Using the Word "Try" at a Bar

Definitely been guilty of this. Like others have posted, I think it's up to the bartender to clarify if they meant "sample" or "have." Don't really see what the big deal is other than being slightly annoyed but I can imagine as a bartender, lots of things get annoying after having to deal with the same shit OVER and OVER.

 

"Try" IMHO implies that the guest has never drank the beer which they are attempting to order. They simply have not specified what size they would like. I would assume that they want a full pour because they have not said, specifically, "sample" or "taste". And if the bartender is confused, how long would it take to ask the customer if they would like a taste or a full pour? It appears to me that this bartender has poor communication skills, not the patron.

I vote for using the word "try" to order a full pour of a beer you have never drank before. Try is not a synonym for sample or taste, it just implies a new experience in my book. One could say they would like to "try a sample", but if they say "try a Fresh Squeezed" I would assume the "a" means "one" or "a whole pour of" said beer. I get annoyed myself when I want to try a new beer, not "sample" it, and the bartender comes back with a tasting glass in hand. When you buy a beer from the liquor store in a bottle, you are trying a new beer. I'm going to try it, give it a whirl, go for it! Don't give me a sample!

I'd like to say to the user I quoted that you ARE a guest at a bar, because they can kick you out. And you know what, the bartender can give you bad service and reciprocal attitude if you get too demanding. Unless you happen to own the place, I'd be a little more polite. Ultimately, they're in control, not you, whatever you may want to believe or how much money you have at your disposal. Good luck! I hated when people ordered like that when I was a bartender.

 

Forgot about being able to smoke inside. Also, a plus!

To be on topic: What's the last beer you asked for a "sample/taste" of?

 

"Try" IMHO implies that the guest has never drank the beer which they are attempting to order. They simply have not specified what size they would like. I would assume that they want a full pour because they have not said, specifically, "sample" or "taste". And if the bartender is confused, how long would it take to ask the customer if they would like a taste or a full pour? It appears to me that this bartender has poor communication skills, not the patron.

I vote for using the word "try" to order a full pour of a beer you have never drank before. Try is not a synonym for sample or taste, it just implies a new experience in my book. One could say they would like to "try a sample", but if they say "try a Fresh Squeezed" I would assume the "a" means "one" or "a whole pour of" said beer. I get annoyed myself when I want to try a new beer, not "sample" it, and the bartender comes back with a tasting glass in hand. When you buy a beer from the liquor store in a bottle, you are trying a new beer. I'm going to try it, give it a whirl, go for it! Don't give me a sample!

I'd like to say to the user I quoted that you ARE a guest at a bar, because they can kick you out. And you know what, the bartender can give you bad service and reciprocal attitude if you get too demanding. Unless you happen to own the place, I'd be a little more polite. Ultimately, they're in control, not you, whatever you may want to believe or how much money you have at your disposal. Good luck! I hated when people ordered like that when I was a bartender.

 

Do you ask the chef for a sample of an entree when you go out? It's called a smart phone. And we're all members here so we should know based on a beer list what to expect from a beer. I hate sours. I wouldn't ask for a sample of a sour since I wouldn't like it. I know what styles I like. And that's what I order. It's not that hard to figure out.

 

As a customer, if I say try, I mean full pour and I hope I like it. But, I only ask for a sample of something when I've already ordered my first pint - and it's usually when I'm curious about something but don't expect to like it.

 

I do this, and will continue to do this, as I at this point am batting 1.000 with it .

As many have said, trying a "sampler" or a "taster" at quite a few bars I go to means you've just ordered a 4 oz. pour at 50% of the cost of a full pour, and what I am trying to do is determine if I want a full pour. Perhaps either without the "r" at the end is more clear, but is relying on whether someone hears your "r". Without the hand gesture, the bartender is back in the original situation of clarifying "pay size or free size?"

That said, as a customer, I never mind being asked to qualify, or to receive a taste even if I meant to get a full pour. I just act like I wanted the taste, because it takes no effort to sip an extra oz or so of beer I already wanted.

 

Did I mention I also make winkey face when I do the finger thing?

 

I usually say "sample". "Try" slips out sometimes, but I always hold up my fingers indicating like an inch.
Never had an issue when using the hand gesture and it works really well if the bar is loud.

 

sounds like you're asking for a line of coke

 

You've got to sign both little (finger and thumb), and taste (with air quotes)...

then wink.

 

"Try" without further explanation is ambiguous.

 

Damn This is getting complicated. Just gimme a beer already. """"""""""""

 

That how I say it too

 

My protocol for this is can I have a splash of (xxxxxx), which I thought was the universal way of asking.

 

I actually stopped using the word "try" when I wanted a sample because I was experiencing the flip side of the OP's problem - I was getting full pours of beers I just wanted to taste.

I now specifically use the word "sample."

 

If I'm at a good beer bar, and there's a beer I'm curious about, I also pick a backup option that I'm pretty sure I'll like or that I've tried & liked before. Then I ask the bartender, "could I try a sip of XXXX?" If that sip doesn't do it for me, then I say, "Ends up I'm not a fan of that. Could I get the YYYY instead, please?" If the sip is intriguing and I want more, I say, "That's tasty. Could I get that, please?"

I figure this way, I'm sure to end up with a full pour of something I like, I'm not bugging the bartender for more than one taste, and I don't come off like I'm treating the bar like Costco during free sample time.

 

Lot of rude people here....I usually say "May I Please..." then go on and ask for what I want...

But in all seriousness

I think the word try is misleading as most people said. I think if you want to "try" a small size you should ask to try a sample. I always figure that if you want to try something you want the full thing, if you want to sample something you want the small taste of it. If they do 3-5 oz pours, I expect that it would be charge. If you want to just taste something I think you could ask for a taste of it and get a small one to two ounce pour to taste it before you order it.

 

"Try" meaning "have" is possibly a southern thing. Just working it out in my head, I'll definitely order a beer (or anything, really) by saying "I think I'll try the smoked porter" -- meaning I want a full pint.

I was also raised in the South where "yes, sir" and "no, ma'am" were drilled into me along with a million other good-manner things. So if I asked the bartender to "try" someting meaning "sample" and the bartender gave me a full pint, I'd thank him/her and drink her down. In other words, being a jerk about the ordering process is distinctly *not* the way of the South ... or at least it wasn't before rock-n-roll music and Twitter.

 

I could see using the word try in both situations. The only real solution is for you to make sure you understand what they want before actually serving them. I don't see why you are blaming the customers. Just given your own story it is pretty clear people use the term both ways. If the customers are ambiguous, it is incumbent on you to ask a follow up. It is not as though they are being intentionally ambiguous trying to trick you. The English language accommodates both meanings and so people use it both ways.