Beer Trading

You can always find someone who says that a certain way of doing things is the best way to go about whatever it is that needs doing, and I know people who trade beer with people over the internet that say exactly that. They love to fenagle a deal and get surprised if the guy they're trading with sends extra beer for some reason. Personally, I just don't get it.

First of all, you have to have access to beers to which other people don't have easy acces. In Texas, that's pretty difficult. While we get quite a few beers here nowadays, so does everyone else and our local Texas beer isn't in huge demand in other states. There may be the odd west coast beer that we get that someone on the east coast can't, but not too many, and it's a pain in the ass to find something others need, as a general rule. Add to that the fact that shipping costs can be high, and amassing a cellar just for trades sucks when your wife won't even let you amass one with your favorites to drink.

But unfortunately for some folks, beer cannot be legally shipped to you. That's what you get for living in a state where religion drives liquor laws, I guess, and unless you travel frequently just about the only way to get many of those hard to find beers is to trade. While it's not "legal" without a shipper's license even to states with reciprocal trading agreements, and definitely not legal to states with no shipping agreements, there are many folks who join any one of various websites that collect information related to all things beer and trade with folks around the country. Trades are usually for hard to find beers, such as exotic Belgians or limited release craft beers, or for locals--beers that aren't necessarily limited, but aren't widely or nationally distributed either. If you find yourself trading, never-ever-ever use the United States Postal Service. They WILL fine and/or prosecute you if they find out, and I don't know anyone who is confident enough in their packing skills to take the chance. Even FedEx and UPS have policies against shipping alcohol, so tell them you're shipping food, or water samples, or glassware if they ask. And don't worry about insurance, because what you're doing violates shipping policy and they won't replace it. They will drink it though. Rarely will a package make its way back to you if they find out what's in it, although I hear stories of supervisors that are pretty cool and will let the package either come back to you if it's still in town or complete the trip if it's close to its destination. Some folks require the signature of someone over 21, some don't. Regardless, try to do everything you can to make sure you're not trading with some kid on the other end, or their parents may get cross ways with you.

All in all, if you can get beer shipped from a store, I recommend you do it that way instead. You don't have to just-so happen to have what someone is looking for, haggle out a deal, pack it, and go send it. All you have to do is click on a few things, and it gets sent right to you. You can often buy it online cheaper than you can at the store (and can usually buy singles instead of a full four or six pack, adding even more to your savings), and shipping is cheaper than trading too. Still, trading can be the only way to get some limited releases, but for locals it's hard to beat a quick internet search for stores near the brewery you're looking for that will ship to you.

Besides, you never know what the jackass on the other end of the trade is doing, and if he doesn't send you're pretty much screwed. So, trade, if you must, but avoid doing so, if you can.