What is the strangest or most memorable beer bar experience?

I want to party with that guy!

I don't have a strangest beer bar experience. I tend to hit more brewery tap rooms than go to beer bars for multiple reasons.

It's probably recent-cy basis, but one my more memorable experiences was Hops & Pies in Denver. I had three beers that had been on my want list for many beers. Crazy selection of great beers!

 

I just gotta ask: is mostly going to taprooms a more recent phenomenon?

I have noticed that post pandemic I have been going more to taprooms vs. craft beer bars and this was not a purposeful decision on my part. It just seems that prior to the pandemic I would frequently go to craft beer bars but after the lockdown(s) I mostly went to taprooms instead.

Cheers!

 

It's not really strange, but there was a Pliny drop in Massachusetts about 4 years ago now (time flies...) and the bar in my then town got a keg of it. I was friends with one of the bartenders and she hooked me up with an extra pour of Pliny. (2 allowed, she gave me 3. My wife was driving and not drinking, so I was good on that front.) That's a top 5 beer for me, so that was great.

Another time I went to a now defunct beer bar in Boston (rest in power, Sunset Grill.) They had DFH World Wide Stout on tap, and it was supposed to be a 5oz pour for $8. The bartender poured me a full shaker pint. I sat there and nursed it for probably 2.5 hours.

 

Good question. No, it's not a most recent phenomenon. ironically, when I got into craft beer over ten years ago, it was a visit to the Public House at SF Giants Stadium. I think that it was because there wasn't a lot of great beer bars in the SF South Bay Area. The places with good beer bar were more Irish restaurant/pub and a German restaurant (which had since closed).

 

Most memorable bar experiences I had is when I got the bill... appx 1K on a couple occasions. I was with a group... their chocolate martinis added up I guess.

 

Actually finding, and drinking, in two excellent Belgian beer bars in the middle of India. The Ministry of Beer and the Tilt Bar, both in Hyderabad. It's been three years, so I don't know if they still exist. Good selection of Belgians, good food and good prices. Odd and memorable.

 

How can I ever forget the memorable escapade of walking into a bar for the very first time and being 16 years old and get served a drink? It was the week before Christmas when my brother (17 years old) and I drove to a small country town about 15 miles from home (we didn't want to be recognized ), sat down in a booth and ordered Tom & Jerrys.

In retrospect, maybe the bartender knew we were underage and didn't put any booze in those drinks, but the eggnog was tasty and it's still a fond memory to me.

 

The post by @shadyside reminded me of a good story.

A few years ago, my wife and I traveled to the Czech Republic staying in Prague and two of our friends, Phil and Joanie, were already there visiting people they knew. One day we decided to travel via train to the town of Plzen to tour the Pilsner Urquell brewery and do some sightseeing in town. Once we got back to Prague across the street from the train stop was a Belgian Bar. My buddy Phil said “How about a beer?” so we went in for one (and maybe two?). Phil was not too familiar with some of the Belgian beers on tap so he asked the bartender: Is (beer x) any good?” I can’t recall the name of the beer as I type this and the bartender gave him a slight nod and said it was good. I can’t remember if Phil actually ordered that beer but later on when we were sitting at the table the bartender stopped by and said: “What did you expect me to say about that beer? That we serve beers that suck?” We all laughed at that.

I later further asked Phil what he expected the bartender to tell him. He just shrugged and said “I was hoping he would give me a sample pour”. I replied “Why didn’t you just ask if you could obtain a sample taste?” I think he just told me to shut up at that.

Cheers!

 

A funny story involving my brother in law (my sister's husband). He once worked as a welder and he was under age (under 21) and he and co-workers went out for beers after work. Apparently my brother in law was quite nervous about this and when ordering for beers his physical reaction was to open his eyes very wide open (I don't exactly understand why) but after this visit to this bar his co-workers called him Popeye. I am pretty sure he did not enjoy getting this nickname.

Cheers!

 

Fool me twice...

 

Heck, I would go to bars with him knowing he would pick up the bill!

I wouldn't be ordering chocolate martinis but maybe some very top shelf scotch. Which reminds me of another story. I was in Lake Placid, NY on a ski trip and we decided to visit a fancy bar for one drink before going to dinner. My friend Fred ordered a glass of Johnny Walker Blue (I have heard of this Scotch before but this was my first time seeing it). As the bartender came back with the glass, Fred started to hand him a $50 bill and the bartender replied "That is not enough". I seem to recall it totaled out at $75. I should have taken a photo of that glass (and the expression on Fred's face when he was told his $50 bill was not enough ).

Cheers!

 

My most memorable craft beer experience for me was a few years back when I lost count and ended up downing more than nine Hopslams. Strangest thing is that I actually remember anything about that day. Nearly called an ambulance after my family got me home... Also strange that I still like that beer...

 

I should have clarified... I did not pick up entire bill but just shared with the bill in the group. I largely drink beer, so my share is piddly.

 

I went to Toppling Goliath a couple of weeks ago when I knew they had KBBS on tap. I put in a reservation for a table, then stopped at the bar to get a beer before lunch. I ordered a 4-ounce pour of KBBS and somehow got a pour of KBBS Reserve in addition to that. The server said, "Alright, sir, that comes to $42.80." In fairness to the server, I had intended to order both and I knew the price well in advance. But damn! You better believe I was extra careful walking up two flights of stairs with a beer in each hand.

 

Never had any crazy beer bar experiences. Plenty of typical bar/pub experiences I’m too ashamed to explain, as if you’d be interested to hear anyways. Some of my best brewery experiences have included enjoying a flight with my beautiful wife. Not too many months ago, I enjoyed some pints at a couple locals with @jzeilinger. This event proved to be quite memorable. Cheers.

 

To paraphrase an old saying: the day ain't over yet.

Cheers!

 

Years ago when I 1st moved to MPLS I was downtown and went into a bar for last call b4 going home. I bellied up to the bar next to a dude and ordered a beer. The fella next to me was super hammered and said to me: "I'm fuckin' Billy Squire." He said it again. Then he shouted it to the bartender a few times and the bartender then asked him: "Does he know it yet?" I sprayed my brew across the bar laughing and then bouncers came and 86'd the guy. Guess what? It actually was Billy Squire...quite jagged. Stroke me Stroke me.