Explaining bottle share to newbies

Bring a bottle, share it.

 

Here we go again. Beer is not important. Not everyone has access to "rare" beers. If you can't accept newbies showing up with shelf beer don't put the share out there for anyone that wants to come. There is a great share here called stone soup and there are no requirements of what you bring. Seems to work well.

Enjoy

 

What's to explain? The name says it all: Bottle (Bring a bottle) Share (Share it)

 

I think if you have to ask how to explain "What is a bottle share to a newbie" you probably fall into the "newbie" category yourself. Not that there's anything wrong with that. The whole idea is to share good beer and knowledge with others. And nothing wrong with "shelf" beers at a bottle share. Whoever said bottle shares have to be "rare" beers?
And worrying that others might not bring the quality of beers you plan on bringing goes against everything a bottle share should stand for in the 1st place.

 

I would suggest if you have a group that is just getting into beer, that a great way to get everyone on the same page is to post a particular style to bring and amount (i.e. imperial stout, bring 1 bomber or 2-12oz bottles) and schedule the shares on a rotating basis. If you start these shares by doing a style, people can compare and contrast and learn about beer they haven't had and expand their palates. Some will be more generous with bigger/rarer beers, but this is still fun for all, as it becomes about comparisons and people can come on a day that they like that particular style, so it brings different people together.

 

Nothing about a bottle share necessitates it be rarer beer, people who enjoy beer can have a grand old time sharing shelf beer. Rather than trying to get 90% of the group to hunt down rare beer (when you feel they wouldn't know it from a sixer on the shelf) to bring I'd suggest your efforts are better spent letting the 10% know that lots of people will be bringing shelf beer and to not bring something rare if the thought of sharing it in such a setting upsets them.

Alternatively you could collaborate with the 10% to share some rarer (but not necessarily super rare) beers and use it as an educational opportunity. You say they don't even know what those beers are, or why they're a big deal, take the opportunity to educate a fellow beer advocate. You may be able to either change the nature of the group bottle share or find enough people to do a rare bottle share separate from the normal bottle share.

 

Maybe set a theme like "stouts and other winter beers," to help those noobs know what to bring. If someone shows up with a 6er of Celebration, are you really gonna be mad brah?

 

If the folks who will be coming are genuinely new to the world of flavorful beer, sometimes shelf beers are the best choice.

Simply have the organizer pick several different widely available beers and assign each participant a particular amount of a particular beer to find, buy and bring for sharing. (And let the participants know how to tell if the beer is fresh or not.)

The organizer should also prepare a handout that can be given to each participate that descibes who brewed the beer, what flavors they might find in the beer, and some of the possible food and beer pairings possible for each beer.

 

I live in a small town, Cramerton, about fifteen minutes from Charlotte. This isn't meant to be a brag or anything - but I'm a brewer and I've got around 200 beers in my cellar. I've been asked by three different local groups to participate in bottle shares. I joined in the one I thought would be the most fruitful, but mostly it was me opening C's Better Half, or another grand one-off, for people who had never heard of the brews I was uncapping. Now - this will make me sound like a dick - but when I pop a mega-rare brew, I'd like the folks I'm opening it for to understand the importance of it. I don't attend any of the three groups now. I have - however - attended some shares put on by a chap in SC - and I break out the big hitters for that one. The guys (about 8) all know their shit and all bring great stuff. The organizer, for instance, brought a five year vertical of Dark Lord for our last event.

My advice to you - keep your share simple to start out with. Don't bring anything you'll regret opening for folks unfamiliar with the greats. Snag some easily obtained but lesser known brews and feel the crowd out.

 

Sounds like you just need to adjust your expectations, and not try and change the behavior of the majority who will attend... There is nothing wrong with a shelf beer share - there are so many great beers out there, and a simple share is a great way to try some of them that I might have missed. Hell, even if someone brings a Lagunitas bomber, I can't even remember the last time I had one - I might re-discover a favorite that i have been ignoring because it isn't 'rare' or new...

