So.. your neighbor comes by and drinks one of your beers...

[fuelish]

At least he didn't say it tasted almost as good as Old Milwaukee!

Or Milwaukee's Best ... to quote a river guide from our rafting trip through the Grand Canyon, "The beer with the lie on the label"

 

[branman]

I've had this problem. However, my thinking has changed.

I now focus - I do this to brew beer that I like, and to find the best recipes for me. I will, however, go out of my way to brew something my wife likes, or at times I will brew something in style for friends or family.

However, if I haven't made something specifically for someone or a group of someones, I try my best not to care if they like it. Yeah, I'd like for everyone to like everything I brew, but that won't happen.

If my neighbor dislikes my brew, despite the blood, sweat, and tears (or water, hops, and barley... and tears) I put into it, I smile and give him one of the next batch if he wants to try it.

Can't change his tastes or his thinking, only my own.

I agree with this, as far as my homebrew goes its ALL about me being my wife doesn't drink period. But I do like to share with others, craft and non-craft drinkers alike. Sometimes they like them sometimes they don't I usually have a few Millers on hand just in case. To be honest I like the scepticism as long as the person has some knowledge of different beer styles and tastes. Otherwise.. grab them a Miller lol

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[soccerdad]

I live in a small town and have a good sense of who drinks craft beer versus who drinks lite beer. The craft drinkers (mostly my fam and the club members) will give me an honest assessment and know what to look for in color, smell and taste. With the lite drinkers i tend to start off saying, "you might not like this", but also, if I have a Cream Ale or Centennial Blond i will offer it as an alternative to a darker more robust beer.

 

[Jupapabear]

I feel like you have to keep the context of the situation. I gave one of co workers a sixer to take home one weekend and he came back to work telling me it tasted exactly like Bud Light. From him, that's a damn good compliment. It didn't taste like that to me, but I was happy nonetheless

Jupapabear

 

[Homercidal]

I don't see the problem. He didn't say he didn't like your beer. He said it wasn't his favorite. It wasn't the ONE beer that he liked above all others. Big deal. I make a lot of different beers and NONE of them are my favorite. If I had a favorite, it probably wouldn't be most of them.

So did you ask him what his favorite is?

 

[Remmy]

And it's a fresh keg. A simple, but very enjoyable recipe, and you say... "I think this is the best beer I brew."

His reaction.... "Really?!?!.... this isn't my favorite."

You know what went into the beer you brewed. It's a balanced beer.

What is your thought at that moment?

I know how you feel.

I wouldn't hold it against your neighbor. Hell, I gave my neighbors (two, different neighbors) half-a-case each of assorted home brews. While they both drank every beer, one of them texted me and told me his two favorite beers are Corona and Shock Top. Fine.

I'll be brewing a beer similar to Shock Top early this summer so I can give him the entire batch. He just got a new, sick in-ground pool and I'd like to bring some beer over the first day it opens for business.

 

[LLBeanJ]

Normally I ask what they normally drink/like and steer them from there.

This ^ right here.

I never just blindly hand someone one of my brews and hope for the best. First, I ask them what they like, as in "Do you like light, dark, hoppy, wheat? What do you normally drink?" Once they've answered, I give them something I think they'll enjoy and 9 times out of 10 they will have very positive comments about the beer.

 

[Clonefan94]

I have a friend who is mainly a Bud light drinker. He does venture off the beaten path though and has tried all of my beers. He actually has even called me and said, "I have a taste for one of your Ambers, have any on tap?" (Huh, just thought about it, I hope that isn't a backhanded compliment on my part about my Amber. Does it taste like BMC?) Oh well, anyways, I usually have the Amber on tap, then an IPA of varying recipes and then kind of a beer of the month type thing. Sometimes it's a porter, brown ale, basic pale ale, etc.

I had brewed a Black IPA that I was pretty high on. Really nice flavor of the darker malts, and it balanced nicely with the hops. I had another friend who had tried it and he also liked it. Well, when I gave it to the first friend, he said, "Hmm, this isn't my favorite." So, a very similar response to the OP.

I really didn't take it personally, I know from experience that his first choice is always Bud Light, then he'll drink beers similar to my Amber, little hoppy, little malty, but in general an easy drinking beer as opposed to anything too flavorful one side or another. And the guy really doesn't enjoy darker beers in general. So it really was no surprise.

If I didn't know this already, I probably would have asked him what his favorite beers are. That's usually a good clue to what's going on. In the end though, I brew beer that I like to drink. I have definitely brewed a stinker or two and a couple of not so great beers, but over all, I tend to brew beer that I really like to drink. That's what's important to me, that I enjoy them.

