Breweries With Exceptional Attitude

Here in Arizona Fate Brewing is always incredible. The bar staff are really friendly and will do anything to make you happy. Plus they make incredible beer. They've only been open for a year but I see them going places.

 

The main problem with this is that (almost) all their beers suck, so $10 for "unlimited" shitty beer isn't THAT great of a deal. It's also crowded as hell, so as soon as you get a 4oz sample, you have to get right back in line.

I will say that I was there last weekend and some of the people who worked the door were very nice, and so were some of the bartenders. Other bartenders seemed to not give a shit though.

 

Tree House Brewing
Jack's Abby

 

And if you get nothing, and someone else comes along and offers you a little extra, you'll go there.

When I say "extra", I don't mean something that costs the brewery a substantial amount of money, if any at all. Intangibles speak volumes. Be welcoming. Be friendly. Offer to pour a small taste - just half an ounce - of whatever your newest beer is. Business is not a simple tit for tat trade; it's about value. I can give my money to anyone I want and get something in return. The question is: who will give me the best value for that money? Who will not only give me the basic product I paid for, but something more?

I won't actively avoid or look down on a business for simply taking my money and handing over their product. But if someone offers me more than just a boring transaction, they're going to be the ones getting my money. And when enough of your customers do the same, you go out of business. Why?

Because - surprise - without customers, you're nothing. Customer is king.

 

NEBCO.

 

SHORTS BREWING

 

Foothills Brewing
Funky Buddha Brewery
Fort Myers Brewing
Point Ybel Brewing
Peg's Cantina

I would have said Cigar City a few years ago, but our last several visits have not been as great. The beer is always fantastic, but their bartenders aren't very friendly anymore - at least from our experiences since the expansion.

 

Two come to mind.

Wendy at HOTD. Always happy and ready to chat your ear off.

Trevor and Linsey at de Garde. I cannot say enough about how accommodating they are for their customers. And their beers are phenomenal.

 

Well, I guess I'll be the first to say Tired Hands. Everyone there has always been very friendly and eager to help non beer geeks with their choices. It also seems like they make a point to throw thank you's to their customers via facebook and instagram regularly when talking about how fast they go thru beers sometimes. Great place.

I'll also throw Peekskill out there. Very welcoming staff. I had the same experience as someone else where they were asking where we were from and whatnot. Just seemed very interested in making my stop as enjoyable as possible.

And I've seen some hate thrown around in that other thread about Hill Farmstead. And I'm sorry. But fuck off. What do they have, 6 taps? How many people could you possibly have filling growlers with only 6 taps? How long would you last at your job if every time you showed up to work - before you even got in the door - there were dozens of people waiting for you outside. I wouldn't last very long. Yet on both of my visits there, I have encountered nothing but smiling faces and friendly attitudes from everyone - and it was the same employees on both occasions a year apart. Shaun seemed a little sketchy, but I think that's why we like him haha. He was thanking people and chatting a bit with the line on my second visit. So yeah - HF could certainly make improvements with regards to their growler filling situation - and maybe this is coming with the expansion, I dk - I would definitely categorize them as having a good attitude.

 

I actually had a tough time during my visit to JA. they forgot my tulip and when I said something it was like I insulted his mother. "I would never forget that" "are you sure you didn't get it" and so on. I hadn't left the counter or the exact spot when I placed the order and received it. I did receive my glass but they made a stink of it and were rather reluctant to give me what I paid for and had a receipt for. not to mention that I did give them a 6 pack of nebco stuff that included 3 hags, 2 668's and a bot. but what ever. first impression go a long way.

 

This was a joke, right?

Several employees cursing, yelling first world problems at patrons, running out of beer they guaranteed people, then offering up some free Dale's Pale Ale the next day to smooth things over? Class.

 

I know this probably doesn't represent Bell's as a whole, but I took a beer and wine class in college this semester (awesome right?) and the Bell's representative in my area came in to speak to us and give us some samples of the beer. Honestly, she came off extremely arrogant and acted like Bell's was the be all end all of craft brewing. Saranac, on the other hand, was really cool.

 

The difference is, one of us can exist without the other. A brewery without customers won't be brewing for long.

 

Odell has always had my vote on this one and they continue to prove me right. Customer service at the brewery is amazing even when the weekend crowds are massive. The response to any inquiry from them is always quick about their upcoming beers/ events. Plus when they have had beer issues in the past, they quickly rectify it by pulling the bottles and have even been willing to get you a different bottle in exchange. I make a monthly voyage up to Fort Collins from Denver just to visit Odell.

 

I'll throw in my opinion,.....Maui brewing co. ,deschutes,the bruery,Karl Strauss and ballast point. All gave me a great experience or customer service.

 

Half Acre. I live 30 minutes to an hour depending on traffic and im there at least once a week every week. Such friendly staff and spectacular beers.

 

I was also surprised at how many beers they had on tap. More than I would've expected

 

Congrats on the 100 post!

I agree with you on the vibe Surly gives off. I personally haven't had a bad experience but I haven't had exceptional experience either.

 

Yea check it out I wasn't blown away by any of their beers but all were very solid. Even made a pretty good altbier which is rare enough.

 

I don't visit a lot of breweries, but the staff at Fremont Brewing are always friendly and helpful, if not downright enthusiastic. This goes from the owner (a regular poster right here on BA) right down the line to the guy who collects empty glasses from the beer garden.