After the Drain-Pour, What Then?

I said "Toss them, keep buying" and "Contact the brewery". Those are probably my most common approaches.

Ex. recently, a new brewery popped up near me. Bought an IPA and pils from first canning run. Obviously oxidized. I contacted the brewery (they were happy to make things right, but really, i just wanted them to be aware) and waited a while before buying again. Figured they'd need a run or two to dial in the system. Haven't had a bad beer from them sense.

Some breweries, on the other hand, have been serial offenders. Those, I won't buy from again.

 

Seven over the years? That's probably not a bad average. Having a near-by rep who responds is priceless! Lucky you!

 

I have a septic system and a garden, so I don't drain pour - any defective or out of code/bad tasting beer goes into the compost piles.

Well, I say making you drive a "distance" to replace a defective beer is BS, if you bought it at a local retailer. Imagine such a situation with any other consumer product:

Sideview mirror fell off your year old Chevy? "Thank you for contacting GM. Yes, that is under warranty of course. Come by the assembly plant outside Detroit and we'll put a new one on at no charge."

Cellphone manufacturer: "Oh, sorry to hear about your problem, just bring it by our factory in Shenzhen and we'll be happy to repair or replace!"

They either have a local distributor or the brewery self-distributes - either way, it is one of those companies that should tell the retailer to replace your beer which they, in turn, will credit or replace for the retailer.

 

Only 2 true drainpours/beer in the sh!tcan
1. Crazy Eds Chile Beer - disgusting
2. DFH Festina Peche... I think I just had this too early in craft beer career (recall it tasting like bile at the time) Retrying it a few years ago I found it mild compared to other sours.

So it depends. But seeing I paid for the beer, I will suffer through the average/below average beer and make it a chore.

 

I bought beer at the store once that was super over-carbonated. The can was tight like a drum, and pouring 1/2" in a glass resulted in a full cup of foam. I didn't notice until getting home and drinking it a few days later.

Months later, that brewery was doing a sampling in another store, and I actually mentioned it to the guy. He was very apologetic and offered to make it right with me if I brought it into the brewery. I never did, because I'm lazy, but I appreciated the offer.

I still buy beer from those guys, but I am much more careful with dates and definitely squeeze their cans first.

 

But that's not what I suggested.

Contact the brewery (again) - they brewed the defective beer - or contact their area distributor (the brewery's official rep in your region) and have them replace the beer, either by telling the retailer to accept the return and they'll make it up to them OR have the distributor give it to you.

Sure, it's a PITA and maybe won't work and most of us (me included) just say "Ah, !@#$ it! But these jokers just lost a customer and I'm gonna name the suckers who refuse to stand behind their beer in that BA thread I started..."

But sometimes it works. Why about 45 years ago now [right? ] I was served an old, out-of-code and lightstruck bottle of Ballantine Ale and the bar gave me a hard time when I mentioned it (back then many people didn't know the date code Falstaff or other brewers used of course, but I did).

So, annoyed, I wrote a letter (kinda like an email, but printed on paper and put in a stamped envelope) to the distributor. Or maybe I called and got the right guy (which wasn't common)?

Anyway, we had a nice conversation about the new Ballantine Brewers Gold Ale Falstaff had just released (and, IIRC, also about Schlitz's new Erlanger). And the rep asked me for my address and a few days later he delivered a case of Ballantine Brewers Gold Ale to me. (Not bad for 1 bad bottle). I can still remember looking out my front door as the rep walked up the steps carrying that case of beer.

 

I guess this means you are keeping those beers. If so, can you open a can from the other 12 pack to see if it's the same?

 

I chose the same. Good example: Agave Maria (when it was still around)

Was holding onto one for a bit and after reading up from others that it was potentially done for, I tried it and yeah, it was bad. Sucks never got to retry (sold to a TBD entity at the time, can probably find out who now but not looked into it) as that was a great libation.

 

I let breweries know. I assume they'd want to know about a subpar product of theirs in the market. I know I would. I always explain, I'm not looking for a refund / replacement, etc. I just want them to know. Because, again, I'd want to know.

Some don't ever respond.

Some are very concerned, apologetic, and want to make the situation right.

As I write this, though, I'm reminded of the one time I did accept a breweries offer of a replacement 6er. Chose their least expensive 6er. Dude just ghosted me. Haven't bought anything from that brewery since.