Pet Peeve: Tap Takeovers

There aren't many worthy tap takeovers here in Rhode Island so I can't speak too much on that. I will say, I hate when I go to a beer fest that's dedicated to hardcore craft beer drinkers like myself and these breweries bring the most common beer they have. That's my pet peeve.

 

Was just getting takeout at Redbones....and saw a flier for an upcoming DFH tap takeover. Run away. Run away as fast as you can.

 

I just wouldn't seek out tap takeovers that don't post what beers will be available.

 

I don't mind tap takeovers for year-round beers. I just don't make it a point to attend them.

Having talked with a couple brewery reps at various events, these definitely seem to be sales events geared to the bar for the brewery involved.

 

This. I can't stand paying 40 or 50 dollars to attend a beer festival and not being able to find anything I haven't had a few times before.

 

Attended a Founders Tap takeover tonight that included CBS, I wasn't complaining one bit

 

Before heading to the eastern Carolinas from Chicago last summer, I did some research and found some beers I wanted to try while there (Beaufort, Emerald Isle area). Took my family and in-laws to Clawson's, knowing it had a taproom. Lo and behold one brewery had taken over ALL the taps: Sierra Nevada. Now, I love SN, and feel somewhat bad that they aren't the new guy and are somewhat ignored. Plus they were opening a new facility in the southeast. But come one. It was like running into a Dasani tasting by a mineral spring.

 

Around here we usually call 'em Brewers Nights. Last week a bar in town, while having an acceptable tap list, isn't really a beer stop. They had a large-ish Seattle brewery in for a Brewers Night, the bars first ever. The tap list was 3 shelf beers, and the shelf IPA with some fruit added. Wasn't enough to get me to go. I want there to be 6-8 beers, and at least a couple better be specials. I understand that the flagships are the bread and butter, both for bar and brewery, but I need a little something extra.

 

We've had quite a few tap takeovers like that here in Chico. One was a Ballast Point tap takeover that featured Big Eye, Sculpin, Victory at Sea, and Wahoo White. All good beers, but yeah, nothing you can't find at a Rayley's.

 

Tap 'n Handle in Fort Collins had two amazing ones:

56 Sierra Nevada Beers for their 1st birthday
58 Odell for their 2nd

Not one complaint was heard.

 

I think they are kind of fun. Locally, there is always other stuff available if not your thing.

Dealing with leftovers seems to be more of a headache for the owner than for me.

 

I agree with the sentiment that a tap takeover should ideally be flagship A (or flagship B) plus two special offerings. Seems to make sense that way, as in "Here are our flagship beers, and here is what we are also capable of."

 

So what you're saying is WHALES OR GTFO, BRO.

 

I think they're great. You get to experience the full portfolio, including revisiting the standards, while getting to try a few one-offs or limited beers

 

Super pet peeve- tap takeover with everyday beers where they give you an inferior shaker pint glass from the brewery after buying one of their inferior everyday beers.

It just sucks if it's not special reserve release barrel aged in a crystal flute

 

hahaha to much on that one buddy

 

I've ran into a few rather mediocre takeovers with beer that was either incredibly ubiquitous to begin with or just mundane across the board, but the bars I do go to (on rare occasion) have 50+ taps, so unless it's a particularly ambitious takeover, I'll usually find something else pretty easily. On the positive side, I have been turned on to a few breweries by enjoying a number of their beers at a takeover. One that really comes to mind is Allagash. I do not like wits, anything bretty or sours in general, so I'd always thumbed my nose at Allagash until I got to try 7 or 8 really nice beers that did fit my fancy at a takeover.

 

I have a funny story about a guy who was upset with a tap takeover. I was at my local pub and there was a takeover, with lots of really great beers, not just flagships, and some dude next to me is bellyaching because his bud light tap had been taken over. And he was demanding a reimbursement because his bud light in a bottle shaped can cost a dollar more than the draft version that usually occupies that spot. He said he wasn't sure if he'd ever come back.

The bartender had to assure him it was only temporary.

To answer the OP, I get annoyed a brewery that I find to be very middle-of-the-road in all of their offerings takes over every tap. I had a very top notch craft beer establishment taken over by Starr Hill recently, and I just couldn't fathom why. Does anyone think they have any great beers, and furthermore, ones that I can't easily find at the grocery store?

 

So are we.