Sharing a nice beer and getting no feedback

It's common courtesy to say its good, even if it isn't, so I wouldn't put much faith in the feedback.

 

Last night I shared a bottle of Friek from Odell with my father-in-law. After about 10 minutes I asked him what he thought, all I got was "Ehh."

 

I get this all the time from my cousin. I've given him Two-Hearted, Dales Pale Ale, Jai Alai, Fat Tire, Dead Guy Ale, Stone PA, Fuller's London Porter, to name a few, and what's the reply I always get when I ask him how it is?

*shrug* "It has alcohol in it."

 

Biff, I have the same issues on a regular basis. Usually as part of some type of "shindig" we are throwing. I go all out to have a good selection of beers...and there are a few that are "meh" about the whole thing. I guess we can't expect everyone to enjoy beer like we do. I just try to enjoy the company and feedback of those with a better beer pallet when the opportunity arises.

 

Opening a beer isn't the same as cooking someone a meal IMO.

 

I've shared a couple of brews with friends, one likes IPAS, but doesn't like DIPAs. One hates IPAs but loves Belgians. I love it when they give me their honest feedback. The old "it has alcohol in it" phrase, don't take it too heavy hearted. I was that guy years ago. Now I appreciate good beer. Low or high gravity. Find that right brew and you will get that positive feedback.

 

To bad your not around me. I need some BA friends. I feel the same way

 

I get the impression that the person in question isn't a beer geek. So if you'd given them a bud would you expect positive feedback on that too?

 

I can't relate because I know who my friends are, and what they drink. The one who drinks nothing but coors light will not be impressed by a vertical, waxed dipped, barrel aged, imperial saison, so why would I bother giving him one?

If he shares a coors light with me, should I say "hmmm, I can really taste the water in this years release"?

 

1. "Can anyone relate to this?" Yes. Usually when I hear nothing, I assume they don't like it but they're saying nothing just to be polite. Thankfully, however, many of my friends also love craft beer so that sort of response is rare.
2. "Am I overreacting?" Maybe. It's a fair question, for sure, but I'd personally rather have silence than, "Eww, this isn't beer! [Busch Lite] is beer!" which is exactly what happened when my mom tried a Founder's Porter; one of my favorites.
3. "Isn't it common courtesy when someone cooks a meal, shares a beer, glass of wine, whatever to provide some sort of feedback, even if it's negative?" I guess that depends? I personally feel that giving negative feedback to someone's cooking is ruder than carrying on conversation without a word about it, but I think that depends on the person and their upbringing/background. I've known of people that really liked something and still kept silent, so that's not always bad, either.

 

That would definitely be frustrating I feel, but you also have to know and appreciate the taste of your audience.

 

I'll be bringing some Pliny and Heady to a few friends this weekend, I'm pretty optimistic that they will enjoy them. Also a few homebrews and they better lie and say they like'em.

 

You got feedback. Good/"nice" beer is not about price, waxed caps, or "bottle shares."

 

When my computer development savvy friend waxes poetic about the capabilities of Drupal in creating framework, I usually reply the same way your friends do about your beer. Needless to say, I don't offer him waxed bottles of beer, I save those for people that like beer.