When I read about this BBQ comp slash homebrew deal before it was ever posted on the forum with a sensationalist post name which is completely wrong in the first place it seemed to me like a hokey deal anyway.
I mean in a way that Nighthawk spoke to that these guys were “promoting” homebrewers wares by giving you a chance to serve your homebrew to the “public” while they collect ticket fees and pay to keep their own lights on. I have seen many other “promoters” and bars etc… trying to run things like this and I call BS also. Like I spoke to already their is a clear right and wrong way to do business in MN and this hokey pokey route is definitely not a boon to our hobby whatsoever.
What does the individual homebrewer have to gain in these types of endeavors?? If the approval of your peers/ family/ friends is not enough you must be a glamor gal/guy and need constant approval of your beer and/or you just have time and money to blow. In the later then simply become a craft brewer as you will need plenty of capital and freetime to get started and eventually you may see return on your investment.
I have had literally 100’s of proposals that go like this:
We really enjoy your beer/s can we buy/ or provide money for you to brew 2-10+ kegs for our wedding, birthday, party etc…
No, I am sorry with the cost of materials plus the amount of time it takes I would honestly have to charge far more than a regular craft sixtel will cost you.
No that’s fine whats your price?
Craft sixtels are on avearge $40-$75 for a five gallon keg and if I were to actually charge you for my time and other it would be well over a hundred bucks a keg. Craft brewers are set up to make LOTs of beer at a time in the most efficient ways possible and so even after a distributor adds his/ her markup you still get it for under $75 a keg.
Oh, I see. Never thought of it like that. Can you help me find a good retailer that can provide me with kegs for my function?
That I can do.
Plus I have had many “promoters” & bar owners approach me for deals like this BBQ shindig and I again tell them exactly what I tell individuals that want to pay to play for one keg. Although I then refer them to some of my aforementioned tons of small, fledgling MN brewers and distributors that can help thier event be a success.
With these hokey back alley events etc… thier is usually a cost savings mindset taking place by the “promoters” and in many cases I have to ask/ wonder where is your dram shop/ liquor liability insurance for said event? Since the guy runs it as a BBQ and homebrew event he should have to carry the same insurance and laws a craft brewer fest would need along with strict adherence to carding/overservice policy and professionals like craft brewers that will have these concerns in mind firstly, whearas a bunch of homebrewers with nothing to gain or lose could care less possibly unless they see a subpoena the next day/week for a family sueing them for a injury/ death due to overservice personally along with said promoter that is only going to watch his own back in most cases. This presents only a civil matter many criminal charges are sure to follow. Doing business like this is never on the “up and up” and you deserve to lose your livelihood, freedom if your the the “promoter” actively skirting laws or a woefully stupid homebrewer allowing themselves to become involved with a deal like this opening themselves up to can o worms legally.
There are many, many aspects the OP or his fanboys are not thinking about and this whole thread should be removed by mods as it is incorrect at best and misleading to the homebrewing community that may think they cannot participate in comps which is further from the truth than an alien sasquatch making homebrew. Maybe I will use that last line to create a new thread speaking to yeast ranching just to get some views LOL.
