Beer Trades?

[John Sand]

Any experience here? I answered a post on HBT to trade Southampton Saison for Pliny. He wanted two bottles of saison, or DFH120 plus something, for four bottles of Pliny. The Pliny is hard to get, and costs $6.50@. The saison is strictly local, $12@. After some discussion, he's asking for 2 saison, 1 dfh120 ($13), and a Six Point Hi Res ($4) for four Plinys. I don't need to go dollar for dollar, but that seems like a lot to me. Is Pliny that hard to get, and that desirable? With tax and deposit, I'm in about $45. Shipping will raise it to $60. I don't think I've ever paid $15 a beer. My inclination is to counter offer just the saisons and the Hi Res. Have you traded? What is fair for Pliny?

[Beer-lord]

Pliny is very hard to get even in California from what I hear. Sometimes there are lines when a new batch is released and Vinnie has said continuously that he will not increase production.
I think I've only been lucky enough to have 3 or 4 of these in the last 5 years so they do bargain hard for these.

[joechianti]

I'm not highly familiar with all of this, but I could swear I've seen Pliny Clone recipes around. I even think I saw it for sale at Austin Home Brew. If it was me, and I really wanted some, I'd just make it myself.

[jivex5k]

Pliny should trade dollar for dollar. FWIW it's not much different from any other fresh IPA that's from a good brewery. Stone Enjoy By is pretty damn close to Pliny IMHO. In fact I prefer fresh Jai Alai over Pliny.

Pliny is great but I wouldn't go over dollar for dollar.

[Kealia]

I'm going to say throw out the dollar amounts and make the decision based on how bad you want it. Without sounding too cliche, the value of anything is what somebody is willing to pay/trade for it.

Yes, Pliny is only available locally and in limited amounts. Yes, it's very good and can be hard to come by. Yes, Russian River charges a very fair price for it.

It's in the same category as Enjoy By by Stone, but it's not the same. When I do trades I just try to be fair. If I know somebody is sending be $15 bottle of something special, I'll try to find something equally special or make up for it in quantity. If it's people I know (like some of the guys here) then I don't concern myself with making sure I get a "fair trade", I'm just happy to send something hard to get out. It's like dining with friends, sometimes I pick up the tab and pay more and sometimes they do. In the end it all works out.

But, trading with somebody you don't know is different and I understand wanting to make sure it's fair for both sides.
Not sure if I actually helped you or not, sorry.

[John Sand]

Thank you all, discussion helps. I think I'll just express my concerns to the other party, and see where it goes. If it doesn't work out, I'll drink one bottle of the saison, maybe try to trade the other. It does help a bit that I scored two cans of Heady Topper today, at my LHBS.

[joechianti]

I don't know how to insert links, but here's the web address to copy and paste of a clone to make yourself. It runs $72 but makes 5 gallons.
http://www.austinhomebrew.com/Beer/P-Q/ ... MwAr13R_s0
To my surprise, the link actually works. I'm an IT god now.

[John Sand]

You are an IT god Joe. But the link shows on my screen as hieroglyphics!
Even if I make a clone, I'd still like to try the original. I've made clones of several beers, but never matched the originals.

[Kealia]

John,

I'd be happy to send you a bottle the next time I get my hands on one. I just need to let a few folks know I'm in the market.
I was actually at Russian River just after Christmas and could have walked out with a case of them, bottled the previous day. I grabbed about 6. A few went to my cousin in Washington, a couple local and and a couple down my throat!

[John Sand]

Wow, that's really nice Kealia. I will let you know what happens in my negotiations, I want to be fair to the other trader. But whether or not I acquire some Pliny, let me know if there is anything East Coast you desire.

[joechianti]

You are an IT god Joe. But the link shows on my screen as hieroglyphics!
Even if I make a clone, I'd still like to try the original. I've made clones of several beers, but never matched the originals.

I'm back to an IT mortal. Oddly, the link works perfect on my screen. Can't explain that. I'm barely learning to use my abacus.

[John Sand]

I was teasing. The link is fine.

[alb]

I’ve never had Pliny, but NB has a good rep and other clones I’ve had from them were very close to the originals, if not better, to my taste.

http://home-brewing.northernbrewer.com/ ... apelog=yes

[joechianti]

I’ve never had Pliny, but NB has a good rep and other clones I’ve had from them were very close to the originals, if not better, to my taste.

http://home-brewing.northernbrewer.com/ ... apelog=yes

That's a much better price there, too.

[John Sand]

I never did complete that trade, the guy wanted too much. I drank one bottle of the saison, saved one. And I ordered the NB kit with a 20% off coupon.