Tap room turn offs

Stuff like this, the PA distributor situation and crazy growler laws around the country make
me very happy to live in WA.

 

PLASTIC CUPS - No Bueno !!!!

 

Not enough parking, or having to park in a sketchy area.

On more than one occasion I've circled around and around looking for a place to park while attempting to visit a taproom before finally just saying "screw this" and leaving.

Other times some taprooms are located in lets say, less desirable areas, and I went in and left after just one beer because I spent most of the time worrying that my car was going to get broken into or stolen.

 

It's not like I swear a bunch, but my kids are cool with more outrageous people than me, and they have not been sheltered. One day (may years ago), while coming home from lunch with my 9 year old and 12 year old, I had an "incident" on the road with an asshole on a motorcycle. He was out of control, flying through traffic, about wrecked several people, and I flipped him the bird. He followed us home- about a mile- stopped in my driveway and tried to confront me. Out of the blue, my 12 year old daughter told him to get the hell out of our yard. It still is a proud moment. My son and I had her back. Years ago, we used to frequent Red Oak Brewery at Guilford College and those are cherished memories! Every time it snowed we went and had beers (sodas) and lunch. My kids are my friends and best cohorts still.

 

1. A line to get in. I see a line and I just go elsewhere.

2. To crowded, as in no seating and/or standing or sitting room at the bar. I like to enjoy my beer with a little elbow room and enough comfort that strangers can socialize.

I would agree that noise, if its at a level that you can't hear the person next to you, would be a problem for me, but I really don't encounter this.

Dogs and kids are OK with me.

Service does matter. I look for friendly, timely, accurate and efficient service. I cut people a lot of slack on being "informed". As a BA, I generally know what I want and don't need much guidance. Also I have a lot of patience with those that might know less then me, just as I appreciate patience from those that know more.

 

Taprooms that only offer full pours and then their special release pours are 6oz and $10. Come on, you can't have half pours of special releases and not offer half pours of your other beers. Might just be me, but I find that irritating.

 

I agree that there's a common decency to acting like a civilized adult around children. I've also, however, seen parents all scandalized and "clutching their pearls" because they're still out with their families at midnight on a Saturday. The crowd will be rowdier than normal, there may be foul language, there may be an overly loud live band or playoff game, etc. I feel for the parents, but they kind of knew what they were getting into. No need to be the morality police when that happens.

 

Don't care about cuss words or swears, kids have to learn what they are allowed to repeat and what they aren't, often depending on where they are too. When you choose to expose your kid to an adult beverage in an adult environment, you simply have to find a way to deal with it. I've told people not to worry about it too, sometimes they say oops sorry for swearing around the kids and I say feel free to talk however you want, they know what they are allowed to repeat and what they aren't. I know everyone feels a bit different about it, but I feel as a parent I also should be showing respect to the venue and other patrons in visiting a more adult oriented location with my kids. If the vibe is outside my comfort zone for them I wouldn't bring them or would leave.

More recent turn-off - boring staff...I mean if you work in a taproom you should at least be able and willing to talk about the beer for 2 minutes when it isn't busy. Especially if working in a tip based environment.

 

I hate people that take forever to decide what beer to get, just drink sample after sample, while I'm waiting in line behind them.


Don't be that person.

 

Any form of pretentiousness or catering to only certain kinds of groups/people. That said I've almost never had bad experiences at taprooms. Unfortunately I can't say the same for some bottle shops - usually chains that don't have the stock to back up their attitudes. I can't stand stores that tell me "well we don't really get that kind of stuff around here" when i can go a half hour to an hour in any direction and find "that kind of stuff".

 

pouring beers without head

 

Bingo, as an ex smoker I would much rather smell 2nd hand cig smoke than that limited edition vanilla bean bubblegum potpourri ass crack coming out of a fog machine

 

If I see young kids around I'll be polite and not swear but if I'm buzzed and something dramatic just happened in the sports game I'm watching I can't guarantee the restraint.

I tolerate kids fine but if I'm in a place I am going to escape and unwind it's a pain not to be able to fully do so.

By taking kids to a place with the expectation of being for adults you're placing the burden on me to observe your personal taboos. And I will observe them to keep the peace, just after a certain hour in a place all about alcohol I really feel I shouldn't have to.

 

As far as kids in basically an adult spot, I always remember Gettysburg Brewing and the brewer (D. Baker?) telling parents whose kids were running around, climbing on sacks of grain and just being generally annoying, "This isn't f***ing Chucky Cheese, you know". Still love that quote today, maybe 20 years later.

 

I could say the same thing about kids.

 

To me, a taproom could either be at a brewery, or a stand-alone craft beer bar with lots of taps. I expect many would argue that. I frequent three taprooms in town, but only one has a brewery.

 

I've never understood how people will go into a Brewery Tap room and ask for wine. I... It just... um...

 

Places that have TVs that aren't muted. I don't mind the idea of having a TV and having sports or whatever on, but don't run the sound through the speackers so everyone has to hear what on the TV. Turn on closed captions and play some music (not at a loud volume), those that want to pay attention to the TVs can still watch the game or whatever, but it shouldn't be the center of attention in a tap room. So I guess I'm saying not overly noisy like others have stated.

 

I can possibly understand it if it's someone getting dragged into one, one partner is into craft beer (or beer in general) and the other just isn't.
I don't get people going into a brewpub and asking for a Coors Light. One place near me I've been going to for almost 20 years, and I still see that happen.