A weird experience at a brewpub...

[russki]

So, we had a new brewpub open near my work, so last night, I went there with a friend. I was excited to try it - they are supposed to specialize in BBQ, and I love BBQ. But what followed was a night of disappointment

Let's start with BBQ - I ordered their "BBQ flight" - 1/4 rack of ribs, and about 1/4# each pulled pork and brisket with one side. The ribs were dry (I almost chocked on the first piece I bit off), brisket (while tender) tasted like pot roast, the only redeeming item was pulled pork which was well seasoned and had a flavorful bark. Famous Dave's has better BBQ... And it was $20!!!

Ok, onto beer. First negative: the beer list had no prices, and mixes 12 oz bottles with large format ones without any differentiation. When we sat down, the waitress told us they were out of 2 of their house beers and down to just 4. I was going to order a sampler, but after asking about price ($11 - really?) for six tasting pours (with two duplicates), I just ordered pints (still expensive at $5.50) Had their Cali Common and IPA - both pretty decent for a brewpub, but nothing I would seek out.

Then the weird experience happened: as my friend and I were finishing up our meal, we decided to order drafts of Thirsty Dog Bourbon Barrel Wee Heavy from their "Guest Taps" menu for "dessert". I asked the waitress if they were out of any of guest drafts, and she said, "if it's on the menu, we have it", so we order two. Now, a beer like this (12%/abv) normally comes in a 10-12 oz snifter glass, right? The waitress comes back with a tray that has two 22 oz bombers of Kentucky Ryed Chiquen (covered in chicken feathers and all). What the #$%$??? I politely pointed out that we ordered drafts of a different beer, to which she started arguing that this was the same beer "just in bottles", umm... no... it's not. Then she proceeded to tell us that the bartender told her they were actually out of our chosen tap beer, and this was the closest they had. Great, but don't you ask the customer first, before you bring two open bottles of very expensive beer to them (local bottle shops sell them for around $14/bottle; I'm sure their price was considerably higher). After we pointed out once again that this was not what we ordered, she reluctantly took them back... what a waste. At that point, we couldn't risk ordering anything else, so we left...

What a bizarre experience... I wonder how long they will stay open operating like this...

Have you guys had weird experiences at restaurants/bars?

[Beer-lord]

That sucks! Besides the high prices and poor food to have to deal with ignorant wait staff with an attitude is over the top. You should be a nice guy and let the owner know your honest thoughts since it's a new pub.
No such bad luck at my local watering holes....knock on wood!

[D_Rabbit]

Wow, if I were the owner and this was brought to my attention I would be embarrassed about it. Definitely might want to pass the info along to the owner, not the manager, unless it is a chain style. The waitress/bartender sound like they may need new training in how to not be "club" style bartender/waitress and how to be a brewpub bartender/waitress.

I have never had an experience like that with any of the locally owned brewpubs I attended. Usually the staff was polite and knew what they had or didn't have. Maybe give them another shot in a month or 2 when all the chaos of a new opened place dies down. Hate to see a locally owned place go under due to one bad experience at the start. Usually that is when all the kinks are still being worked out and feedback (not complaints) are a welcomed thing. If they aren't welcomed than they can go screw and take your hunger/thirst elsewhere.

[jivex5k]

Damn dude that's screwed up.
Wulver (the wee heavy from siberian night) is outstanding. Never had the Against the Grain Chiquen beer but, it's rated 82 versus Wulver's 97. Wulver earned that 97 I can tell you first hand. Not to mention a rye beer is not a wee heavy...

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/26850/78698/
http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/12516/94714/

Never experienced anything like that, the brewpubs I've gone too will tell me if something is out and ask if I want something else, possibly with a recommendation. They won't open it without asking first though.
But to assume it's accepted by the customer, to lie and say it's the bottled version...wtf... Screw that place.

[SomeGuyBrewing]

Sounds like they don't know their BBQ or their beer!

If you really want to give them a chance, I agree with D_Rabbit, go back in a few months. If the people running it actually care about the business they will hear about things like this through dissatisfied customers and make the necessary recipe/staff changes to help their business thrive. If its the same when you go back then stay away.

However if the whole experience just turned you off altogether just forget them, there are too many places in the world to get great BBQ and knowledgeable bartenders who serve great beer to waste your time and money at a place that doesn't care.

[Kealia]

I've dealt with something 'similar' recently on vacation.

I was in Hawaii and my wife and daughter wanted to go out shopping so I had them drop me at a taphouse that boasted 30+ beers (lots of locals) and a great location. It's literally across the street from the ocean so it's maybe 100 feet from water to table.

