Why Breweries Are Saying No to Beer Flights

Half-pours I get. Flights I don't. 4oz of beer isn't enough to judge a beer. It's not going to have a chance to warm up and get more of the flavor from a non-ice-cold beer.

 

I’ve never been a flight or taster guy. I don’t think k they aren’t cool or whatever. I need a little more than 4oz to really judge a beer. Then I get one I really like and it’s only 4ozs. Love places like Sierra Nevada that does half pours at half the cost. Hate places that charge $4 for a $5 half pour and $8 for a full pour.

 

I like flights and half pours. If I have the option I choose half pours. At least one of these should be offered, however I wouldn't hold it against a brewery for not offering either. Been to a few that do not and rely on BA to look up their beers before trying a new one to me.

 

It's not that the taster trays themselves are bad, it's that the people who tend order them are annoying little twits.

 

If I had feelings I would feel something about that comment...

 

I guess this falls right into place with bland and flavorless industrial beers being hip. If the older fellers don't like it, we gotta.

 

F**k flights. Commit to 12 or 16 ounces and stop holding up the line.

 

And start holding up the bar!

 

Can we remark that it'd be hard to enjoy a flight of entirely hazy beer?

 

The subhead of the article answers a question I was going to ask about refunds on a full beer that just doesn't taste good (to an individual customer):
"They're always happy to pour you a sample to taste, but more and more brewers are refusing to sell flights."

Without a sample (like a flight) I don't want to gamble on a new beer in a large format and then have the bar tender tell me, "Tough shit buddy." I've visited places and get this about 50% of the time -- if there aren't samples available.

 

The argument in the article about proper glassware is bullshit. Most places I frequent might use two, sometimes as many as three, different glassware types depending on the beer. If they cared so much about that they would have a dozen different glassware types behind the bar, but obviously that would be impractical. Just don’t hide behind that as an excuse why you don’t like serving flights.

 

. “Dadverse”. Love it, and live there!

As for flights, they have their place, although, I do understand the anamosity they generate. Besides, “cool” is not giving a flying sh*t what others think of you. Be respectful and enjoy what you will.

 

I never do flights because the 4-5 ounce format isn't enough to judge a beer, plus if you have different styles it messes up you palate. When I visit a brewery I research what is available and have a game plan going in. Also, it's really annoying if you want a pint and you're waiting for two patrons to get their flights. Just venting!

 

Warning: Nostalgia post! No useful information. Blue Point on River Av. in Patchogue used to provide tasters. First 3 four ounce (?) tasters of standard beers were free. However, they served them in plastic. If you wanted a full pour in a glass, usually the price was a dollar extra. But you kept the glass. Usually, a flight offers more beers than I would be interested in.

 

I know of some breweries who won't do flights after 5/6 PM or at times when they're crowded. I like flights myself (so I can decide what I want to get before I get a full pint), but I typically go to breweries early in the day when there aren't a lot of people there so I'm not holding things up.

 

Maybe it’s because all the IPAs and fruited sours essentially taste the same, brewers don’t need to offer flights for customers to distinguish what they want?

Snark aside, I think the increased offering of half pours, as many have mentioned, has replaced it (definitely for the better, in my opinion).

I still think flights have their place (mainly dependent on number of taps) and admit a bit of grumpy man syndrome can flare up when I see inefficient ordering - but it is really quite rare, in my experience.

 

I don’t think this is inaccurate.

 

Dadverse? Poppycock! What is this malarkey?

 

Try going to a brewery, that is only counter service, and you are stuck behind a schmuck that can't make up his mind. Asks for a flight of 6, and has to literally try every beer before he includes it in his flight. Then you will hate it when people get flights. I also find it funny this is being called a "dadverse" thing, whatever that is. Most the older crowd I know just wants a beer in their glass, and moves on. Its the younger kids that always have to have flights, so they can have one sip of something, and check it into untappd. See I can be hyperbolic as well