Tap room turn offs

Further notes:

1) A turn off for me is places that don't allow kids ever. Well behaved kids are welcome, (yes I have them and bring them sometimes) but as a parent you have to respect the location too. Don't expect people to control their language, be reasonable with the time (is it 11PM? maybe not such a smart move). I've also seen many kids much better behaved and way less obnoxious than certain adult patrons in places. I can understand a time/seating restriction though.

2) I echo the feedback on places that never have anything unique at the taproom, like not even some test batches or brewery only options.

3) Lack of public transit options - especially taprooms far away from everything, that's basically a haven for impaired driving issues.

4) Tiny ass tables/shelves along the walls. Sometimes space is tight and I get it, but it's not the most enjoyable experience either.

5) Food trucks - I used to like these, but basically you have to leave your table go stand outside in the cold, bad weather, dark and wait for your over priced food from a smelly truck while not drinking beer. I wish you could order and have food brought to you (or that more would do this). It seems petty, but it's so much nicer than having to leave your table and wait outside for 5-10 minutes for your messy street tacos that you'll eventually spill all over yourself while trying to eat them.

 

Had this type of experience at Russian River.

 

Man, I agree with you. This happens a lot at restaurants in my area. 90% of the time, the sever has no idea what's on tap and they just say "An IPA, a red, a brown ale, and a stout." Great. Thanks...

 

Long picnic type communal tables designed to "encourage conversation".

Look, I'm not an anti social person but often I just want to enjoy a beer without having to hear about someone's political views, or domestic problems, or how bad their job is, or how their fantasy team is doing, or rattling off how many of the top 250 beers they've had etc. I'd rather not be artificially forced into carrying on this banter, thank you very much.

And yes, I know I can go home instead and have a beer, and often when possible I do, but then again I'm not always near home.

 

PLASTIC CUPS !!!!! It happened to me at Woodcock Brothers in Wilson NY. I took a friend from Michigan there who is a brewmaster and we ordered a flight. They came in plastic cups. A total turn off. I never went back and I live 20 miles from there.

 

1) Noise level so high you can't easily communicate with the person serving you, or have a conversation with someone.

2) Not displaying the list of what's available, both where I can easily see it when ordering and online so that I can see what's available before I go (and decide whether I want to go). Going out of your way to a brewery and then finding out only after you've traveled there that they don't currently have anything you're interested in is super disappointing.

3) Lack of visible pricing for everything being sold. I want to know what something costs before I decide to buy it. I do not have infinite money.

4) Not offering smaller servings, whether it be as a flight or as singles. Generally, I want to try as many beers as possible. If it's a flight, I want to choose my own beers, not what someone else thinks I should be drinking. If you want to charge more for certain beers than others, that's fine, but give me the option of having anything in a small serving size.

5) Serving beer in inappropriate glassware, although I admit I'm willing to tolerate this if the beer is good enough.

6) Lack of stylistic variety in beer offerings.

7) Not having enough seating. Being too popular is a good problem for the brewery, I know, but if I can't sit and drink my beer, I'm probably not going there at all.

8) Not having anything on tap that I can't already get bottled/canned at the liquor store. If it's the same beer, I'll drink at home, thanks.

I disagree on the wasting taps on cider one though, at least for places that have a large number of taps. If I'm going there, it's not for the cider, but I have people I like to drink with who can't drink beer. It's nice to be able to enjoy a beer somewhere that has something available for those people.

Oh, and while this wasn't a beer-focused establishment, I once was in a bar where the washroom was no bigger than a closet and included only a urinal and a sink, no toilet. NOPE.

 

I agree. I frequent three local taprooms that are really great, having 40 craft taps and great staff - but I have to make it a point to go there right away when they open at 11AM, or mid-afternoon so I miss folks having liquid lunch with their burger. Otherwise I can't sit at the bar, right in front of the taps. I take pictures to post here, and I like to capture the taps in the background.

 

Same for me at 3 Floyds. Awful service.

 

Maybe I've just been lucky, but my visits to Russian River have all been very pleasant, with no sign of attitude from anyone working there.

 

Seems like out of all breweries, I hear that about Three Floyds the most. My worst experience was at Greysail Brewing, the supposed top brewery in Rhode Island, and boy do they know it.

 

I couldn't agree more. We often bring our six year old with the following caveats:

a) It's daytime/early eve.
b) It's a spot that serves food.
c) We're just going for a single flight/pint and/or something to go.

There have been times we've walked in places that are packed/loud/intangibly "adult", and we're happy to do a quick about-face and revisit without the kid.

All he wants to do is sit there and quietly look at his Pokemon cards anyway

 

I agree. The staff at Russian River have ego problems. They also are overly fearful of security concerns. I feel like going to Russian River is like going to an airport, it's simply not fun.

Oh and if you happen to publish an on-line review with criticism, they'll pull you aside and 86 you...Yes that actually happened.

 

most have been said already, but:

- No/not up to date tap lists online
- Weird hours
- No small pours/forcing you to do full flights
- Weird/strict growler policies
- Not having any special beers for in house consumption (tap or bottle)
- Lack of a reserve/vintage bottle list (kinda fits in with the above)
- Not allowing outside bottles for sharing
- Lack of variety on tap

 

Wait, how did this happen? Did they know your username associated with you, and recognize you when you came in after they read the review?

 

Mostly it's the other patrons...condescending, know-it-all d-bags. Especially if they have a girl with them, or they have a non-craft, or new to craft beer friend with them. Makes me wanna punch them right in the mouth!!

There's a good reason why I do most of my drinking at home

 

that is going to be strictly up to the local State ABC laws.
if the state allows it but the brewery doesn't then you have an argument... Virginia doesn't allow it at breweries but they do allow it at bars/restaurants (and the bar/rest can charge a "corking" fee).

 

Denver is cracking down too. It's been really bad, at times.

I am at least somewhat sympathetic to parents with kids. I have 2 small kids myself. You can leave your dog at home alone, you can't leave your kid at home alone.

 

Not a common problem in tap rooms, but there's a place I visit occasionally that all but hides how much their beers cost. No prices on their boards, instead you have to dig to the back of the clipboard food menu to find them. (A problem if you aren't ordering food and they take the menus away.) But its only really an issue because the prices are so out of step with other area tap rooms. "I just paid how much for that holiday-spiced porter???"

One tap room patron issue I have is people who come in and ask to sample almost everything before they decide on what to order. When I go to a restaurant I don't ask to sample the entire menu before I order food, why do people think its ok to do that at a brewery? The servers are often busy enough without having to deal with this.

 

Thank you! I don't want to smell cotton candy or syrup in a hazy room for hours.

 

Sadly. A brewer will take all my money if they have one. Finding yards Brawler on tap last week. I must have had 7 of them at $6 bucks a piece. Not to mention. All the food. Gotta have something for everybody.