Community brew

[Tweek]

How about a community brew.

It could go something like this. We all agree on a style and everyone brews that within a week or two of eachother. Once everyone has gone to bottle we send each other bottles.

We could even go another step further where we agree on a recipe and then see how everyones styles make the beer taste diferent.

I know there are shipping laws that may make this difficult but they seem to be able to pull it off in the swap portion of this board. I am sure some of them could help us with any questions we may have.

Let me know if there is any interest in this. If so we could work towards setting this up.

Cheers

[danno]

I'm in, but we'll have to agree on a style that can be done in all grain or extract... I'm in for the extract version if we're going to start this soon, as I'm not quite ready to start all grain yet... (too much other stuff going on to devote a full Saturday...)

[quantum24]

sounds like a great idea! and id certainly like to try an extract vs. all grain version of the same beer; seeing that i am thinking of getting into all grain soon. keep us posted

[Tweek]

ok it would be easy enough to make the recipe for grain or extract depending on preference.

You think it would be better to have a recipe that everyone brews or just pick a style and let everyone get there own. I think as it would be fun to taste everyones in a free for all type but it would probabally be more interesting to have everyone work off of the same recipe.

[mountain beer]

I'm in---I am also more for an extract brew---

keep me posted

mountain

[paul84043]

I think it would be interesting to do both methods Tweek, (Specific recipe versus just the style) just pick one for the first batch, then we'll do the other the next time.

I pretty much have to stick to extract kits with steeping grains, but so far I have had fantastic results with this method.

As for shipping, as long as you pack it good and don't tell them what it is, I will be fine. Utah's laws are weird, I know that I can't buy beer over 3.2% in Utah except at a liquor store, but if I'm not buying it.....then as far as I'm concerned, it's okay.

This is an awesome idea Tweek....I'm game!

Should we vote on the first style?

[iowabrewer]

I'm in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's a great idea. I'm an extract brewer, so we will need both recipies. We could do this 2 fold, make a summer beer and one that we can lay down until the new year. 2 brews at the same time. IPA and Barleywine perhaps. Let's start throwing some recipies around. I'm pumped.

[iowabrewer]

BTW, i'm suprised that we haven't heard from Tony on this one yet! LOL

[paul84043]

I have a barleywine on order from St Pats right now, it should be here by the 15th.

[toneyc]

It sounds like a great idea, but I'm sorta hesitant... I don't really mind bottling a batch for a good cause, but I'm a little unclear on the trading part. Mailing out 50 bottles at (at least) $4 each might be a bit much and might cause some suspicion at the Post Office. The last thing I want to see out at the house is a bunch of BATF agents. I hope this doesn't come across too grouchy, I'm just a little concerned, is all.

:) Toney.

[iowabrewer]

Paul,
Is you local shop called St Pat's or is that something else?

TonyC,
Your concerns are noted. It could get to be a logistical nightmare for all to try everyone's brew. I think we should just do it like a "Big Brew". Let's just get a couple of recipies and make them all on the same day, or weekend, or something like that. We could then trade with members on an individual basis.

Any thoughts?????????????????????

[Tweek]

yeah, I had thought about the shipping issue. I really dont expect more than ten or so takers on this though so I dont think it will be too big of an issue. I figure we just send a couple (meaning prob 2) bottles to each person who particapates. I havent really done any shipping cost calculations, hopefully the cost of shipping 2 bottles 10-15 diferent locations is not to cost prohibitive to do something like this. Any one know what the approximate cost of say ground shipping 2 bottles across the states would be?

edit- another thought is that once we know who is participating we could just have a lottery to see who trades with who. Though if there is a way to trade with everyone that would be cool.

Also, absolutely we should vote on a style. I could make a recipe if you like or we could follow a recipe someone already has. My thought on this is only to keep it simple. that way people who are on there second batch can participate without feeling intimidated. I think perhaps and a simple English style ale could be a good choice. Something not too heavy on the hop or malt side but a good balance that will meet everyones palate half way.

[S.F.B.]

Wonderful idea. I love the thought of sampling the same recipe done by different people. Everyones style would definitely have an impact on the individual brews. My only problem would be the cost of shipping. I have shipped some beer in the past and it gets a bit pricey. I think it was 2 bottles for around $10 UPS ground service. This was a few years back. The guys who ship more often probably have a better grasp of the $$.

I can't do it now. I am cutting my hours at work for the summer and don't have the extra cash. I could possibly participate next fall or winter.

[Tweek]

hmm 10 bucks a pop is rather pricey. That may price most people out including myself depending on how many want to participate. I am currently going back to school to get my degree and it will be a while before I can justyify 100+ dollars in shipping costs to the wife. Anyone have any recent estimates on how much this could cost? perhaps it has gone down due to the economy?

