Using the Word "Try" at a Bar

Like others have said, I usually ask for a sample. Most places are more than willing to do it.

 

As a bar patron at beers bars too often and a manager of a bar for over 8 years I usually go in order something I know I want, end up talking to bartender and they usually just hand me samples without asking if we have come across me never having them. If you are a beer person and they are then they should want you to try some new juice!

 

This. Still some confusion but it hasn't been a big deal.

 

I've never "asked" a server for anything (may I have.....) I always simply give my order (I'll have....... or, I'd like..........). I'm not their guest, I'm a paying customer!
As far as tastes are concerned, I'm of the opinion that you can't give it a proper taste if you don't have a full glass of it.

 

I agree. Especially when I can see both sides.

Hopefully it was a good beer though.

 

I always use the word "Taster" because of this issue while at the Pub. The issue you have comes with the territory when working with the public. My cousin used to work at a Liquor Store. People would come in and ask for, say Newport. He now looks at them with blank look because Newports come in a veriety of choices. Box, Soft Pack, 100's, Mild etc.. Long story short treat the public like they have no common sense.

 

I think "try" should almost always imply a full serving, much like commonly heard while ordering food:

Server: "What would you like to order?"
Patron: "I think I'll try the Caesar salad, please."

I guess that's not always the case... Maybe it's a regional ambiguity issue? Around here, "try" is not a sample. A sample is a sample ("Taste" works as well). Anyway, I can see how that would annoy the Hell out of you.

 

Life Pro Tip: If theres communication confusion, always clarify.

 

I usually have the same couple bartenders on my nights out and we've discussed how a proper tasting is at least 9oz before. They know if I say "try" without a qualifier I mean a full serving.

If I want a shotglass on the house to determine if I want to give the beer a proper tasting I'll ask for a "sample" or a "taste". The word "try" might be involved, but it is understood in context that I want a small taste before buying a pint, snifter or tulip. Honestly, at this point "I'm not sure if I want to try that one" usually leads to a shotglass of it in front of me.

 

I'm glad I'm not alone in this peeve. I've had to work out my phrasing so as to not sound like an ass but to get them to rephrase their request. "Just a taste or a full pour?" Usually they're surprised that I could have thought they meant the opposite ("Oh! A full pour!" or "Oh! Just a taste!") so I'm glad I checked.

 

The interpretation of terminology differs from place to place and person to person. That challenge is further confounded with the fact that most people are generally lazy communicators who lean thoughtlessly towards brevity rather than a mindful choice of descriptive and fully explanatory wording. Venting about this fact of life on BA won't change it, but hopefully the OP feels better for it!

"Try" really can be interpreted both ways. One could easily mean "try a pint of" or "try a full pour of" but I also know one bar that likes the phrase "try or buy" meaning try = sample and buy = full pour

Therefore, "Sample" (and to a lesser extent "taste") really is the clearest way for a patron to communicate ones desire to taste a sample of a beer before buying a full pour. But, when in doubt, it is the bartender / servers job to clarify (as previously stated in this thread).

 

Nice problem to have. In my area, the best (most taps) places flat out give no samples. You can buy a flight at an outrageous price. I am shocked when I go to real beer centric places and they ask me if I would like a sample.

 

YES. Amen to this. Patrons, please communicate a bit more clearly.

 

From the servers standpoint, I'm sure your situation is a nicer problem to have!

 

The bartender's job is ultimately to ensure a satisfied customer. The sort who will return.
I'm glad you know what you are going to be drinking, that's a skill I haven't yet mastered in 55 years of beer drinking.Until I have a sample I don't know the character, balance or emphasis of the beer.I know that a small sample doesn't paint the whole picture but it does at least indicate whether it's too grapefruity or has too much crystal malt for example.

You are a guest though and should be a valued one.If the server doesn't want to see you happy with your choice he isn't earning his keep.

I always find that simply asking "What's this beer like" gets the response of a small glass being pulled off for me to try out.It's never charged for because a pub can't sell less than a third of an Imperial pint and that has to be measured anyway.

Regarding customer satisfaction, I once took my wife to a pub where she saw bottled melon juice and thought she would have some.We sat outside and when I came in for my second pint the server (who was the owner) asked me how my wife was enjoying the juice. When I said she didn't like it he said "What does she like, I'll replace it for her"
I argued that she had simply made the wrong choice and his answer was that "anyone who comes to my pub has an enjoyable experience" , my wife got a free of charge replacement.

 

It’s a dialect sort of thing. Not unlike what happens in some areas of PA where you hear people say "I'll have a lager" with the full expectation they'll be handed a Yuengling Traditional Lager and irritated if they are given something else or asked "Which lager?"

Getting it fully would require both a lot of linguistic analysis and an understanding of local history we don't really want to get into when talking about beer.