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It's really quite simple. Beer is an acquired taste. This is another way of saying it tastes really bad to those who haven't been drinking it for a while. It also means that even styles adjascent to the ones you're used to might taste bad at first. (Hello, gueuze!) The only reason you wouldn't say "eww, this sucks!" when you first try something unfamiliar is because you know that beer is strange and takes time to get used to.

I remember feeling this way about practically every new style I tried when I was starting out! The only thing keeping me drinking was the idea that someone, somewhere thought this stuff was good. Sounds stupid, but taste is basically a social construct anyway. You just have to get it through your thick skill that this particular form of decay and decomposition is OK to eat, while this one is not.

You can't expect an ordinary beer drinker — or even your average beer geek, for that matter! — to tell the difference between an infected beer and a stylistic choice. Beer fanatics know what an infected beer tastes like. Most people don't. Most people think your average shelf sour is just as strange as a beer that has been unintentionally infected.

Hence, no one complains except the crazy people on beer forums. (And even there, it's often for political reasons — greed and poor craftsmanship — and not necessarily actual taste. Many infected beers get reviewed well.)
Ok, FTowne, I believe you.
 
Beer is oddly different.

If I were served a horrible meal, I'd say something right away and likely be compensated for it somehow. If not, I'm not going back. Even if I am compensated, I'll stop going to the restaurant if it happens more than once.

Beer people won't say anything in person if a beer is clearly garbage, but will post a slanderous video, rage on forums, poison the brewer's dog, and then line up for the next release.
Beer people, who first off are the worst ******* people in history, would NEVER send a beer back for having off flavors or being infected because then all the other beer people sitting at that bar or reading their untapped would know that beer person who sent the beer back, doesn't know what the **** he's talking about. The last thing pretentious ******* beer dude wants is for someone else to think they know more than him.

******* drink beer and shut up.
 
seems rational and an approach i'd find acceptable if i owned a bottle.

idk.

In a vacuum, it would be. But with the history surrounding this beer it's a complete eye-roll. In addition to what caaam just posted here:

I was just thrown at they basically tested for lacto, found it, and decided to release anyway. They also had the exact same issue with the exact same beer in 2013, the last time they did a batch

We can add (this is all in reference to the previous batch):

-initially denying there was anything wrong with it
-later serving it at the Release The Funk festival in Charlotte as a "sour stout"
-the brewery owner getting pissy over bad Untappd reviews of the beer calling it out for being infected (one of the main reasons I no longer allow breweries to comment on my Untappd check-ins is Fullsteam)
-probably a bunch of other histrionics I've forgotten about
 
In a vacuum, it would be. But with the history surrounding this beer it's a complete eye-roll. In addition to what caaam just posted here:



We can add (this is all in reference to the previous batch):

-initially denying there was anything wrong with it
-later serving it at the Release The Funk festival in Charlotte as a "sour stout"
-the brewery owner getting pissy over bad Untappd reviews of the beer calling it out for being infected (one of the main reasons I no longer allow breweries to comment on my Untappd check-ins is Fullsteam)
-probably a bunch of other histrionics I've forgotten about

not going to lie, i had never heard of this beer before reading the release posted
 
Have we ever figured out if Not Your Father's Root Beer is really beer or a secret backdoor sneak attack from Four Loko?
If they make a version with caffeine (especially if they made one less sweet) I would be into it (though I recall that being illegal now maybe?)
 
If they make a version with caffeine (especially if they made one less sweet) I would be into it (though I recall that being illegal now maybe?)
Yeah, adding caffeine to malt beverages is illegal now.... it has to be done for "flavoring" purposes (IE: coffee beers are still okay).
 
Sam Calagione new series for First we Feast...Go figure its has to do with making obscure and odd beers
It seems a lot like the show Brew Dogs too
 
Seriously, some of you people are the worst. If a beer is bad, send it back. End of story.

I've stopped doing it for the most part. I've heard things like "yeah we don't sell much of that" for stock that was out of date, or "it tasted like that yesterday, it's how it's supposed to taste", or "people seem to really like it..."

My gf has a much better palate than me and regularly takes things back and ends up getting really patronizing responses that usually insinuate because she's a girl she should try something lighter - then they'll recommend a hefe/wheat/lager/pils. Even when she points out the exact flaw, they just assume it's because she wants a wine cooler not a beer.
 
Have we ever figured out if Not Your Father's Root Beer is really beer or a secret backdoor sneak attack from Four Loko?
Have you drank it? Therein lies your answer. I don't give a **** what they or some lab-coat says; It's FMB.
 