[batkins]

I have recently shipped a package of 10 12oz bottles. The price was about $14.

[S.F.B.]

There is another way to pull this off. Get brewers in the same area to brew and exchange with each other. For example, batkins and I are in the same metro area. If there are any others, we could all get together and do the exchange in person. That might be a way to get this started.

[paul84043]

I just read some of the info available on the Beer Trading section of this forum, they actually single out a letter from Utah where an agent intercepted a shipment of beer to a resident and had to confiscate it. Naturally I'm sure in the interests of state security and to maintain the sanctity and holiness of this great land of ours, I'll bet that he disposed of every one of them personally...

I guess it's illegal in Utah to ship beer at all in or out of the state, and most shippers knowing what it is will not allow you to ship it. It is also illegal to ship alcohol USPS.
I wonder if I could mail a bottle of beer to myself and pretend that I lived in a real state instead of a very large church?

So basically use UPS, package very well and watertight, and don't tell them what it is.

I would have to agree with the option of only shipping to a couple of people instead of everyone involved...it would cut down the price and the trips to the Post office dramatically.

As far as trading with other local brewers here...I think they were all burned at the stake a few weekends ago...

[Redbird Fan]

Perhaps you guys could get together to exchange the selected brew style at the great American beer fest (in Colorado)?? That would give everyone a chance to brew it and age it -

I would like to get in on this too, but I think the logistics of trading is going to be tough -

I think selecting a brew style is a great idea (making it possible for partial grain and all grain brewers to get in)

I'll start a poll on this forum titled Brew Exchange - we can get an idea of what style people would want to brew for comparison.

[Tweek]

Ok here is what I found out for me and anyone else in California.

We can ship to these places using these shipping companies legally


UPS:
California
Colorado
Idaho
Nebraska
New Mexico
Oregon
Washington

FED EX:
Alabama*
Alaska
Hawaii*
Illinois
Minnesota
Missouri
Nevada
Ohio*
Pennsylvania*
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming*

DHL:
Vermont*
DC*


The ones with stars have some funky rules but as long as I am not getting money for it it shouldnt be an issue.

[danno]

As long as you either take it to a MBE (oops, now called UPS Store), or can ship from a regular, known shipper, you shouldn't have any problems at all. You will get a lot less questions than if you walk up to the counter at UPS or FedEx ground. If you don't have any other options, and get asked about the contents, simply put down "yeast sample"....

I have a proposition, each brewer ship to only two recipients, (provided we have multiples of three participants), so each person can sample three beers, their own and two others. This would cut down on shipping costs, and if we like this, we can do it again...

[mic]

I will definitely brew along with everyone. I am also not sure about shipping laws. I can not even buy beer in a grocery store or 7-11 in PA so I feel shipping and receiving beer may be tricky. I will do what I can to get past it, but I am in for the community brew.

[hnrblbrbrn]

The idea of exchanging in person sounds good, it also a chance to meet other brewers in the area. I wonder if it would also allow a break at local brewpubs?

[b3s]

interesting idea and i'm all for it, although my current situation wouldn't really let me ship a lot of packages right now :(

another interesting idea would be to brew at the same time while on #beer on IRC.

btw, since summer is coming...how about a wheat? i think settling on a style would be cooler than everyone doing the same recipe...just my $2*E-02 USD.

[tomnt1]

I would like to be in on this...tho I am just a beginner. I would like to taste some of ya'lls beer. Let me know which recipe(s) you decide on and a time table....

[Fast_Eddy]

Me too...I'd like to do this.

[YamahaXS]

I would be happy to meet some of you guys that are in Wisconsin, but I am not sending any bottles out b/c all my bottles are ez caps!

[toneyc]

And I wouldn't mind meeting up with any of you near Austin, Texas.

:) Toney.

[paul84043]

Toney,
Kind of off the subject, but I have been talkig with St Pats a few times in the past little whine, I am beginning to see your point, they treat you like you're an idiot. I don't think I'll be doing any more business with them. I am going to try Austin homebrew next.

Yamaha....I'd send your EZ Cap bottles back.....i promise....:D

[Fast_Eddy]

Kicking this back up to the top out of morbid curiosity.

Did this work out for anybody? The guy (Tomnt1) that I was supposed to trade with disappeared without at trace.

BTW, WTF happened to Tweek?

[toneyc]

Tweek has had his head in the BioChem textbooks lately. School has occupied most of his time. And he left yesterday for a week-long hiking trip in Oregon.

:)
Toney.

[Fast_Eddy]

Summer session sucks.

Is Tweek at UT?

[toneyc]

No, he's out in San Francisco, I dunno which school.

:)
Toney.