SUMMERSWAP 2013 (BEER)

[Kinleycat]

Hello "Swappers" (it sounds seedy already!! )
Here you will find all you need to know about the beer summer swap 2013.
Firstly (and for this swap) anything that isn't a wine style drink should be entered in the beer swap, if swappers would like additional sub groups we will try our best next time around (hopefully autumn if not christmas).

JOINING INSTRUCTIONS.
All swappers registrations MUST be sent to the following e-mail address:
[email protected]
by the 30th of June 2013. You will need to supply the following few bits of info:
Please title all emails with THBF bottle swap, this will aid admin filter any spam.
1. Forum Name & any allergens we might need to be be aware of.
2. Real name and address and post code (and if pos a mobile or landline number)DATA PROTECTION INFO, all personal details will be destroyed after each swap, no personal details will be used for any other purpose other than the swap
3. Group you are swapping (i.e stout, ale, bitter, mild, lager etc etc)
4. Swap name/style (i.e KCs cloudy bitter :lol: :lol: )
5. Any weird or wonderful (or potentialy harmful) ingredients.
(If you can keep to this order it will aid the admin guys, as they can copy and paste your details and save them a bit of typing time).
You will be then issued with a ticket number by return e-mail- so you know (when feedback is given after the swap) who's talking about your beer!! (don't worry we will keep records if you lose them :whistle: )

POSTAL INSTRUCTIONS.
You will be emailed another swappers name and postal details between the (1st and 14th of July) Please try and post as soon as possible and no later than the 14th.
Postage - Personally i would send in a 500ml plastic to reduce risk of breakage and lower cost, but that is only a recommendation.
Labeling - Firstly please put your ticket number on your beer label then only list style, abv and a name for it (nothing that can identify the brew to the brewer though, remember this is tip top secret!!!) and any allergic properties (as a back up, if you have submitted any allergen advice in your joining details our admin will try to ensure that you do not receive harmful beer) but adding this on the labelling will add a second tier of safety.

DRINKING.
Like you lot need any advice on this!!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :drunk:
Seriously a bit of settling time, correct serving temp and perhaps a cracker with a bit of extra mature cheddar on :whistle: and savour.

FEEDBACK.
After the 14th "encouraging tasting feedback" can be left on the thread, please supply a ticket number with your feedback.
REMEMBER this is supposed to be a bit of fun and a way of encouraging fellow brewers and people into brewing, ultra critical notes from an uber-AGbrewer to a novice kit brewer would be harmful and i will ask for Mods to remove them. I'm sure you all understand.

Thats it for now, please leave any feedback you can we want to make this a regular thing and we can only do that by making sure we get things right (which we probably won't do first time around) so bare with us we are here for your pleasure!!!

Occasional updates will be left ad hoc, so bookmark us!!

KC :thumb:

 

[morethanworts]

Hi everyone

Looking forward to receiving some entries. I will set up an auto reply later today, so you'll know you're email has been received. Until then, please type carefully in the address box!

MTW

 

[StevieDS]

I'm in northern Ireland but would love to be involved, will it be a problem?

 

[Duncs]

I won't have anything ready in a suitable container to send out by the 14th July. Hopefully there'll be an Autumn swap, if not that, another Secret Santa that I can be involved in

 

[Kinleycat]

I won't have anything ready in a suitable container to send out by the 14th July. Hopefully there'll be an Autumn swap, if not that, another Secret Santa that I can be involved in

Hopefully there will be all of the ones you have suggested!! :thumb:

 

[cwiseman77]

I'm in Cuba till like the 15th so will send mine out a tad late. Hope this is ok

 

[Kinleycat]

I'm in Cuba till like the 15th so will send mine out a tad late. Hope this is ok

OK exceptional circumstances!! :lol:
Anywhere nice? went to cayo coco and havana a few years back!!!

 

[morethanworts]

The entries are coming in already!

Anyone wishing to post a 300ml, Bud lager type glass bottle, 5.5cm diameter approx, (or a PET one of the same size) may be interested to know that Rymans do a stiff posting tube for £1.29 that would do for a couple of swaps, with a bit of cutting, that is the perfect size to get the bottle in plus about three layers of bubble wrap all around. The tube is perfect to just keep under the 8cm max-diameter price barrier with Royal Mail, after which the cost doubles.

Don't take that as 'official advice' though. You're each responsible for your own packing and choices! If in doubt, perhaps chill hard and decant into plastic. I'm sure the receiver can forgive a slight lack of fizz :whistle:

 

[morethanworts]

I'm in northern Ireland but would love to be involved, will it be a problem?

