Being "The Beer Guy" around the holidays

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Dennoman, Dec 22, 2014.

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  1. Dennoman

    Dennoman Initiate (0) Aug 20, 2011 Belgium

    This is just a bit of contemplating, take it for what it's worth.

    I love getting beer from family or "non-beer friends" for the holidays. I've found that being "The Beer Guy" does make for some awkward situations when I try to stay as far away from being snobby as I can.

    Yesterday I was given a beer basket and a random 750 by friends of the family. It was mostly decent stuff. Granted, except for one or two bottles it wasn't the craft I've grown pretty much used to drinking over the past few years (for which only 15 or so breweries here in Belgium would probably qualify), but decent nonetheless.

    I'm legitimately thankful for every bottle I get, but the first thing they tell me when they hand me the 750 is: "You'll probably think it's shitty". Is it me, or is that just the weirdest thing to tell someone when you hand them a Christmas present? They then proceed to do the exact same thing when they hand me the beer basket. I try and explain the fact that I truly am thankful, but then realize I'm probably hamming it up and am in fact making it too obvious I don't want to hurt their feelings.

    This isn't the first time this has happened. I've gone through versions of the same thing over the past 3 or so years, ever since I've really gotten into beer.

    Please keep giving beer to The Beer Guy, it will never offend us. If we hate it, we'll just drainpour it on YouTube or Facebook :wink:

    Anyone been through this as well?

    Happy holidays nonetheless guys, hope you've gotten some great and not-so-great beers as prezzies :slight_smile:
     
    #1 Dennoman, Dec 22, 2014
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  2. rfgetz

    rfgetz Pooh-Bah (2,609) Nov 14, 2008 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah

    I find that being "The Beer Guy" in my family opens me up to being gifted all sorts of "fancy" and "expensive" imports like Stella and Heineken. Tis' the thought that counts though and the gifter usually has nothing but good intentions.
     
    #2 rfgetz, Dec 22, 2014
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  3. Iamjeff6

    Iamjeff6 Initiate (0) Sep 9, 2013 Virginia

    The youll probably think its shitty line happens all the time. Sometimes I just have to put a fake smile on and pretend it isnt. Like you said im thankful for people that share and give beer.
     
    #3 Iamjeff6, Dec 22, 2014
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  4. Dennoman

    Dennoman Initiate (0) Aug 20, 2011 Belgium

    'tis the season to be queasy!
     
    #4 Dennoman, Dec 22, 2014
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  5. stealth

    stealth Pooh-Bah (2,023) Dec 16, 2011 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah

    I'm the 'beer guy' and I rarely get beers as gifts, mostly because they assume I've had it already, and they know I trade with people all over so they feel they can't offer me anything that will excite me.

    A few friends/family, though, will look at my untappd account first and check if I've had the beer they intend on giving me, which is always cool.
     
    #5 stealth, Dec 22, 2014
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  6. TastyIsBeer

    TastyIsBeer Savant (1,173) Dec 13, 2006 Illinois

    My relatives are in Kansas City, so Boulevard Smokestack is kind of the go-to for them to give to me. I haul New Glarus, Off Color, Surly, Revolution, Half Acre, and a few others that they don't have distro on down there every time I go...
     
    #6 TastyIsBeer, Dec 22, 2014
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  7. PaBrewSki

    PaBrewSki Initiate (0) Apr 23, 2013 Pennsylvania

    Mississippi Mud got opened at a family "white elephant" gift exchange last night. Someone asked me why I didn't steal it. I pretended like I didn't hear them.
     
    #7 PaBrewSki, Dec 22, 2014
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  8. BobBarker

    BobBarker Initiate (0) Apr 23, 2014 Louisiana

    It's hard too when people get disappointed by my beer gifts to them. I always take the persons interests into account, but you cant be perfect when picking new beers for people. I usually try to stray from giving beer as gifts now just because I don't want to disappoint people.
     
    #8 BobBarker, Dec 22, 2014
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  9. Stagga_Lee

    Stagga_Lee Initiate (0) Jul 22, 2014 Massachusetts

    I hate being in the awkward position of being gifted beers I can't deal with...a close friend that I love threw me a Foster's the other night after I shared three $10 to $12 bombers the night before. Again, it's the thought that counts with loved ones. At the same party another close friend tried to trade me a Redd's for my last Mad Elf after I had just finished giving like 8 of them away openly...no way José.
     
