Hay Merchant...wtf

Discussion in 'Southwest' started by Berrymon, Jul 26, 2016.

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  1. Berrymon

    Berrymon Initiate (0) Apr 5, 2015 Texas
    Trader

    So 15 minutes ago I walk into Hay Merchant for the first time excited to try some Houston beers. I see BBH w/ chocolate on tap and make an order. It is apparent the keg kicked after a couple oz were in the $9 snifter. Dude walks away for a minute, then comes back and gets a 4 oz glass and pours the snifter into it...maybe 3 oz of the beer. He says, "Here you go." I look at him funny for a minute and jokingly ask how much for that. Deadpan he says, "$6.50". I say, "For 3oz of the ass end of the keg?" Dude swipes it off the bar and says,"You want something else?

    Wanted to bounce his head off that fckin bar and punt his hipster ass onto the curb for the randos to pick over. Dick. When did it get like this?

    I didn't seek that spot out (or any craft beer) to be treated like that.
     
    #1 Berrymon, Jul 26, 2016
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  2. NiceFly

    NiceFly Initiate (0) Dec 22, 2011 Tajikistan

    I have never been charged for the last blown pour of a keg anywhere ever. Aside from that sounds like the customer service was lacking anyway.

    When diplomacy fails violence is the answer.
     
    #2 NiceFly, Jul 26, 2016
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  3. icetrauma

    icetrauma Pooh-Bah (1,657) Sep 7, 2004 Texas
    Pooh-Bah

    Foot up his ass and that was piss pour. Yes pun intended.
     
    #3 icetrauma, Jul 26, 2016
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  4. mattchow

    mattchow Savant (1,009) Jun 24, 2012 Texas

    Maybe your "funny" came out "asshole"?
     
    #4 mattchow, Jul 26, 2016
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  5. Berrymon

    Berrymon Initiate (0) Apr 5, 2015 Texas
    Trader

    Maybe so, but this guy had a problem from the start. He knew the keg blew. I knew the keg blew. It was obvious...so to then drop a glorified shot's worth of beer in front of me and wanna charge me for it is complete BS. To be honest I wasn't interested in the 3 oz of ass whether it was free or not...I doubt it was a great sample of the beer anyway.

    As mentioned above, there used to be unwritten rules about incidents like this and they were in place long before hipsters were manning the taps. I would have been fine with him chucking the dregs and saying, dang just wasn't your night man. I would've winced and chosen something different. It was Monday night and they weren't busy, take a little pride in expanding people's horizons - people tip well for that extra 5 seconds of your time.

    Instead I went to The Petrol Station and enjoyed a couple glasses of Cortado...fantastic beer...so much coffee. Like being waterboarded with french-pressed dark roast.
     
    #5 Berrymon, Jul 26, 2016
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  6. donspublic

    donspublic Grand Pooh-Bah (3,552) Aug 4, 2014 Texas
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    If you had never had Cortado, be glad the keg kicked and the guy was a dick. Cortado is one of the best beers that Brash cranks out, plus the people at Petrol are glad your there and treat you like it. I only left a <200 word review, going to expand it next time and reading it now I mentioned coffee 3 times.
     
    #6 donspublic, Jul 26, 2016
  7. champ103

    champ103 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,296) Sep 3, 2007 Texas
    Society Pooh-Bah

    I have had much worse, much more dickish service at Petrol than what is described here, and have never had any issues at Hay Merchant. Sometimes bartenders have off/bad nights, just like anybody...not defending it cause it should not happen. Though it is reality.
     
    #7 champ103, Jul 26, 2016
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  8. TX-Badger

    TX-Badger Grand Pooh-Bah (3,234) Jun 14, 2012 Texas
    Pooh-Bah

    Same for me, if it's only a few ounces, I've never been charged for the end of a keg. Most times in my experience, the bartender will ask me if I even want the end pour or not, I always say yes, never been charged, and leave a little more in the tip for the kindness.
     
    #8 TX-Badger, Jul 26, 2016
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  9. djd07

    djd07 Crusader (410) Oct 3, 2012 Texas

    You sure he wasnt messing with you about the $6.50?
     
