off a bit. Here's why:
1. I have only started brewing on a regular basis and this completely wiped out my supply of beer. I was left with none.
2. While home brewing is cost-effective, the price doesn't reflect the quality of the product. For me to re-stock with something of equal quality to what I produced would either take me a month of crafting a new batch or about $100 at the beer store.
3. The monetary price is just the ingredients. It doesn't show the thought that went into developing the recipe, the hard work and heavy lifting of brew day, and the patience to bottle condition to perfection.

In contrast to the in-laws, my colleague who came and brewed with me was thrilled to receive his 6 pack. He drank 2 that night, and is planning on drinking the others after 1 month and 6 months. He saw what went into the bottle beyond the ingredients and has offered to pay for the next batch of ingredients, provided he gets half the finished beer. I would never dream of taking money from someone like that. I'm more than happy to give him some brews, and if he wants to get into it, then we can split the costs and the batches.

But in the case of the in-laws, is it appropriate to suggest that if they intend on cleaning me out of brews every holiday that they at least pay for the ingredients for a new batch?


Ok I'm done ranting now...:rockin:

 

[DeutscheMaster]

What did we learn? Never tell your inlaws you have good beer. Always have some BMC on hand to give them, save the good stuff for yourself.

 

[osagedr]

There should be no expectation of cash for the beer or ingredient purchases from your in-laws. Why did you let them drink 40 bottles of your homebrew in three days? Lips stopped working and you couldn't say "Sorry, I want to hang onto a few dozen to age."?

It's kind of a common pattern with homebrewers...you start making beer and want people to think it's good to validate the time and money you spend on your hobby...then when someone thinks our beer is good enough (free beer is good anyway) and cleans us out, we get upset.

So next time, only give away as much as you can do without. If your inlaws ask where the free beer is, tell them your stock is low and it takes time to get a pipleline going so you can only spare a few bottles. Or ask for a sack of two-row for Christmas next year; maybe they'll get the hint. I'd leave out any discussion of all the thinking, hard work and heavy lifting--it's like complaining that golf has a lot of walking and swinging.

 

[Kahler]

My favorite line is: "i only have 6 of 'these' left. The rest is still conditioning and wont be ready for a month."

 

[Airborneguy]

Why didn't you stop them? I'm really bad. All of my beer (bottled or kegged), is in a certain room in my house. No one besides my wife and I are allowed in that room. The second I get the feeling that someone is about to cross over into taking advantage territory, they're done, no exceptions.

That said, I don't think I would ask them for ingredients. I would just cut them off for good.

 

[kh54s10]

I think the loss to the in-laws is just that, a loss. Next time just put a few in the fridge for them and hoard the rest.

Take up your friend on his offer. Have him pay for half and take half. But upscale and brew 2 batches. He would also have to help. All the way including cleanup and bottling.

Asking for ingredients for Christmas sounds like a good idea.

 

[kttx740]

I have wrestled with the same thing and the only solution I came up with was to put a coffee can on top of my frig with a note with "homebrewing donations accepted" on it. But when it comes to family (esspecially in-laws) all bets are off.

 

[ajbram]

Why did you let them drink 40 bottles of your homebrew in three days?

I didn't... wife did

Or ask for a sack of two-row for Christmas next year;

Tried this for their secret santa thing... got a ****ty board game and a garage-sale telescope instead

I think my best solutions will be to either have them over for a brew day or just tell them i quit brewing and keep a case of Lucky Lager on hand for them.

 

[Firebat138]

it is the never ending battle that frankly I have become comfortable with. I enjoy brewing and therefore brew WAY TOO MUCH for me to drink. It is really only a buddy and me that are brewing... We have a couple of friends that have bought kits and we have brewed them and they have stayed at our, oops, I mean my friends bar. We keg only, so the only way to get our beer is to drink pints with us, or take home a growler...
We have come up with a sort of "token" type thing or credit system... If you want some of our beer in volume... no problem... We have tons of things we need to buy for our brewing pleasure... Hops, grains, equipment, etc... a friend of ours just chipped in on our hop group buy... We split a $250 order roughly, so he gets 80 bucks in our homebrew club credits... Just a fun way to have people chip in and make fun of the ones who dont.

 

[Darwin18]

I think your wife should be buying you the ingredients for your next batch, since she volunteered your beer to the in-laws.

 

[kttx740]

I think your wife should be buying you the ingredients for your next batch, since she volunteered your beer to the in-laws.

winner!

 

[osagedr]

I didn't... wife did

Ah, that explains it.