    #9 Stagga_Lee, Dec 22, 2014
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  10. creepinjeeper

    creepinjeeper Initiate (0) Nov 8, 2012 Missouri

    Last get together, Stella Artrois was added to the usual suspects of Bud Light Platinum and Busch Light. The fact that someone actually tries to buy stuff they think I will drink, in itself, is an act I am genuinely grateful for. No need to act any differently.
     
    #10 creepinjeeper, Dec 22, 2014
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  11. Shroud0fdoom

    Shroud0fdoom Initiate (0) Oct 31, 2013 Maryland

    I am That Beer Guy! Instead of beer gifts, I just end up finishing everyone else's swill...
     
    #11 Shroud0fdoom, Dec 22, 2014
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  12. starrdogg

    starrdogg Initiate (0) Jun 21, 2010 District of Columbia

    Heh, I was just talking about this with my fiancee last night! It happened as we were cleaning out our fridge and I was, sadly, throwing away some old beer that I'd gotten for my birthday several months ago. I appreciate the thought that comes with these gifts, even if they're not my favorite beers though. And hey, sometimes they provide some diversity from the stuff I usually buy on my own!
     
    #12 starrdogg, Dec 22, 2014
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  13. tobelerone

    tobelerone Grand Pooh-Bah (4,220) Dec 1, 2010 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    If someone gives you ANY gift and says "you'll probably think it's shitty" they either:

    Think you're a snobby asshole OR

    Are too lazy to actually figure out what isn't shitty.

    Sorry - it's nice to get a gift but just because someone's into beer doesn't mean they don't deserve consideration. I wouldn't give a dvd of "the expendables" or some nonsense to someone because I found out they were a film buff! You love opera? Here's Andrea Bocelli's greatest hits, that counts right? Il Divo???
     
    #13 tobelerone, Dec 22, 2014
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  14. Svingjo

    Svingjo Initiate (0) Jul 21, 2012 Canada (BC)

    This used to happen to me, but lately everyone realizes it's pretty hard to get me something I haven't tried so now the trend is bottle openers and such. Which is actually pretty awesome.
     
    #14 Svingjo, Dec 22, 2014
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  15. ChicagoGuy

    ChicagoGuy Initiate (0) Dec 2, 2014 Illinois

    That you don't smash the bottle at their feet is a testament to your saint-like restraint.
     
    #15 ChicagoGuy, Dec 22, 2014
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  16. TonyLema1

    TonyLema1 Pooh-Bah (2,890) Nov 19, 2008 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    My closest allies have seen my beer fridge and pantry...no one buys me beer....ever
     
    #16 TonyLema1, Dec 23, 2014
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  17. reefer_bob

    reefer_bob Savant (1,010) May 13, 2014 California
    Trader

    This is where I typically re-gift the beers to other friends with different tastes than me. :slight_smile:
     
    #17 reefer_bob, Dec 23, 2014
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  18. briandaube

    briandaube Initiate (0) Jun 1, 2012 Delaware

    My brother is the only one that buys me beer and he has just really started getting into better beer. He always tries to find something I haven't had yet and even if I had I'm pretty pumped its free beer man.
     
    #18 briandaube, Dec 23, 2014
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  19. rightcoast7

    rightcoast7 Maven (1,330) Apr 2, 2011 Maine
    Trader

    I rarely receive beer as a gift, but I am often the recipient of every beer-related book, cookbook, humorous t-shirt, weird glassware, etc. ever made. Some are good, though most kind of suck, but as OP said, it's the thought that counts. At least they were thinking about me and what I like, and not getting me, say, a bottle of wine.
     
    #19 rightcoast7, Dec 23, 2014
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  20. Hop-Droppen-Roll

    Hop-Droppen-Roll Initiate (0) Nov 5, 2013 Minnesota

    When my wife opens the hand-carved piece of jewelry I bought her for Christmas, I'm going to intro it with 'You'll probably think it's shitty.'
     
    #20 Hop-Droppen-Roll, Dec 23, 2014
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