They dropped me off and left. I planned on being there for about an hour to an hour and a half so the plan was to have two pints. First, I sit at the 'bottom' on a U-shaped bar that puts my back to the water. I figured I would be there only long enough to order a beer before moving seats, ok. I look around and I see nothing but tourists (no locals) which isn't a big deal but all of them have three things in common:
1) Back to the water/view
2) Eyes glued to the tv
3) Either Coors or Coors Light in front of them

I look at the taps (which are also arranged in a U-shape to mirror the bar seating) and see that the bartender is pulling a pint off a tap marked as "Big Island Brewhaus IPA". Great, I've seen it bottle earlier and decided that I was lucky to get to try in on tap. She makes eye-contact with me and asks what I would like.
"I'll have one of those please" I reply.
After delivering the other beer to somebody else she pours me a pint and then rings up the sale dropping he slip off in front of me. As I eye the beer I notice two things:
1) It's got a really creamy head
2) I can smell hints of coconut wafting up

I look at the receipt and it says "Coconut Cream Ale" - WTF?!?!
Before touching it I ask her if that is what it is and she replies with, "Yes, that's what you ordered".
"Actually" I said, "I was ordering the IPA since that is what the tap says"
"Oh, that's gone so we put another keg of something else on there" <smacks forehead>
(smiles) "Sorry, that's not what I wanted"
(somewhat snippy) "Ok, what DO you want then?"

I tell her to give me just a minute please to review the menu. On it I see Iron Fist: Citra Pale Ale
I'm thinking:

She comes back a few minutes later and I say "I'll have the Iron Fist..." and she turns before I can finish my sentence. I see the tap right in front of me and don't say anything assuming that we won't have the same issue twice. She grabs a glass and says, "It will only be a 10-ounce pour" which I find strange but reply with, "It's your bar, your rules". I'm on vacation and am not sweating the small stuff. Plus, I planned on having a second of something anyway so no big deal in the heat.

She comes back with a 10-ounce glass of something that looks like Beer-lord brewed it. It's as black as the night. I almost screamed in horror as if a tarantula had been placed in front of me!

After letting my skin stop crawling I get her attention again and politely tell her that isn't what I ordered.
"Yes, it is" she says. "It's the Iron Fist Velvet Hammer"
"I actually wanted the Citra Pale Ale" I replied, still keeping my relaxed vacation demeanor.
"Well, you didn't specific that" she snaps....to which I replied:
"First off, you turned around so quickly that you didn't let me actually finish my order. Had you not done so you would have heard me say Pale Ale. Second, because you turned you didn't see me point to the tap handle right in front of me" <the other one was around the corner>
"And finally, if you knew that you had more than one Iron Fist option on tap don't you think you should have asked me which one I wanted?"

She took the glass and put it in the fridge since it's obviously a high ABV and expensive pour and poured me the right beer without saying a word.

I took my beer and went to sit near the water and enjoyed both the view and the beer. It was really good and I would have enjoyed a second one or something else but she was killing my aloha so I decided to wrap it up. I walked back to the bar and saw the bill for my Pale Ale next to the bill for the Cream Ale and the full pint still sitting there. I assumed she intended to charge me for that one but I had no intention of paying for it. I had exact change on me for the Pale Ale so I left exactly $6.25 on the counter and walked away.

I wasn't going to make a scene, nor let her ruin my mood so I just let it go and decided I would deal with it if I heard her call after me. I didn't. I suppose I should have raised the issue with the manager who would have likely appreciated the feedback but I just didn't feel like being in the real-world at that moment. I walked across the street and stuck my feet in the ocean and just relaxed until I was picked up about 15 minutes later.

[Inkleg]

WOW guys, I promise no such bad experiences when drinking at the Naked Cat Brewery (kilts optional).

[Beer-lord]

You Americans are very hard to please. I would have drank it then tell her I'm not paying for it since it's not what I ordered then I'd leave with a belch.
Well, no I wouldn't but I would be thinking all of that whilst being berated by a server.

[Kealia]

I don't why Paul, but this old joke popped into my head:

"One day an Englishman, a Scotsman, and an Irishman walked into a pub together. They each bought a pint of Guinness. Just as they were about to enjoy their creamy beverage, three flies landed in each of their pints, and were stuck in the thick head. The Englishman pushed his beer away in disgust. The Scotsman fished the fly out of his beer, and continued drinking it, as if nothing had happened. The Irishman, too, picked the fly out of his drink, held it out over the beer, and started yelling, "SPIT IT OUT, SPIT IT OUT YOU BASTARD!!!!"

[Beer-lord]

I am part Irish.

[D_Rabbit]

It is funny you mention that joke because while at a pub today for lunch a fruit fly landed in my fantastic porter.... not sure how I saw him. I fished him out with a coffee stirrer and yelled at him "SPIT IT OUT YOU BASTARD!" The bar staff looked at me a little funny and the owner says..... I'm so sorry about that. I told her he didn't get too much and I finished my beer. True Story!

[Kealia]

That's awesome, Dan. I'm going to have to do that myself at some point.

Paul - exactly which part of you is Irish?
Nevermind...that's like asking Jeff what's under his kilt.

[Beer-lord]

My arse is Italian but my hair and light skin are Irish. I am a pretty serious melting pot.
I'm sure if you asked nicely, Jeff would send you pics!

[Kealia]

#ThreadKiller

[russki]

I'm sure if you asked nicely, Jeff would send you pics!

Now, that's a weird experience