 

I think OP is opening himself up to a lot of criticism here. It sounds like he's promoting a pretty snob-centric view towards bottle shares, with "important" beers and so on. At the same time, there's a way of making it clear that bottle shares can give newbies a chance to try beers they night not otherwise be able to, and open up their horizons and palates. I've been to plenty of bottle shares that included shelf beers and everyone survived just fine.

EDIT: Can we agree not to call beers "important"?

 

Nope, doesn't sound dick-ish at all. Put it in these terms - if a baseball card collector broke out a Mickey Mantle rookie card in the presence of just, sports fans that wanted to BS about sports stuff, only to have people almost immediately dismiss the card as "meh...... It looks like other cards...." than this is not the proper group for such an enthusiast. While I am not saying you are in need of approval, I will say that you likely want to share the moment with like minded fellows.

Somewhere in that ramble there's a point....just saying that the "ooohs and aaahhs" are part of the excitement. Hell, I can pop open a Heady to no grandeur in my own house.....

*Edit - never been to a bottle share in my life, so never experienced "grandeur".....just saying.

 

@JayORear - agreed. That said, there isn't anything wrong with wanting to do a whale share, but it is usually something you have to organize carefully and communicate in a nice way to people you already know and have done shares with before (pick your audience so to speak).

Just save your whales for next time. I guarantee there will be 3 or 4 like minded people at this 'basic' share (for want of a better term) and you can start up a monthly tasting group or something (that is what I did). There will always be people who just don't trade or whatever is needed to get whales - my best friend isn't into that, but I invite him every time and just cover his bottle with something from my stash - I want to share with my best buddy!

That said, you do have to be aware of what I refer to as "el grande moocher" - the guy who you know has a kick-arse cellar and is always posting pics of the rare beers he is drinking, but rocks up to every share with a shelf turd even when they know others are bringing serious stuff... Incidentally this is often the same guy who pours himself 5 or 6 ounces of the biggest whale at the table and leaves only enough for everyone else to have an ounce or 2... Punch that guy in the face. I hate that guy.

 

Good point. I have a friend who's taking baby steps into craft beer, and I almost always cover for him at shares. He's always grateful to be exposed to new beers and has even started bringing some tasty stuff on his own.

 

If your weary of cracking open rare bottles on people who may not appreciate them, don't bring them to the share! If you are the individual hosting/ organizing the bottle share and are concerned about people bringing low quality beers, make it a requirement that the beer has to have a BeerAdvocate rating of above 90 points. That way everyone's happy. They may not be whales, but at least the beer wont suck!

On a side note, when you are there, take note of individuals who are knowledgeable about the craft. Then, invite them to a smaller bottle share of your own to break open a few rare bottles on people who can appreciate it!

 

You guys make bottle shares really difficult. It is a simple idea, bring beer so share with people. I always tell people if they feel intimidated, or don't have anything they want to bring, just bring a meat and cheese plate or something to eat. There is always WAY to much beer to drink anyway. I have gotten creative with cheese plates before that were as popular as the beer, as well as smoked a brisket. If it is a public share, you really can't complain at what people bring. If it is invite only, ask whoever is hosting what they expect. Not difficult.

Oh, that reminds me, I forgot to post this months Houston Gingerman bottle share...this will be remedied shortly

 

There is no better example of elitism & exclusivity in craft beer than looking down on what people bring to a bottle share or not allowing a newbie to come because their beer is arbitrarily deemed not good enough (' sorry bud, gotta step up your whalez game').
Oh, I get it. Only like minded enthusiasts can appreciate the travails involved in obtaining mega rare brew X. The bottle count. The number of preceding trades needed to eventually land it. The number of limited releases & associated 'challenges' needed for those preceding trades. A newbie might enjoy X as a beer, but they will not appreciate all the other factors. And beer is so much more than about appearance, aroma, taste and feel.