What you like/dislike about brewpubs. - Page 3

Danny013 · 03-14-2008, 03:40 AM

Unfortunately, I have not really experienced any brewpubs other than Hops. There aren't many brewpubs here in FL and I havn't had the chance to visit any of them yet...

That said, I like Hops. Good beer - 4 styles and a seasonal - clean lines, good food and a nice atmosphere. They've got all their brewing equipment i nthe eating area so you can watch the bbrewer while he's working. The price for a beer is cheap too - I believe it's $2.75 and 2 for 1 during happy hour.

My least favorite part is only being able to have 2 or 3 because I have to drive home sometimes, lol.

EvilTOJ · 04-05-2008, 10:21 AM

One thing I like about brewpubs vs a regular bar; NO music. I like being able to go to a brewpub, order something off one of the many beers they have on tap, talk to a lovely lady or three (and someday I may actually talk to them instead of stare from the corner of the room

) without having to shout over the 95 db music they have playing. I guess that's one reason I've never really gone to bars is because it's so frickin loud I can't talk to anyone and I get hoarse from shouting.

homebrewer_99 · 04-05-2008, 05:29 PM

Bad service, bad beer...

**EdWort** · 04-05-2008, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexLaw

Another had contaminated beer or dirty lines and tried to convince me and a couple other long-time brewers that was the way the beer was supposed to taste and that we did not know about "real beer" because we did not realize that.

LOL, what A-holes. Idiots trying to convince BJCP judges what beer is SUPPOSED to taste like. ROFLOL.

**EdWort** · 04-05-2008, 06:03 PM

What I hate is bad service, unfriendly service, & bad beer. I was at Wasatch Brewery in Park City and they had a bar tender that was a total A-hole. Not friendly at all. Poured the beers and walked away to the other end of the bar. I was the only guy at the bar. Wouldn't talk beer & could care less if I lived or died.

I did not go back.

**Great_Neck_Brewer** · 04-05-2008, 07:07 PM

We don't have brew pubs in NYC however we do have a place that serves craft beer. It's got a nice feel to it but the prices are sky high. $9.00 for a porter. Seems a bit much.

Sir Humpsalot · 04-05-2008, 07:24 PM

Terrible Service at Rock Bottom Brewery in Warrenville, IL or somewhere around there. I don't go back because there are other options. If I want to drive, I go to Goose Island. If I don't, I go to Payton's Roundhouse.

Goose's beer is always amazing. Payton's is always alright, though I think they use local water and it really seems to show. Then again, given that we've grown up drinking local water, I wonder if we all have a preference for beer brewed with local water. I don't know.

Anyway, what keeps me coming back? Primary Numero Uno Reason to come back is great service and friendly staff. Seriously, if I've been there 10 times and you still don't know my name, or at least recognize me as a good patron, then there's a problem.

Next, as a regular, I can handle occasional slip-ups when it comes to service. I encourage the bartenders to get to the new faces first, so they can make a good impression. However, there are two expectations that come with this. The first expectation is that service will be top notch for ME, regardless of how busy you are, if I am with guests. Secondly, I expect to get comped a bit from time to time, or get a couple of samples. Yes, as a beer connoisseur, I do expect you to be excited enough about your product that you actually want me to sample it, even if you know I'm going to wind up buying something else. I once had someone give me a funny look when I asked for a sample, then an even funnier, hesitant look, when I asked for a sample of a different beer. The story was, it was my first time there and I really wanted to get a beer I liked. Trust me, nobody is coming to your brew pub to get drunk off of free samples. Give them freely. In fact, offer them up to anyone who orders anything besides one of your beers.

Third, a good selection of hard liquor is nice. If you are serving beer connoisseurs, you can expect an occasional Whisky connoisseur or wine connoisseur to walk through the door. Though I don't require it, I do like it when I see 20 or 30 bottles of whisky on the shelf. On the other hand, in some states, the brewpub license doesn't allow this. That's cool, I understand.

Fourth, GOOD FOOD. It can be $50 steaks, or $5 french fries, but it's got to be good. Lots of flavors and spices and options. No bland boring food. I think a brewpub could do just fine selling garlic bread (with a pre-prepared spread on top and some pre-grated cheese); gourmet grilled cheese (8 different cheeses to choose from) (do you have any idea how easy grilled cheese is to make?), local/fresh sausages (pick them up from a deli, even have them made to your specification if you want), home made spicy fries or pub chips, a ho-made soup of the day (make it before you open the doors, it can sit on a pot all night), and fresh-baked bread (delivered daily) with a few dipping sauces (garlic, oil and lemon, maybe a tomato-based one). I'm talking about a simple menu, but food crafted with great care and attention to detail. I guess you'd need to offer a salad too.

And regardless of your prices, there MUST be something to nibble on for less than $10. I really hate when the appetizers start at $12 or $14. That's a big turn off. I mean, I understand you want to serve fancy food, but there should be a way to get something in my belly for less. Goose Island makes their own pub chips. They charge $2 for a basket and they absolutely rock!!! They are salty/spicy/sweet, I couldn't fill up on them, but dang are they nice to nibble on!

If you only have expensive food, I will go there twice a year to eat, and the rest of the time, if I go, I will eat somewhere else before hand. The thing is, I used to live in Chicago. I can go down a few blocks and get world class pizza, tacos, gyros, etc for less than $10. If you're charging $25-$50 for a meal, it'd better be at least twice as good as those pizzas, gyros, tacos, etc... So you're better off offering some low-cost options, then at least I'll buy some food from you. I'm not cheap though... I will buy that $30 steak once or twice a year. I just can't afford it all the time...

Fifth, Cute girls. You must have cute girls.

**TexLaw** · 04-06-2008, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EdWort

LOL, what A-holes. Idiots trying to convince BJCP judges what beer is SUPPOSED to taste like. ROFLOL.

Yeah, it was intereting. The two other guys I was with actually are National judges and, at the time, had both been brewing for about 20 years or so, I believe.

TL

blacklab · 04-06-2008, 08:57 PM

Brewpubs are like pizza and sex for me - they'd have to try pretty hard to f%#kup the experience. Although around there they are all pretty good.

And, as in both of the above, Tuesday night is usually the best!

**DesertBrew** · 04-06-2008, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EvilTOJ

One thing I like about brewpubs vs a regular bar; NO music. I like being able to go to a brewpub, order something off one of the many beers they have on tap, talk to a lovely lady or three (and someday I may actually talk to them instead of stare from the corner of the room

) without having to shout over the 95 db music they have playing. I guess that's one reason I've never really gone to bars is because it's so frickin loud I can't talk to anyone and I get hoarse from shouting.

I never thought of this but you are spot on! The one I go to has music but really low. I friggen hate loud arse'd bars unless it's a bunch of people noise.