Being "The Beer Guy" around the holidays

My friends and family know I never get sick of Pliny, Blind Pig, Temptation, Supplication, Firestone everything & their Barrel Aged & Anniversary beers. They know what to buy and know too many of the mentioned is never enough.

 

OP, best you can do with those meh gifts is keep a straight face and give genuine thanks for what you know will make most delicious marinades for your meats

 

After reading only the title of the thread, I thought this was going to go in the opposite direction. That is, because your family knows you love and accumulate all kinds of beer, they expect you to provide the good stuff and open bottles of things they've never had or heard of before. Which is what I do and enjoy doing so. I don't typically receive beer as gifts for the reason OP stated. Much more often I'm the one giving gifting beer.

 

Being "the beer guy" for me means sharing my lot. Everyone around me is intrigued, and thus many of my beers are showcased at family functions.

 

I am grateful that anyone in their right mind would care enough to give me a gift and I don't care if it's a Milwaukees Best or a Pliny. My family and friends know how much I dig all things beer-related and anything I get makes me smile.

 

I usually end up with 3 to 4 gift cards to my local shop. Last year however, my in laws saw a news segment on Darkness Day. Knowing that my brother in law and myself like Surly, we got bottles of Darkness for Christmas. We opened one that night and stashed the other in the basement bar cupboard for this year.

The image of a 50 something, 100 lb, Devout Catholic woman walking out of a liquor store with a "Brewcifer" depicted bottle still makes me smile.

I'm grateful to have such amazing in laws

 

Does anyone have a bottle of Bully Guppy lying around that I could use for a white elephant gift exchange?

 

In Ontario the LCBO lets you exchange anything without a receipt, so no beer is bad beer.

 

This is the downside of being passionate about just about anything though, isn't it? I'm also really into playing hockey, and as most guys are, I am pretty particular about the equipment I use. It's pretty awkward when someone gives you a pair of hockey gloves from Walmart when you've been using pro-stock Bauers for years and years.

And yeah, the thought does count, but someone that is giving you something that they think you'll think is shitty is putting absolutely no thought into what they're doing. They are making an already stressful and stupid time of year just that much worse.

- The Grinch

 

My neighbor's dog usually gives me a 12 pack of Guinness as a thank you for giving him his afternoon walks (of course my neighbor assists the dog with this). I'll hold it in my beer larder until St Pat's day. Heck, it's better than getting a bottle of wine.

 

Your money and you seem to know it

 

You should have made it so you had to drink one if it got left at your house, then the person who got the last one gets some special prize.

Probably a bit late to start that game.

 

I'm the beer guy at work and get a kick watching people choose beer as gifts. Often they settle on the 9 pack beer of the world and call it a day, happy with their decision. Sometimes people ask me if its a good choice. I tell them the truth. It's an easy gift, as it's a selection of various beers from around the word. But, they are not really "good" beers. I ask who they are buying for and that persons preferences, then proceed to show them craft and Belgian bombers and 750s. Most seem appreciative and accept my advice.

 

Lucky I have not got a bad beer or beer related gift yet. But I feel your pain.

 

People don't give me beer because I have access to some pretty stellar stuff throughout the year. I look forward to the vintage bottle openers and cool glassware. Last year I got a Narragansett bottle opener form the 30's that was way cooler than the 4pk of BCBS I got last year.

 

I have an entire lineup of beers that will be used to cook with. Mostly made up of beers left at the house, maybe a few gifted beers.

When it comes to friends or family giving me gifts, I have realized by now that I go fairly far down the rabbit hole in my interests. I wouldn't expect someone to give me spot on perfect for me (without advice) beer any more than I'd expect someone to know that I was dying to get my ears around the new FleshGod Apocalypse or World Under Blood CD's. But, I do appreciate the gesture of someone attempting to "get" me more than them simply giving up and giving me a paperweight or something.

At gatherings, parties, get togethers and what not, My "beer guy" status usually take the shape of me bringing something local and approachable to share with all. Currently, Devil's Backbone Vienna Lager is my go-to beer. When the inevitable "this is pretty good" conversation comes up I simply let them know it's a local brewery and only go down the in depth craft discussion road if really urged. Usually a few people will pop up with questions about all these beers they see at Kroger now, or they have a brother that's really into beer or whatever.

At said parties, I do enjoy "This is ok I guess, but have you had Blue Moon?" guy......

 

Irish Setter?

 

None of my wife's family drinks good beer. So I'll be the one opening a bottle of Cantillon for myself while everyone else is drinking wine at dinner. Complete opposite with my fam: I have to hide stuff from those fuckers.

 

Girlfriend's grandparents know I love beer so they're getting me a giftcard to the local growler shop when I visit. Perfect!

Older brother just visited Asheville so I told him anything from Wicked Weed would make a fantastic gift. I think he got me a mix of their bottles/growlers so I'm thrilled to see what I'll get from there.

 

Or over their head