What does a bar owe you?

Nope.

 

I would never do it. That's just silly. Not to mention, most bars (assuming you're ordering a draft beer) will happily offer you a sample of the beer before you choose to order it. No reason not to try it if you aren't sure you'll like it.

I think it's rude to ask for a different beer just because it doesn't suit your tastes.

 

Never. I have vultured a few beers from my friends who think they can handle a DIPA.

 

Unless the bar misrepresents a certain beer, they owe you nothing in my mind. I would never order a beer unless I had at least a good idea of what it was.

 

As a former bar/restaurant lackey, I would say it depends on the place, your attitude when you ask and the employee you are dealing with. Some places will replace something you don't like without any problem, other places may tell you to take a hike in so many words. But if you are going to do this repeatedly, the answer will more likely than not be no. And don't think employees don't remember you. If you make any waves, you are remembered. Trust me.

 

No.

With the exception of a completely bad recommendation from a bartender to someone who's not too clued up on all the beer variants.

"Can you recommend me a low ABV, slightly hoppy, inexpensive ale?"

"Sure - you'll like this one - it's called Sang Noir"

 

Reading Yelp reviews?

Either slam it, pawn it off, or push it aside and order something else. But, pay for it

 

If they pour the completely wrong beer (which has happened to me a few times) sure. Otherwise, nerp.

 

This wins

I had a bar this weekend try to pass off a St. Arnold Green Icon (Heffe) as a St. Arnold Gold Icon (Saison)... quite upsetting for some one who does not like heffes

 

I'm always surprised these days when I ask about a particular beer on tap, or seem to be undecided, how quick most bartenders are to offer sample.

 

Or if a bartender/server is really "pushing" a certain beer. If it is something a server seems to be really trying to sell you, you bite, and end up hating it, it would seem appropriate for them to offer you something else.

Most folks I know never complain about drinks or food...even if they are truly terrible. They just don't want to cause problems. So if someone speaks up about something, it's likely they really don't enjoy the product you've served them (and not just making it up to get a freebie).

 

Owe? No.

But if it happened and it's not too busy I might politely say something that would suggest I would greatly appreciate a different beer and give them the opportunity to go above and beyond and offer a replacement. I would be especially grateful in that case, but not expect it of course.

There is a common practice of replacing beers in the case. Again, not required. But I've been offered a replacement quite a few times even when I didn't give any indication that I might be unhappy. Some staff are apparently told to be flexible if people don't like some of the more assertive beers on tap.

So to the business owners - yes you might not have an obligation but you ought to be aware that other places may be doing this in your area.

 

I think it should be a standard for most beer bars to offer a small sample (shot glass size) so that the consumer can understand what they're getting before buying a full pint, but these samples shouldn't be given unless asked for. Otherwise, if the consumer doesn't ask, they should be expected to pay for their pint and know better for next time.

 

Nothing is owed...my goal is to build a long-term relationship were the bar would do that without me having to ask...not that I ever would ask or expect it.

 

This was the first thing that came to my mind. Many of the Craft Beer Bars will get low Yelp Reviews because someone didn't like the beer they ordered on draft from a list of 30+ unique beers. Most of these places will give you a sample if you ask and even more often they have Flights for sale so you can try lots of different beers.

With that being said i've seen and heard comments. "This $9 beer is disgusting" im not paying for this!" "You're charging how much for a draft beer and you won't replace when it probably only costs you $1 per pint". Keep in mind most of these are barrell aged beers that most Beer Advocates would be happy to get their hands on.

Now there has been a couple of times where a beer was mis-represented/Infected etc that i have been the guy that requested a different beer. Note i don't say i'm not going to pay for that but i will just order a different beer "stating the reason why i'm not drinking that one. In the couple times that has happened only once did the beer show up on my bill (and the beer wasn't infected)

 

Wrong beer or flavor problem due to unclean tap lines or some such, then sure you should be compensated. A beer that you just don't like...nope, don't owe you a thing. Maybe they do something to make you happy, but that's just good customer relations. But an establishment isn't responsible for personal tastes.

In general, a clean glass and a place to park my ass is about what I would look for back when I went to bars.

 

no.

99% of the beer bars out there allow sampling. if you sample you should never have this problem. the other option for people not in the know is to get beer flights. flights were invented for this exact reason- to try a little bit of a bar/ brewery beer to see which one you like. I have a friend who will not sample. he thinks it's like stealing. If he orders a beer he doesn't like he'll blame the bar and never go back. I don't hang with him too much.

So, I was at The Gathering of the vibes and they had the Sierra summer and pale ale tap handles switched by accident. They didn't believe me, wouldn't fix the mistake and sort of told me to bugger off. Right as I gave up on the situation, Ken Hayes the founder of the event came over and said his sierra summer tasted bitter. They swapped tap handles and gave me a free beer.

The cask republic in New Haven CT has a big sign that says they can not swap a beer out because you don't like the taste as long as it's in proper drinking condition. That's fair.

 

A good beer bar should let you sample the beer before hand. If I see something I never have tried before, I'll ask for a small taste.

As far as replacing beer, I think it depends on the bar and the bartender. My local spot will replace a beer for me, but I'll always just ask for a sample first so it usually doesn't come up. But if I was at a bar that I don't visit regularly and ordered something I didn't like, I'll just down the beer quickly to get it out of the way and order something I do like.

 

NO