My Response To The Article: “12 Mistakes You’re Making When Visiting A Brewery”
Intro
So, I was looking at my phone and when opening a new tab, a suggested article popped up. The title immediately caught my interest because there were one of two ways it was going to go, and I had to know. Damn clickbait. Anyway, “12 Mistakes You’re Making When Visiting A Brewery” is either going to be 12 obvious things you should do when visiting any type of place, not just a brewery or will be 12 gripes that an individual that has worked in the craft beer industry has about customers that visit their locations. Since I have worked in the craft beer industry for some time as a beer-tender I was hoping for an article about things that just frustrate me and coworkers about some specific type of mistakes we see customers make all the time and be validated. This was not that article. This article made me annoyed enough to sit down and write my response.
To sum up the article, it covers some random things. Some of the “errors” I would argue are simply not errors at all. I am going to cover them in chronological order explaining what the section said and why it doesn’t, or does, belong in an article with the goal of helping a customer navigate the craft beer scene. Lets get started.
Mistakes?
1. Not doing your research beforehand:
Now this section says that you should look beforehand to see what styles the brewery produces, their ratings on Untappd, operational hours, child/dog friendliness and hours of operation.
I read this section and my heart dropped into my stomach. I knew from here the article was doomed to be something I wanted it to be, but I also realized it was written by someone looking to hit a deadline. The writer needed to pump out an article on something food/beverage related for the website. James Hastings had to write this to get paid.
So, I looked him up and saw he had serving experience and even more, was a beverage manager at a awarded restaurant in New Zealand going so far as winning the “Best Newcomer” award by BrewDog, Europe’s largest independent craft brewery. For what, I am not sure. He worked for Heineken and BrewDog and ran beer schools. He now lives in Thailand and is living his best life touring the region eating and drinking and writing. He has 16 years of experience in hospitality across 8 countries. My guy in his spare time is a project manager for Wild Response which is an international wildlife conservation nonprofit. James is living a damn good life what a lad. But James, this article is painful.
Before going anywhere, I would argue to look at if you can bring dogs or kids, and yeah you should know operating hours and days the location is open. Brewery specific, if you are picky about beer styles yes look before going but this is not the number 1 mistake made by those visiting breweries. As for reviews of beer before going on Untappd or social media, just like when picking where to eat dinner this is an obvious tool even Boomers use to narrow down where to visit.
Personally, when visiting a brewery, I have never been to, I will look at the beer styles they have listed online if I am with someone who will only drink a specific style but if that is not a roadblock, I just go to find out for myself. I would say if you were going to a brewery, keep an open mind and research only what you would for any type of outing. Again, for emphasis, this is not the number 1 mistake made by brewery visitors.
2. Dressing inappropriately:
This section says dress warm if it’s cold out and dress as if you were going to visit a construction site.
I would laugh if I wasn’t so disappointed. I want to note I have only been to breweries in the United States, so maybe other countries are different, but this is too much. Sure, breweries are active work sites, but they aren’t unsafe. You won’t be seated next to the mash tun during an active brewing time. There will always be a spot to sit far enough away from equipment that this is never warranted. I brewed at a craft brewery for instance and if someone came to get a pint dressed like I was, I would ask where they brew. This is not an issue at any brewery I have ever been and more so, should not be number 2 only this list let alone on any list of this kind! James you’ve lost the plot.
3. Touching the brewing equipment or ingredients:
I respect you as a reader too much to explain to you what this section is about. Each section is 3 paragraphs by the way which lends me peace of mind that James wrote this in an hour to meet a quota to get paid so he can go out in Thailand and have a blast.
This section James, no. Just no. Nobody read this and thought, “Ah point taken, good thing I read this article.” Of course, you don’t touch the brewing equipment or ingredients. Do you see people walk into kitchens at restaurants and grab ingredients and touch all the pots and pans? Why add this section, and at number 3? I could say more but I may start bleeding from the ears if I do.
4. Not paying attention to your guide:
Another section I will not summarize. This section made me think more than the last two, however. Not about the so called “12 Mistakes You’re Making When Visiting A Brewery” but about the world we live in. There is someone out there that felt the need to say, “If you go on a tour of something, its best to pay attention.” Wow. I am going to write an article called “12 Mistakes You’re Making When Visiting A Movie Theater” and number four on the list will be “Not watching the movie.”
James. My one sentence response for this section is as follows:
NO SHIT!
5. Neglecting to ask questions:
This section says to ask questions about beer and the brewing industry to those who work at a brewery.
I would simply say see my one sentence response from the previous section, but I feel compelled to explain something here. James, if you need a friend email me man. He writes, “In our experience, brewers can be very good friends to have, and while it’s never a guarantee, if you’re respectful and eager to learn, you may even get the chance to sample special brews that aren’t always brought out for the general public.” James is either expressing how he wished more people would have talked to him in different positions held while in the industry or he is trying to explain that if you are nice and interested in something, those that are there to facilitate this may be nice to you in return.
