A friend of a friend of a friend is starting to brew, and wanted a corny keg. As I just picked up a bunch of single handed ones (Thanks Tom) and he wanted one to trade for “an old keg he had laying around” I decided to do so, as it would be good to have an extra if ever needed.
When he stopped by to do the trade, he pulls this virtually brand new sankey keg out of his trunk. I mean, brand fr eaking new. And, from a brewery I have much respect for. I certainly cannot keep this. But, don’t know what to do, or how to return it.
I don’t know, don’t even know his name. Just one of those chance encounters. I did tell him a HBC is meeting this Sunday, and the web address to get the details. If he shows, I’ll find out more.
Sure it is, but when you exchange for stolen merchandise, it’s still wrong.
I have a connection to one of the owners of Alaskan, I’m gonna try contact her, and see how I can return it to her. Although I’m in Western Washington. The local distributor basically called me a thief. I wont deal with them.
What I’m saying is cutting up a perfectly good keg, that obviously still belongs to the brewery is stealing. The $40 is a deposit, one is not purchasing the keg, and free to do as they will with it. To not return it, is to steal. IMHO.
Espcially as new as this one is. I bet it’s the first fill.
Why not just call the guy and explain the situation to him? Get your corny back and explain to him how expensive these kegs are and how a $40 deposit doesn’t even begin to cover the cost of the keg, how breweries have to charge mroe for their beer to cover stolen kegs and how it puts a financial strain, especially on small breweries. I bet the guy has no idea that the keg he had was technically stolen. That’s what I would do at this point.
I still think the stupid deposit CREATES this problem. When I rent a DVD, or even a rental car, and don’t return it, they don’t keep $40 from me. They charge my credit card, or come after me. You have to have ID to get beer anyway, so why can’t they verify and record your personal info when you order a keg? Almost everything else where you pay a deposit you are essentially buying the product if you don’t return it. The mixed message here pisses me off, and while I would never take a keg from a brewery I respect because I know they lose money on it in the current system, I don’t see how it can legally be called stealing.
I assume distributors don’t want to bother with collecting money for unreturned kegs, because they have the breweries bent over a barrel thanks to all the liquor regulations. The result is that the brewery has to eat it.
Like I said, it’s a friend, of a friend, of a friend. If he shows at HBC meeting Sunday, I will. But other than that, my guess is he’ll just do the same thing with someone else.
all though it would cost a few dollars, and the distributor doesn’t want to help (i think you said he accused you of being a thief) you could just send a letter, tell them that you came across it and offer to buy it (maybe share the cost amongst your club.) that should alleviate your guilt. the other thing would be to find a pub that has the stuff on tap, and take it there. that will get it in to the distribution process i would think
No need to feel guilty…just think of it like this: had it fallen into the hands of someone less honest than you, it might have zero chance to return to it’s rightful owners.
If anything, you’ve proven that you care enough to do what’s right…
I needed a sankey keg and spotted one at the local metal recycler while there on other business. I purchased the keg from the recycler at scrap stainless per pound price, and have a receipt for the purchase. The keg is stamped wiith a mega-brewery’s name. When I got it home it still had the spear installed, a CO2 charge on it, and some stale dregs left in it.
I’ve felt good about it since I paid and got a receipt. But, now since I’ve read this thread I’m wondering if it is really my keg.
