Am I the only one annoyed by beer store clerks...

[FlyGuy]

...who are clueless about handling bottle conditioned beer? I know I should chill, but it is really getting under my skin that I have to go to 'high end' stores and pay premium prices for decent commercial beer up here.

Sometimes, I really get a craving for a special Belgian or craft-brew that I just want to get home and drink right away. I don't like yeast and sediment in some beers, either. So when I buy bottle conditioned beer at the store, I either (literally) hold up the bottle or six pack really high so they can scan it from the bottom, or I ask the clerk to please not tip the bottles over. Usually they just give me a dirty look like I am some unreasonably demanding customer who is completely inconveniencing them, or they just go ahead and tip it anyways so it can be scanned easily.

Does anyone get peeved by this? Shouldn't clerks at a 'premium' store know, or at least be interested to learn about bottle conditioned beer. Or have I just become too much of a beer snob now?

 

[Spyk'd]

The easy answer is, yes...


The clerks SHOULD know how to handle the products they are "ringing up".

AND, you ARE a beer snob...but that's a good thing!





The long answer has to do with the capitolistic society we live in and how insignificant we all are, and the meaning of life...

 

[FlyGuy]

Even if they don't know, I would hope they would have a small inkling to care. Maybe even to learn something.

I am always happy to explain my request, but nobody cares. Sad for the beer snobs.

 

[BarleyWater]

What's even more annoying is going into a tap room and having the waitress tell you they don't have a beer called called "seasonal" when I ask what the seasonal is that they are advertising, or asking you what you mean when you ask what they have that isn't a light lager. I've gotten odd looks for asking if the Guiness is refrigerated or not. The rest of the non-beer loving world just doesn't understand.

 

[Spyk'd]

Even if they don't know, I would hope they would have a small inkling to care. Maybe even to learn something.

I am always happy to explain my request, but nobody cares. Sad for the beer snobs.

That's just good customer service there...but apparently they're the only 'good' beer store in town. And they apparently know it!


So do you...

 

[wild]

I've had the same issues at our AJ's Fine Foods which is more of a high-end store. I've asked them not to disturb the sediment when they ring it up and they say "why, it's just beer".

 

[brewt00l]

You would think that the management of the shop would want their employees to know how to properly handle the product....no matter what the product in question is.

Though I find that bar/wait staff that don't know how to serve a beer properly in a beer-centric establishment even worse. Pouring a 6 oz of a quad into a shaker pint because "it's the only clean glassware currently behind the bar" doesn't quite cut it.

 

[user 574]

I've had the same issues at our AJ's Fine Foods which is more of a high-end store. I've asked them not to disturb the sediment when they ring it up and they say "why, it's just beer".

 

[Rick_R]

Even if they don't know, I would hope they would have a small inkling to care.

That's the problem these days. Generally speaking, they have no inkling to care and no incentive either. If I guessed, I'd say when FlyGuy asked him/her not tilt the beer and the clerk went ahead and did so, he bought it anyway. Most likely, I'd do the same. Occasionally I make a point of walking out on something similar but (as my Motorhead sig line below says) I could have saved my breath; no skin off their nose. They have no incentive to care and for the most part none of us holds them to a higher standard.

My latest gripe is the clerk who has an earbug in their ear and can barely be bothered with me because of the conversation they have going on the cell. Happens more and more.

'Course, maybe I'm just becoming a grumpy old man.

Rick

 

[EvilTOJ]

DesertBrew that was not nice! I was on the phone when I scrolled down and saw that and busted out laughing! India was not amused. Mainframe job abends are serious business.

 

[FlyGuy]

That's the problem these days. Generally speaking, they have no inkling to care and no incentive either. If I guessed, I'd say when FlyGuy asked him/her not tilt the beer and the clerk went ahead and did so, he bought it anyway.

Actually, when I drafted the post I went on to say what ensued after. But it got too long and too rant'ish, so I deleted it before posting.

I actually asked the clerk very politely if I could just exchange the 6-pack for another one on the shelf. She got really annoyed with me at that point, and told me that wouldn't be necessary. I tried to explain my reasoning, and that just used up her patience. Mine too. I asked her to remove it from my bill, and I only bought my other item. I know the manager at that store, so I am going to (politely) relate what happened the next time I see him. He is a beer guy, so he might actually care.

 

[Rick_R]

I asked her to remove it from my bill, and I only bought my other item. I know the manager at that store, so I am going to (politely) relate what happened the next time I see him. He is a beer guy, so he might actually care.

Good to know, and hopefully you'll do some good. As mentioned, I usually just ignore it these days though upon occasion (and often to the chagrin of my wife/kids) I "Make a Point." The kids just say "Daddy went off again" and the family has a list of such "incidents." Note that in all those occasions I never lost my temper or was belligerent, just quietly insistent that they correct whatever had set me off.

I honestly believe that if more of us made issues of such things, we might see improvement, but I rarely think it's worth it anymore. Depending on your viewpoint, I've ether mellowed or given up.

Rick

 

[wild]

India was not amused. Mainframe job abends are serious business.

I thought I was the only one dealing with India about mainframe abends.

 

[Alamo_Beer]

SWMBO just got me a shirt from beeradvocate that says "Beer Geek" I'm going to wear it EVERY time we go out now. This way, hopefully, people will understand more when I ask whats on tap that I don't want a bud light.

We went out to diner last night and I asked what was on tap, they used to have a hefe but I didn't know if they still had it. She went off on the usual BMC oh and we have Shiner. I'm going to make it a point now to waltz by the bar before sitting down so I can just ask for what I want, hopefully not not go through it again and again.

