What would you do?

[MeridianFC]

Here's the situation. Whenever we have office related parties I am always put in charge of the booze. People know my rabid love of beer, knowledge of spirits, and I also worked in the past as a manager of restaurant/bar (as well as waiter, bartender, etc). Anyhow these things come up a couple of times a year, some small some big. Tonight there is a party for about 20-30 people for a long time employee's going away. Very casual. Say you have about $200 to spend, what do you buy. The $200 has to include some wine, maybe liquor, n/a drinks, and ice. You can maybe go a little over, but you'll be looking good if you come in on or under budget. Food is being taken care of by someone else.

In these circumstances, where I'm buying for someone else (I probably won't even make the party as I'm working late), and I have to balance "bang for the buck" by being fiscally responsible with the Co.'s $ but knowing it's my rep on the line (everyone knows I buy the drinks) it's a fine line to walk. I'm sure some wags will say "go out and by 20 bottles of World Wide Stout" or some such nonsense but let's be real. I am proud to say in my 6 years here I have never purchased AB or Miller products (trust me that Coors is not an option), except one occasion where I was ordered to, and to be fair it made sense for that event. Though I still grit my teeth when I think of it.

I can say I have been complimented on several occasions for my choice and/or selection, and I'm here to tell you I wasn't serving Fat Tire or exotic bottle conditioned English ales.

For the purpose of this excercize remember the rest of the world is not like us. Ah, those poor deluded non beer obsessed people. In addition you are not expected to provide "atomic party everyone gets freaky with the cheese whiz" levels of alcohol. Party runs 8-11pm (at the latest). Guests are mid 20s-early 40s. White collar, more or less.

So what choices do you make and why. I'll post what I've done at the end.

[chazwicke]

Liberty Ale, Sierra Nevada PA, Maybe some Sam Adams for the novices.

[Stodbrew]

For beer, I would probably buy some Pilsner Urquell for the people who like lighter beers. Not that it's flavorless, it's a great beer, in fact, but it is something that can teach them that beer can be good. Sam Adams would be a good choice, too, for the same reason. And I'm definitely in agreement with Chaz about the SNPA.

[hopjack13]

20-30 and 200$ does everyone drink? if so they'll probably want to have 3-6 beers a piece. at worst case senario you have 30 people who would like to have 6 beers each, that $1.11 for each person. but you not just buying beer...hmmm.
okay 10 bottles of wine , you can get a workable wine for around $6 a bottle . then a half gallon of the hard stuff to spike the punch with. then that leaves you roughly $100 dollars for beer! or if you wanted to throw in some champane you could go $50/50
3 or 4 bottle of champagne at $13 a bottle then a couple cases of uquell or snpa or both. i bought a case of urquell fo $26 last weekend but only $50 for beer is going to be kinda tuff. you could cut back the wine to give you a little more or serve one or the other instead of both to make up for it, don't know if that helped ? i know nothing of wine , champagne or the hard stuff. but good luck!

[chazwicke]

I did think of Urquell too. I just know there has been much discussion here about it's inconsistancy. I had a superbly fresh bottle of it at Rosewood Grille in Vegas last Sunday evening with dinner. PU goes very well with lobster.

[hopjack13]

AHHH that sound good! im getting hungry, maybe it's just me but i have never noticed any inconsistances in urquells taste..ever.

[chazwicke]

sooner or later you'll get an old one. You'll know it when you do.

[hopjack13]

i guess urquell doesn't age well huh?

[chazwicke]

And there is lots of talk about it being lightstruck and I believe it sometimes is. But it is one awesome beer when fresh. I visited Pilsen and the brewery once.

[hopjack13]

i'll bet the urquell was better then what we get here , probably more verity too afa pilsners, at leat real pilsners?

[chazwicke]

Same trip I visited the brewery where real Bud is made. There was a wedding party going on at the brewery and we drank with them.

[hopjack13]

me and my brother in law did that once at the bona venture in downtown l.a. we were up on the roof drinking beer and someone reported us to security so we jumped on the frieght elevator and ended up on some floor at someones wedding, where we drank beer and ate! not quite the same thing as you adventure though, but L.A. sure is beautiful at night from that high and that close.

[chazwicke]

I have not been to LA in a few years. Last time was overnight and half a day on my way to Hawaii. I was In San Diego last summer though.

[hopjack13]

have you been to o'brains in s.d. i hear they have alpine there and that the exponential hoppieness is to die for.

[chazwicke]

No I don't think I have been there.

[hopjack13]

one of the best pubs in s.d. i hear, but sadly i've not been there either..... yet

[chazwicke]

I enjoyed the SD Brewing company. They had one cask on and a very large selection on tap.

