JonK331

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I bought two six packs of canned beer at Grocery Outlet from an excellent brewery here. They were sour! Strong acetic acid smell and taste. I returned them with no problems and contacted the brewery. Their quality control manager emailed me back and seemed genuinely concerned and asked for the store name and location. I didn't hear anything after that but the beer was not out for sale the next time I went to that store. I would hate for someone that had never had that beer to think that was what it actually tasted like.

ledrman

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Heck yea! As with any product I expect it to be up to par.

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I'm not a drunk, I'm a brewer.
Well, maybe a very patient drunk.

KillerIguana

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How the brewery handles a problem is a big factor. The responding e-mail I got from the brewery was very apologetic and thanked me for bringing it to his attention. He really wants to make good on this. Which is great. But, if this happens again, I won't be buying anymore. Who needs the hassle.

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HomeBrewed Is Better!

wells11

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I didn't return to distributor but wrote to Sam Adams once about a bad case of beer. In about a month I received and apology and a check to cover the case. Very nice customer service.

wells11

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1

Greenbasterd

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i would take it to the brewery. they would prob give you a tour and some other swag to take home with you

lamarguy

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I'm too old to accept subpar beer.

I've probably returned ~10 six packs over the last couple of years:

• Heavily oxidized (liquid cardboard)
• Skunked (UV light damage from sitting out too long)
• Infected (only happened once that I can remember)
• Leaking caps (local brewery had an issue with their bottling line)

The last time I returned a six pack to Spec's Liquor in Austin, the manager tried to give me crap.

*walk in store*
me: "I'd like to exchange this."
cashier: "Why is a bottle missing?"
me: "Because I drank one."
cashier: "Ah, ok. Let me get the manager."
manager: "What's wrong with the beer?"
me: "It's heavily oxidized and has diacetyl, aka butter."
manager: "Are you sure that's not how it's supposed to taste?"
me: "Positive. I encourage you to try one."
manager: "Oh, that's ok. We normally don't except returns on opened bottles."
me: "Also, the 'recommended by' date on the bottle was 3 months ago."
manager: "Oh, that's just a recommendation. Doesn't mean much."
me: "Ah, sure. Well, I'm going to pick out a replacement."
manager: "Ok"

My girlfriend had a similar experience when returning a bottle of wine that had a rotten cork (disintegrated upon extracting).

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Doggfather Brewery

Planned: Lambic, American IPA
Fermenting: 6 gals of 1.090 stout (Belgian) & 6 gals of 1.090 stout (English)
Tapped: Berliner Weisse, Black English IPA, German Pils, & Live Oak Primus

atom

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i wrote to smuttynose before because of inconsistent freshness dates on the bottles vs the box they came in. never got a reply. sam adams issued a recall several years ago because of the possibility of glass being in the bottles. sent a check to cover the case price.

NervousDad

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With the three tier system in the states it has to go back to a distributor. That's why I just tossed my case so I wouldn't have to deal with the hassle.

The brewery wanted to test the beer to see what went wrong and I couldn't even give it back to them for free.

xjmox14x

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Why didn't you check the "recommended by" date on the bottle when you purchased it?