The Great THFB Beer Swap
Categories: Beer Trading, Featured, beer holidays
Written By: THFBeer_nate
JOIN US FOR THE FIRST EVER THANK HEAVEN FOR BEER, BEER SWAP!
Recently we enlisted the help of a veteran beer trader, Howard, in educating readers on the ins-and-outs of beer trading. After a fantastic five part series, we thought it fitting to host our own first annual (or semi-annual) Thank Heaven for Beer swap. In actuality, this is not going to be a typical beer swap in which participants will compare beers they are stocked up on and make decisive trades; rather, it will be a Secret Santa event.
Basically all those who decide to participate in the event will sign up (click HERE or on the picture on our home page). Upon signing up for the event, your name will be put in a pot. Through random drawing, your name will be paired with another participant. You will send a beer or two to whomever you are paired with and vice versa. This is no different from the secret santa shindigs you participated in during grade school or at the office last December. Of course, you will not know who had you until you get your secret brew in the mail.
We felt doing a secret Santa type beer exchange would be better for our purposes than a typical got/wants trade for a few reasons. First, not everyone who subscribes or follows this blog has an account with a site that accommodates beer trading, and we don’t quite have the resources yet to adequately set it up on the site. Second, the mystery of not knowing what is arriving in the mail is fun. Third, it offers a great opportunity for first time traders to learn the ropes of beer swapping.
A few rules and disclaimers:
1) Don’t send home brew as your secret brew. It can be sent to accompany a your gift, but cannot be the gift alone.
2) Don’t send crap. I, for one, will not be excited if I receive a lone bottle of Mickey’s in the mail.
3) While the principal of BIF (beer it forward) is the way to go, try not to be extremely upset if you get a slightly less fantastic brew than you sent (although we are hoping everyone is satisfied).
4) Sending more than one beer is acceptable, but keep #3 in mind.
5) While you can technically send any brew, try for something unique: Locally specific, limited release beer, or even something that has been cellared for a few years.
Beer Trading Neophyte?
Try Howard’s series to get a grip on what’s to come:
The Suds Swap Meet (1 of 5)
Beer Value and Ettiquette (2 of 5)
Packing, Shipping, and Wrapping Up (5 of 5)
Basically, we really just want to take our blog to a higher level and create a little community interaction beyond the comment boxes. We hope more than a few sign up, and are anxious to see what every (and ourselves!) are able to enjoy as a result.
CLICK TO SIGN UP!!!
SIGN-UP DEADLINE IS JULY 25, 2009!
June 30th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
I’m in! I got two old cans of Schlitz just waiting to go! j/k!!!!
[Reply]
June 30th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
Sounds like agreat idea… although airmail a couple of bottles from the UK to the US will cost more than twenty dollars… but if someone’s interested in swapping to the UK then I’m in… and at the risk of dropping an unsubtle hint I’d LOVE a bottle of the Bourbon Stout!
[Reply]
July 1st, 2009 at 12:47 am
And I’d love to do this too…but having posted some heavy stuff to the US recently, this could get really expensive.
I’ll just have to settle for enjoying reading about the swaps as I enjoy a Cascade, or James Squire, or Five Islands…or…so many options!
[Reply]
July 1st, 2009 at 3:32 am
[...] by admin on June 30, 2009 Third, it offers a great opportunity for first time traders to learn the ropes of beer swapping. A few rules and disclaimers: 1) Don’t send home brew as your secret brew . It can be sent to accompany a your gift, but cannot be the gift … Go here to read the rest: The Great THFB Beer Swap | Thank Heaven for Beer [...]
July 1st, 2009 at 4:53 am
Cool idea guys. I may have to do this.
[Reply]
July 1st, 2009 at 4:56 am
Might be willing to participate.
[Reply]
July 1st, 2009 at 5:05 am
@Dave and bob the Brit…
I actually considered the distance for you guys when I sent out the email last night…If you’re up for paying the shipping to the US, I’ll work something out so over on this end.
@ Dave and Jeff…please do!
[Reply]
July 1st, 2009 at 5:26 am
I’m up for this. Count me in.
[Reply]
July 1st, 2009 at 8:14 am
Awesome! Glad you’re in!
[Reply]
July 1st, 2009 at 3:48 pm
I’m in, too.
[Reply]
July 1st, 2009 at 3:49 pm
By the way, I think I can work something on on the Bourbon County Stout. I’m warning you that it will probably be a few months before anything can happen. I just moved to Cali and I’ll have to get some when I go to my home state.
[Reply]
July 3rd, 2009 at 9:20 am
Someone want Bourbon County? I can get it. Would welcome some Stone 13th anniversaries in exchange…
[Reply]
July 3rd, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Jeff,
Thanks for stopping by. As Nate indicated in the post, this is actually going to be a “secret santa” type exchange. So, there is no telling what those involved will get and from whom. However, Bob the Brit may be interested in a side bargain apart from the swap, you’d have to ask him. However, I doubt that Stone 13th is something he’ll seem much of (if any).
[Reply]
July 3rd, 2009 at 8:53 pm
I think that Scott at The Brewclub and I will arrange a side swap, but I’m happy to go with a ‘Secret Santa’ on top of that.
[Reply]