Store employees embellishing?

"Damn kids and their facebooks!"-crotchety old man

 

I work at a liquor store and one of my employees tries to educate customers on the differences between a stout and an ale . Don't trust store employees. Trust me.

 

I don't even know what a log is...

 

a sixth of a keg I think (sixtel)? They are the long thin ones? Just throwing out a guess. I've never heard the term either.

 

Freaking idiots recommending me the most expensive beer in the place, telling me its the most amazing beer you've ever had, knowing damn well you've never even drank it. what do you think I am, a hot damned fool?

I just ignore 'em

 

This is my favorite.. As I bought a bottle of Straffe Hendrik Heritage Oak-Aged Quad, the store employee commented, "That's going to be the next Westy 12, man."

 

I don't deal with store people any more than I have to and that is usually just to ring up the bill and take my money. Rare that I have a question that I haven't researched first, and since I don't really care about the walin' life, I'm not going to ask for stuff. I am not looking for store employees to be my BFF. I'll talk to people and be pleasant, but I can pick out my own beer.

We're looking at it from the perspective of educated consumers - we have the beer resources we need right here at our fingertips and can easily ignore annoyances of this nature. But what about somebody that is new(er) to the "scene"? They wouldn't know whether they were being fed a ton of crap or the truth or somewhere in between. "Wow...this guy is aging an IPA. He must really know his beer"...or..."this guy is a real dick and likes to hear himself talk. What a beer snob. I'll just take my 30-rack of Bud Lite" is another possibility. Either way is non-advocacy in my opinion.

Unfortunately, it all comes down to each individual experience. I've had some good store chats with beer managers and folks working in the beer sections, but I have also had times when it's obvious somebody doesn't know what they are talking about and are just blowin' smoke. And to be fair, I wouldn't expect some teenager or college kid making minimum wage to be expert in all things beer except where to find it on the shelf. I have BA to keep me on the straight and narrow - not everybody does.

 

If there was a double like button, I would hit it.

 

I would say if you ever encounter an employee that is embellishing a story to the point it's blatantly untrue, react with an equally outrageous response. "Whoa, man! You have aged Enjoy By!? You're the f'ing man! Booyah!" and attempt a dramatic, leaping high-five. For added effect, fart in his general direction as you walk away.

 

Every commercial you're exposed to, be it brewery, beer, store, or completely non-beer related classifies as "talking up product, talking up their store, themselves, or even blatantly lying."

 

oh, right, 1/6bbl - makes sense

 

Last time a store employee tried to pitch me something he said they got a great new beer in called Budweiser Black Crown. I tried not to laugh, bought some Stone IPA, and left.

 

Opposite problem for my favorite beer store. The guys are just as obsessed with beer as we are, but definitely play up the retail side of it in that every beer that I ask an opinion on is 'the best beer in the world'. That, and when I ask for a recommendation, and already have plenty of things on the counter to go by as a nod in the direction of styles I like, will suggest my least favorite styles, and talk my ear off while I'm trying to shop.

But, they post new releases on FB and hold stuff for me when I ask.

I keep going back.

 

Sounds like something a novice would say to make polite conversation. I run the beer section of two large grocery stores, and I personally speak highly of my store all the time. That's my pride. But when it comes to the beers I am completely honest on a beer by beer basis. If I don't think it's good but have to stock it (Coors, Shock Top) I always try to steer the person towards something they might better enjoy. For example, I see someone buying Shock Top and I ask if they've ever tried Clown Shoes Clementine. Or if they drink Fosters, have they tried a Weihenstephaner Lager? If I don't have it but can get it I always offer. If I can't get it (Pliny!) I am honest. If I've never heard of it, I tell them I will look it up and do so on the spot. No one can know everything, and the only way to learn more is to constantly educate yourself to help others in their education. In terms of exaggeration, when I write pos, or shelf talkers, I don't put anything negative up. If I think a beer isn't that great, I highlight the positives and just don't work to hand sell it like I would for something I actually think is worth it. In retail, it's my job to sell whether I like it or not, so I'm always positive. I wonder, since you're a regular, if you knew the guy, or if he was new? Sounds like he was trying to come across confident as a newb. If he's been around a while though, maybe you should chat with the other employees about a little more education.

 

In 2008 Bigfoot was stil in 6 packs not 4 packs!

 

According to Full Throttle Bottles here in Seattle (per their Twitter feed), every beer that arrives is either rare, very limited, limited, the best batch yet, limited to 1 bottle each, a customer favorite, in for a limited time without knowing when they'll get it again, isn't going to last, and so on.

By contrast, Bottleworks and other stores in the area simply tweets a list of beers that just arrived.

 

Maybe he got a really early bottle of Enjoy By 2.14.16

 

We don't have any stores like these over here in Canada. The Beer Store (contrary to popular belief) sells little to no craft beer evidently because they're owned by Labatt, Molson, and Sapporo. LCBO is where I have to go to get good beer. So almost no one knows anything about craft beer here in Windsor, Ontario.

However, when I go over to the states for a beer trip or I'm on vacation in the states, some store owners try to take advantage of the fact that I'm Canadian (either when they see my ID or I tell them I've come from Canada). So they try to introduce me to these beers that are supposedly "amazing" that I know are mediocre. They assume I'm just looking for new beers to try, which of course I am but I know which ones I'm looking for. I wouldn't do these beer trips if I hadn't done my research before hand. I just kinda smile and nod. All in good fun.

A great store (I find) is called Wade's Wines near Simi Valley in California. That's also the store I had the pleasure of finally getting my hands on some Pliny.

 

hahahaha

 

IMO the dude was lieing. UNLESS the Bigfoot was advertised as such and costed more. Thats the only way I would age a beer if I was a liquor store employee, to make the store more money. Id be delighted if I found some old school Bigfoot!