8 Unwritten Rules To Know Before Visiting A Brewery

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by bambiere, Apr 17, 2026.

  1. chrisjws

    chrisjws Grand Pooh-Bah (3,302) Dec 3, 2014 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yup. I've drank way more mid-beer at mid-breweries than great stuff, but it's the treasure hunt that's fun. Both brewery hunt and on the given menu since there's sometimes a gem or two on the menu of the middest of breweries. Definitely don't sit there declaring how mid it is, I remember that I'm alive, drinking beer and vibing and no amount of mid can ruin that. Also nothing wrong with being mid, the world runs on mid because if everything was great the words would not mean anything.

    Now, there's been a few where the beer was... ick. Those I just politely finish or don't but I don't need to harsh anyone's buzz. I've only ever had one or two experiences where I'd actively tell people to stay away. I'll save the commentary for giving recommendations or if someone asks me my opinion of a spot and if they should go.
     
  2. bambiere

    bambiere Savant (1,055) Aug 25, 2025 Pennsylvania

    That's pretty fucked, but you seemed to handle it well. Better than I would have, to be honest.
     
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  3. bbtkd

    bbtkd Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,790) Sep 20, 2015 South Dakota
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I don't get it. I've talked to the owner before and they seemed real nice. I'm a 6'4" blackbelt with a 'death stare', but I try my best to be nice.
     
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  4. bambiere

    bambiere Savant (1,055) Aug 25, 2025 Pennsylvania

    I'm a 6' bodybuilder with a kind face and a nice smile.

    Opps . . . sorry . . . I forgot this isn't Grindr.

    :rofl::rofl::rofl:
     
  5. Giovannilucano

    Giovannilucano Pooh-Bah (1,975) Feb 24, 2011 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    I say no but if I was the taproom manager here, I would have made sure you took home at least two 6 packs for the grievance.
     
  6. QuakeAttack

    QuakeAttack Pooh-Bah (2,353) Mar 19, 2012 California
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Sorry, just to confirm, what is meant by takeout orders (can, crowler, growler)? Based upon what you stated, they made a mistake and should have filled a crowler or growler for you. Or given you great deal on other beer.

    As far as your question, I can't answer it. :wink:
     
  7. bbtkd

    bbtkd Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,790) Sep 20, 2015 South Dakota
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    It was a bottle, though not sure if 8 or 12oz. They've gotten into the 8oz for strong beers lately, so probably that.
     
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  8. Resistance88

    Resistance88 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,462) Apr 9, 2015 California
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Didn't read anything in here, including the OP, but it's fucking laughable to think they even have unwritten rules considering 100% of them would kill for more traffic to keep the lights on
     
  9. zotzot

    zotzot Grand Pooh-Bah (5,352) Feb 22, 2015 Vermont
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Silly article. Of lot of it such common sense, doesn’t seem worth saying, let alone writing an article.
    I haven’t gone on a real brewery tour in a long time time. Seems like the province of larger breweries whereas I try to go to smaller one where you can see the tanks and ask questions of the staff.
    First time I went to Hill Farmstead, Shaun Hill was scrubbing out the tanks.
     
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  10. bambiere

    bambiere Savant (1,055) Aug 25, 2025 Pennsylvania

    Kind of my point in poking fun at it.

    I think the last brewery tour I've been on was Sam Adams. It was a good time. Of course, we pre-gamed.

    Early on or lately? Either way I wouldn't be surprised.
     
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  11. jjamadorphd

    jjamadorphd Pooh-Bah (2,496) Jul 21, 2012 Florida
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    IMHO - no, you certainly are not...
     
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  12. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Have you met people? Have you been on a brewery tour with folks who are maybe a few beers deep?
    There is no expectation of privacy when in public.
     
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  13. jjamadorphd

    jjamadorphd Pooh-Bah (2,496) Jul 21, 2012 Florida
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I love going to breweries. It's the entire experience for me - that first impression when you walk in, reading their boards or monitors to see what's on tap, having that interaction with friends or family I may be with on what to pick, jawing with the bartender, just sitting there, yucking it up with family and friends - I find it very therapeutic...

