Store employees embellishing?

Skinny jeans are a sign of poor decision making ability. If these people cannot be trusted to choose appropriate pants, who can we ever trust them with beer? Thats bound to lead to something much worse the skinny jeans, haven't we suffered enough?

 

There are two official names for this cross cultural phenomenon. One, the fish story and two, the **** and bull story. The appropriate response is "wow . . . just wow." On this side of the atlantic we like to shake the head no a little as we say this to indicate disbelief but across the pond they like the one eyebrow raise. =)

"$400 bucks eh? Wow . . . just wow."

 

I don't see a problem with it personally. Consider it entertainment, play along, and egg him on next time. Respond with:

"Yeah, I totally agree. My attic is stocked to the gills with Pliny the Elder I've been cellaring up there for years."

Haven't we all accepted the fact that we know more than the guys in the store anyhow?

The only question I need a legitimate answer to is " Do you have ______?"

 

Don't be so paranoid.

 

Exactly. The beer guy wanted to chat, maybe even humble brag a little. I've seen worse on these forums. No reason to get upset or offended. A simple polite "huh" will probably do the trick and not encourage that behavior.

 

Maybe it's embellishment. Maybe it's an employee who has to know about 100s of beers who might make a mistake about the 1 or 2 beers you're asking about. Cut them some slack, or apply for a job and teach your entire city about beer.

 

Wearing athletic shoes with non athletic gear, dad jeans, baggy jeans, Wranglers and pleated khakis are all signs of poor decision making ability as well. We've just effectively whittled down the craft beer loving community to Women and the remaining 10% of the men with some sense of proper attire. If you throw patchy beards into the mix, there will only be a handful of guys left that can be trusted with beer.

 

Curious if this scenario was played out such that you were at a bar, and the bartender was a very attractive woman. Would you be posting here about anything she said, or would you have struck up a conversation, regarless of topic, because, well, that is what (many) guys do when pretty woman talk to them at bars.

 

I guess I'm lucky, all the guys who work at my store have no agenda and aren't full of shit. They also trade beers and in turn trade with me when I trade with other BA's, got a Surly Abrasive for a Jai Alai trade working right now actually. Wish everyone's stores were that way...

 

Yes, most employees save hard to find stuff for themselves or their friends


Thus, my strategy is to form a good relationship with a “certain” store employee – Hell, it’s how I get multiple bottles of Lunch, Parabola, KBS, select Kane bottles, etc…….


I don’t mean to be a beer snob, or a douchebag, but I’ve set my own little interview process when approaching a new store. That is, stores that claim they can get everything obviously cannot. Thus, ask what beers you know they don’t have (e.g. KTG, HT, CBS, etc.). A good reaction is “good luck,” a bad one is “will order it for you.” I might also ask about comparisons, taking beer in and out of the cooler, aging, etc. Please understand I’m not trying to prove a status, but rather if I’ll ever shop at this location again


In essence, I’ve made some good friends out of reliable store employees (e.g. discounts, trades, bar connections, etc…). So yes, I would say it’s worth your while to seek out a knowledgeable employee before purchasing a particular beer – You never know what’s stashed in the back hidden from plain site.


BTW most that have expired Enjoy By, ship it back…all should ship it back

 

lol, people who look different from me are bad. they drink my beer. lol. grow up.

 

I work in a liquor/beer store, and am also a beer nerd. The two go together less often than you might think.

Now I have noticed as beer nerdery is becoming more mainstream, people are trying to be beer nerds without actually learning about beer. They pick up whatever second hand stuff they've heard (and there's a lot of wrong information out there), make assumptions based on labels or product names, whatever.

I think part of the motivation, as you said, is wanting to look cool and knowledgeable. I used to hear this a lot more with wine when being a wine person started being cool, and now it's starting with beer. I don't think the employee was purposely lying or misleading you, they probably really think they're a legit beer nerd.

I have had to learn that just because a liquor store employee presents themselves as knowledgeable doesn't mean they are (I have worked for and with several such people), and if you know what you're talking about it's easy to tell if they are pretty quick. Just chuckle to yourself and look for the ones who do know what they're talking about (or at least will admit when they don't).

 

Dooooouuche! (Him, not you).

 

Claiming to be aging beer that's specifically called "Enjoy by" doesn't sound like ignorance so much as someone deliberately trying to mess with you.

Well, either that or he's a libertarian trying really hard to send the message that "That bastard Greg Koch isn't gonna tell ME when to enjoy my goddamn beer!!!"

 

Just an uninformed guy trying to bond with/impress a beer geek customer. He's just trying too hard, big friggin deal.

This is harmless to the educated customer, which we all should be.

 

I've never had anything like that happen. Either the employees I've spoken to know their stuff, or they don't, but I've never had a guy try to fake the funk.

I'm really only ever asking about what beers they are getting in though, and I usually have specific beers I am asking about since I keep up with the releases for the most part. I've never asked an employee for their opinion on a beer though. It's more like:
"Damn you have this in stock still?"
"Yeah we sure do"
"Man that beer is amazing I can't believe it, awesome!"
"Yeah, it's really good, have you tried this other one from them?"
"Yeah, not really my cup of tea though"
"Oh I really enjoyed it, we'll be getting some in next month or so."
"Cool, have a good one brotha."
"Sir, you forgot your beer."
"Oh crap...thanks that would have really sucked!"
"No problem, go easy on the grass though man."

 

When I go into the Beer Store, employees know better than suggest beers to me. I am the all knowing when it comes to beer. Most people know this by the glowing rays of sunshine that follow me wherever I go. For the NOOBS who suggest beer to me, I laugh in their face and ask if their mommy taught them that bit of knowledge. Get out of my way minimum wage worker and let daddy conduct his business.

 

I think I just found my long lost brother.

 

wow