Hey Jeff. Wow, that's very cool of you to be open to following through with that. Really appreciate that. The situation here in Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) specifically) is that there ARE a growing number of "craft beer" breweries, but I am so low on fiat right now (difficult times) AND they are not super good quality (although they try). Interestingly, Hoegaarden has been adopted here as a "regular" beer, and I just saw that I can get a case of it (in 330 ml cans) for around $20 USD. However, even the "brand names" (like the "Budweiser" and"Tiger") that they have here are "shady". In other words, if you know what REAL "American" Budweiser tastes like you would find the one here "just not right". This is the main reason I haven't yet shelled out $20 for a case of Hoegaarden. I was thinking that since you BOTH know your beer AND have access to some of the good ones over there it might be worth a shot. Having said that, I am (at this very moment) dealing with the CRISIS of a $250 USD package of proper, single-estate Chinese tea (from my client at a well-known tea shop in London ( https://meileaf.com )being held HOSTAGE at the Vietnamese customs office, where I have an appointment on June 4th to go there an (likely) have to try to pay some "tea money" (pun intended) to get it out of there. They are asking for a "phyto-sanitary certification" for the tea (which is outlandish - according to the sender, who has vast experience shipping internationally) and so they likely just want $$$. Welcome to Vietnam - money, money, money, Through some digging I have gotten an estimate that int will cost 10% of the value of the goods (so around $25 -$30 USD), which was around the same "fee" I paid for a similarly sized package in Thailand. The reason I mention this is because I would indeed LOVE to have you send some of those craft beers, but am concerned about the shipping issue. Also, I am sure you're right about the IPAs, and thanks for looking out on that front. What about some of those nice stouts with the chocolate, coffee, toffee, etc, notes (from the ones you have posted in the past)? Perhaps I could go back and choose a few from your posts which have interested me. To my understanding stouts are less "perishable". What do you think about that? Let me know if it would be a good idea to go back and choose some of those stouts, and in the meantime I will keep you posted on the shipping situation. I actually had a DIFFERENT tea package sent previously (around two months ago), but we sent it via regular mail (from the London post office to the Vietnam state post office) and DIDN'T have this problem. I paid $80 USD for UPS shipping, and the whole point is that the package SHOULD have been signed for an in my apartment when it arrived THREE days after sending (May 12th). It is now taking a FRIGGIN' MONTH to sort this out, and it if ISN'T sorted out then it will have to be RETURNED to the sender. Luckily, my buddy at Mei Leaf has been nice enough to offer to eat the cost of the shipping (he's also pissed about this), as well as reimburse me for up to $50 of the "tea money" I may need to pay customs on June 4th, to get the package OUT OF quarantine and INTO my esophagus. I can likely get that down to $25 - $30 USD, with the intention of protecting all parties. I don't drink beer often, but like to enjoy some interesting craft beers as a REWARD (maybe once a week), so anything you send will be used/consumed in that manner. Let me know your thoughts. TJ
RE: Insubordinate - Tribus Beer Co. - Beer Review