Friends suddenly turn up without beer...

[Doglaner]

Is it just me, or has something changed?

Before I brewed, I was known for liking ale, and when people came round with or without their families, for a bit of banter, a spot of lunch and perhaps an afternoon walk, then they would almost always bring a few beers.

Now, it seems, some have started to come empty-handed, and seem to think that I have a huge stash and they can therefore just tuck in! One recent visitor didn't even ask, either whether it was ok to have one, or whether I'd like one too!

One Christmas I let the in laws know I was bringing some beers, and they drank them all without touching theirs at all, and taking them back home. One of the same in laws a couple of years later started a conversation in November with "I assume you're bringing the beer for Christmas...?" I replied with a rather perfunctory "No." I did bring some, but so did he, and I made sure he drank his own!

Does anyone else experience anything similar? If so, do you care? And if you care, how do you tackle it?

 

[Chippy_Tea]

If you want them to remain friends tell them you have stopped brewing, If I had friends like that I would tell them to feck off as they are not real friends.

 

[dan125]

They must rate your beer though

 

[MyQul]

As chippy says if they're just turning up to drink your beer there not real friends but you could perhaps turn them on to HBing themselves. Offer to go round there house and help them make a brew. Then you might have created a brew buddy who is just as into it as you are

 

[TheRedDarren]

I have also discovered this. Although it seems to only apply to one or two. And as mentioned above, they're not really friends... Nice enough guys, but not real friends.
It's funny, if I bring a load of brews and people don't touch them I think 'ok, maybe they don't taste nice'
If they get gobbled I think 'oi! Cheeky git'
I'm my own worst enemy..!

 

[Brew_DD2]

Start brewing some really weird ****.

 

[Richie_asg1]

You could always brew a spoof batch.

I doubt they would ask for another one after that. You could shrug it off with "I don't know what could have happened there?":whistle:

 

[Spoc]

My friends do this also but I don't mind as when I go to their houses they always get the beer out but they drink fizzy piss lagers so I don't take any

 

[Leon103]

Too be honest I don't get many calling for a beer. Most are scared that it's the dreaded homebrew. If someone was to come over with a few beers but then drank mine and took theirs home I wouldn't be impressed. Not that I would drink their ****e but I could offer it to the next guest who won't touch homebrew. In the garage I have a cupboard full of ****e people have left, most of it out of date.

 

[LarryF]

It's a double edged sword, you want people to appreciate what you've brewed but you don't necessarily want them moving in. What my friends do say is that at about 6% they find my beer too strong for them as they're all pub drinkers and like the usual fizzy p***.

 

[rubby]

You have to choose either your friend or brewing for which the the whole things tuns up.

 

[GHW]

I have a related social awkwardness thing with my dad. He likes my beers mostly (thinks the hoppy pales are too bitter but otherwise ok) but usually drinks whatever crap is on special offer at Tesco (bud, Becks if you're lucky). I used to take say 8 bottles when I went to see the parents for the weekend, four for him, four for me to drink. But he expects that any bottles I take are for him, and I have to drink his crappy lager. So I ended up leaving loads with him.

I've reduced the number I take for him now!

 

[Cwrw666]

I have no friends.:hmm:
Actually I get pretty twitchy when the Mrs666 says she wants a beer instead of her usual wine.

 

[MickDundee]

I have no friends.:hmm:
Actually I get pretty twitchy when the Mrs666 says she wants a beer instead of her usual wine.

My Wife has started blaming me for her buying wine at a weekend. I turn the blame around by reminding her that she's the one that doesn't like beer! I've offered to try to make some wine for her but she declined.

To the OP I have 3 words - ghost chilli porter!

 

[MyQul]

It's a double edged sword, you want people to appreciate what you've brewed but you don't necessarily want them moving in. What my friends do say is that at about 6% they find my beer too strong for them as they're all pub drinkers and like the usual fizzy p***.

I think you've sussed it here, larry. Brew a strong Belgian beer or even something Imperial and give it to some of these 'friends'. The next morning when they wake up in the neighbours hedge, they'll think twice about coming round again to drink all your HB

 

[Joeyriles]

I've encountered the opposite with my friends; I got invited to a BBQ recently and was the toast of the day because I brought along a load of my HB which went down a storm.

My friends are more into their ales than most people and, though they don't home brew (yet), they always provide honest feedback. They're also good lads who usually have full fridges so if you bring beer to theirs there is a chance it won't get consumed in that session.

My best mate, whom I've known since I was about 6 has recently started being better but he used to be infamous for showing up to parties/dinner empty handed and drinking all the beer! This was usually for financial reasons and I suppose you put up with people through thick and thin if they're real friends.

I find people that are interested in beer to be better conversationalists and the drinking of it isn't just done to get completely trollied (though that tends to happen anyway!)

 

[serum]

I don't mind people drinking my beer. I tend to have a big stash

 

[user 16195]

I must be doing something wrong - I can't give mine away :)

 

[Notlaw]

My first couple of batches, I wanted people to try it so I could get opinions. Now I know that I can make something decent, I'm choosy who I let have one. I'll only give them to someone who actually appreciates a decent beer, not someone who thinks John Smith's is an accurate representation of "beer, not lager".

 

[MyQul]

My first couple of batches, I wanted people to try it so I could get opinions. Now I know that I can make something decent, I'm choosy who I let have one. I'll only give them to someone who actually appreciates a decent beer, not someone who thinks John Smith's is an accurate representation of "beer, not lager".

Beer Snob :lol: