House warming - what beer/spirit to bring

ash23

I've been invited to a neighbours housewarming. I barely know him but am going to go along for a while and want to take a bottle of something.
But I don't know what he likes.
I'm a girl and for girls I know you can't go wrong with a bottle of vodka or wine. So what's the go-to equivalant for the boys?
Whiskey? Brandy? Beer?
Help.

Rum.

and limes.

Yum...

schemingbohemia

I'd take something you like yourself in case he's got nothing that you like - just open it yourself!

rcaz

Most wouldn't say no to a beer, but you're cutting it a bit dodgy assuming someone will be into whiskey or brandy, right? And on from that, most wouldn't say no to a lager but if you turn up with a particular kind of ale you might be cutting down your chances of impressing.

If it were me I'd bring a sixer of Brooklyn Lager.

johnnyskeleton

You can't go wrong with a bottle of French wine. Even if the person doesn't like red wine, even if they don't drink, red wine is a conventional gift and French wine will usually be perceived as better, even when its not.

The problem with beer is that it could be seen as a bit cheap (unless the person is big into their beer) and is quite bulky.

Similarly, a bottle of spirits suggests a level of roudiness that the host might not like.

Wine is simple, elegant, and universally acceptable and unlikely to carry any ulterior suggestion.

Something like this:

http://www.drinkstore.ie/BURKES-OF-BORDEAUX-RED-3300698497517/

EDIT: unless it is a barbecue in which case a six pack of beer and a pack of burgers should go down well.

rcaz

Changed my mind, johnnyskeleton knows what's up.

Technocentral

A fine selection of Irish craft ales would impress any party goer.

johnnyskeleton

Technocentral wrote: »

A fine selection of Irish craft ales would impress any party goer.

Except those people who don't like ales, which is a significant majority of the people of Ireland. Unless you know that is what the person wants, your well intentioned gift might not be so well received.

efb

Wine ftw

ash23

Ok, it seems to be a fairly informal thing. So I am going to bring a bottle of wine and a case of beer.
Seems to be the most generic thing I can think of that even if he doesn't drink it, someone he knows probably will! Plus wine has a "gift" element to it (mainly because it can be put in a gift bag/box )

Thanks for the advice.

Technocentral

johnnyskeleton wrote: »

Technocentral wrote: »

A fine selection of Irish craft ales would impress any party goer.

Except those people who don't like ales, which is a significant majority of the people of Ireland. Unless you know that is what the person wants, your well intentioned gift might not be so well received.

If as you say the majority of Irish people don't like ales (don't believe that) its because they havent tried them.

donaghs

johnnyskeleton wrote: »

Except those people who don't like ales, which is a significant majority of the people of Ireland. Unless you know that is what the person wants, your well intentioned gift might not be so well received.

I'd have to agree unfortunately. Same with Brooklyn Lager. Most beer drinkers don't actually like tasty beers - or more precisely are afraid to try them (and stick to "reliable brands").

No harm educating people, but maybe not for a "first impressions" welcome gift. As long as they like alcohol, I'd go with a decent bottle of wine.

johnnyskeleton

Technocentral wrote: »

If as you say the majority of Irish people don't like ales (don't believe that) its because they havent tried them.

Well Ok, I can't prove empirically that the majority don't like ales. However, perhaps I should have said that in my experience, the vast majority of people I know don't like ales, the vast majority of pubs I know only serve one (if any) ale, and despite the growing popularity of pubs that serve a lot of ales, they are still a tiny percentage of the overall drinking scene. So, unless you want to argue that most people prefer Galway Hooker over Heiniken or the like, I think it is reasonable to say that the majority of people don't like them.

As to why they don't like them, I don't think you can simply write it off that they haven't tried them. I know lots of people who have tried ales and didn't like them or were indifferent to them. Same with stout. Same with cider.

So your argument is a bit like saying that if I don't like cider its because I haven't tried it. I have tried it many times, I just don't like it.

Not everyone thinks the same as you do.