What's your beer flight serving preference?

I've done flights but when I try a new beer, I prefer 8oz or more so I can review it. Unless the flight is 8oz or larger per glass, I'll pass.

 

My wife and I regularly go on pub crawls to breweries where we have never visited. We like to order flight-sized pours to evaluate the beer as part of writing a review of the Place for BA. (I rarely rate/reviews the individual beers here on BA unless it is a new brewery on BA with no beers listed yet.) Depending on how many breweries we plan to visit that day, we may order as many flights as necessary to get 4-10 beers (hopefully only the 4 oz. size glass or we adjust accordingly or leave unfinished glasses).

I've been to places that have the 18-sized sampler (Russian River pictured above) and to places that don't even offer sampler-sized pours (but 3-4 free tastes are given to help decide on a larger pour). I've seen places that stipulate which beers are on the flight, and places that just charge you per glass (and beer type) and you choose which beers and how many total. I prefer to choose my own beers (which is the case in 90+ percent of breweries that we've visited) but will go along with a pre-set grouping.

 

4-5 pours around 5oz each.

 

Typical flights I've seen around here are between 4-6 different beers. My wife and I will order a flight, sometimes 2 depending on the offerings. We order the flights one set at a time and share. I never rate or review a beer based on the flight. They simply help us decide which to-go option, if any, we wish to purchase and consume in the comfort of our home. We don't order full pours when we are out unless the establishment doesn't offer them. I might ask for a splash of something if I'm unsure about the style.

 

I’ve never had a flight, never been to a place where I felt compelled. Most places I go I pretty much know what I like and what they have.

 

For me, no flights at all. I just want the option to buy my samples in whatever quantity I want in 5oz rations. Don't like when I have to get 4 or 5 to fill a flight if I just want to have two, for example.

But ideally, I'd say three 5oz tasters.

 

The standard for flights in my area is generally 4 different four or five ounce pours and that works for me. I particularly enjoy taking a flyer (no pun intended) on beers that aren't in my wheelhouse.

And I agree with the post above mine that I always appreciate it when you can simply get a 4 oz. pour of anything on the menu rather than having to commit to a flight.

 

4-5 4oz samples is ideal. I'm still a sucker for a great flight.

 

12-18 item flights is ridiculous. I feel bad for the person that has to pour them.

I generally just order a full pint straight away. I don’t think 3-4 oz is enough to really appreciate a beer.

 

That's an AWESOME name for a liquor store.

I can't judge/review a beer off of a few ounces, but I can get at least an idea of what it might taste like before I commit to a full pour.

Given the cost and ABV of beers these days, and the fact a brewery may have upwards of 20+ offerings on tap, I don't like to waste my money, liver, and time drinking a full pour of something I don't like.

Also, wine is consumed in 3 - 5 oz. pours. How come that's ok but beer HAS to be a full pour to tell whether you like it or not?

I'm with @zid , to really analyze a beer, you need multiple pints, not just one.

Yup, all of this. This is my preference.

I actually really liked Allagash's 3 oz. pours on their flights, and I believe you had the option of doing 5 oz. if you wanted.

 

I prefer somewhere that gives me a good variety of purchase sizes. 5oz, half pints and pints is a good starting point. If I want a "flight", I can order multiple 5oz pours.

 

Huh - never understood the deep antipathy for taster flights. Do you hate appetizers too? ;0

But seriously - I get a taster flight, usually, on my first visit. Then, I just order a pint of the favorite one from the flight. What? I'm a Libra and I'm indecisive!

Everyone just relax. Have a 5 oz taste. There you go.

 

Here's a question:

Do you sip on each one all at once? Or do you have one sample at a time?

I've done it both ways. With the former, the flavors can blend together easier, but the beers don't get as warm.

With the latter, it's the opposite.

 

I take small sips from each of the sample glasses (e.g., 4) and then I consume one sample at a time starting with the lightest tasting beer and working my way 'up' to drinking the most robust tasting beer last.

I suppose this is a hybrid approach?

Cheers!

 

I've been to a few smaller places in Hanover and Gettysburg, PA where I'll get a shot glass pour af a couple beers so I can decide which I want to get a full pour of. I haven't run into anyone who balked at the idea that way your sure your getting something you'll enjoy, plus the full experience of the beer in the proper glass. I don't see anything wrong with flights and I think its a great way for someone newer to beer to get a full profile of what's to offer. Also if I were to get a flight I would leave it up to the bartender to choose an order. They are usually experienced in what they are pouring and know "this" will be a good follow up to "that" and finish with "the other" because your tongue might be numb afterwards.

 

I like it! I think I'll try that next time I get a flight.

 

Don't allow flight when there are long lines. Or at least have a single pours only line.

 

I'll take a single drink of each beer, lightest to darkest to hoppy beers. My wife will also. I'll jot down my rating for each beer, and my wife will add hers to UT. By the time we've each had the first round, the beers have warmed and changed their character. We typically finish the 4 oz. glasses with these 4 tastes. If the rating for a warm version of my taste of any beer is different from the rating for the cold taste, the warm rating gets precedence for my final number (my wife never changes hers on UT!). I change my initial ratings only about 10% of the time. Averaging all of my ratings at a brewery gives me my number to use for the Quality factor in the Place review (rounded to the nearest quarter point score for BA).

 

I only really do a “flight” if I’m at a brewery I haven’t been too before, or somewhere out of state I get to infrequently. I get to Other Half a couple times a year and there’s always so much shit I want to try, so getting full pours of everything would destroy me haha.

Flights aren’t a necessity but I think it is important for breweries to have an option for a smaller “flight size” pour, or at LEAST a half pour in order for new patrons to get a feel for the beers offered