Might be time to sit her down for a heart-to-heart discussion. See if you can work in an explanation of where the expression "rule of thumb" comes from.

She's quite the crafty gal, being able to give away 40 bottles of your beer without you noticing.

 

[asidrane]

I think your wife should be buying you the ingredients for your next batch, since she volunteered your beer to the in-laws.

I would make her brew the batch too.

 

[Misplaced_Canuck]

I would make her brew the batch too.

Heck ya. And you can supervise, beer in hand.

MC

 

[Homercidal]

It's time to cut her off.




And no beer for her either!

 

[Ceetar]

Ah, that explains it.

Might be time to sit her down for a heart-to-heart discussion. See if you can work in an explanation of where the expression "rule of thumb" comes from.

She's quite the crafty gal, being able to give away 40 bottles of your beer without you noticing.

in sickness and in heal..

doesn't mention giving away your homebrew.

I don't have this problem. One of the more beer-drinking in-law lamented on Facebook yesterday that budweiser fell out of the top spot for most consumed beer.

 

[Andrewtherooster]

If you want people who drink your beer to pitch in for ingredients, they should go into it with that understanding. It sounds like your wife told them they could have them? Next time do a better job of hiding them, or let your wife know you want to save some.

 

[Benzene]

I have inlaws that we have to hide the good booze from whenever they come over. We just keep the average stuff out as they'll down a $100 bottle of 20 year old bourbon like it's water and not think anything of it. So they get Old Granddad and Sam Adams when they're around (nothing against SA, it's still one of my standards.).

 

[ajbram]

Ah, that explains it.

Might be time to sit her down for a heart-to-heart discussion. See if you can work in an explanation of where the expression "rule of thumb" comes from.

She's quite the crafty gal, being able to give away 40 bottles of your beer without you noticing.

I think the lion's share of the damage was done when people discovered that the beer tasted even better at basement temperature and started wandering into the basement brewing area while I was in the kitchen doing the chef thing. In my wife's defense, she pointed out where the beer was kept and said "help yourself." I don't think either of us realized the rate of consumption was as high as it was, especially when people thought they were being considerate by taking their empties back to the basement and rinsing them. No big stack of empties piling up usually means not much beer being consumed where I come from.

 

[ajbram]

I think your wife should be buying you the ingredients for your next batch, since she volunteered your beer to the in-laws.

I appreciate the sentiment, but doesn't that just amount to me buying the ingredients?

 

[kpr121]

I really like the idea of the brewery tokens, but I think I am going to adapt on it a little bit!

Im thinking of having a chalkboard or dry-erase board in my downstairs bar with a list of items that our 'brewery' wants, and people can pledge a donation towards whichever they want and feel would increase our brewery's production or quality. Keep a running tally until there is enough funds to cover the next purchased.

Something like:

Sack of two-row ($50) - $5-Joe, $8-Steve
Brew kettle for 20 gallons batches ($100) - $20-Joe
Bulk Hops for Haus IPA ($25 dollars for 2 lbs of hops) - $3-Mike

 

[buffalobrewer]

I have to brew more, your family is coming over.....

I actually grew up across the river from Cornwall.

 

[bja]

Unbelievable post.

Quit wining and just buy them BMC next time.

 

[ajbram]

I have to brew more, your family is coming over.....

I actually grew up across the river from Cornwall.

Interesting... I actually grew up across the river from Buffalo

Unbelievable post.

Quit wining and just buy them BMC next time.

I'm neither wining nor whining. Why would I buy something that I won't drink?

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

i have to add my $.02 here.
first and foremost, isn't it flattering that your beer was that well received? i'd take it as a compliment.
second, if i get this right, you had less than a full batch in the pipeline? over the holidays? and you're surprised that the pipeline's empty after the holidays? i know that a batch of good beer can go very quickly, especially when entertaining guests around a holiday that tends to see some serious drinking.
third, i think it's silly to expect someone else to support your hobby simply because you gave them some of your beer, or ALL of your beer for that matter.
lastly, i'd never expect friends and family to chip in for ingredients just because i like to give them some of my beer. in fact, giving some of my beer to the people i care for (i know, i know, inlaws.... but ya gotta) is one of the things i like about brewing. sure i've had a buddy who'll split the cost of ingredients from time to time; we'll brew together, i ferment the batch, we'll bottle it a few weeks later while drinking my homebrew and he'll go home with half the batch. but i'd never expect him to pay me for all the times i send him home with a 6 pack or a bomber of my latest brew. i do that because he's my friend, he likes beer, and i like to brew beer. it's just nice to get the feedback from an outside source.
i'd say your issue is with under preparedness. one brew in the pipeline won't last me and my wife through the holidays (or any other 2 week period). and if i only had one beer in the pipeline, i'd prepare and make sure that at least half that batch was off limits.
sorry, that was more like $2, not $.02. but i don't think it's right to be upset over this.

