Bartenders who know their shit...

If I ever walked into an Applebee's and saw the tap list that @Wiffler27 reports I likely would be so shocked I'd have a heart attack.

And no offense to any bartender, but if I walked into a pub and the bartender knew more about his beer list than I do I likely would also have a heart attack.

 

I don't expect minimal wage teenage staff to be beer experts, but they should be coached not to speculate and make stuff up as they go, and the management should provide accurate beer lists. For taptenders, I do expect that they are at least familiar with craft in general, and their current lineup.

 

Lol we had that same experience a couple weeks ago. We were in RB, be funny if we're the same place.

 

That's why whenever I've trained someone in any sort of customer service position - I always impress upon them that it is very much OK to say "I don't know but let me find out or find someone who does."

Just because you work CS - be it retail, diesel shop, sales etc - it is NEVER bad to say "I don't know - let me get someone who does" and then follow through.

As the customer, I may not know either but I sure can tell when I'm being bs-d to and that's an immediate deal breaker for me.

 

I had the opposite happen to me. I ask the server what kind of beer they had and so forth. She knew absolutely nothing, sadly this was a brew pub. Later I heard the same server fluster her way basic beer questions asked by another patron.

 

I hate when places do stuff like that. I understand that its cheaper to have a random sam adams and budweiser and boulevard on tap, and to print the menu with just the brand names, but damn if it doesnt turn me off of ordering a beer at all. A lot of these clueless restaurant owners are losing a lot of drink profits by making their place too difficult for craft beer drinkers.