Getting a Dodgy Pint/Bottle at the Pub- What Do You Do?

[eamonnfoley]

A few months back was at the Queens in Perth - was pumped to see Feral Raging Flem on tap and selling strongly. Until I tried it. They were selling one of the Woolworths Sail & Anchor swill beers (I suspected) under the Feral badge. Different beer completely. Brought it to their attention. They hesitantly agreed. Then retired the tap. Came back to bar an hour later and they had returned it to service, again with the wrong beer. Haven't been back - disgraceful effort.

I always try to tell a pub when the beer is bad - especially when your paying $10+ a pint. I even tell them the glasses are dirty, which is surprisingly often.

 

[Edak]

I have a question, what about when you get a beer from a brewery? I go to Mornington quite a lot and on Saturday I got a take away six pack. One of said beers was the witbier and I have had this many times, but this time it was off and waaay over carbonated. Nor my wife or I would drink it.

What would you do?

 

[bum]

Not go back. They know the quality of their product. They needn't be told.

 

[Edak]

That's a bit harsh isn't it? I would need to find another brewery in the area to go to after work.

 

[bum]

Why give them the benefit of the doubt when there is none? They are willingly selling you a sub-par product. It's not like they can blame handling.

 

[bradsbrew]

Why give them the benefit of the doubt when there is none? They are willingly selling you a sub-par product. It's not like they can blame handling.

I bought a rather dodgy 4 pack of Murrays a few years back so I sent them an email with the batch number. I received a 16 bottle mixed carton on my doorstep a week later. Yes it was possibly a handling issue but more than likely a bottling issue.

At least give them the chance to fix their mistake. If they don't want to listen, then tell people who will and don't go back.

Cheers

 

[jyo]

A few years ago me and a mate were having a few beers at a local brew pub in Perth. The pils just didn't taste like pils- It was quite shit and I remarked that it tasted 'burnt' to the bar lady.

She told me that "Yes, they burnt the malt". It was the same price as all the other beers. I smiled and asked her why they were even selling it! They have a new head brewer now.

 

[Truman42]

I have a question, what about when you get a beer from a brewery? I go to Mornington quite a lot and on Saturday I got a take away six pack. One of said beers was the witbier and I have had this many times, but this time it was off and waaay over carbonated. Nor my wife or I would drink it.
What would you do?

Mate I would definitely take it back to them. I'm sure Andrew would be glad you alerted him to a problem with his beer. I can't see any micro brewery concerned with quality of their product knock back any legitimate complaint.

I had a bad experience with a 6 pack of beer brought from another well known Peninsula Brewery. I emailed them about it and they were very concerned and told me when I was there next they would replace the six pack. When there I brought another mixed six pack and they gave me them for free as well.

 

[JasonP]

off topic, but thought i'd mention it here......... something that annoys me about bars is when they list schooner in the menu and it comes in a smaller size glass. Really annoys me and I let the bar staff know. nothing ever comes of it though. usually shit places that i never choose to go. its surprising how many places do this.

 

[manticle]

Not go back. They know the quality of their product. They needn't be told.

one beer in a six pack following loads of other good experiences? You're having a lend Shirley?

Who wins? You stop going to a brewery you usually like, they have no idea why they lost a customer. Maybe the apprentice brewer rubbed his shorts prior to filling one bottle.

 

[bum]

one beer in a six pack following loads of other good experiences? You're having a lend Shirley?

Who wins? You stop going to a brewery you usually like, they have no idea why they lost a customer. Maybe the apprentice brewer rubbed his shorts prior to filling one bottle.

I read it as being an entire sixpack being bad which, to my mind, makes an entire batch bad. They run the numbers - they know why they lose a very small number of customers like me and realise we don't add up to the cost of losing a batch. There is a deliberate choice being made on their side just as much as there is on mine.

 

[manticle]

sounded like a mixed six pack to me - "one of the beers was a witbier which I've had before" to paraphrase.

 

[labels]

I remember going to my local a while back and ordering a pint of Cooper Pale Ale. It was disgusting and looked like peas soup. I asked for another and the barman refused saying that is when it's at it's best. I immediately rang Coopers brewery which is only 12km away. Within 10 minutes a Coopers tech was there fixing the lines, teaching the bar staff about serving Coopers and I got my beer replaced. Never had a bad beer there since. And the hotel did not hold it against me for ringing the brewery. How's that!!

 

[Droopy]

Honest and direct feedback, they may not like it but if they are genuine they will appreciate it

 

[Edak]

I remember going to my local a while back and ordering a pint of Cooper Pale Ale. It was disgusting and looked like peas soup. I asked for another and the barman refused saying that is when it's at it's best. I immediately rang Coopers brewery which is only 12km away. Within 10 minutes a Coopers tech was there fixing the lines, teaching the bar staff about serving Coopers and I got my beer replaced. Never had a bad beer there since. And the hotel did not hold it against me for ringing the brewery. How's that!!

Awesome!

Oh and I did have a mix six, I will let Andrew or someone else know.

 

[bum]

Sorry that I misrepresented your situation, Edak.

My point holds for any full sixer bought on premises, though.

 

[Bridges]

Shout out to Gage roads. Last week after a crap day at work I stopped at a BWS, not where I normally shop, and grabbed a sleeping giant IPA as a traveller. It was awful, just awful oxidised, skunked, light struck all the above and more. I carried it home to tip down the sink and sent Gage roads a polite complaint e-mail. The next day I got a reply from Gage roads' national sales manager saying how disappointed they were, and to expect a call from BWS. Area Manager from BWS called the same day and said it was obviously a stock handling issue. She was very unhappy this had happened and the store I grabbed it from would have all staff retrained as from the date on the bottle it was really old stock. She also insisted I call in to replace my one dodgy bottle with a sixer of any beer I wanted as a thank you for helping identifying issues at one of her stores.

So yeah, If you get a crap beer complain but do it nicely, you're helping everyone.

 

[pedleyr]

I try to put myself in the shoes of the establishment/brewery - would I want to know there's a problem with my product? Chances are I would, so I politely speak up.

I like manticle's approach of stating flat out that you don't want the money back, which makes it clear that it's about the product, nothing else.

 

[Ducatiboy stu]

Or just burn the place down and unload mass weaponery....

And burnouts.....burnouts are awsome

 

[Lecterfan]

Occasionally you get some idiot suggesting it couldn't be infected because there's no sourness but then I usually just order dinner.

Classic. You are as eloquent and diplomatic in person as you are here. Close to bodhisatva given the incident with the porn-loving android that we encountered on the way in haha.


Back on topic - I have returned beers, but my/our (others were involved) most recent failing was being served three pots of metallic yeast that was labelled McLaren Vale Ale at the Mallow and we meekly muttered murderous words under our breaths and simply ordered more beer. Should've done the above and just handed them back in, not asked for a refund but pointed out that we had been served rubbish.

Even before I was right into beer I used to return beers at some of the filthy pubs I played in; they poured beers that tasted only of filthy, unwashed beer lines. Anywaaay.