Yeah, adding caffeine to malt beverages is illegal now.... it has to be done for "flavoring" purposes (IE: coffee beers are still okay).

lnhfj.jpg
 
having been a bartender for several years and having many many many people return beers for whatever their reasons.. it just gets old.

even if you are a great bartender, super patient and the person asking for a fresh/different drink is awesome and hot and reasonable and uses all the right descriptors.... sometimes you just don't give a **** and don't want the education...... again.

just take it back and say "let me get a replacement, chief. this one's no good"

bartenders don't want a lecture, to be told the history of the style, to be talked down to like they're morons because the customer can quote BJCP guidelines.

when you've been on your feet for 10 hours, running around like a sugared up toddler, being whistled at, having people snap their fingers to get your attention, stiffing you on tips, complaining about their wives, their ****** lives, etc. and some beernerd comes up to lecture you on the difference between stouts and porters and tells you the beer they ordered is 2 degrees too cold to be properly consumed or something.... all you want is for them to go away.

so... yeah... it happens. bartenders hear a lot and get jaded with time. we're not impressed and we really don't want to hear it.... again.
 
having been a bartender for several years and having many many many people return beers for whatever their reasons.. it just gets old.

even if you are a great bartender, super patient and the person asking for a fresh/different drink is awesome and hot and reasonable and uses all the right descriptors.... sometimes you just don't give a **** and don't want the education...... again.

just take it back and say "let me get a replacement, chief. this one's no good"

bartenders don't want a lecture, to be told the history of the style, to be talked down to like they're morons because the customer can quote BJCP guidelines.

when you've been on your feet for 10 hours, running around like a sugared up toddler, being whistled at, having people snap their fingers to get your attention, stiffing you on tips, complaining about their wives, their ****** lives, etc. and some beernerd comes up to lecture you on the difference between stouts and porters and tells you the beer they ordered is 2 degrees too cold to be properly consumed or something.... all you want is for them to go away.

so... yeah... it happens. bartenders hear a lot and get jaded with time. we're not impressed and we really don't want to hear it.... again.
All of these are known to be things you need to deal with as a bartender. If you can't deal with that, get a different job.
 
having been a bartender for several years and having many many many people return beers for whatever their reasons.. it just gets old.

even if you are a great bartender, super patient and the person asking for a fresh/different drink is awesome and hot and reasonable and uses all the right descriptors.... sometimes you just don't give a **** and don't want the education...... again.

just take it back and say "let me get a replacement, chief. this one's no good"

bartenders don't want a lecture, to be told the history of the style, to be talked down to like they're morons because the customer can quote BJCP guidelines.

when you've been on your feet for 10 hours, running around like a sugared up toddler, being whistled at, having people snap their fingers to get your attention, stiffing you on tips, complaining about their wives, their ****** lives, etc. and some beernerd comes up to lecture you on the difference between stouts and porters and tells you the beer they ordered is 2 degrees too cold to be properly consumed or something.... all you want is for them to go away.

so... yeah... it happens. bartenders hear a lot and get jaded with time. we're not impressed and we really don't want to hear it.... again.

I'm always super nice about it (was a bartender for years too) but sometimes it just seems like they aren't interested (which is fine) but it does leave customers in a ****** position. Especially when the beer is ****** to the point where I think it's disgusting/undrinkable... and then add Australian prices to that. As a customer it feels like I just get shafted for ****** product and there is no recourse.
 
having been a bartender for several years and having many many many people return beers for whatever their reasons.. it just gets old.

even if you are a great bartender, super patient and the person asking for a fresh/different drink is awesome and hot and reasonable and uses all the right descriptors.... sometimes you just don't give a **** and don't want the education...... again.

just take it back and say "let me get a replacement, chief. this one's no good"

bartenders don't want a lecture, to be told the history of the style, to be talked down to like they're morons because the customer can quote BJCP guidelines.

when you've been on your feet for 10 hours, running around like a sugared up toddler, being whistled at, having people snap their fingers to get your attention, stiffing you on tips, complaining about their wives, their ****** lives, etc. and some beernerd comes up to lecture you on the difference between stouts and porters and tells you the beer they ordered is 2 degrees too cold to be properly consumed or something.... all you want is for them to go away.

so... yeah... it happens. bartenders hear a lot and get jaded with time. we're not impressed and we really don't want to hear it.... again.

tumblr_inline_nwjeed794K1s5mvkb_500.gif
 
I have no idea on the distribution situation in AU -- is there any way that's legal (given than e.g. Beat never entered distribution)? It certainly could be, but I'd be surprised.
 
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