I attended an awesome bottle share last night and I got to thinking, which is better? Hosting the share or being the guest? On one hand, when you host, the best part is you can drink to your heart's content without worrying about driving. But then there's the responsibility of feeding everyone or, at the very least, cleaning up all the bottles, cans and glassware at the end or next day. On the other hand, when you're the guest, you have to watch your intake especially if you're driving. But it's also a lot of fun to go to other people's nice homes and there's often creative and delicious food. I'm not a good cook, and my house is not the most ideal for hosting, so it's kind of an even split for me. What say you?
I'd rather host at somebody else's house. I could supply the beer and a Crock-Pot of chili. My place just isn't set up for entertaining.
My place is not great for hosting if the wife and kids are in town so I chose guest but when I’m able to I have had some decent bottle shares in the past.
Guest For beer, I'd much rather be a guest. The issue for me comes down to two questions: How much beer do I have to buy, and how hard is it to find the good stuff? I'm lazy enough that I'd rather hunt for 2-3 bottles and join in the fun than have to potentially buy 5-10 beers to make sure the night is covered. Of course, here in Houston I could probably find plenty of the good stuff in just 1-2 locations, so rounding up 10+ beers wouldn't be impossible. Still, I'd rather be a willing and generous participant than host.
Host The price of charcuterie and maybe brats/burgers/hotdogs pales in comparison to the freedom that you have when in your own home to relax and just have a fun, relaxing time with your mates and drink some fantastic beers.
While the group has mostly broken up over the years, we used to host at least one share a month, and we mostly just used the garage behind the house. I don't mind traveling, but I'm only good for about 3 hours before it's time to go.
Oh, it likely wouldn't, but I'd still want to be ultra-prepared for my own peace of mind. Plus, I could be an extra special host by sending friends home with a bottle we didn't get to.
There's something to be said for drinking in the comfort of your own home. Rideshares have cut back on having to keep pours tiny, but it's still easier/cheaper to crash in your own bed. I don't always like the cleanup, but unless your friends are throwing down like it's a 90's college party it's not that bad. On the food side of things, some people really like to cook. I have some friends that'll cook a full spread even at someone else's house. Ask around, there might be someone in your group like that.
Host, but you only invite people that you would invite over for other reasons as well. If I don't think I'd enjoy you as a guest for a cook-out or game night, you're definitely not coming over to for an event where drinking is the focus. Learned my lesson the hard way! Just because you've got an awesome cellar doesn't mean your someone I want in my home.
Yeah, we had one of those guys who loved to bring over steaks he'd dry aged himself and cook them up for everyone. If any of you used to line up at *the* Binny's for Bourbon County, Taco Tim and my friend are the same guy.
I think it depends, if it’s just my close beer nerd friends I’d prefer to host because I know they’ll be happy regardless of the food I provide, really don’t need to impress anyone etc and when it’s over I’m in bed and asleep 10 min, after they leave. I think if it’s big groups and a lot of people I don’t know, I’d rather be away from my house. Just kinda have some anxiety when alot of strangers are in my home. One of the best bottle shares I went to was sitting in a guys unfinished basement in complete disarray sitting at an old table in lawn chairs with a few hunting rifles and ammo cluttering up the table between the growlers and assorted can bottles we brought over of high end/whales types of beers. Was only 4-5 people if I recall. Crockpot of chili and deer balogna and cheese and crackers was the 4 course meal. I took a picture of the table because it was kinda surreal visual. Definitely not a pretentious crowd.
I’m good either way. As a host I’m only inviting peeps i know and want to hang with, I am good for you to bring a guest as I trust you to only bring people that will mesh. I can provide snacks and cook if needed. I will grill any day of the year. As a guest I won’t go too far away unless I know I have a bed and I don’t really want to stay unless your an old friend , crashing at strangers homes went out for me when I turned 25 or so. If I ever go to the great bottle share in Wisconsin I think I would be good staying over even though I don’t know anyone that well. BA folk seem to be pretty good people. I would be quite happy to man the grill and turn out food. I would also hope for a bon fire as I am known by some as the fire king. Won’t happen in 26 but maybe in 27 before I flee the country. Would be a great time I think. Enjoy
Hosting a bottle share with a few close friends is a sweet little madhouse, calm enough to savor but wild enough to keep the blood moving. You can stretch out, loosen the belt, and let the bottles fall where they may while the night drifts on in quiet delirium. But when it mutates into a full blown beer orgy, when six year old stouts are being poured like blood from a sacrificial chalice and lambic is being fired mouth to mouth like some deranged communion, I want no part of ownership. That is when I prefer to lurk as a guest, to revel in the madness until the floor starts to tilt and then vanish into the dark, doing the walk of shame at my own discretion while someone else tends to the wreckage of the altar.
Host. We have a great house for entertaining, plus I can pick the music, the food, and create a great evening for everyone. Not having to drive is a plus, but the counterbalance is there’s always that one dude that stays too long. Cleaning the glassware is the biggest negative.
Wrong! I've been to a few shares where the host gets sick, then declares it over and everyone leaves.
I enjoy both hosting and attending. As OP points out, there are benefits to both. There is also a third option, which is a varient of attending. That is finding a business ( resturant or bar ), that is willing to host. I think what I enjoy most is being part of a very active share group that has frequent shares. Hosting has the added benefit of giving back to the group. On a side note: ride shares are an option to ensure you have a safe share.
