Revolution Brewing (2024)

That's Ashok for you.

 

Limits and pricing for next week’s release have been sent to season ticket holders.

• Straight Jacket - $25 per 4-pack (No Limit)
  
  
• Ryeway to Heaven - $30 per 4-pack (No Limit)
  
  
• Double Barrel V.S.O.R. - $50 per 4-pack (Limit 1)
  
  
• D.B.X.O.D. Le Tronçais - $35 per 19.2oz can (Limit 1)

 

Many headwinds operating in Chicago.

• Five year phase out of tipping minimum wage rate started in 2023. Expect fewer hours, more self service and fewer staff to continue.
• Most suburban bars and restaurants offer legal gambling, which generates a large amount of revenue. Many NW side city bars offer illicit machines to try to compete.
• Mayor Johnson just proposed a $300M property tax increase, and beer and other alcohol tax increases between 24%-36%. There will be billions more in future tax increases to cover the loss of Federal COVID funds, billions for the CTU, the Bears, and anything else they can borrow or tax to fund.

https://chicago.eater.com/2024/11/4...onzeville-lincoln-square-alcohol-tax-increase

 

Yet we are still going to be expected to tip…should have included fewer customers…

 

It will be interesting how places react. For at least a year or two Haymarket was tacking on 18% or 20% (can’t remember) service charge that was split across Front / Back of House. There were many online reviews stating servers berated their party for not tipping on top of the service charge; stating they received a very small portion of the 20% service charge. I don’t see that charge on the online menu at this point, so perhaps I’ll return. I’m not tipping 40-45% between tip and service charge.

Then I’ve seen on the other end of the spectrum a few groups / parties at Revolution being told that the tab was taken care of via their Rev Point Balance, and each of the three (one at Taproom, two at Brewpub) walked out without leaving a penny in tips, or asking if they can place a tip on their CC. I was somewhat surprised staff didn’t say your tab is taken care of, but gratuity is not included.

I’ll always side on tipping for bar or restaurant service, and I’m Ok with a default gratuity for large parties, but these other fees (back of house tips, health insurance, take out register tip defaults, 3-4% credit card fees, facility charge fees, hotel $60 plus tax mandatory nightly resort fees, etc.) should be reflected in the price and not be charged as additions to the menu price.

 

I'm so over tipping. Especially now with both candidates being for no taxes on tips. People already think they're getting away with murder by not reporting tips so they can pay less in taxes, then they wonder why they have no social security when they retire. The entire thing became a monster we should have never allowed to grow to such a size in this country, now it's only getting worse. Companies should be forced to pay all employees at least the full living, minimum wage without any of this segregation between role types. The fact that employers are permitted to pay $2/hour just because tips are expected is absurd.

In no way does this mean I don't tip, or am advocating for skipping tips at the overwhelming amount of restaurants and bars in America, but when I see service fees being added, or the bill outright states that gratuity is included in the price, I damn sure ain't throwing extra money down. At least those restaurants would be reporting the income so that a few of their employees have some scraps of a retirement, if Social Security survives until then.

And I imagine as we continue to let the heavy piggybacking retail is doing with tip culture, corporations will start lobbying for cashiers to be paid like waiters too.

 

Since this happened to me twice just last week, I'll chime in:
While at a show I bought a round of drinks and closed out, was only shown the total so I tipped 20%. To then be emailed an itemized receipt with a 20% gratuity already applied before I tipped.

This completely lacks transparency and has forced me to demand an itemized receipt before I close out, like a cheap boomer dad.

I never tip less than 20% but trying to sneak shit by me? Nah.

 

Next time I order food for take away and get hit with a standard dine in gratuity charge, I’m going to demand to be seated at a table and to eat my food there.

 

If you attempt to pull-one-over on people, expect a less than ideal reaction.
Common Sense 101 is now in session.

Additionally that alcohol tax hike proposal for Chicago is WILD. It may truly be the year I quit drinking.
No one will miss me.

 

Since you said this was at a show, I assume this didn't happen at Rev?

 

To be clear, the alcohol tax is a proposed 36% INCREASE, not 36%. So an extra 11 cents for every 8 pints you drink.

 

True, it was not. But I think this recent realization should act as a cautionary tale for every customer and operator of a bar, venue or restaurant.

It's so insulting to my intelligence that I will never go back to that venue. Blame COVID all you want, sucker me out of my money you will not.

 

Of course, it's coupled with the proposed property tax hike we're also digesting... this isn't tax advocate.

But all of this will directly affect my spending.

 

I'm certainly not going to argue Chicago is cheap, that particular proposal just seems like a non-issue on the consumer end.

 

But the mayor said he wasn’t going to raise property taxes! That’s politicians for you. We have to raise the taxes because the Covid relief funds are running out! Covid’s been over, why hasn’t the city budget gone down accordingly…..

 

Pre-orders are live for season ticket holders. Now I have 24 hours to decide if I try for more at the public pre-sale tomorrow or exercise SOME financial discipline!

 

Tried a can of Pragueress yesterday and holy crap. The brewers slayed this one. It's incredibly malty, rich with notes of coffee, chocolate and molasses. Incredible for ~5% abv.

I loved it last year when I had it on tap, but I'm getting a case this year.

 

I did not exercise financial discipline.

 

amazing that this was 24 hours later.