Beer and Restaurants

I find that restaurants and establishments that are overloaded with mass produced lagers and nothing local usually showcase the same kind of commitment and attention to detail in their food, which is another reason for me to avoid them. Consumers shouldn't have to prod establishments to provide quality products, in my opinion. If they don't get it, then they are living in the clouds and I'd think it'd be an uphill battle.

 

My thoughts are that the big box hash joints feel they cannot make their required mark up on craft so they punt.

Eat and drink local and your wish will be granted. We have a fair amount of eateries that offer some kick ass craft beers.

 

I agree, my favorite places have always been small local places. You tend to get better service, better food, and a lot of them have better beer choices. I know this is a generalization and there are always exceptions, but it's what I've found to be mostly true.

 

I don't care to drink at restaurants or most bars, unless the price is reasonable. (Green Dot Stables or Twisted Rooster's Late Night happy hour, for instance)

I just don't see a reason to spend $7 on a 16oz craft draft when I can just buy a six-pack of the same beer for $10. At restaurants, I choose water.

 

Local places seem to put way more effort into wine selection over beer selection. The chain places have at least some decent beer available. A nice and small local Italian restaurant isnt going to ever have a decent beer selection.

 

Or any Mexican restaurant.

I find that the best chain for craft beer is Buffalo Wild Wings. I don't care for their food very much outside of their onion rings, but the beer selection's not too bad... at least here in Michigan.

 

I choose restaurants for reasons other than the beer list. It would be nice if my favorite restaurants had 50+ taps, but I'm mostly there for the food and the ambiance. However, I think I see a trend for more craft beers in some chains (Buffalo Wild Wings for one example) as well as locally-owned places so that everyone may jump on the bandwagon if they see the beer as being a customer-pleasing attraction.

 

If Outback is one of your favorite restaurants I think you need to expand your horizons. That said, I go to restaurants for food, not beer...so I don't care too much about the selection. If they had a better selection I would be more inclined to order a beer, but it wouldn't increase my patronage of that restaurant. In a way I'm glad they don't because then I'd be tempted to spend money on overpriced beer...I'll stick to my soda water and lime

 

I typically visit places that cater to my tastes. Contrary to what plenty of people say, there are lots of restaurants that have good beer and food. Those are the places I give my dollars to. I can't remember the last time I even wanted to go to an Outback, Applebees, or even Yard House.

 

I do not eat/drink at any chains. Its local only and they all carry good beer.

Enjoy

 

i have restaurants that i go to for the food and ambiance (i can have a great brew b4 or after at home) so brew is not my agenda i also have great bars/pubs that serve stellar brews/taps food is secondary here

 

Personally, I would not go to either if I could help it. There are some Buffalo Wild Wings with a good beer selection. Though I still avoid them when I can. Maybe one of them having a house beer from Bell's et al might persuade me one way or the other if I had to choose. I can go on a rant, but with respect wont. Putting it easy, none of these are my kind of places. Sorry, not sure if my opinion helped you.

 

im currently working a program with local restaurants to get the chefs and wait staff familar with craft beer and the possibilities it can bring in profit and pairings. theres a ton of places here selling swill with high end food and its disturbing. but since most of my friends are chefs and kitchen managers in my area ive been able to use my skills to promote craft here on the OBX. im hoping to see a big change here on the island when it comes to beer availability in dining establishments

 

The problem is there is nothing in it for these chains. People don't go there to drink good beer, they go to craft bars if that's what they want. People go to these places for cheap food and to watch sports. They sell ultra cheap beer at HUGE profit margins and you simply can't get the same margin, or even close to it with craft. They charge dollars for pennies worth of beer. No craft enthusiast would patronize a place simply because it has one decent beer amongst a sea of shit.

 

I kindly disagree with all of the "buy local" mentality (for where I live at least) and honestly I think it won't be the winning strategy for craft beer going mainstream in restaurants. The more practical solution for getting good craft beer is likely to be something resembling what we're seeing now with the clear example of Goose Island.

Even here in Phoenix I'm starting to see mainstream restaurants (locally owned too) offering Sofie, Pere Jacques (both in tulips), Matilda, 312, IPA, etc. I think the successful spread will be from the distributing power of the big guys and whichever brewers they buyout and promote. Proper beer metros like San Diego, Portland, and others may be a different story however. But for the rest of the cities out there that are average and below, I'd wager that whatever InBev pushes is going to be the big thing for craft beer growth - whether it's Goose Island, Hoegaarden, Leffe, Spaten, or whatever.

 

I've had the same experience with Mexican restaurants in general, but then I had a Hill Farmstead Abner and outstanding tacos last night at the Black Back in Waterbury, VT... Interestingly, and not surprisingly, good beer and Mexican go together really well!

 

For one's ideal preferences I fully agree, but unfortunately I and many others have to make compromises because of colleagues, non-beer friends, family, etc. and it really makes a big difference if one of these places just has one or two craft options, even if they're "macro craft".

Even though I'm frequently bashed for saying good things, one of my favorite places is a major compromise for me - Yardhouse. At Yardhouse I'll never order 90% of the taps, but they have a half dozen great IPA's (Sculpin $5 on happy hour!), rotating seasonals like DFH 120 and others, and I can go there with friends who have kids that they bring along. They're convenient, provide excellent service most times, and thankfully I get to avoid a lot of patrons that I'd rather not be around at some of the more pure craft beer places out there.

 

Pet peeve.

And why are kids allowed in bars but not casinos.