Barstool Bartending

I often have tried many of the selections on tap and have no trouble striking up a conversation and recommending something I enjoy to someone else who also may enjoy it. I have appreciated the advice from others who have done that service for me.

 

I don't drink at bars. I am a homebody and don't like crowds. I also save money since one or two beers at a bar can cost the same as a sixer.

 

I voted 'I don't drink at bars, no walezbro' because a) I never drink at bars, and b) I have no walezbro.

BUT I've been making myself pretty helpful at the liquor store

 

I rarely offer up suggestions unless I am asked. I do talk with the bartender and beer managers when I can though, probably too much at times.

 

I'm only replying to say nice avatar.

 

It's fine if it's busy. If the person offering advice goes on to say.. "You can sample 'em ya know?!" And basically forces people to try a few samples (not at the same time, mind you) Then that's frustrating. (you can't make up your mind on a little sample splash).

 

As long as they are not salesman and only recommending their companies beers.

 

I don't mind recommendations from patrons or staff as long as they don't assume I have no clue about craft beer. It's not a big deal, but it kind of annoys me a little.

Such as when I ordered an IPA a while back and the guy next to me goes, "Ya know, that's going to be really bitter, man."

 

I am not a social person by any means, but for some reason can't stop shooting my mouth off about craft and beer in general when I'm at the bar with the gf. On the rare occasion we both have a night off and make it out, we are too busy catching up between the two of us to care about others, but on some occasions our conversations have lead the people next to us asking for recommendations. It is the weirdest thing, I've only been interested in craft for ~year and have people twice my age asking for advice on which beer to drink. I am more than happy to offer my opinion though I always preface it as such, take it or leave it.

 

I'll make general observations if I think a beer is great that they have offered on tap based on what the other person is drinking. I'll offer advice on what to drink if they are asking my opinion and the bartender isn't helping.

 

I think there's 2 situations I'd make a recommendation.
1) If I'm next to someone and I hear "I want something X," I might suggest Beer Y has great X.
2) If I'm drunk and really enjoying what I'm drinking.

 

I don't like getting advice from anyone, unless I ask for it, or the person is a friend (whether bartender or fellow beer drinker).

I don't give advice unless I'm asked for it, or the person is a friend.

 

Sometimes indecisive people are just indecisive because they aren't sure what they want. I've had advice offered to me once or twice by other patrons when I already know what every beer on the taplist is. Don't assume you know more than me just because you dress like a beer geek and I dress like a normal schmo. It's annoying and I am probably more knowledgeable than you anyways.

 

I went to a bar about a year ago with a friend that was just getting into craft beer at the time. There were about 40 beers on tap and I was helping him pick out his first beer of the night. We were talking about the beers and I gave him a recommendation of Allagash White since he wanted to try a witbier. The guy sitting next to him at the bar starts raving about GI 312 Wheat instead of my recommendation. I let the guy finish his rant, slightly annoyed that he would try to undercut my recommendation like I had no idea what I was talking about. I then told my friend we'll order both and see which one you like better. Alllagash won hands down and from that day forward my friend was willing to try just any beer that I thought he would like.

Most of the time I know what's on tap before getting to the restaurant from social media, but if I'm travelling and someone who seems to know what they're talking about offers a recommendation on a local beer, I'm more than happy to take that into consideration.