Bringing beer to a Restaurant - your experience?

I did it once, they tried to bring me frozen Stella Glasses, they just didn't really understand and it was kinda awkward.
I probably wont be doing it again.

 

I've done it quite a few times. Some charge a fee and others don't.

It's easier if the restaurant that you're going to doesn't sell booze because if they do, they want you to buy their booze. Then again, If you're going to a place that sells craft beer, they might not mind if they don't carry the beer that you're bringing in.

Your best bet is to check yelp and see if the restaurant does BYOB.

 

I have done it at a few different places. My experience is that they have no idea what glass to bring out, so make sure and request something that your looking for. I usually always just ask for "stems" if I dont know what glass they are using, assuming it is only pints and wine "stems." Also, there are sometimes people that thing there are legal troubles, which there are not.

 

Corkage for bringing a bottle of wine at many restaurants can be anywhere from $15-35$, depending on the place. Comparatively speaking, what corkage prices have people seen for beer? Do they match the wine prices or do they just charge you what a pour of beer would have cost?

 

They were probably just impressed that you finished it.

Or, it would be like adding insult to injury.

I'm here all week.

 

Actually there can be legal troubles. An operator's license must specifically state that BYOB is acceptable. Otherwise, consuming any type of alcoholic beverage on a licensed property that wasn't purchased on that property is a clear violation of said license. This violation obviously has no bearing whatsoever on the customer but the operator can lose their license. Crazy and antiquated, but true.

 

I do it all the time at one of my favorite restaurants and its gotten to the point where if I dont show up with my own beer they are surprised. I share with the bartender and the owners see me bring it in and have even drank with me too.

 

http://www.abc.ca.gov/forms/abc616.pdf

 

The American Psychiatric Association classifies "Black Xantus enjoyment" as a mental disorder.

When society crumbles, barbarians of the future will roam the world raping, pillaging, and serving Black Xantus.

 

Black Xantus jokes about current US tragedies and doesn't apologize.

 

...And then they add "conditions" which basically specifically state what you can and can't do with each license as it pertains to your license. Two licensees may be operating adjacent to one another and operating under completely different conditions of same license type. As an operator, it's maddening.

 

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/17963/53256/?ba=Arbitrator

 

I don't know the legalities involved with bringing in bottle(s) here in Cali, but I do know that sharing with the servers/bartenders/owners goes a long ways toward all-around good vibes and no big "corkage fee" at settle up time.
I know a couple of local brewery tasting rooms here in San Diego had to shut down "bottle shares" occurring in the brewery due to liquor license laws.

 

I don't take beers with corks to restaurants, only caps.

 

call the place you are trying to go. every place is different

 

I don't take sand to the beach. I just go to the beaches with the right sand

 

Only done it once, recently brought a Seizoen Bretta to a nice modern French restaurant in SF. The waiter did a double take when he went to open it, but he said it looked cool and brought us nice wine glasses too. Had to pay the $15 corkage fee, but I figured I won't be doing it too often so why not? And it went with the food really well.