Tipping for Growlers

I always tip $1 per pint, $2 per growler, just me though.

 

It is a great question. If you go to a place that doesn't sell bottles, but only does keg and growler fill sales from the brewery then isn't that similar to picking up beer at a local store? For me it depends on where I go and how the server reacts to my fill request. In my town at the Skep I usually tip because the service is always great. The servers always knows something about the beer they are serving (because they have had the beer), and will usually offer up a sample before you make a decision on something you haven't had before. At the East Side Club you can get a mixed bag of service, from condescending talk to over the top service so sometimes I'll tip and other times I won't.

 

The server is serving you, even if you're taking the drink home. He is taking time away from other customers to fill or procure your growler for you, and get you on your way. She is missing out other sales and tips while attending to you. Of course, you should tip.

 

If it is at a store, then no. That is a service they offer. If you're at a taproom or bar that offers said service, then possibly yes.

 

I don't tip personally. Don't know if it makes any difference but in MN nobody fills the growler in front of you, I exchange an empty for a full one in the cooler behind the bar and give them cash. The whole thing takes about 6 seconds and I'm pretty anti-tipping in general so screw it.

 

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait... Are you telling me you decide whether/how much to tip based off of the quality of service you were given?

This is the right answer.

 

Yeah tipping to go is different. In that I don't do it. I don't tip mcdonalds drive thru people.

 

I tip for everything... I always give a minimum of 2 per growler or more, depending how busy it is and how long I have to wait. Also if it is a regular bartender, I will give more.

 

I work at a brewery in Northern Michigan and when I'm behind the bar I appreciate any and all tips . I've had people request samples of all the beers, spend 10 minutes making their decision, and not tip and I've had people who know exactly what they want, order it, and still tip even if they don't stay for a pint. Like anything in the service industry it's a mixed bag but personally I always tip a buck or two for a growler fill unless the service is awful.

 

Wow, you guys tip at the bottle shop, too?

 

I usually bring in some canned good like beets or cream of corn, and I give it to the person filling my growler. I feel like I should give them something for the 10-15 seconds they took from flirting with the hostess. I know they're hurting economically judging from the lack of real work they were doing at the moment, so I bring them something to eat and save them the gas they would use up driving to the grocery store to purchase the food.

 

Not quite the same thing. One is a store where tipping should never be expected and one is a bar where tipping is often expected. Where I live, the only places you can get growlers are bars and brewpubs except for a few Whole Foods and Wegman's locations. At the grocery stores, I wouldn't tip for growlers. Tipping's actually discouraged at Wegman's, which is awesome, but if I go to a bar and get one it is much more of a hassle for them to fill a growler than a glass of beer, so I give them a buck or two. I don't like the idea of tipping for to-go (NEVER for to go food) but feel like it makes sense in that scenario. That said, I don't think anyone should tip if they don't want to; I'm just pointing out that bottle shop and bar are far from apples to apples.

 

I tipped a little bit after getting a ton of fills at Hill Farmstead and got this look like I was from a completely different planet.

I usually tip a dollar or two when I get a fill here in Michigan. I guess that's strange behavior in Vermont.

 

At a growler store, no. Everyone expects a tip for even the littlest thing these days.

 

Not sure if joking or you have some weird hard-on for people in the service industry.*

*I don't work in the service industry. Joking about the tone, obviously not serious about the canned goods nonsense.

 

It's confirmed. Vermont is actually in Europe.

 

If someone is busy filling a ton of growlers, and they're doing it properly and leaving minimal head space, no reason not to tip them for their efforts.

 

But what if the bartender gets your to-go food when they good be serving more valuable customers? I mean, practically everything is more of a hassle than pouring a draft beer. Man, I hafta stop tipping so well.

 

What if your bottle store also sells growler fills? Such is the case in many area stores in Washington...Malt and Vine, 99 bottles, Gravity, bottleworks, etc.