Sometimes I actually wish I brewed more beers my friends don't enjoy drinking. My supply gets hit pretty hard when they are over, so even if they aren't their favorites, they still tend to drink them. And I really don't think it's a "Free Beer" issue as we all tend to supply the beer for our own houses when people are over. And I always keep a 12 pack of bud light and miller lite in the fridge for those who really don't go outside their comfort zone. And I usually only have to buy those once or twice a year.

 

[jonmohno]

If ya send me one of your bottled beers, Ill give an honest opinion for ya.

 

[schematix]

When I am having someone sample a beer I never set expectations. I may explain the style or compare it to other commercial examples but I don't try to steer their mind beforehand about the greatness of what they are about to experience. Also, if someone isn't a beer enthusiast I more or less ignore their opinion. If they're expecting a light american lager they came to the wrong place most of the time.

I haven't met a person yet that doesn't drink the heck out of the generic 5% german lagers I make (proof it's yummy). However, an IPA, amber or something darker doesn't suit everyone and that's ok. You could give me the best meatloaf in the world and I likely will find it unpalatable because it's not something I have a taste for.

 

[hunter306]

Personally, I'd appreciate the fact he felt like he could give you an honest opinion.

I hate sharing my beer with people and having them just tell me it was 'good'. What'd you like about it? What wasn't great?

It's pretty rare to get a straight critique from people you're giving free beer (in my experience).

 

[Billy-Klubb]

And it's a fresh keg. A simple, but very enjoyable recipe, and you say... "I think this is the best beer I brew."

His reaction.... "Really?!?!.... this isn't my favorite."

You know what went into the beer you brewed. It's a balanced beer.

What is your thought at that moment?

I had a similar situation. after reading everyone's comments, I might not have handled mine in a diplomatic manner: I kicked him in the berries, jammed the picnic faucet in his mouth, and held it wide open after bumping the pressure to 25psi. and I kept yelling, "How do you like it now?!? You like it now, don't you little piggy?!? Drink it! Drink it ALL!!! SU-EY!!!!" then I started beating him with a half thawed turkey. and that was the last time I ever let anyone try my RIS.:rockin:

 

[Braufessor]

Personally, I'd appreciate the fact he felt like he could give you an honest opinion.

I hate sharing my beer with people and having them just tell me it was 'good'. What'd you like about it? What wasn't great?

It's pretty rare to get a straight critique from people you're giving free beer (in my experience).

This^^^

I would take it as a rare opportunity to maybe get some honest feedback from someone. The vast majority of the time friends and family nod, smile and say it is "great" - even if it is not. Fish for some clarity -

*Do you not enjoy this style?
*Is it a style you normally like and there is something that you don't like about this one?
*Any honest feedback would be great.

Not saying you have to brew to please someone else's preferences, but nothing wrong with the possibility of some constructive feedback.

Worst case scenario is he is someone that only likes BMC in cans, and does not have much useful to offer. If that is the case, give him a Bud unless you happen to have a wheat, or something light on tap.

 

[Paps]

I've gotten some responces from some hardcore natty-ice drinkers.
I just view it as they don't have a clue as to what real beer is.

 

[istuntmanmike]

I made a fantastic black IPA. Most of my friends either don't drink beer, or drink watered down piss beer. Suffice it to say, they don't like 100+ IBU of my delicious blackness

I take it as a compliment that they don't like my beer, because they'd say the same things about any other IPA they'd try. It just means more for me to drink. And since I'm brewing to have exactly what I want, when I want, I really don't see the problem.

The friends of mine who also love IPAs love it. Win-win.

Also, when I brew something like a hef or Irish red, the aforementioned friends love them. So it's really just making something they're used to, or is close enough to what they drink, or is a style that newbie palates can accept.

 

[smccarter]

This board is so funny...

 

[TheBrewingBear]

And it's a fresh keg. A simple, but very enjoyable recipe, and you say... "I think this is the best beer I brew."

His reaction.... "Really?!?!.... this isn't my favorite."

You know what went into the beer you brewed. It's a balanced beer.

What is your thought at that moment?

My general process for serving a beer is to first offer choices, if any. IE: Would you like an American blonde, a German amber, or an English stout? I will describe the sytles if they give me a blank stare. This lets them pick one that sounds good/interesting or ask questions.

Once they select a beer, I'll usually pour one for me and keep quiet. This gives them the chance to comment without any bias. By saying "I think this is the best beer I brew", it could be the expectations were too high.

His response could mean a bunch of things, and I wasn't there to ask follow up questions. Asking what he likes and doesn't like would help you brew a better beer for him -- if that's your goal. Heck, we all have different tastes. I've brewed beers I had half a mind to dump, but others praised them.

Look at the bright side: your neighbor will be less likely to drink what you consider your best batch if you have something else on tap.

I wish my neighbor thought that way about my best batches. That $#@& face always drinks my best batches leaving me with the not my favorites.

 

[branman]

^^^ lol, I like the different outlooks on this thread. Gives so many perspectives by wich I all I think have truth.

