Bringing shelf beer to a share?!

This thread reminds me of an 'Ask Amy' article: http://amydickinson.com/post/85115023030/sisterly-exclusion-makes-one-sis-a-horrible-person
TL;DNR: "Obviously, you can do whatever you want and associate with — or exclude — whomever you want, but you don’t get to do this and also blame the person you are excluding for not “fitting in.”"
Summarily, if this guy is truly your friend, you will enjoy his company regardless of the beer he brings. If he isn't, don't invite him.

 

This is my experience as well. All the bottle shares I have been to, it was more or less expected that you brought something interesting/unique/slightly 'waley'/different. If someone showed up to a bottle share with just a 6er of sierra nevada pale ale (great beer, no hate) I'd be slightly pissed. Especially if other people have brought majorly limited/whalezy type stuff. Luckily, all of mine are with beer nerds and it's an unspoken rule that you bring beers that are pretty unique. That's at a specifically designated beer share party though. If it's just me and some buddies, I'm more than willing to share my rare stuff with friends. But that's hanging out, not a beer share.

 

You said it I yourself. He's a friend. Great Beer is meant for sharing with friends. Who cares if he brings anything at all if he's a valued friend??? I don't know about you, but I take care of those I care about. Just make sure you get the larger pour.

 

When I go to bottle shares, I like to bring things that I figure people haven't tried before. Not wales, per se, but things a ticker might look at and go, "IN." Not bad beer, of course, but maybe things that a beer geek might have to try and figure out their own reactions to.

 

The greater good is definitely served by not getting to worked up about this. Plus, if you do allow it to bother you, does this not diminish you own enjoyment of the event?

Phew! That was hard work. Yoda needs a beer now.

 

The only time I've been miffed at a bottle share/tasting was when the owner of a local brewpub attended and brought some Maple Bacon Voodoo Donut. That was fine and all (even if it is a disgusting beer) until he took his pour of '09 Dark Lord and proclaimed 'this is off' after one little sip and dumped it down the tap drain in front of everyone. No 'does anyone want to finish mine?' or anything. That was just plain douchey (we haven't invited him back).

 

I honestly dislike the taste of beer while stoned personally, strongly flavored IPA's I'd normally quite like haven't gone over as well while I've been stoned.

Anyone else experience this?

 

I think it totally depends on the situation. For me, the easiest solution is to have a general cost figure for the share. It is fair to everyone and, personally, after tasting a handful of really great beers (which are typically very high ABV or sours at these things), I'd rather finish off the night with some shelf beers. If I paid $30 for a bottle of something, I freaking want to drink it with fresh taste buds, not after two BA stouts and a lambic.

 

A good solution is you're going to get your panties in a knot is preparing a spreadsheet where everyone inputs what they're bringing beforehand. Had a share with guys I met on BA a few months back where we wanted to open up the cellar and get together to share some of our more rare/vintage beers. It may have come across as snobbish to some, but I felt I needed to comment when one person added some bottles that were relatively common compared to what the others were bringing. The only person to criticize the comment was someone who wasn't even coming to the share (figures). Meanwhile, the guy changed what he was bringing and we went on to have 4 or 5 subsequent shares. As others have said, set rules/expectations beforehand. No one likes to feel like an ass bc they didn't bring something good enough or vice versa, being the one to say something if the person doesn't realize. With that said, I would never say someone can't try a taste of something or partake in the share because they brought something lesser... That's a dick move.

 

A really good group in "group tastings" makes all of the difference. There are all types of folks, and I've been to a few events with a particular coterie of beer know it alls, and I would never return. Really, it's just manners, not a contest.

 

Depends on what the shelf beer is and what if any ground rules were communicated for the share. Like plenty of other people have said, there are plenty of excellent shelf beers that are worthy of a bottle share.

Missed this. I guess I would be a little miffed in that context.

 

Agree. We have one that is all expired/infected/awful beers. We call it Bring Out Your Dead, always a fun time.

 

Haha no, you should have another one, and invite these two, and when you do you can say, "please bring something better quality than your homebrew," to the one guy, and, "hey, howabout this time you bring beer, and I will show up empty handed," to the other guy.

 

If you don't want to share your beer with 'random Joe Smoes', don't go to the share, clearly they are good friends with someone or they wouldn't have been invited in the first place. If it's one person, who really cares, if it's a few then maybe this isn't the share to bring your rare beers to.

Why don't you just trade with your friend(s) who has the beer you want to try or organize a smaller share with him/them?

 

Do you all ever simply share a good beer with someone at a party, simply to let them have a couple ounces of a good beer? I've "wasted" a lot of good beer over the years just to spread the goodness to the Bud drinkers. At least your beer-share mooch is bringing something to the table.

 

Someone new on the seen may not understand and my friends are far more important than beer....

 

Duh, all 09's specifically taste like rancid Soy Sauce, wasn't an off bottle.

 

Sharing beer is fun

 

My goodness yes. My son lives just around the corner, still works in the business, started working in the warehouse as a teenager, and brings by great beer regularly. He is a great salesman, son, and dear friend. He brought an Achel Extra recently, which he knows is one my all time favorites. I love meeting and speaking with people, have done it all of my life, but I have seen these "bottle Shares" turn into pissing matches. I'm an old fart, not a hermit, but I have plenty of fun tasting beer with those closest to me.

 

I have two young sons- perhaps you and I can share a shelf IPA some day and you can give me tips on how to raise a good man.