Serving Sizes and High ABV Beers

Some places do have laws (or at least regulations) about such things, but not everywhere.
And like someone above said, it may be a case at a place that has craft options but not a craft bar.
Personally, I wish more places would keep tabs on that sort of thing and tailor servings more or less to abv. A pint of the DT would be fine, but 22oz? Again, at home, fine, you're not driving anywhere, but out at a restaurant? yikes. No-good things are likely to happen.
I was once at a place and noticed DFH 90min on tap, ordered, expecting a 10-12 oz snifter, I got an imperial nonic pint.
Finished up (taking my time, of course) and the bartender asked if I wanted another. Uh, no thanks, I would like to get home alive and un-arrested for DUI, thanks... (not the same as getting a 120 pint, but still)

 

The "Dram shop" law that makes such suits winnable doesn't exist in all states. In those where such a law exists portions of high ABV beers served may be smaller than portions of lower ABV beers and the staff are typically much more attentive to ABV in what they serve. The places I typically go to in PA all post ABV and portion size.

 

Some places here post some don't, I think they should if they're 7% or higher, just as a warning.

 

At Brick House Tavern (chain) you can get a 22oz pour of anything, including Kane Overhead (which I frequently take advantage of). I'm pretty sure you can also get mini beer towers and full sized beer towers of anything on their draft menu.

 

When I was at a brewpub in Montana, you were limited to I think 48 oz total for the whole night.

 

For you, this may be correct for you but there are many other factors to consider. Size of drinker, rate of consumption, abv, etc. Besides, a bartender should NEVER tell you it's absolutely ok to have 2 beers and drive.

 

Wow. The one and done size. I like their style.

 

Whenever I order a beer I haven't had before, I actually read the board or menu to check the abv. I don't depend on a bartender or server to tell me about the beer or warn me about the abv after I order it. The problem arises when the abv is misrepresented on the board or menu but the times I have encountered this have been few and far between and usually no more than by a % or so. And I can't recall ever being in a beer bar or restaurant that didn't list the abv on a board or on the menu.

 

I can't speak from a legal standpoint. However, my SO was served a 24 oz. pour of Backwoods Bastard at a hard rock concert hall a couple years ago.

 

It is the responsibility of the establishment and by extension, the bartender to cut off service to anyone who appears intoxicated. While this rule isn't always followed, especially in extremely busy places, it really doesn't matter what the serving size is, if you have a 22 oz. pour of a high abv beer, a responsible and observant bartender should take note and hopefully remember what your previous beer was. So...if you ask for another 22 oz. pour of the same beer, the bartender should ask the questions or do what's required to determine whether he or she should serve another one. Again, realistically speaking, this isn't always possible, but it's the best way to CYA.

 

A bar near me got a keg of Abyss last year. I sort of think they didn't really know much about it because they were selling it in pints for $6. Their loss was my gain. Last week I ordered an Abrasive at my favorite beer spot/restaurant and I was very surprised when it came in a pint.

Moral of the story, expect the unexpected and enjoy the tall pours of those delicious biggins.

 

You're living the dream.

 

Those 3 pints of Abyss hit hard the next day.

 

I don't think he was suggesting that at all

 

The bars I usually go to have the ABV clearly listed on the menu. Serving strong beers while not providing any information on their strength is just irresponsible. I have no problem with a 22oz pour of 9% beer as long as they make sure people know what they are getting themselves into.

 

Interesting idea, but some would take this as a challenge and drink the the highest ABV beers they can. Can you imagine 48oz of 2015 Backwoods Bastard, even over a few hours?

 

A local chain opened near me in Cambridge around 2007ish. They're now quite attentive to abv, but when they first opened they simply offered a litany of craft beers without knowledge of what they were.

A bartender told me another bartender served a guy 8 pints of Golden Monkey (9.6%). The guy went to the bathroom and the bartender noticed he had left his meal half finished and was gone for quite some time. They found him passed out in the bathroom.

After that they had a meeting to make all servers aware of the abv of their beers, and I believe that particular bartender was fired for over serving the customer. It was irresponsible to serve the patron 8 pints in the first place (we can argue about tolerances and how many pints you personally can handle), but the issue was exacerbated by not knowing how strong the beers on their tap list were.

Craft beer has created a unique scenario due to its wide range of abv's (often skewed towards stronger rather than weaker these days). Your average patron knows how much alcohol is in certain drinks. All wine is served in a wine glass, mixed drinks have measured shots, liquor served neat/on the rocks are typically a shot or two. But when your average patron orders a "pint", that can be anywhere from your standard 5% to 10% or higher. If it's the latter, than a 100 lb. woman is getting over 2.5 beers in one serving. If she orders two? I highly doubt you can assume the person knows they're drinking nearly 6 beers in two servings. The patron is responsible for themselves, but in my opinion beer specifically should have the abv listed.

 

Holy cow ^^^

Typically any sessionable, hoppy beer around 4-7% is served in a pint glass.
Saisons/ sours are served in 12 ounce snifters, regardless of the abv.
most double/ triple IPA's are served in 12 ounce glasses, unless its Hop Stoopid or Enjoy By, then it is in a pint for some reason.
high abv stouts and strong ales are 6-10 pours.

That has been my experience at bars.