Half pours at breweries/bars

I've seen this done and not done. At our locations we do short pours for all our beers which by our definition is a 10 oz pour in addition to doing 4 oz tasters on all beers. It's appreciated by guests, which is why we do it.

A few things create work and the work and possible inconsistent service is what keep places from adding more options. Also, an increasing number of places are chains and they are not going to do anything that increases labor costs (e.g. more work) and adds complexity for staff.
1. You have to set up the short/half pour in the POS. That sounds small but keeping the POS up to date is work.
2. You have to decide on carrying another glass size or doing a literal half pour in your standard glasses.
3. You have to train staff and keep them trained.

My experience is a locally owned brewery/bar is more likely to have a short pour option in the US. In Europe the short pour is more universal than the US. If you are at a chain bar/restaurant it's pretty unlikely they do any type of short pour. I've ordered a full beer when out myself knowing that I'll only drink half.

 

I don't understand the not ordering flights if a brewery offers them mentality. When you go to a new place, it's a great way to see what you want to order a full pint of when you're done with your flight. It is more work for the staff, but you can just tip accordingly. To me this is like not ordering a milkshake at an ice cream parlor because it's more labor intensive to make than a cone. If if they didn't want you to order it, it wouldn't be on the menu. And the extra labor should be factored into the price.

As for a place not giving tasters, I can't imagine how that is good for business. Your Imperial stout brewed with cocoa nibs and aged on sour cherries might be amazing, but it also may taste like shit. I'm not gonna risk wasting money on a full pour of it without trying it first.

 

Seems simple, but I could see some patrons complaining that the glass is not filled "half way". IMHO, most beertenders would err on the side of caution on a half pour by filling it up more than half way. But this could be rectified by simply charging more per oz compared to a full pour.

 

I'm curious, how many ounces per pour is "having to drink a beer" exactly?

 

I agree. When I go out I want a variety. Not that it is a major event that needs to be scheduled to go out and have a few beers, but, it isn't just picking up and leaving, so that means I want to try as much as I can safely. I can't imagine the harm.

 

Here’s a strange one for you. I worked at a tasting room briefly where we offered 16 or 8oz pours of most beers. 12 or 6 of bigger beers. The glasses were marked as well.

the strange part is that we offered flights of 4 4oz pours of any beer you wanted. However i could not sell an individual 4oz glass. Always had to be in a flight.

I like half pours and most of the places I frequent have a variety of size options which is nice. Though, one of the places only offers half pours to members of a club who have their own glass. I can get a 4oz even if I’m not a member so I get those often.

 

I understand your point, but if the place trusts their beer is good, I can also understand why they might not offer tasters. The way I look at it, the brewers have crafted the beer with creativity, time, and effort. If I were a brewer, I would not want my patrons judging my beer on one sip. And as a patron, I actually can't judge if I really like a beer with just one sip, which is why I like a minimum of a half pour for new beers that I am on the fence on. Often I find the first sip of a new beer questionable, until I take a few more sips and find that I really dig it. And if I don't dig it, I still keep drinking it to develop my tasting notes and profile descriptions. Also, I've seen patrons use "free tasters" as a substitute for flights, trying like 3 or 4 tasters before ordering. It's fine if it's not busy, but when its crowded this slows down the service considerably, and they have all of that extra glassware to wash.

 

So you need to be sure you like the beer before ordering it? Kind of ridiculous. Do you get samples of food from restaurants when you are unsure what to order? If you order and full/half pour of a beer and it truly 'tastes like shit' to you, then discontinue drinking it and order a different beer or get the check and leave.

Anywhere that gives a shit about their customers and wants to retain them, will likely take the beer you refuse to drink off your check or give you the replacement beer for free. Just be polite about it.

 

10-16. 20 if you're lucky.

 

I pour beer at a small brewery. We use Belgian glasses for our bigger beers, makes a 10oz pour. Top of the logo is 8oz, a half pour. Charge for two small tasters, which are 4oz pours. Costs more per ounce but nobody complains.

Don't do it often. Sometimes it's people winding down their drinking. Sometimes it's the partner/friend who's not that into beer, but will have the one.

Mostly people who want to try a couple different beers, but not in the little flight glasses.

 

Any decent place should at least give you a sip. Half an ounce or so. Just so you can decide if you want a full pour.

 

You're going to judge a beer on a 1/2 oz pour? I've had plenty of beers that grew on me after a couple sips as well as the opposite. If you're too cheap to take a risk on a beer you might not like, then stick to beers you've had before, imo anyway. Also, a good bartender should be able to help you pick something.

 

That's why you get a flight from a brewery.

 

My issue is that the half pour generally seems to be 2/3 the price of the full; however, because I'm stupid my brain is like "Half pour for $4 but full pour for $6. I should definitely get the full for only an extra two bucks."

 

I agree with this, but I'm ok with places like The Avenue Pub in New Orleans, for example, where they don't offer samples but they do sell individual 4 or 5 oz. tasters of any beer. I'm more than willing to pay a couple of bucks each so I can try multiple beers. Some of you guys may have high tolerances, and I envy you. I am mostly a Pilsner drinker at home but often drink DIPAs and BA Stouts while visiting bars/breweries when traveling. Usually that means my time is constrained to a day or two so I want to hit a number of places in that trip, but if I have to do full pours, my night ends pretty quick and I don't make it to nearly as many places as I'd like.

 

You should! Odds are it will be enjoyable.. If it's awful, just kindly explain what is awful to the bartender and request a replacement.

 

What I'm doing now after getting tired of Washington/Oregon/Cali beer is trading. In fact I have an incoming batch of Connecticut Dips and Trips in exchange for some the local Imperial stouts. There are so many ways to be exposed to new beers. Part of the reason I lurk here.

 

Be adventurous! If it's a style you like, then buy the beer! :-) If it's a style you don't like, maybe you'll be surprised. Drink the whole thing, experience it, pick out the tasting notes, hops, what the brewer was going for, etc. You may not always LOVE it, but you may LEARN from it. If you didn't care for it, strike up a conversation with the bartender or brewer if he/she is onsite. Tell them your thoughts. I'm sure they would appreciate the input and honesty. You really can't tell with one sip of beer, especially if you've had other beers prior.

 

I prefer full 16-20 oz pours so I can get wasted after 3 beers and then drive home drunk. I have never hit anyone so it's not a problem.

 

Here in NC at breweries getting a taste is typically the case. The problem with a taste, it only tells me if I hate it.
Flights give me a little more information, but not enough to tell if I really love it.
A half pour is enough beer for me to decide if I love it.
And, if I love it? Well, a full pint would be in order!
This is a beer drinking taste model that works for me. Your results might be different....... Cheers