I work at a local craft beer bar (12 rotating taps and over 100 bottles) and the nice thing is all the guys I work with are all home brewers - the owners specifically went out of their way to recruit us because we can talk beer, from the flavors and ingredients to the process. I would hope all craft beer bars would try to do something similar to this, or at least help educate their servers/bartenders so that they can at least carry on a beer-related conversation with a guest and *hopefully* get repeat business b/c of this.
my local water hole has...no education.
- Thread starter paparker21
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Soma
Well-Known Member
I don't want to sound like a dick here... but who cares? So what, a bartender misspoke? This is the worst thing that happened to you today?
I expect someone taking an order to have:
a) Knowledge of the offerings
or
b) A list (menu) in case of lack of a)
Went to a chain which as a few taps and asked the waitress what kind of craft beers they had. Got the confused look. I asked if she had a list and she pointed to the very generic (and not always correct) list of BMC beers on the menu.
Since I knew they also serve some Michigan beers on tap I had to ask and she verified that yes they do have Founders and Bells.
I just said forget it I'll get up and walk to the other side of the restaurant and look at the taps.
How freaking hard is it to have a short list of the beers that are NOT on the menu?
I realize I am in the minority of beer drinkers in this area, but come on! The manager wouldn't put someone out on the floor if they didn't know the difference between mashed potatoes and french fries! This stuff is not that hard!
a) Knowledge of the offerings
or
b) A list (menu) in case of lack of a)
Went to a chain which as a few taps and asked the waitress what kind of craft beers they had. Got the confused look. I asked if she had a list and she pointed to the very generic (and not always correct) list of BMC beers on the menu.
Since I knew they also serve some Michigan beers on tap I had to ask and she verified that yes they do have Founders and Bells.
I just said forget it I'll get up and walk to the other side of the restaurant and look at the taps.
How freaking hard is it to have a short list of the beers that are NOT on the menu?
I realize I am in the minority of beer drinkers in this area, but come on! The manager wouldn't put someone out on the floor if they didn't know the difference between mashed potatoes and french fries! This stuff is not that hard!
Nightstalker
Well-Known Member
I didn't know any of the places in Nashville recently changed names LOL. What was it called and what is it now. I will still go there.
Andrewtherooster
Well-Known Member
I think the incentive for managers/owners to invest the time and money to train their employees is pretty low given the high amount of turnover in many service industry positions, particularly larger/chain establishments. Yes, I agree that every place should at least have a list of what they offer. However, I can understand them not wanting to teach a server about beer when that person may not be around for long.
Then again, if servers were invested in they may feel more valued and loyal to their employer.
Then again, if servers were invested in they may feel more valued and loyal to their employer.
i agree... not everyone is a beer geek plus she was probably new.
If i am in a new place and i'm not sure what's on tap, i get up and look. half the time beer menus are useless as they usually aren't up to date anyway...
It is a little annoying when there isn't a beer menu when it's a place that is bringing customers in by announcing how many taps they have. Seems like when you make that a selling point you should make sure you are able to inform the customers what products you're actually offering.
It's all the cookie cutter 'stores'/shops and chains, big business, stability, convenience, cheap priced, zero personality, zero product knowledge, zero care or give a ****.
All the little family run places, the one or two shop entrepreneur genius places are gone or going. Those that hang on for grim death are sold by their council to be demolished to be replaced with an Asda or a Walmart.... (ASDA = UK Walmart).
It's just the way things are going. And don't get me started on the holier than thou Health and Safety **** **** ***********'s.
All the little family run places, the one or two shop entrepreneur genius places are gone or going. Those that hang on for grim death are sold by their council to be demolished to be replaced with an Asda or a Walmart.... (ASDA = UK Walmart).
It's just the way things are going. And don't get me started on the holier than thou Health and Safety **** **** ***********'s.
paparker21
Well-Known Member
Mcsuck, it's in west Nashville but I'm not trying to slam anyone's business. Just irritated me that the staff not only couldn't tell me what was available, but didn't even know the basics of their product.
lowtones84
Well-Known Member
For me, the whole "get up and look at the tap handles" thing doesn't work very well when there are even close to 30 beers. Can you really read every single one of those from the other side of the bar? I don't necessarily expect bartenders to know a ton about beer, but if the establishment doesn't have a menu, there should definitely be a better way of displaying than tap handles. My favorite bar in town rotates beers out frequently and they always have a big chalkboard with what's on tap on it, even though there are only about 10 taps. Luckily they're all craft brews other than PBR.
If you went to a steakhouse and asked you server what kinds of steak they had only to get a response of "the kind I steak that comes from a cow" would anyone consider that an acceptable answer? I would hope not. I don't think it's out of line to expect a place what's advertising their vast variety of beer to have at least a minimal knowledge of what they sell.
To answer the OP's question instead of drawling on about whether it was an appropriate action....
#1 word all suggestions as helpfull hints. Not that they did something wrong.
2: Most places have a comment card for some form of feedback. Perhaps get a few of them and leave them with various comments on different visits. That way you can say the same thing over and over... they might get the hint. (after writing the below, I think repetition will be the key to getting change)
3: Check for a web listing for the biz. You can usually leave comments there. Often there are reviews where you can put those type comments. Hopefully the owner reviews those on occasion. Especially if there is a FB page.
4: Email has been suggested already, I second.
#1 word all suggestions as helpfull hints. Not that they did something wrong.
2: Most places have a comment card for some form of feedback. Perhaps get a few of them and leave them with various comments on different visits. That way you can say the same thing over and over... they might get the hint. (after writing the below, I think repetition will be the key to getting change)
3: Check for a web listing for the biz. You can usually leave comments there. Often there are reviews where you can put those type comments. Hopefully the owner reviews those on occasion. Especially if there is a FB page.
4: Email has been suggested already, I second.
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