    As far as these rules are concerned, well, maybe I've stepped on one or two - but not maliciously... :slight_smile:
     
  14. wmeckley44

    wmeckley44 Savant (1,114) Nov 1, 2023 Tennessee
    Trader

    I don't know, I always like telling brewery staff when the beer is good/if they're remaking anything I enjoyed, and especially for newer places, what a good pint there reminds me of.

    A lot of the smaller breweries I've been to seem to have some sort of gem somewhere and I've gotten pretty good at picking them out. A local to me has a cold IPA as their flagship and I talked to the owner/head brewer about how drinkable it was at length and how the strawberry/mint hop flavors were really unique. He was excited to talk about that business and brewing decision and it made for such a good experience I got 2 crowlers of it to go when I never get crowlers due to the fridge space they take up.

    In the same vein, I asked Spencer at Barrique, the second brewer now working at Xul Nashville, who was behind the IPAs they made, especially the hazy stuff. It was him, and he was shocked I was so into them and was happy to discuss his outlook on why they're so unique/why they came to the menu. It was just to have an IPA for people who only want to drink those, not to be an actual specialty, and the brewing staff didn't have a ton of experience and all agreed NEIPA is a huge pain in the ass if you don't build your whole operation around it. Now he's making Xul's main brewers look bad making insane IPAs for them in Nashville.

    I think you're fine talking about whatever related to the product so long as you're informed and respectful. Yeah if you're going to a place and saying something sucks and another beer is way better than what you're drinking that's a huge dick move. Common courtesy applies everywhere especially when drinking, I think this is just such a filler article that can be summed up with just BE RESPECTFUL. Just like any public place where you are served.
     
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  15. unlikelyspiderperson

    unlikelyspiderperson Grand Pooh-Bah (3,966) Mar 12, 2013 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I feel like "don't touch the brewing equipment" is usually a written rule
     
  16. bambiere

    bambiere Savant (1,055) Aug 25, 2025 Pennsylvania

    Yeah, drunk people are . . . umm . . . interesting. I get it. I'm drunk people sometimes, too.

    Fair enough, but that wasn't really my point. It was just that if I'm not deriding their beer for all to hear, it shouldn't be offensive to them if I make comments or comparisons about their beers.
     
  17. turfy

    turfy Pooh-Bah (1,872) Mar 17, 2010 Texas
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I would have to add #9 if visiting my two local breweries…

    “Don’t tell them their beers are sub-par and better tasting ones are found at Kroger”
     
  18. hosehead83

    hosehead83 Pooh-Bah (1,719) Nov 19, 2008 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah

    1)Be polite
    2)Ask intelligent questions-if u can
    3)Never negatively criticize any of their brews, especially free offerings-if u don't like it, try at least to appreciate it- unless of course something is genuinely wrong (no carbonation for example)
    4) Have fun, be positive, buy something to take home if possible, and always thank them for their time, especially if you were given a tour
    5)If it was a genuinely bad experience ( which i have NEVER had at a brewery, or brewpub) post a professional critique on their website, talk to a manager before you leave ( be polite), or just leave and never go back
    These are just my thoughts, your mileage may vary
     
  19. woodchipper

    woodchipper Grand Pooh-Bah (3,735) Oct 25, 2005 Connecticut
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    9) If you're a writer of listicles, try to restrain yourself.
     
  20. vickersspitfire

    vickersspitfire Pooh-Bah (1,748) Dec 11, 2006 Texas
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader


    I'd say this was written for people unlike us, but I will always compare one breweries beer to another, i mean why would we not compare beers of the same style to someone else's, its how we grow our knowledge and better define what we like in a specific style. The other rules were, IMHO, meant for noobs, first time parents and well, I hate to say, but stupid people, the kind that piss into the wind in a non-kinky manner.
     
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