This section is common sense regardless of where you are visiting. Maybe don’t run on the court and ask Lebron James how to shoot a free throw but yeah, you get it.
6. Not trying a range of beers:
Yes! James yes! Hell yeah brother lets go! He says when you are at a brewery try all beer styles you can because it will give you a better understanding of these styles even if they aren’t your cup of tea.
I love this! Yes, people who do not venture out and try styles they have never tried before or do not re-try styles they have shunned may never experience something truly amazing. So many times, I have had customers try a beer they said they would not like and two months later they either love that beer style or still didn’t but had the style of beers they like grow in general. This is number one on the list James and the first that belongs. Banger of a section lets keep the momentum.
7. Overindulging in samples:
James says to drink responsibly, every beer has a different ABV and trying too many can be hard to track. Also, make sure you have a safe way to get home.
You are losing me a bit, but I agree this should be on the list. I do see customers get too intoxicated to drive all the time and I ensure they have a safe way home. This isn’t a brewery specific issue. Now calling out to be careful with samples is a good twist because people drink 7 5 oz pours like its nothing and get confused why they are drunk. So I get it, it belongs on the list but should be number 12.
8. Arriving too late in the day:
He says here to arrive early so you have more time and don’t miss out on beers that may be gone before you arrive.
James. Arriving earlier so you have more time is common sense for anywhere you go. This is not a mistake made by those visiting a brewery, but a mistake made by those with low IQ’s in life. This does not need to be on the list. Of course, a better experience would include more time at the establishment. There aren’t many examples of places I would say the opposite about other than maybe baseball games and the dentist.
9. Forgetting to make a reservation in advance:
I won’t explain this section. I get you should do this for a brewery tour but if you are planning to go to a large brewery that offers a tour then this is common sense. I can’t speak to much to this as I have not worked in a large enough brewery that needed to schedule tours like Sierra Nevada, but I have been to large breweries that gave tours on a basis of, “We got people interested, ok lets go.” I give people tours of the location I work with spur of the moment. That said sure, plan good if you want to tour.
He also says to reserve ahead if you have a large group of people. If you all want to sit together yes it isn’t a bad idea to call ahead to see if you can be accommodated but most breweries won’t do this. They have enough customers they don’t need to set tables aside that could seat potential customers for a group that overall may not buy as much product as random smaller groups.
10. Skipping the store:
This is a large brewery thing, but so stupid. If you want to buy beer to go and merch, don’t forget to! James. This is embarrassing now.
11. Not tipping the appropriate staff:
This is self-explanatory, he is saying to tip your servers. This is my new number 1. I agree. Tip and tip heavily*.
*-this is not biased, just because I serve at a brewery has no bearing on my opinion in this instance.
12. Not promoting the brewery after you visit:
This one is self-explanatory as well.
I am tired of the “No shit” supposed “mistakes” here James. Yes, social media promotion of a brewery you like will help more than the customer may know but at the same time it is not a mistake to not do so. People should be able to visit a brewery and either enjoy it, not enjoy it or have a very ok time and not have any expectation to promote the brewery. Is it nice? Yes. Is it a mistake made by the customer? No.
This one riles me up as the conclusion too. Right now, I am of the opinion that the craft beer industry has either met or is about to meet its ceiling in growth given world economic conditions and for some small breweries this will spell failure. So, if you want to see your favorite craft breweries stay around, frequenting them when possible and promoting them is a natural course to take and one small business owners will be very happy for. But to say it is the mistake of the consumer to not flood their social media with the experience they had at a brewery is uncool in my opinion and definitely should be absent from this list.
Conclusion
But hey Sacramento Beer Boy, you can dish out to James, but could you give 12 mistakes made by those visiting breweries? I can’t make up 12 but here is a list:
1. Not trying a range of different beer styles.
2. Not looking at the board of beers on tap before going to the bar to order.
3. Asking for a taste of every beer on tap rather than ordering a flight.
4. Asking the beer-tender what their favorite beer is.
5. Asking the beer-tender to pour anything then not liking the beer poured.
6. When there is a long line, asking the only beer-tender questions about the brewery.
I can’t make 12 because even with my list of 6, I am showing my own bias a bit much and they will continue to get more and more personal and gripey. I think there is one true mistake people make when visiting a brewery and that is not relaxing and enjoying it. A brewery is a space to be calm, happy and enjoy life. Get a pint, have a seat, or stand if so inclined and breathe, sip, and hang out. You don’t need to visit a new brewery and try it all, learn all there is to know about the place. If you want to, sure go ahead but it is not a mistake not to. The mistake is going to a brewery with an agenda, I think. The brewery, regardless of size and location, if they serve beer, has curated a tasty beverage for you to enjoy in a place that is comfortable enough to do so. Life sucks, beer makes it better and drinking it fresh from the source is as enjoyable as you allow it to be. So don’t stress about what you are doing wrong, you are doing nothing wrong. Cheers.