    #9 djd07, Jul 26, 2016
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  10. Berrymon

    Berrymon Initiate (0) Apr 5, 2015 Texas
    Trader

    Well, the part I didn't mention earlier (and the reason my mind went to violence) was that after he swiped the 3oz off the bar he slugged it back right there in front of me.

    Had this happened when I was a little younger and dumber, I would have assaulted him. That is how aggro the move was.

    Instead I just told him that was pretty fucked up and walked out like a chump. What I wanted to do would ultimately have given me temporary satisfaction (and maybe taught this jerk a lesson) but I was too angry to have it end well for me. Visiting from out of town and the last thing I needed was to explain to my boss I missed a couple meetings b/c I was in jail.
    General manager was not there, but I will callhim today
     
    #10 Berrymon, Jul 26, 2016
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  11. texasalec

    texasalec Devotee (399) Jul 18, 2013 Texas

    That bartender sounds like a class-A douche. I wouldn't fret on that one experience, been going to the Hay Merchant for a while and they really do cycle the shitty servers/bartenders out. Very rarely I have a mediocre experience and when I do... I will go back after a few months and typically that person is no longer working for HM. Take your talents to Petrol Station for a while and then circle back, remember the dude abides.
     
    #11 texasalec, Jul 26, 2016
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  12. Berrymon

    Berrymon Initiate (0) Apr 5, 2015 Texas
    Trader

    Well, in the whole scheme of things it is just beer like some posters may have alluded to and that was precisely why I didn't show my ass in that bar. My young children have taught me a lot about patience and restraint...it's only when I see something ugly or disrepectful that I get surly these days.

    I'm over it and will continue to visit Houston and bond with likeminded folks who wanna drink and discuss beer. After I leave Karbach this evening I will slide over to the PS for one more pour of Cortado...its just fantastic. May have to come in for the Hammer Smashed Face release in October...Woodford Reserve barrels...damn.
     
    #12 Berrymon, Jul 27, 2016
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  13. Texasfan549

    Texasfan549 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,250) Feb 26, 2011 Texas
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    That sucks man. Sorry to hear about that. I love Hay Merchant, and I'm always telling people to go there when they're in town. Hopefully just a bad night for the bartender, and it doesn't happen again.
     
    #13 Texasfan549, Jul 27, 2016
  14. jamescain

    jamescain Initiate (0) Jul 14, 2009 Texas

    Point of the story being...that's called being in Houston :stuck_out_tongue:
     
    #14 jamescain, Jul 27, 2016
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  15. donspublic

    donspublic Grand Pooh-Bah (3,552) Aug 4, 2014 Texas
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    shot fired
     
    #15 donspublic, Jul 27, 2016
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  16. Grendle

    Grendle Initiate (0) Apr 11, 2012 Texas

    Where did you commute from OP?
     
    #16 Grendle, Jul 27, 2016
  17. awinkro

    awinkro Zealot (500) Oct 15, 2008 Texas
    Trader

    For what it's worth, this has never happened to me at HM. Don't let this deter you from future trips. Few bars in the city can offer you the same service and options as HM. I can think of less than a handful.
     
    #17 awinkro, Jul 27, 2016
  18. cfh64

    cfh64 Pooh-Bah (2,070) Aug 16, 2005 Texas
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I envy your rage, as Judge Judy would say "you sound like a real hot head" :slight_smile:
     
    #18 cfh64, Jul 28, 2016
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  19. Best_Enjoyed_In_Texas

    Best_Enjoyed_In_Texas Maven (1,420) Aug 24, 2015 Texas
    Trader

    I love posts like this.

    I'd also say I love Hay Merchant, but I'm not above ripping on these minimum-wage asshats who forget they work on tips.

    And while were at it, it often pains me that craft beer has turned into a refuge for these hipster-elite lumberjack looking d-bags. You know what you're saying to the world when you grow an Al Borland-style beard and fill your arms up with tattoos? You're saying f-you to a better job with benefits.

    I feel your pain Berrymon. Rant done.
     
    #19 Best_Enjoyed_In_Texas, Jul 29, 2016
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  20. aschwab

    aschwab Initiate (0) Mar 3, 2009 Texas

    LOL what?

    I am happy I do not work at a job that actually gives a shit about those things. But what do I know, I am not the biggest fans of people who go out of their way to be an ass to people solely based on tattoos and beards.
     
    #20 aschwab, Jul 29, 2016
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