tip jar?

[megaschnauzer]

is it a bad form to have a tip jar next to the keg? granted home brew is not that expensive but i usually end up sharing my beer. if i give away half my beer, then it's not that cheap anymore.

[steveh]

My buddy does it -- whether for his home-brew or the commercial on his kegerator, and I'm happy to contribute.

S.

[Mill Rat]

I figure that even if I didn't brew, I'd be giving away half of my bottled brew. No real difference there. But with the time involved, I could see asking for some assistance in covering the costs. Or maybe list put a clipboard on the kgrtr listing the days you are planning to brew with blanks for assistant brewers (AKA gofers) to sign up. You might get some help, or you might start some buddy down the path toward perdition, and then you could go to your buddy's house and drink his brews.

[Mad Scientist]

I agree that contributions are justified, but most of my consumers are homebrewrs, so for me, it balances out.

[S.F.B.]

I have thought about this also. I decided not to for the simple reason that my friends usually do all the food for our get togethers and I do the beer. My friends are near pro chef quality when they cook and are always competing so the food is excellent.

[dparsons]

is it a bad form to have a tip jar next to the keg?

I think its fine as long as your not obnoxious about it. If you really want everybody to contribute it may be better to do it up front rather than make an issue of it during a celebration.

[megaschnauzer]

it might not be a bad idea to throw my own dollar in the till whenever i get a beer. it might shed some light on how much i drink.;)

[DubbelDach]

I give a lot of my stuff away too, and while it's illegal to sell it, I would never refuse a "charitable donation". Most of my friends are good people and happy to get a few bottles and always slip me a buck or two. If I get $1/bottle and give away half my yield (1 case) then I made back the price of a batch usually.

[steveh]

it might not be a bad idea to throw my own dollar in the till

Oh yeah, my friend "stokes the fire" as a prompt.

S.

[chazwicke]

Hmmm.... If I was at a friend’s house and he offered me a brew from his kegerator I'd not expect to have to leave a tip. Fact is I often bring beer to gatherings to share and leave any leftovers for the host. I understand the expense of home brewing but if you have invited folks over they should not have to pay. It just seems a little bit rude. I know it's voluntary but if there is a big tip jar front and center then it is implied that donations are expected. If you must have a tip jar don't place it on the bar. Put it somewhere in the background. I've never asked for donations or payment for any of my brews I serve be it from the kegerator or paint store purchased bottles. And I've had lots of guests at the beach place. Even neighbors would sometimes stop by for a glass fill. I just viewed it as being neighborly or good hospitality. I’m not trying to be mean but it seems a little bit petty.

[steveh]

Hmmm.... If I was at a friend’s house and he offered me a brew from his kegerator I'd not expect to have to leave a tip. Fact is I often bring beer to gatherings to share and leave any leftovers for the host.

I do the same with my friend, but he'll often have poker parties where a good dent is made in his keg -- often by others who bring little or nothing as "trade."

And it's not like he's asking for $4 a glass either, just a little something in recognition that you're getting some good stuff on tap.

S.

[nelstrodomus]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with a tip jar by the keg, especially if your always throwing the party. Brewing beer requires a huge investment of time and energy, and even though it's a hobby there's a lot of work involved, as the best hobbies should require.

Having a donation jar by the keg wouldn't be looked down upon by me, as I've always given more than I need to, but I just appreciate good beer more then the average bud swiller. On that note, I had a guy proclaim to me last night that there is "no other beer better than budweiser". I almost vomited following that statement and his ludicrous amount of Budweiser memorabilia in his garage. Sorry for the jack.

[darylM]

I think it depends on the gatherings you have.

If you normally have friends that casually and often come over to hang out, then a jar next to the keg with no pressure to fill it would be fine for me. However, this could create a sense of ownership with the beer. They may start asking for certain ones because they are "priming the pump" so to speak. On special occations and planned parties I would put the jar away.

[Theakston]

I've never asked for donations or payment for any of my brews I serve be it from the kegerator or paint store purchased bottles. And I've had lots of guests at the beach place. Even neighbors would sometimes stop by for a glass fill. I just viewed it as being neighborly or good hospitality. I’m not trying to be mean but it seems a little bit petty.

Hmmm....do you fill growlers? I'll be right over;)

[MrNate]

It all depends on your friends, financial situation, and personality. With my friends, the house pays and we rotate houses. Seems to work out fine, but if I had friends who only came over to my house and never offered anything in return I think I would try to get them involved more in the brewing and splitting costs.

[megaschnauzer]

usually when we have a gathering people bring there own beer and they usually leave their leftovers. i doubt i'll put out a tip jar but it just got me thinking. the reason for asking was if i want to be a better brewer in need to brew more beer. i can't possibly drink that much so i need to have people over to help me consume it. it seemed reasonable to have a tip jar to help with the ingredients for the next batch. maybe while i still suck at it i should just be happy if i can even get anyone to drink it.

[Mad Scientist]

usually when we have a gathering people bring there own beer and they usually leave their leftovers. i doubt i'll put out a tip jar but it just got me thinking. the reason for asking was if i want to be a better brewer in need to brew more beer. i can't possibly drink that much so i need to have people over to help me consume it. it seemed reasonable to have a tip jar to help with the ingredients for the next batch. maybe while i still suck at it i should just be happy if i can even get anyone to drink it.

On that basis, people should understand that they are helping to pay for...I know that if it ere me drinking your beer (say, what are you doing tomorrow?) I'd be happy to help.

[Mill Rat]

The idea that a guest should regard homebrew as anything less than a host's stock of commercial brew, either bottled or kegged, is ludicrous. If anything, the homebrew should be regarded as a more valuable commodity. If you as a party host, whether you have commercial or homebrewed beer, feel that your regular guests are taking advantage of your hospitality, you need to do something to even the accounts. I never recall my friends trying to be anything but more than generous in what they brought to my parties, and I returned the favor when I went to their parties. If your guests are miserly, maybe you need to make new friends. Also consider how generous you are at their parties, too.

[dparsons]

Hmmm.... If I was at a friend’s house and he offered me a brew from his kegerator I'd not expect to have to leave a tip. Fact is I often bring beer to gatherings to share and leave any leftovers for the host. I understand the expense of home brewing but if you have invited folks over they should not have to pay. It just seems a little bit rude. I know it's voluntary but if there is a big tip jar front and center then it is implied that donations are expected. If you must have a tip jar don't place it on the bar. Put it somewhere in the background. I've never asked for donations or payment for any of my brews I serve be it from the kegerator or paint store purchased bottles. And I've had lots of guests at the beach place. Even neighbors would sometimes stop by for a glass fill. I just viewed it as being neighborly or good hospitality. I’m not trying to be mean but it seems a little bit petty.

I agree and notice a difference in acceptable practice depending on income level and frequency. For brewers where the outlay for a batch of beer is significant, and whose friends want to drink their beer regularly, its appropriate to ask for a little help. For those whose circle of friends are more comfortable, or who trade off hosting, it may come across as being cheap or insulting to ask for $ to cover the beer.

For me the limiting factor is the time represented by the beer. I like to brew more than I will drink, enjoying the creativity and improving my brewing ability, so I like to give a fair amount away. I just don't want to give so much away that I can't keep myself in good homebrew.

I don't keep a tip jar ever. I have had our office administrator give me money to cover the cost of the "donations" I was making to our Friday afternoon celebrations.

[Mad Scientist]

For those whose circle of friends are more comfortable, or who trade off hosting, it may come across as being cheap or insulting to ask for $ to cover the beer.


I fall into this category....

Very well said parsons