Yup. Barter. They don’t want to barter? You become the beer nazi. No beer for you! ;)
I do have a sign that says “Free Beer Tomorrow” over my kegerator.
I saw the same sign at a small brewpub(Lake Superior Brewing Co) in Grand Marais, MI, my favorite snowmobiling destination. I told the bartender: I was here yesterday, I’m ready for free beer! It didn’t work… 
I don’t know how many of you will remember, but back in the 70s there was a band called Free Beer. It was great to see posters advertising them playing at bars.
If you like these people, invite them to come and help you brew, show them how to go through the steps, and split the batch with them. That way they’d appreciate the time investment, because most people when they first hear I make beer, they think it’s instantaneous like baking a cake, not realizing how long it takes from beginning to end, including the clean-up, the bottle washing and santizing and filling.
I did that with some of my friends who drank the most of my beer and we formed a club of sorts and brewed several batches together. Now two of the four other guys are brewing their own, and I’m not under the pressure of supplying anymore.
Sharing your beer is great, but if people are starting to abuse, you have to draw some kind of line.
[quote]3. Keep the really good beer I like on a picnic tap inside the fridge where most people don’t look!!!
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Or, have magnetic signs like I have, and pull the one over the beer you want to save… “Uh, yeah, that kicked…” ;D
I like the serve the mooches infected beer idea.
Many years ago I used to do construction testing and inspection. One project I worked on was widening University Blvd. in Orange County Florida. There was a county inspector I worked with on that job who was a notorious cigarette mooch. He had a two-pack-a-day habit and never bought a pack in his life. So, I bought a pack of Virginia Slims menthols and stuck them up on the dashboard of my truck to bake in the Florida sun. Every time Mr. County Mooch would hit me up for a cigarette, I would treat him to one of those. He stopped asking me for cigarettes after about the sixth one (old habits die hard).
Tell then to come over and brew a batch with you, then they get a growler. How many takers? Not many.
If you don’t let them know you are not happy with the situation, it will not change.
I don’t think you’re out of line by laying out some house rules. Afterall it is your beer. Between the cost of ingredients and your time, there’s a significant investment.
I would let them know the truth. Just be honest and tell them about the cost and time investment and that they are welcome to some beer but…growlers is where I would draw the line.
If they become offended…that’s when you’ll know your friends from Bogart’s.
Just lay down some simple house rules. I also like Gordon’s idea of mowing the grass.
Ok, some things are gonna change real fast. Today was the last straw. I just get home with two of my buddies, from the brewery picking up my grain / hop order, of all places. In the meantime, dude number three stopped by with his wife, and they were in the driveway talking with Holly when I got in. He holds up a growler 3/4 full and says he, I blew your keg. I thought he was joking. Turns out, him and his wife had two pints each, then filled the growler, kicking my last keg!! Oh, but he left 7$ on the kegerator. ::) I know the dudes don’t think they are being a$$hats. It’s just the Idaho culture here. What mine is theirs, and whats theirs, I really don’t want. ;D
Next brew day, I got two guys lined up to help. And, I am seriously thinking of starting a mug club. Ten bucks scores you a personal mug. You’re welocome to come over and drink free beer from your mug, anytime, all you can drink, at 3$, maybe 5$ a session. I thinks that’s fair. three bucks for alll the free beer you can drink, and it’s not Bud. You figure one poker night with three dudes here, and that keg is paid for. Next weekend, a propane refill, next weekend, a c02 exchange. Some week I might feel generous, and the rounds are on me. Sometime I might be extra kind and let them fill a growler. But, at least it will put thee brakes on this deal.
If that fails, I will juststop at their house each night at dinner time, with a fork, plate, and a to go box. ;D
Your last keg?!
That’s perfect! Really. Now when people show up you say, "sorry, dude number three and his wife kicked my last keg and I haven’t had time to brew. You know, it takes 6 hours plus a couple of weeks, not to mention all of the time spent cleaning everything. To say nothing of the cost of the grains, and hops and yeast aren’t free either. Nope, it might be another 3 or 4 weeks before I have anything ready to go . . . "
Then see who keeps coming around to hang out.
I understand western hospitality, but know that rules of politeness and social etiquette should exist everywhere.
Being rude and kicking someones keg while they are not even home is totally uncalled for in my book.
Dude number three is a punk.
I am thinking that folks are just taking advantage of your good nature and generosity.
Beyond ridiculous…
That guy is obviously just taking advantage of you.
Weaz, that could get ya in serious legal trouble. I’d think twice about it.
Go to a wholesale club and get you some small bags of snacks. Sell those for $3 or ???. That way nothing is tied to the beer. The best thing would be Beer Nuts. 
I think it all comes down to boundaries and mutual respect. My friends love to drink my beer but not a damn one of them would ever have the balls to just assume they can fill up their own growler and bounce.
I offer growlers and people accept. If you’re at my house, you have free reign and can drink as much as you can. But like others have posted, unless its offered, there is no beer to go!
Most of my friends will show up with a nice six pack of something commercial that I like if they know they’ll be drinking from my kegs. Its not expected, they just do it out of respect for my time and efforts. Its a gesture that I appreciate. It shows that they understand the value of what I do.
You need new friends… Or a secret keggerator in a closet.
Might want to pick up a couple of these for your kegerator:
Now I’m a fairly hospitable sort and I’m definitely willing to share the beer freely.
But showing up at my house, when I’m not there - that’s a no go.
Showing up at my house with a growler and expecting to get it filled? - that’s a no go.
Showing up when I’m not there and killing my last keg - may the justice system have mercy on my soul.