Being "The Beer Guy" around the holidays

Off topic but if someone got me The Expendables for Christmas I would shout 'Stallone is a statist hypocrite!' and toss it on the yule log... and crack open a fresh beer!

(there, now it's back on topic)

 

Just gotta remember that they have nothing but the best intentions in mind, and even in trying their hardest they know they're in over their heads....

Take a step back, and try to envision buying a decent bottle for a person into wine....

I'm willing to bet many of us would not even know where to start when buying for a "Wine-Advocate"....

 

Actually, I'm genuinely surprised at my friend's and coworker's good taste. The retail store I work at did a Secret Santa and a coworker got me a Mad Elf gift pack!

 

I've tried, I've really tried but to no avail. Somehow I've managed to make my friends and family afraid to give me beer. Maybe it's because I've been replying "don't worry, I'll take care of it" when I'm asked what they should have when I go over to anyone else's house. But this comes from trying to describe something specific and usually ending up with the wrong thing so I always insist on bringing my own and never seem to bring the same thing twice. And then when I get the "ooooh, what's this"? or "that's dark, it must be strong" comments, I realize that even if I insulted some people by being snobbish or for some other reason, they're still my friends and family so it's all good.

 

People rarely buy me beer as a gift. Usually it goes the other way around, although I did get a gift card to my local bottle shop one year. That was pretty sweet.

 

I was the unfortunate person getting stuck with 6 pack of Keystone Light at our company white elephant exchange (I brought in a Rodenbach Grand Cru as a present). I plan to give it to my brother as a gag gift first then I've got the Corsidonk X-mas gift pack for him as a real present. He'll probably drink the Keystones anyway I'm sure.

 

My son in law will drink anything, so I never worry about what people bring or leave. My son brews and is in the business. I've been around great beer going on 40 years and just don't worry about choices. We keep good beer nearby always.

 

Every Christmas my family does a "white elephant" and my uncle always brings a case of Sam Adams and, without fail, whenever someone opens it my mom laughs and says, "oh I know who is going to steal that" while everyone looks at me. And every year, without fail, I grab something else I want more.

 

this, but i add an open-handed slap across the mouth

 

My dear "friends" and I have secretly snuck the same case of Keystone Light into each others houses or garage for over ten years now.

 

That's pretty cool of you. A coworker's daughter lives in Kansas City and he brought me some Bully Porter from Boulevard. He also brought back a damn fine IPA from Tall Grass Brewing called Ethos.

 

This made me laugh out loud. It's very true. Can you imagine, 'here I bought you this (insert random gift), you'll probably think it's a piece of shit.' *awkward silence *

 

Did they get you 750's of Jupiler?

I was back in Iowa a couple of weeks ago for a wedding. My mother in law took me to the local Hy-Vee and bought me Two Hearted and a 4 pack of BCBS as they had some in stock. She understands I like "fancy" beer and would rather I pick it out. My BIL got married and it was all BMC at the reception. I drank Budweiser like I was 16 again and enjoyed every second of it.

For the people that know me and my beer choices I get good brews. For the ones that buy BMC I still enjoy it as I am with friends and family.

 

I would certainly try at least looking online for a site that rates wine instead of blindly buying something!

 

I always appreciate the gift of beer. (some more than others)

I also collect beer signs. The ones I've bought have all been "craft", but I've been given Bud, Coors, and Corona signs as presents. They are on display, too.

 

I just gave some special folks who love wine a really special, semi-whale status bottle and I don't know much about it. But I do know a wine dealer and I made the effort of reaching out to him, setting my budget, discussing their tastes, cellaring capabilities, etc. in other words I made a special effort for people that mean a lot to me.

I'm with most of the folks on this thread; no one buys me beer because they know they probably can't get me something I haven't had or they're not sure what my tastes are like or whatever. I'm just saying people blindly grabbing something then copping out by saying I'd probably think it sucks is fairly lame and says hey, you're not really worth the extra effort to figure this out. It's the thought that counts, but only when there's actually a thought!

 

This really works out for me this time of year. I buy beer at one place in town and the guy that owns it is a good friend of mine. If someone gets me something, they usually go there to get it. They usually ask what I like and he wouldn't let anyone buy anything for me I wouldn't like AND he pretty much knows who has bought what. Everyone wins.

Works out NICE!

AND if someone gets me something awful (from somewhere else), I smile and say thank you. The trash man gets an extra Christmas surprise.

 

That is the nice thing about home brewing. Everyone gives gifts for that. I already have a great gift of some Brett and Lacto cultures. Only a home brewer would think wild yeast and bacteria is a good Christmas present.

 

A travelling trophy-it's great fun ! We did that for years w some really bad wine.

 

Whether it's beer or wine if someone is not familiar w what the recipient likes it will be a tough road. If one has a bit of a clue and a good store one could ask what is new and special right now. Or, look for a gift from a different area-maybe some dry-aged steaks or lobster. One has to have some food to absorb the alcohol.