Tomorrow I’m going to someone’s place for a few drinks and stuff. They said they would provide the beer if we all bring munchies. I don’t mind bringing munchies, but they will likely have Coors’ lite. Or maybe Bud Lite (slightly less repulsive, but only slightly.)
I genuinely like beer and would prefer to either drink something I’ll enjoy, or not drink any.
Would it be rude to take some munchies *and *a six pack of the beer I like? (And I’ll probably take a bottle of wine as well.)
Not at all. If you hated beer and only drank wine, it’d be fine to bring that, too. What would be rude would be to refuse another guest one of your beers, or to take any leftovers home (assuming the host doesn’t encourage this).
As long as you share the beer, I see no problem.
It’s not rude if you tell them before hand that you want to bring extra beer and bring enough to share. It is incredibly rude if you make a point of bringing your own beer because what the host is providing isn’t good enough for you.
It’s all in the phrasing and attitude.
If you must, bring a two or three six-packs. Part of the joy of good beer is sharing it with others.
I can see why dopers answered the OP the way they did. However, just a question: Suppose the host bought the cheapest beer possible for the party. If I brought some more expensive Sam Adams or a microbrew, people will just want to drink my beer instead of the cheapie stuff. Why am I obligated to provide better beer than the host if I don’t want to drink Bud Lite or Pabst?
I don’t disagree with the respondents. I’m just asking a hypothetical question.
Because if you took a six pack of beer that you obviously think is better than the others but don’t share, well, I am picturing you standing in a corner smoking your pipe and stroking your beard wearing a tweed jacket with the little elbow patches and glasses on the end of your nose saying “inbred mongrels” to yourself as you glare at the rest of the attendees.
It’s snobby.
Skip the party. Stay at home & drink your expensive beer.
Oh God no. I thought everyone knew the first rule of going to a party is bring a six pack with you. Even if you like the beer they’re serving, chances are the beer will run out at some point. It’s nice to bring reinforcements, and if there are any left at the end of the night (yeah right) leave them with the host.
Sort of like this guy?
(Art by Dyna Moe–who’s very fond of Mad Men.)
I have a complex set of beer protocols that preclude being a greedy snob. FTR, I AM a beer snob. And most of the times I have provided spare six packs (or more commonly, single pint bottles of various things), the cheap stuff has not go neglected by the party. Usually it will only be a few people interested in trying new things.
Drink the cheap beer offered in the spirit of camaraderie and good will, bring enough of the good stuff to share in the same spirit, or sit at home.
This is my thinking as well.
Plus a lot of times I like to try a beer I haven’t had before so I’ll wait for a party and then go to Beverages and More and pick out something I haven’t had before and looks good and then tell the host at the party that I found this beer and it looks good and I want to share it with people.
Beer I really love I leave at home for my enjoyment.
I often find myself in that position, especially at keg parties. What I usually do is buy a bomber or something of what I feel like drinking. I don’t feel like it’s rude to bring your own big single of something, especially if you’ve brought the requested munchies and a bottle of wine as well. Just don’t make any pompous pronouncements about how you’ll be drinking this fine Left Hand Imperial Stout while the peons drink [del]goat piss[/del] Bud Light.
IMO, extra booze is never unwelcome. As others have mentioned, bring two or three six packs, so it’s “Hey, I brought extra beer!” and not “Hey, your beer sucks, so I brought my own.”
Ah, you’ve been to a party with me, I see… 
I’m not really too snobby about beer, but I really don’t enjoy Coors lite. The man having the event doesn’t like beer, so his take on it is: Beer is beer.
If we were closer friends I’d take my own beer and bust his stones for not having anything good. But we aren’t close enough to do that - even more, his wife might take offense since she doesn’t know me at all.
The more I think about it, the more I think I will come off as rude. I think I will leave the beer at home.
It’s just logistics. Unless you plan to babysit your beer for the whole evening there’s no way to keep anyone else from trying it without being a total buzzkill. You don’t want to be that guy. Parties are miserable for that guy.
To the OP: Take a 12 pack, figure you’ll get 2-3 of them and just tell your hosts you felt like spreading a little goodwill to man. (And if other people bring beers you can swap for one which is fun too.)
Heh heh - you are that guy?
Yeah, like I said before - it’s all in the attitude and I should have added familiarity. If you don’t know them well enough then definitely leave the good stuff at home. I enjoy Sam Adams way too much and around here I mostly get Bud or Coors Lite. But they have this particular flavor I appreciate. Hmmm, oh yeah. It’s the flavor of “I didn’t have to pay for it.” 
A wise decision on your part. And I’m glad you didn’t take offense at my earlier description.
Pbbbtt!! In my world it’s rude NOT to bring your own six pack. 
This, except for the bolded part. Cheap-ass beer is an offense to all that is holy, and if the host is a friend of mine, then he knows that. As long as I bring enough to share and don’t bad-mouth the hosts offerings in front of the other guests, it’s ok.
Parties here are always assumed to be “bring your own drink”…the host/hostess always provides the food and munchies. We usually take a cooler with whatever we’re drinking…we never have to worry about sharing … everyone brings their own.