Rolling The Dice

[hops99]

So, I dropped my daughter off this afternoon at her friend's dad's house for a cookout. I'd never met him before, and when I pulled into the driveway, I saw a bunch of 7 year old girls playing, and two guys standing by the grill. We did the introductions, and the inevitable happened; he asked me if I wanted a beer.

Now, he was a very decent guy, but I think we've all been in that position where you're offered a beer and are fairly certain that you'll get a bottle (or can - even worse) of macro crap. At that stage, do you politely decline (and subsequently look like an unappreciative and antisocial jackass), or do you roll the dice (and subsequently choke down whatever he gets you)?

Not one to be a jackass, I accepted the offer, and he proudly came back with an "ice-cold" Coors Light. Ugh. I haven't had a Silver Bullet in at least 7 or 8 years, but I chugged it down.

Two main questions:
1) What would YOU do in that situation, fellow craft beer hound?
2) Is it just me, or is Coors Light quite possibly the WORST macro out there (at least the most tasteless...)? I had to rush home and down a couple of Bell's Oberons just to feel right again...

[b3s]

drink a beer and chit-chat for a bit...unless it's natural light, then claim that you don't want to be pulled over ;)

[Daren]

Just drink it and be happy he offered you a beer. Don't be a "beer snob."

[toneyc]

Having had one DWI, I politely decline, secure in the knowledge that I have plenty of beer to drink at home. If pressed for an explanation, I will explain how much one DWI cost and that I cannot afford another.

:) Toney.

[steveh]

I guess if I knew I wasn't sticking around, I'd have declined the offer. If I'd been invited to the cookout, more than likely I'd have brought my own stash.

S.

[Bman]

Honor is at stake here- I would have refused the beer-But my first question would have been what kind?

A man or a woman must have honor (onore for you Soprano buffs)-I will not chuck my standards out for anyone-period.

As John Mellencamp once sang "You gotta stand for something-or you will fall for anything"

A beer in the hand is better than two in the fridge

[threecb]

I agree with bman, above. I would've asked what kind, then politely declined.
Perhaps with a little humor poking fun at my "beer snobbishness".

Sorry, but you have to draw a line somewhere!

[b3s]

well, let me put a different spin on it...i draw the line at insulting or snubbing the parents of my daughter's friends. i can rush home and have a homebrew and wallow in my beer snobbiness afterwards...but if i'm a snob at the parents home of my daughter's friend, she may not be invited back.

there comes a time where you have to pinch hit...take one for the team...i'd do that for my daughter any day of the week and twice on sunday.

[Bman]

wow-is this the kind of people you would want to hang out with your daughter? I mean if people are not going to invite yor daughter back because you decline a beer that is offered?

You might want to think about that.

Do not sell you and your daughter short because you declined a Coors Light-perhaps if you would have declined it-it may have lead to a discussion on the merits of good beer-and perhaps you would have converted him to the cause.

A good beer is good, a great beer great- a bad beer is bad no matter how you have to take one to the team-do not give in-ever

[Richard English]

I think that, had I been asked whether I'd like a drink, I'd have asked in return (politely) "...Thanks, what have you got...?" If it's just chemical fizz, then accept just the one. But you never know, the man just might be an enthusiast who keeps chemical fizz for that taste-deprived majority that will usually visit his house.

I did this recently expecting to be offered the usual can of John Smith's (the majority of beer drinkers in the UK have no taste for good beer, you might be surprised to learn - Budweiser is our best-selling bottled beer). However, I was offered a bottle of Hook Norton - so I had several!

[hopjack13]

i agree with richard, except just one and "roll the dice" upon meeting someone for the first time an offering of a beer is a gesture of goodwill , excepting it is the same (more so on your part if you get swill , but no one is above common courtesy) first impressions tend to last a while and thinking of your daughter first is always the right thing to do. being unselfish is an admirable trait. however if you've already met this person before then by all means be a snob . you don't have to worry about a first impression ,and if they have swill beer they'll never offer it again. this has happened to me before i usually except it and hold it for the duration of the event. then before i leave, find somoewhere to dump it without any body seeing, like the restroom.

[S.F.B.]

Very interesting replies and insight.

While I am a lover of good beer and can be snobbish about it, I don't feel I am less so if I accept a can of something less than my normal brew. If meeting the person for the first time, I politely enquire as to what kind of beer he has. There are some that are better than others. If it is one that I can tollerate, I will accept. If not, I tell them in a nice way, that I do not care for that brand. I have found this to strike up a good conversation about different beers and lead to someone trying some of the good stuff.

Now, if it is someone that knows me, they won't even bring a mass produced fizzy to my house. I will always take my own to their house. They expect that from me.

[brewmonkey]

Politely decline. Nothing wrong with that at all, no need to ask what they have. This isnt High School or College where peer pressure rules. If you think they may have something you do not want no harm in saying, thanks but no thanks.


If someone is willing to judge you on wether or not you accept their beer then I say move on. If someone would judge you based on the offer of a beer (unlikely) then I don't think I want my kids playing with theirs. It'a a family value thing, if dad judges based on a drink offer then what are the kids learning in that house?

[chazwicke]

I think I would politely decline as well. Although I fortunately have never had this happen. I might say, upon seeing him produce a can of macroswill light, "You know, I think maybe just a drink of water would actually be better right now." and hopefully he would never be the wiser. If he did question me further then I would come clean and tell him that I am a collector of beer and prefer not to drink that brand. I might invite him over to my house and let him have a peek in my beer fridge. I think then he would get the idea.