 

[asidrane]

i have to add my $.02 here.
first and foremost, isn't it flattering that your beer was that well received? i'd take it as a compliment.
second, if i get this right, you had less than a full batch in the pipeline? over the holidays? and you're surprised that the pipeline's empty after the holidays? i know that a batch of good beer can go very quickly, especially when entertaining guests around a holiday that tends to see some serious drinking.
third, i think it's silly to expect someone else to support your hobby simply because you gave them some of your beer, or ALL of your beer for that matter.
lastly, i'd never expect friends and family to chip in for ingredients just because i like to give them some of my beer. in fact, giving some of my beer to the people i care for (i know, i know, inlaws.... but ya gotta) is one of the things i like about brewing. sure i've had a buddy who'll split the cost of ingredients from time to time; we'll brew together, i ferment the batch, we'll bottle it a few weeks later while drinking my homebrew and he'll go home with half the batch. but i'd never expect him to pay me for all the times i send him home with a 6 pack or a bomber of my latest brew. i do that because he's my friend, he likes beer, and i like to brew beer. it's just nice to get the feedback from an outside source.
i'd say your issue is with under preparedness. one brew in the pipeline won't last me and my wife through the holidays (or any other 2 week period). and if i only had one beer in the pipeline, i'd prepare and make sure that at least half that batch was off limits.
sorry, that was more like $2, not $.02. but i don't think it's right to be upset over this.

I think the issue is more that he feels that the beer was taken as opposed to given away. There's nothing you can do about people who are content to receive but aren't interested in giving.

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

I think the issue is more that he feels that the beer was taken as opposed to given away. There's nothing you can do about people who are content to receive but aren't interested in giving.

that would just be silly. if the OP didn't want all the brew to be drank, a simple statement to that fact should have left him with some beer. i think the lack of preparedness and the unwillingness to speak up has left the OP a bit salty, probably more with himself than others when it comes right down to it. it's just easier to point the finger at ones wife or in laws than to say to yourself 'well, guess i shoulda planned ahead'. it's also easier to say, after the fact that it's so and so's fault instead of simply informing so and so that you didn't want all of your homebrew drunk over the 3 day visit in the first place. it's sort of passive/aggressive (not to mention pointless) to gripe about it to HBT when it would've been very easy to prevent the happenings of which the gripe is about.

 

[lowtones84]

I have to say I would be upset too. Although the "help yourself" line was given, I believe that any thoughtful, considerate person would at least -ask- if it were alright to have more if they saw the supply dwindling. But I'll agree it's still not right to ask people for money for ingredients, you just have to be more careful about how you distribute them. If your friend is willing to chip in for ingredients and help you brew though, that sounds like a great plan.

I like to give some of mine away to family and share with my friends when we're hanging out. At least one friend is pretty much always around on brew day or bottling day. Even then, sometimes when we're out at a bar or whatever they'll buy me a drink for sharing my tasty brew.

Hope you solve the dilemma one way or the other!

 

[broadbill]

I think the issue is more that he feels that the beer was taken as opposed to given away. There's nothing you can do about people who are content to receive but aren't interested in giving.

His wife said "help yourself"...that is giving it away...and why should they be interested in "giving" back in the first place? If you are invited over to friends/family's house for dinner and you have an extra helping of food, are you expected to pitch in for groceries because of it?

I dunno, if I'm having people over at your house for dinner, then the food/booze, etc. is on me. Asking people to "throw in" for taking part seems tacky to me, no matter how much they drink/eat/etc.

 

[theveganbrewer]

I always brew a 'cheap' beer for when I have people coming over. Not a bad beer by any means, but one that doesn't require a ton of expensive hops and hard to find grains or one that takes months to age. During the holidays I had 2 cheap beers going and I emptied both on NYE.

I have no problem telling them that they can drink as much as they want from that keg but I make sure, front the get go, that the other taps are always, regardless of age, in need of more conditioning and only available for sampling. I have sampling glasses which serve this purpose well. It's a fun atmosphere, doing tastings and comparing beers, plus my great beers are preserved through the holidays.

Now that family and friends know about this, they have bought their own sampling glasses and deposited them at my house. I have a large collection of them and regular bar glasses too.