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[CountryGravy]

I take it as a compliment that they don't like my beer, because they'd say the same things about any other IPA they'd try. It just means more for me to drink. And since I'm brewing to have exactly what I want, when I want, I really don't see the problem.

YES! This.

 

[Weezy]

You forgot to ask if they like craft beer before you poured.

If he says no or "I like Blue Moon," you give him a 2 oz pour and an unopened can of BMC at the same time. You let him decide if he wants more homebrew without asking. If he pops the BMC can, he wasn't that impressed with the home brew. If he liked the homebrew he might suggest a fill and to put the can back in the fridge.

 

[balrog]

I love it when I get honest feedback. I love it when someone enjoys my hobbys' results, whether homebrew, woodworking or photography. And although I try, I admit I'm miffed when someone wants to add ice to my homebrew because the American Amber is "one of those dark beers". But then, I figure it's all a matter of taste and different doesn't necessarily mean bad.

 

[Billy-Klubb]

screw all these naysayers! I say you beat him with an ax handle! then make him beer bong 4+ of this years Bigfoot Barley Wine. then beat him with the handle again.



edit: so who's coming over to try my home brew? I can take a little criticism, honest!

 

[Airplanedoc]

Hand him a coors light. Problem solved.

I always keep some BMC crap in my fridge because some people just don't know what good beer is no matter what I have on tap. However not everyone is going to like every beer, that's why we have more than one tap on the beer frige

 

[Remmy]

Hand him a coors light. Problem solved.

I always keep some BMC crap in my fridge because some people just don't know what good beer is no matter what I have on tap. However not everyone is going to like every beer, that's why we have more than one tap on the beer frige

"Good beer" is all relative.


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[Billy-Klubb]

"Good beer" is all relative.


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unless I make it. even my worst beers are the best you'll taste.:rockin:

 

[kurds_2408]

"Not my favorite" isn't exactly offensive or derogatory. There are so many styles of beer, and takes on each style. Maybe the guy really knows his beer, but isn't a huge fan of whatever style you poured. Doesn't mean you should flip out, cut him off, and label him a BMC drinker like that means something.

Heck, I can't stand hop bombs. You could hand me what turns out to be the unanimously voted best IPA of all time throughout the multiverse, and I'm not going to like it as half much as I would even a middling stout.

This exactly. I homebrew and am a craft beer beer person. I would consider myself worthy. Yet if you gave me one of your IPAs while I would drink it and appreciate what you created, my exact words would be "this is not my favorite". Because no IPA will ever be my favorite. It really upsets me that there are people in the homebrew community who are such beer snobs they think just cause their favorite isn't your favorite you must be a no knowledge BMC drinker and they will have to forever bite their tongue around you.

Not everyone responded that way, and I'm sorry I went on a rant but I haven't been brewing to long and these are the kind of attitudes that really intimidated me when I started and are unwelcoming to new/less experienced people.

 

[Billy-Klubb]

do you like Bigfoot?

 

[Photopilot]

Generally you don't make it out to my beer porch until you answer some questions.…. Starting with "what kind of beer do you like?". That is how I sometimes introduce myself to strangers.

If someone is not a beer snob and somehow I still like them I will try to find them a beer they might enjoy. If they understand the craft they can try all 8 I have on tap, otherwise I got MGD in the fridge for them.

 

[GHBWNY]

I love it when I get honest feedback. I love it when someone enjoys my hobbys' results, whether homebrew, woodworking or photography. And although I try, I admit I'm miffed when someone wants to add ice to my homebrew because the American Amber is "one of those dark beers". But then, I figure it's all a matter of taste and different doesn't necessarily mean bad.

Not that we'll please everyone with our homebrews, but neither do we like everything out there, either. So, an honest answer is always the best answer.

After my first brew and having handed it out to those I thought would enjoy it and pat me on the back until I was black and blue, the reviews were mixed. It was a bit of an ego stomp, but a lesson learned. Before brewing my next batch, I took a survey from those who were expected to be "regulars" of my product consumption. Amazing the difference in styles and tastes! Bottom line, although someone says they "don't like" your beer, it shouldn't be construed to mean it's "bad" (esp. if it has passed the brewer's palate test first), it may be their way of simply stating they enjoy another style better. That's why I'll try to keep 3-4 styles on hand in the future.

 

[drainbamage]

I think: throat punch.

Nah, really though, it's just a matter of personal preference. Could be he just didn't like the style. I would have pressed him for a little elaboration on what he didn't like. If it's something as simple as "I don't like [hoppy/roasty/wheat/etc.] beers", then that's one thing. If he has constructive criticism from a technical standpoint, listen to it. Maybe he picked up on something you hadn't noticed.

Now, if he just says, "Meh, why can't you make a real beer like Bud Light?" then you can throat-punch away.