Bottle Share Unspoken Tips, Hints & Rules

Great tip---even when drinking solo

Too many times I've opened up something really good when I was already over the cliff....

Something else I thought of:

--it's totally fine at my house / shares to pass on something, or pour it out. Usually I offer my pour to someone else, but pouring a beer isn't frowned upon. Sometimes it just isn't good, or isn't worth the calories haha.

 

Only one rule (assuming these people are your friends):

Drink beer, have good conversations, and don't overthink anything. That is, if Jon brings a six pack of a pilsner literally everyone in the world has had, it's okay. It's Jon. He's your friend.

 

Some great suggestions have already been made, but I'll make some of my own and echo some others. Here goes.

If you're attending:

1) Eat a good meal before you go. Slows down alcohol absorption.

2) DON'T pregame for a beer tasting/bottle share. Though I don't always follow this rule, it's usually not a good look.

3) As many have said, drink a lot of water. It will not only keep you hydrated, but it will slow down your beer consumption AND mitigate your hangover.

4) Be gracious. Respect your host and respect those who have come. Don't open beers that other people have brought unless you ask and are given permission.

5) Most important of all, have fun. Beer is meant to help provide conviviality, not be a means to keep your nose buried in your phone.

Additional tips if you're hosting:

1) Decide how large of a group that you want. Small, intimate tastings are WAY different than large, communal bottle shares.

2) Having food is 100% necessary. It doesn't have to be high end cheeses and charcuterie, but is needs to be something. Pizza is a grand idea. As is having pretzels handy.

3) Don't be afraid to put a time frame on it. Especially if it's at your home. These things can drag on when people get real fucked up.

4) As a host, don't get real fucked up. Again, I don't always follow this rule.

5) Realize that it is a reality that you might have to provide a place to crash for some of your guests. I wouldn't encourage it, especially if you haven't met some of your guests, but nobody wants a DUI or worse on their conscience.

6) Think STRONGLY about having a theme not just BRING ALL UR WHALEZ, BROS!

There are certainly others, but those should get you in the ballpark

 

I don't know, I think some people get way to involved in what you can and can't do/bring to a bottle share. I use to host a monthly share at a bar that was nice enough to allow it. This went on for at least 8 years until it finally had its day. Though the only rules where to bring something the bar doesn't have, buy something from the bar, and tip well.

Other than being reasonable and not a drunk idiot, that is it.

As a tip, I will say you can never have enough food. So if someone is coming and doesn't think they have the "ammo" or you know there is already going to be to much beer, just have them bring food and water/soft drinks. There was a share, that was intentionally meant to be more of a whale tasting. Normally I am against this as I want my regular shares to be as inclusive as possible, but it was with only a few close friends and not the typical ones I set up. I knew I wasn't going to be able to bring anything on their level. Instead, there is a great cheese shop in my neighborhood. I was able to create a cool cheese tasting to go along with the beer. Years later people still talk about the 15 year old aged cheddar from Hook that I brought, and don't even remember the whales

 

There used to be (maybe still is?) a weekly tasting at a local bar (Fatheads) on the Southside and those were certainly the rules there as well.

 

Nice backhanded way to out Jon

Nothing new to add, but will reinforce a few suggestions above that I agree with:

• I'd start with friends and consider their level of good beer enthusiasm
• Consider number of attendees so each person has enough of each beer to actually taste and (hopefully) enjoy it
• Consider focus; is it too drink the beers as an excuse to get together or really discuss the beers you're drinking? Plan food accordingly.
• Appropriately, think ahead for glassware, water, and the process of transitioning to each new beer (glass cleansing, proper glassware [if desired for smaller groups], etc)

Mainly common sense for these suggestions, but just a couple things to think about. Lots of other posters have mentioned good ideas on etiquette.

 

most things have already been stated, but one thing I would reiterate is to set a them/expectation. If you plan on opening some really special/rare beers, let people know its more of a high end/whale share, etc. Saves you from people feeling awkward/annoyed when someone doesn't contribute much

 

What kind of bottle shares you go to? Haha

 

I do this frequently in my group. If we discuss buying a beer on the secondary market or getting a proxy to get a beer/set of beers to share, we will split cost among attendees.

 

I've heard of this being done as well, but have never encountered it personally. More applicable when a LOT of money's being spent on wickedly rare or hard to get beers. For "normal" tastings, it's massive overkill.

 

The wife and I host on average 1 bottle share a month at the house and this is the best post here.

 

Interesting thread.

My best friend typically brings the B sides over for my shares whIle I'm reaching into the cellar elbow deep, pulling the A sides and this kind of pisses me off since he has a massive collection (can you say hoarding?) at home that have never seen the light of day. It's definitely a dick move and point of contention.

 

He's your best friend with a deep A class cellar. He doesn't share those bottles even when it's just the 2 of you hanging out? I can respect him not take his very best beers to a larger share where he may get none or 2oz max of something super rare he tracked down. Just wondering if he just hordes and doesn't share with anyone (i.e. his best friends).

 

Yeah, I don't think he shares his best beers with anyone. Hes more into cellaring and hoarding. He's fallen into the trap of being a beer collector and for lack of a better phrase, 'it's another feather in his neckbeard.'

The only problem is - these ain't baseball cards!!!

 

This mindset always made me wonder, because beer is perishable. You can only collect certain beers and for certain (usually limited) amounts of time.

 

Depending on the size of the share, folks gotta realize that not everybody is gonna get to try everything. It's OK to pass on a beer (for me, coffee and pumpkin beers don't get a second look). We've got one coming up where there might be 60 people. If you miss out on something (and, you will) don't worry, another bottle is being opened as we speak.

 

My name is Dick, has been all of my life. Well, since Dickie..Just don't be one!