How to be a better craft beer customer

Yes customers shouldn't be entitled pricks, anywhere. HOWEVER, a brewery that overly hypes up a draft only release but only has two pony kegs available of beer will get what's coming to them unfortunately. Forced demand with limited supply will inevitably equal a LOT of unhappy people. Justy my two cents as having worked at a brewery who did this and had to face the scores of (understandably) unhappy customers on behalf of the establishment while the brewer/owner was off galavanting. Also, knowing the beer was the most popular thing they ever made, you'd think they'd up production on it. They did not.

 

There used to be a bar in Kalamazoo called the beer exchange (no idea if it's still there or still has the same theme) where the prices of the beers fluctuated (supposedly based on real time demand) and I always thought that would be a really cool concept to see combined with that keg level graphic. Not sure it's a great business model but it would be a fascinating look at market s and price tolerance

 

The beast won't hype itself. Next thing you know you're just *gasp*
shelf beer

 

In that scenario you could make a strong case of bait-and-switch marketing. Intentional? Who knows?

 

The Beer Exchange is still there and is very popular, regardless that it's only a block from Bell's, a HopCat location and two other popular craft beer bars. It's a fun thing to do.

If I remember correctly, the 'market' doesn't open until 5 pm daily. They have about 30 taps and frequently have a hyped beer or two, but the demand never goes down for them. I don't know what causes a market 'crash' but one occurs every now and then during an evening and all beers get a lower price to entice more beers to be sold. Those are probably the times that the hyped beers are gone.

 

I was there for the aftermath; shit talking, Yelp reviews, and subsequent marred reputation that came as a result. Let's just say, it was intentional, but not worth it.

 

Nice, I had a great time there a few times. And yes, its neighborhood does not leave a beer fan wanting

 

Out of curiosity, why?

One downside I’ve heard is that you miss out on the interaction with the bartender/staff. Which doesn’t happen here, just this past visit I was able to ask them questions when I got up from my table.

Aside from this, I don’t really see much of a negative unless you don’t have a phone to pay with. But I’d also say everyone eventually will need a phone to make transactions at some point in the future (maybe not the near future though).

Gotcha, my apologies I misunderstood this...

QUOTE="IGaveYouPower, post: 7037100, member: 533303"]If you check Untappd on a NEIPA from some brewery that just got distro into your area and the rating is a 3.79... you should likely stay away from that beer. NEIPA ratings are inflated so it being that low is a probable red flag.

If you check Untappd on a pilsner/kolsch/schwarzbier from some brewery that just got distro into your area and the rating is a 3.79... you should likely grab the shit out of that beer. Ratings on those traditional styles are low thanks to IPA hypebeasts so when they're high (see: Pilsners from, say, Suarez) it's likely for great reason.[/QUOTE]

...as saying that if you see a rating for a Pilsner that’s a 3.79, that’s considered a high rating, so you should grab that.

I was trying to say I don’t even bother looking at ratings for styles such as Pilsners. I use a combination of my own knowledge (of the styles and of the breweries I’m buying from) and from trusted experienced users on here (mostly from the Germany forum).

The post you were responding to was referring to my post regarding contactless ordering/payment at Notch Brewing.

Their system is actually the complete opposite of what you’re saying. There’s no lines and no QR code to scan.

You go to their website and order from their tap list online. With descriptions of the beers for you to peruse. You can also order off the food menu (it’s actually required to get a beer in MA right now).

This also means you’re not touching an iPad everyone else touched, just your own phone.

Ha, no I get an e-mail with the bill. I don’t pay attention to it, but I do get it.

 

I don't really want to be any better. I'm 50 years old, and at this point in my life, fuck it. It's the business's job to make me happy. But that being said, being an ass to a bartender is just a dick move. It's not there fault if customers are douche bags or if the owner doesn't know how to run a business. And to that point, fucking tip them, and well. They have a shitty job and have to deal with shitty people like me. Appreciate them, damnit.

 

I will be cash only as long and as far as possible. Digital currency is a path filled with nightmarish potential and I try not to contribute. I'd actually prefer that we make our cash more deeply anchored to a physical commodity of independent value.

Also, I have zero interest in the automation of the hospitality industry. We've automated everything else (or are headed swiftly in that direction) and the automation of hospitality is eerily dystopian to me.

I could see using a system like from time to time at a place I frequented if it were an option but I'd rather keep the robots out from between me and my bar tender

 

May be controversial but I think flights are only really appropriate for someone who is new to beer and doesn't quite know what they like yet. I've introduced several friends to beer this way. They got an idea what they do and don't like and allowed them to hone in to styles they found appealing.

The other case I've used flights is for when the tasting group I'm a part of is hosting a bunch of new members and we order a variety of beers to discuss the difference in styles, as it's more educational.

If you've been drinking craft for a while, you should know what you like already and if you don't, sort yourself the fuck out and order a pint just like everyone else.

 

Flights are bullshit. Generally pints are like 6-8 bucks. Ask a buddy if they think you'll like something and then fucking buy it. I get everybody doesn't have a ton of disposable income, but if that's the case, don't buy a new beer in a bar, just stick with what you know. And I might be a bit aggro because I've been drinking for 7 hours. ********* was good to me this week.

 

I usually use flights as a way to assess a new-to-me brewery. I try to put the full breadth of their board on the flight and if there's nothing there that works I can move on. If they shine in one area I can decide if I want to stay and enjoy that zone. If everything is solid then I can confidently order food and follow my heart into their beer menu.

But ya, I don't understand anyone that is a regular consumer of flights at places they frequent.

 

Same here. I only order flights at breweries, and only if it is a new-to-me place. My wife and I frequently go on pub crawls that mostly are recently opened here in Michigan (or new-to-me breweries if we're traveling out of state) with the intent of writing a review here on BA. The only way to try to evaluate a brewery's beer offerings in a short visit is with a flight or two. Typically our visits are during non-busy hours because I'm sensitive to bogging down the serving process when there is a line to order beer. Flights do have a purpose beyond a learning tool for newbies.

 

This sounds very much like the stories of people looking for Heady Topper, having had it at a BBQ or whatever, then going to their local retailer and asking them why they don't have it or don't get it. A complete lack of knowledge of how the business works. I guess they're used to Budweiser being everywhere...

 

Karen's don't police Karen's bro

 

Here's my two cents on how we can be better craft beer customers:

My main point is don't buy old beer from beer distributors, beer stores, grocery stores, etc. (unless it's a beer that ages well or you are curious about how a certain beer ages). Check the canning or bottling date and make your decision to purchase or not to purchase a product with that information. As craft beer customers, we make our voice heard with our wallets. So if you buy old beer, then you are saying to retailers that it is still marketable. If customers refuse to buy it and the stuff just doesn't sell, retailers will eventually be forced to reduce the price until it does sell or just get rid of it to make room for fresh stock.

And a corollary of this is not to buy beer from breweries who do not put dates on their products (unless you know it is fresh or don't care). I cannot understand why all breweries are not dating nowadays.

And finally, if you do buy old beer then please don't complain about it! It's your own darn fault! Shame on the distributors and retailers for selling it, but shame on you for buying it.

 

I want to like this many more times!!!

 

I had a customer call my store and ask if we had any PtE in. I politely explained Russian River does not distribute to Ohio. This lady goes on and on like “yes they do, it was some sort of program yada yada yada”. After a minute of her trying to explain to me how distro works I just calmly said, “....You did not buy that beer in Ohio.”