Worst Brewery Experience?

Haven't had many bad brewery experiences (craft beer bars are a different story). The one that left me the most disappointed was Lost Coast in Eureka CA. Beers were somewhat generic, and one of the offerings that actually got me excited was no longer on draft. Décor seemed a bit run down, and my food was decent, but nothing special. Service seemed a bit off as well; I had to repeatedly signal the bartender whenever I needed something.

 

I don't know if I would necessarily qualify this experience as the "worst" but it always stands out to me as a weird/bad experience since it is from a brewery that a lot of people regard. My friend and I went to Kane a few years back. We were asking questions about the beer, stuff you know, someone working at brewery should be excited about. We got a very standoffish attitude. I haven't had the chance to go back, but it's just one that sticks out since most of my other experiences have been positive.

 

haha that is exactly lost coast. I don't understand how they survive. Yet they apparently thrive. They recently built and moved to a much larger production facility on the edge of town (they still have the dingy cafe right downtown that you visited and it is still shabby). The only bright side is that a south korean brewery (the Booth) bought their old production facility and makes some good modern hoppy beers and does some other really interesting stuff (lemongrass peppercorn saison, black cherry stout at about 5%) and is supposedly working to get their own little tap room open there. Should be a welcome improvement

 

I'd just punt and go to Redwood Curtain. YMMV

 

First time at Three Floyds. Saturday evening on the way back from a visit to 18th Street when they only had one location (and that was an awesome visit). Stopped at Floyds and was told there was a 90 minute wait just to sit at the bar for a beer. So we drove back to Joliet IL and found Hailstorm while looking for breweries near us on our way back. So you win some and you lose some.

 

I recently went to a local brewery right when they open at 11am. I was the only customer in the place. I tried chatting with the bartender but she was studying so I left her alone and drank a couple pints. I seen her putting her hair up in a ponytail and when she lifted her arms she had really really hairy arm pits. I tried asking her some questions about the beer and she said "I think I'm going to have to cut you off". It was only noon. I did have like 3-4 beers in an hour but I wasn't even tipsy. That same girl just got hired at the place where I work. We work together now. It's awkward.

 

It might be in your best interest to get her fired. Just saying.

 

I don't know how to translate it into football metaphors but basically you should never plan to go to lost coast and should always plan to go to redwood curtain if your going to Eureka. lost coast is like some burnt trick play that worked in the '46 Harvard-Yale game and Redwood Curtain is like handing off to your leading rusher from the 2 yard line. All assuming you are already doing the Eureka thing of course

 

LOL! Not sure if I'll end up in Eureka anytime soon, but good advice. On the one occasion I did make it up there, it was a long drive up 101 from San Fran. I had stops at both Russian River and Bear Republic, so admittedly Lost Coast was a major downgrade.

 

I love hairy armpits on women, but what does that detail have to do with your story, Al Coholic?

 

Gordon Bierch in the Atlanta airport if that counts

 

you know, i actually had a really nice pilsner from GB in San Jose airport. what was wrong with the Atlanta experience?

 

Probably the hordes of people that tromp through it daily... and just the pricing in general. People who own airport restaurants and carnival concession stands are going to hell.

 

oh come on now! didn't terrapin just open a brewery in the Atlanta airport? like an actual, functional one, and not just a tap room? is that owner going to hell, too?

 

this is your fault, not the brewery's. Sounds like you are angry they were busy. Which if you know anything about their beer releases you would know that they are always packed... Also interesting comment about the kids, sounds like you were crying in the rain as well.

 

One more reason PDX is the best beer city in the U.S. The Port of Portland has a law that airport vendors use "Street Pricing"; that is, anything sold at the airport can't be priced higher than it is out on the street. Plus, plenty of great bottles available past security.

 

I like the GB in Myrtle Beach, their Czech Pils is pretty good and very inexpensive.