No problem as far as I can see. As part of the UK, it's covered by Royal Mail for one, as standard: someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

All we're essentially doing is pairing up swappers' addresses (and running the threads) so it's ultimately up to you guys to make sure you're happy with the logistics, but as I say, I can't see a problem. :thumb:

 

[Darcey]

I dont think I will have any beer for then!! Unless I brew on Sunday.. :hmm:

 

[Antony]

I would be interested in participating, however I'm not sure my brew will turn out good yet, so I would like to hold off for a while

 

[morethanworts]

I'd like to acknowledge Rob Walker's achievement in running the 'Secret Santa' bottle swap last Christmas, which was clearly enjoyed so much by those that took part. Well done Rob, and thanks for passing on a few pearls of wisdom. There are three of us and only one of you, so big respect for running it on your own last time. Check out the original Secret Santa, as the reviews/comments started to come in, HERE It looked fascinating, people waiting for the postman to arrive with a bottle for them!

Let's get some more entries in! If anyone's got any queries, by all means PM me or ask on this thread. Entries to [email protected]

By the way, this is all being done in a friendly, helpful spirit, so no one should fear any undue criticism of their brew. Just enjoy :thumb:

 

[cwiseman77]

I'm in Cuba till like the 15th so will send mine out a tad late. Hope this is ok

OK exceptional circumstances!! :lol:
Anywhere nice? went to cayo coco and havana a few years back!!!

Cayo Santa Maria I think. A few days in Havana but mostly just relaxing on the beach, taking advantage of the all-inclusive food and drink

 

[Kinleycat]

:electric: NEWSFLASH!!!!!
Already things are moving on "a pace" here at bottleswap HQ.
The nerve centre is quite litterally pulsating with activity.
What views do people have on the future of bottle swapping?
We are looking at the next swap already and whether to go for autumn or to wait until christmas.
My own view is that a seasonal calendar would work well and would give people the opportunity (with fixed dates) to plan ahead and offer seasonal offerings, based on what they are drinking and brewing in accordance with the weather and what not.
Over to you?
KC :thumb:

 

[calumscott]

What views do people have on the future of bottle swapping?
We are looking at the next swap already and whether to go for autumn or to wait until christmas.
My own view is that a seasonal calendar would work well and would give people the opportunity (with fixed dates) to plan ahead and offer seasonal offerings, based on what they are drinking and brewing in accordance with the weather and what not.
Over to you?
KC :thumb:

I agree, I think a spring, summer, autumn swap plus the secret santa would be epic! :thumb:

If the spring one was tied in with TST dates then postage could be saved in some cases? Maybe actually it could be timed so that people either got their brews posted in time to be ready for drinking on TST weekend or where the swaps could happen at TST then they could also be drunk then...

TST then becomes a bit of an event even for those that can't make it. :thumb:

 

[Kinleycat]

What views do people have on the future of bottle swapping?
We are looking at the next swap already and whether to go for autumn or to wait until christmas.
My own view is that a seasonal calendar would work well and would give people the opportunity (with fixed dates) to plan ahead and offer seasonal offerings, based on what they are drinking and brewing in accordance with the weather and what not.
Over to you?
KC :thumb:

I agree, I think a spring, summer, autumn swap plus the secret santa would be epic! :thumb:

If the spring one was tied in with TST dates then postage could be saved in some cases? Maybe actually it could be timed so that people either got their brews posted in time to be ready for drinking on TST weekend or where the swaps could happen at TST then they could also be drunk then...

TST then becomes a bit of an event even for those that can't make it. :thumb:

Never thought about a TST tie in but it certainly lends itself to the seasonal calendar scenario i invisage.
We only need three more get together type events and we can sack off the Royal Mail full stop!! :thumb: : :drink:

 

[fbsf]

Well, I'm planning on brewing a wheat beer in a week or two, so that would easily be good for September, and I normally get a winter brew (I'm thinking something like the Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby Mild this year) going around August that should be ready for sending early-mid December.

So count me in on both :

 

[morethanworts]

A great mix of entries so far! From kits to all-grain. Glad to see it's attracting entries from across the ranges.

If you're kegging this weekend, be sure to put one in a bottle and get in touch :

 

[Kinleycat]

Three weeks to get your entries in people!!!
Summerswap 13 is here!!! :thumb:

 

[Kinleycat]