Sending a beer back
Another nugget from Randy Mosher's new book Tasting Beer: He lists four instances when you should send a beer back to the bartender for a better pour.
1. Dirty glasses. Lipstick on the rim is a sign of "inexcusable laziness," he says.
2. Cloudiness in beers expected to be crystal clear, such as Pilsners.
3. Off aromas. Butteriness, spoiled milk and "animal-like" aromas are more than likely the symptoms of a sick tap line.
4. Sourness in anything but a rare Belgian style, where it is appropriate. Again, a sign of a sick tap line.
I have sent beers back that arrived in dirty glasses, but have not encountered the other three signs of trouble.
I did have a very sour brew at a homebrewers' crab feast last fall at Goddard Space Flight Recreation Center. An amazing beer brewed by Severna Park's Ben Schwalb, but it was supposed to be sour.
Has anyone else encountered this fearsome foursome?
Any trouble getting a fresh, free replacement beer?
I guess you can't send a glass back that has been drained, then claim something was amiss.
Is there a rule , among bar keeps, that a returned glass of "bad beer" must be at least half full?
Comments
I have sent a few back due to a dirty glass, and one instance i remember sending one back because of a bad brew, we assumed it was a sick line. I have heard other people talk about sick lines at this place so now it isnt a surprise. I am not a bartender, but if someone drinks 3/4 of a beer before sending it back, I would keep it on their tab.
Posted by: Jason | March 27, 2009 12:10 PM
Number 4 has happened to me several times at the Wharf Rat on Pratt Street. Their tap lines seemed never to be cleaned, Especially the Oliver brews. So, when in there, I'd get bottled beer.
Posted by: PCB Rob | March 27, 2009 1:01 PM
I've encountered the top 3, though I've never had lipstick on the glass. I've sent the beer back in each instance and never had an issue.
The most important thing is that the bars/pubs/restaurants keep their lines and faucets clean.
Posted by: Rick | March 27, 2009 2:37 PM
I'll second the Wharf Rat...here's hoping the new renovations included some lengths of new lines...
Also, (and I hate to say it since I know most of brew crew there) but it has been happening lately at Brewer's Art... Rob and Steve! Fix it!
Posted by: Chw | March 27, 2009 4:58 PM
Never had to send one back, but if I did it'd be because of a dirty glass or the beer tasting foul. Wouldn't feel bad about it either, at least if its a good beer at a good beer place.
Its actually a bigger issue buying bottled beer, I won't name names but there's a bottle shop I adore but I end up with the occasional skunked beer either because its been on the shelf too long or was mishandled or who knows what.
As for bar beer, if its something I didn't like because I just didn't like the taste thats my own fault and why within reason I'll ask for tasters if I'm not quite sure. Lots of good beer bars I know actually quietly hate the whole taster thing, but if you're a regular or ask nice and are serious they relax.
But yeh I've done that twice now in the last year, ordered beers I simply ended up not liking, returning my mostly filled pint and ordering something else, still got hit with the full charge and rightly so.
Posted by: Baltimore Beer Guy | March 30, 2009 12:40 AM
I like quality brews, which at some locations never seem to get much turnover or care for their lines. I've sent several sick beers back unfinished.
Posted by: Cheese | April 1, 2009 4:10 PM