 

[Rick_R]

I asked what was on tap

At a restaurant, where I figured the choice would be four or five beers:

Me - "What beers do you have?"

Server - "Oh, we'll have anything you want."

Me - "Young's Double Chocolate Stout."

Server - "Uh . . . well, we have" and she named seven or eight. But in her defense, I guess she's right 95% of the time.

Rick

 

[sflcowboy78]

my favorite place to go does have pretty much any beer you want. if anyone is ever in fort worth you need to stop by the flying saucer. they have a tap wall with about 80 to 90 diff beers on tap plus about another 150 in bottles. and most of their services unless they are new are very knowledgeable about the beers.

 

[user 574]

rickylr - I did the same thing a week ago at a eatery with bar (I was at the bar). I was piss tired from work and a bit grumpy with some co-workers.

Me: What kind of beer you have.
She: Pretty much anything you'd like (I wanted her, she was hot but I digress)
Me: Moose Drool?
She: <odd look>
Me: HobGoblin?
She: <odd look>
Me: <contemplate throwing out the arrogant bastard> Bass?
She: No, <at least she heard of that one>.
She: See the bottles up on the shelf?
Me: Ah yes (sees BMC, various MX and a couple italians (italian joint).
Me: I'll take a Pacifico please

Beer lists would be awesome everywhere!

 

[kram]

I am semi fortunate in this respect. My local beer store (which has a generous selection) also happens to have a well versed, intelligent beer 'steward' who knows every new arrival, what everything is, and knows how to handle a bottle conditioned beer.

Of course, the employee in question is also my progeny, so he better know his beer (and give me the best possible service).

On the other hand, when I go out to a restaraunt I have a very different experience. I always ask what is on draft and only sometimes do they know (and I always ghave to hear the BMC items before any good beer). When possible I will swing past the bar and check the taps for the selection, its usually easier.

 

[WOP31]

I deal with the "tilting" problem all the time too. I went to one of my local stores (mainly a grocery store, but with an awesome beer and wine dept.) and bought a North Coast LeMerle Saison and an Avery, The Kaiser Imperial Oktoberfest. Right after the cashier had rung up the Saison and before i had time to say anything she turned and laid it down on it's side in the bag! I very calmly asked her if she would mind standing the beers up in the bag, that was met with an "are you F'ing serious" sideways glance. I was a bit put off by it, so the next time i am in there and see the guy that does the beer ordering for the store (I have talked to him numerous times) I am going to sugest that he hold a training class for all of the other employees of the store.

Oh and the restaraunt thing...... yeah i don't even ask any more, unless i know that the servers are going to be well versed in the beer they are serving, which there are a few places in town that they actually train the servers on beer styles and what they are serving. I will just go to the bar on my way to the table and look for myself or ask the bartender.

 

[FlyGuy]

When I go into a pub that might have something good on tap, I just ask if they have anything 'unusual'. Typically, that equates to the good stuff (or Strongbow).

 

[Rick_R]

you need to stop by the flying saucer

There's one in Memphis, which is about 1.5 hours away for me, and we finally made it there recently. Being used to BMC plus Sam Adams, though, I was frozen by indecision. Went with a flight and didn't realize I could have created my own flight until after I ordered. Darn.

I'll be back there.

Rick

 

[cubbies]

I go to Memphis every year and sometimes twice a year I love that Flying Saucer. Not only is the beer selection top notch (prices aren't bad either), but they have those garage door style walls that they open up on nice days. I have seriously had some of my best days sitting there in the sunshine drinking a nice IPA and looking out onto the city...*daydreams*

 

[c.n.budz]

The thing that ticks me off is when a liquor store employee will happily discuss and offer countless suggestions on wine, but when I ask "have you gotten any new IPAs lately" they give me this look of disdain as though I'm picking my nose. Hey, wine geeks, get off your high horses!

 

[BarleyWater]

Ya, the Flying Saucer in Ft. Worth is in an old firestation from the early 1900's, aside from being the best place to go drink in DFW, it's a really cool old building with a cool balcony and patio. But even there I have had problems, but I do think it was because we got a new waitress that didn't realize the amount of beer geeks (or beer knurd as the FS calls us) that go to the establishment.

And when will people realize that they don't have whatever I want, of course I live in a place where people frequently have the argument over which is the best beer, miller or bud. It's usually hopeless at restaurants here, and you just have to hope they have bottled sam adams or shiner on tap, because it ain't getting much better than that.

 

[Revvy]

Man, I'm so lucky...I have three liquor stores no more than a mile apart, each owned and run by beer geeks...Or at least people who try to have a good selection beyond bmc. In fact one of the owners of one of them asked, knowing that I brew ('cause I usually beg for boxes) asked me how to get into homebrewing.

 

[olllllo]

OT:

If you ever get to Belgium, you will never have this problem.
When a beer is poured, the neck of the bottle nver touches the glass.

If a beer is stored on its side, it is carefully placed in a basket on its side and poured on its side.

 

[Mutilated1]

Thats a little much to ask from someone who runs a cash register.

 

[Scimmia]

I don't have any stores where the clerk is very knowledgeable, so I make it a point to ask them not to tip the bottles if I'm buying a bottle conditioned beer. Just ignore their strange look and be happy.

 

[Nyxator]

Sure, if they listen. It's when they ignore me that I get frustrtated.

 

[blacklab]

I've had the same issues at our AJ's Fine Foods which is more of a high-end store. I've asked them not to disturb the sediment when they ring it up and they say "why, it's just beer".

Hey Wild;

Care to share the Mirror pond clone recipe in your sig?

-bl