Opening the nice bottle you brought as a gift.

no

 

Just ask yourself why? Why should you care?

 

I get why he cares. it could come across as rude, but I would just metion something in passing to the host, like, "this is a really highly rated beer (or good, special,etc), and I wanted to share it with others, would you mind if I opened it and passed it around and talked a little bit about it?"

 

Yes, it's rude. I don't think it's considered "polite" to assume/suggest the host will open anything (wine, etc.) you've brought as a housewarming gift.

If I were the host, I'd probably think, "wow, it was so nice of Mr. Dave to bring a bottle of barleywine over for himself." But I probably would just laugh it off.

Now if its an informal gathering where you've brought the beer to the party, then it's probably not rude. Even then, I'd make sure to only take a reasonable pour so that others could have some.

 

Personally I would have asked first, but I can understand where you're coming from.

 

I think I would have checked with the host first. I'd do that with anything that I brought to a party (wine, beer, food.) And I'm pretty sure that most hosts would give you the OK without a second though. But it's polite to ask, since after all, you did present it to the host as a gift.

 

Was the table it was set out on, the "Self Serve" table, or was it a Gift Table?

 

I would have avoided the situation altogether by not wasting such a good beer on someone who has never expressed interest in beers (beyond corona at least)

That said, they probably would not have opened it on their own... ever. Nor would they have enjoyed it if they had. So I guess it didn't matter to them whether you opened it or not.

 

As it was a guift you should not have opened it. I am a bit suprised that you did not bring more or other beer knowing the croud you were hanging with!

 

Probably should've just brought a $8 bottle of cab and called a night. Unless you're going to a bottle share or a tasting that you know fellow BA's will be at, you're wasting your breath. People still don't give beer it's due.

 

Sounds like you made a nice gesture by wanting to share with others but perhaps it was with the wrong crowd. You're left with the options of downing it yourself or saving it to share with others more interested. I've done both.

 

Open said bottle, and Enjoy. That is universal for "please drink whatever you'd like" isn't it?

 

I understand why you felt like a dick; I would have probably waited like you did for people to get a few in them while they passed up the one we would have gone for first. Lesson learned; next time bring clamato budweiser, and invite ba's over for the after party with the Barley wine chilled ready for people who will appreciate something past the box. I have been there my friend.

 

Sorry, I may have missed it reading through, but what made you think the host would like a bottle of barrel aged English Barleywine?

 

If I knew no one was going to appreciate it then I wouldn't have brought it to begin with. Since they were wine drinkers I would've brought a good bottle of wine.