What's a nice way to tell a local craft bar they need to step up their game?

"Please step up your game."

Just don't go there. If they don't care now, I can't see you saying something changing that.

 

Just ask, "Hey have you ever thought about getting X beer, as it is a very highly rated beer and many people seek it out." See what the reply is.

 

Buy em out and change it up.

 

Yeah just have a conversation with them. Look at some of the brands they carry, see who distributes those brands and see what else they have in their catalog. Bring those brands up in your conversation, talk about how you dig what they have.

 

Talking does wonders. Crazy, right?

 

Bring in your own bottle of beer. When they question what the hell you're doing, tell them they dont have what you're looking for.

 

You had the perfect chance to tell them when you got the "long time no see" line.
Simply say that you like the place but other places in town seem to be more eager to keep things new and fresh. Seems odd that they would not know how many awesome places there are up your way to choose from but maybe they just got comfortable with how things were. You might be doing them a great favor by having a nice and relaxed chat about what you think.

 

Let the owners run their bar how they want to run it.

If there are other bars that offer what you're looking for, frequent them.

 

Sounds like you were a regular right? If they value your business they should seriously consider any feedback you provide them. Unless they truly don't give a shit. Just ask the bartender, bet it wouldn't be the most offensive thing they've heard all day. At first I thought you may have been talking about a smaller brewery but if it's just a beer bar their livelihood depends on you buying pints, go up there, suck down some liquid courage and demand better beer, nuff said.

 

........what?

 

Is the bar crowded and doing well? If so don't waste your time.

 

You don't need to be an asshole if they ask where you've been, just be honest. Tell them that other places have beers that you'd rather drink than what they've usually got on tap. I really doubt they'd take offense to that, especially if it's a beer bar and the people that work there are into beer, they should understand that you just want to drink the best possible beer that's available to you, and if they're not providing it then you're going to take your money elsewhere.

 

Well, since you're in Washington, you could just go the Passive-Aggresive route: "Hey, I heard some asshole started an on-line thread about about about how shitty you guys are. I would never do that, you guys are my favorites!".

 

What don't you get about that statement?

Why does the OP feel like he needs to tell someone how to run their business?
If a bar doesnt have what you want to drink, go somewhere else.

That's the beauty about a capitalist economic system, if the public doesn't like a product ( Bar ) then the owners will choose to change something on their own, or they will fail.

I thought it was a straight forward statement.

 

The point is that the OP would like to make an effort at a place that he spent plenty of time at before. It's obviously a place the OP used to really like, and judging from his comment here, it's a place he'd enjoy frequenting again if they'd simply offer better beers. There's zero downside to him walking in and respectfully talking up the bartender or owner about why he's started to take his business elsewhere. If they're receptive, maybe he gets his frequent hangout back. Worst case they do nothing, and he goes somewhere else knowing he at least made an effort.

 

Why not just do it with your feet and your wallet? If there are better options, your business there will help to show them something is wrong. Also, if you tell your friends and word starts to spread about the better options, things may change.

 

walk in with two storm troopers, wave your hand a la Obi-Wan and say, "these aren't the beers you're looking for." Then walk out

 

Be honest, but be nice. I think some of the people here have given good advice. If you're blunt, you'll come across like a prick, but if you sugar coat it just a touch, you'll be fine. I think the best advice on here was just saying something along the lines of, "Hey, you ever thought of getting "x" beer?" I don't see anything wrong with that. Of course, tone has a big part of conversation, so maybe find a tone that isn't sarcastic or degrading, and instead, genuinely inquisitive.

If you're looking to help them out, and are genuine in your motivation, then go for it. Otherwise, I do think going to the places that have the selection you're looking for may be a good option too. You know the business owner better than any of us here, so the end decision is in your hands.