Beer "categories"?

There is so much going on on that menu that it would turn me off. I don't need to know the style (I can look that up), the serving temp (I want it to start cold and let it warm to where I want it to), or the glassware (I could really care less if it's served in a pint glass as long as it tastes good).

 

So there's a bar here in Asheville that does this very thing. I've never been there but my gf has. She said the crap domestics were listed under the "Watery" (or something) section. I'll report back when I have more details.

 

One of the best I've seen is from Butcher & The Boar in Minneapolis. They too use four styles:
Hopped and bitter
Light and crisp
Malt and Roast
Fruit and funk

http://butcherandtheboar.com/menu/

Organizing by style gets unnecessarily complicated. Most people don't know the differences that most of us on these forums do. Four is a good number and keeps it pretty simple and easy to follow.

 

A local chain did just that. They did have everything listed pretty much everything by the main style until recently. Now they have a far more simple approach to listing. Go under locations, menus, beer to find the menu PDF's.

http://capitalalehouse.com/

Don't think they'll get too bent out of shape if someone north of the border uses their ideas. Plus, one of the principles is a huge hockey guy. (Yay!!!!!!!)

Good luck!

 

I was going to suggest something along these lines but this example also highlights the shortfalls of this approach. Why are two saisons listed in the "malty and sweet" section? Granted I've only had one of them (Tank 7) but neither of those words apply to it, nor almost any other saison under the sun. They are almost universally dry by definition.

 

I don't have the foggiest clue either. Personally, I was very much against what I felt was an extreme dumbing down of the beer menu. But after I thought about it a while and after I spoke with a few barkeeps that told how much easier it was on them to set up flights, I got on board. But ya, that Saison thing is wild and mysterious. Congratulations sir, you have inadvertently tasked me with going there and seeking an answer. Guess I'll have a beer whilst there. Perhaps a sweet and malty Saison?

 

Oops... they need to make a correction: "Bells - Two Hearted Ale - Colorado - ABV 7%"