[MeridianFC]

This thread sure veered into the infinite! ;)

Anyhow here's what I did:

1 case Dominion Ale
1 case Becks

3 Bottles red wine (syrah, merlot, cab sav)
3 Bottles white wine (pinot gris, 2X chard.)

1 bottle premium vodka

case of bottled water (still)

sodas (IBC rootbeer, Organgina, Coke, Dr. Brown's various)

ice

I always try to get one tasty middle of the road ale (Red Hook, SNPA, Anchor, Sam Adams, etc.). When I can I chose Dominion simply because it's a local product. Think global drink local.

I then like to get one lager. If I've gone off the immediately recognizable namebrand path with the ale, I go "mainstream" with the lager or vice versa. Pilsner Urquel would probably have been my choice but it was significantly more expensive. In addition I don't think it's as good as it used to be.

I really take something Michael Jackson said to heart. You can't take people drinking Bud (insert other crap macro here) and expect them to experiement with micros/imports by going "hey, Bud sucks why don't you drink some good beer". Gently guide, step by baby step in the "right" direction. A little taste of something as safe as Becks instead of Bud, Miller or even Heinecken and you might bring up the idea of Paulaner, Brooklyn Pils, Tupper's Pils, etc. Well that's my philisophy anyways.

[Theakston]

So what was left.....if anything?
Did anything run out?
Whenever I've organized parties I always overdo it. I expect everybody to drink more than they do.
Funnily enough I never had this problem when I lived in England!

[fretlessman71]

Now I see how hopjack and chazwicke beefed up their post scores! ;)

I think you made a great choice. I agree with your philosophy about not bashing Bud drinkers over the head with good beer right off the bat. You can't DRAG them over to our side; you have to LURE them... like a good fly fisherman. It's just that the bait is a lot tastier than a damned hook! Plus you've made a friend, not dinner...

Please do tell us how this all turned out! This would be a good lesson for the rest of us!

[MeridianFC]

There was a little less than a twelve pack of Becks left. Good sign I say. The wine was just about right as it's all gone, but apparently not till near the end of the affair.

People seemed to have had a good time. I haven't gotten any, nor did I really expect, comments on the beverage this time around. Well actually someone commented on how much they liked the n/a Sparkling Pear Cider (Knuddsen's). It is pretty tasty.

Overall I'm pretty satisfied as some of these folks, while thet will drink micro, usually are picking PBR, Bud, or Yuengling (we can debate the merits of Yeungling elsewhere).

[fretlessman71]

Elsewhere (http://www.realbeer.com/discussions/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2317) it is! Stop by and say hello. :)

[chazwicke]

The Dominion was a great choice. Being here in our backyard and under nearly every local restraunt's private label I some times overlook them. They are a large operation too and have a wide distribution. I do often buy Bob and Ellie Tuppers beers which Old Dominion contracts because they are great beers. Especially the Ale. (Not to mention They are friends of mine) .

[fretlessman71]

I wish I could get all of the good stuff YOU guys get... Nashville just sucks! We're getting out of here!

I wonder what market has the greatest selection; i.e., more choices than any other? I think Nashville would be towards the bottom of the list...

[chazwicke]

I have to say, we are kind of spoiled here. we have an amazing selection if you know the right paint stores to hit in DC Virginia and Maryland.

[fretlessman71]

Personally, I can't wait to be spoiled in CO again... beer selection, here I come!

[chazwicke]

Yes, it sure seems to be another mecca for micros.

[fretlessman71]

I've even thought about buying that Lesko book and getting a grant for opening my own brewery... think it could work?

[fretlessman71]

(Hey... you still have that book? ;) )

[chazwicke]

I just might but it is an old one. I got it in the 80s. Probably outdated now. But he did have some suggestions that made sense.

[fretlessman71]

Hmmm... the idea of taking other people's hard earned tax dollars and using it to my benefit doesn't sit well with me, come to think of it... guess I'll just have to win PowerBall....

[chazwicke]

Good luck on that! Hey I better speed it up here. Your gaining on me!

[fretlessman71]

I thought this wasn't a RACE....... :D

[hopjack13]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
Hmmm... the idea of taking other people's hard earned tax dollars and using it to my benefit doesn't sit well with me
wouldn't sit well with me either...but if it was in my hands.......well i think i could get over the $hit! ya know

[chazwicke]

I looked at the book back then but never took any action. I built my fortune on my own. But I do think a study of English pubs is in order.

[fretlessman71]

Fortune? Something that you're not telling us, chaz? ;)

[chazwicke]

I meant to say I have been fortunate :D