Maybe they were canned in some kind of alcohol? I would have to ask the giver, just to be on the safe side. What if they gave them to others and someone got sick?

I've heard of brandied pears.....but I would think if someone gave that as a gift, they would be sure to let the person know there was alcohol involved!

Are they brandied pears? Try the sniff test and see if they smell of brandy. Brandy has a distinct taste and odor. You might need someone more familiar with alcoholic beverages to do your sniff and taste test. In all likelyhood they are. That's based on the fact that someone is more likely to give a guy a gift with alcohol than a girl unless they know the person well enough to know if they drink.

Was the lid nice and tight and not bulging? (Look at the other jars. I assume they were canned at the same time although that does not automatically mean that the one you opened was not sealed properly and the rest were.)

I thought that in canned pears I bought at the store.Tasted like alcohol was in them.

If they were home canned, and there was any question, I wouldn't eat them. But then, I won't eat anything anyone else has canned--since I don't know if they've done it safely.

If they weren't preserved in some sort of alcohol, then it sounds as if they've started to ferment. You might call your county extension home economist, who will be able to advise you about the safety of this product.

The best way to find out if there's alcohol in them is to ask the ones who canned them.