I'm sure the odd bloke or two have noticed the tastings that go on if they happen to be in the pub at the time...would it be worth letting it be known that curious punters would be welcome over to the table to try a brew or too? Maybe via the barman or possibly a banner? Could be a very easy way to dispel any brew in the bath myths and get the good word out there
Thoughts?
I have always wondered about this and generally regarded it as been a bit too intimidating for the average punter to come over to a bunch of strangers. Coming over though the barman might be the way forward though!
Quote from: shiny on June 28, 2013, 03:49:41 PM
I have always wondered about this and generally regarded it as been a bit too intimidating for the average punter to come over to a bunch of strangers. Coming over though the barman might be the way forward though!
A lad in a pub might not even know what's going on never mind wanting to go over to strangers. If they knew what was going on via the barman or banner/poster it would be easier I'd say
Could you take the samples to them?
I think a couple of lads popped over to us last night for our Liffey Brewers meet. I didn't speak to them myself so I don't know what went down. Maybe one of the other lads can provide more detail.
Would the barman want to recommend some home-brew when he could be selling that lad a pint though? I think you're more likely to mention it in passing when you're ordering a pint.
I happened to be in the B&C last week and saw a HBC meet ( south Dub, I think !) going on in one corner. I was with my good lady ( who is also a keenish brewer) but even for two HBers it was a bit intimidating to walk over and intro, so I didn't !!! Yeah Yeah I know I should of!!!! :-\ and will the next time :P but we had to be somewhere else.
As regards giving away free beer in a pub ( there's something about buying a Cow??!?!) but perhaps shot glasses delivered to each table with one of each of the evenings selection would be a good way to break the ice and pass out the Business cards!!! After all are they not our target audience ( shooting fish, an all!!).
All with the owners permission of course and if someone likes a style they have never tried send them to the bar with a recommendation!
If the average Joe tried a style of beer he hadn't had before (as in a sample of homebrew for free) the and enjoyed it then it has broadened his horizon and is likely to buy more from the bar I would have thought.
Point well made and the bars that host us tend to be more open minded in their approach to the business.
Quote from: imark on June 28, 2013, 05:43:23 PM
Point well made and the bars that host us tend to be more open minded in their approach to the business.
Yep, sure the pubs give free samples of their own. If average Joe did wander over it would of course be explained that all the brewers that bring beers also buy a few pints while there.
We've often had people wonder over for a nose, but more often or not they are a bit drunk and just looking for free grog, so I haven't really encouraged it in the past. If someone was genuinely interested in brewing that would obviously be different, but if we were offering samples to all I think it might be a bit un-manageable.
The few tastings I've been to I've thought about this aswell. Youre sitting there tasting a great beer that someone has made themselves and has allowed you the privilege to taste. The other punters around are probably drinking nice beers but I find myself thinking, if you could taste what's in this glass... But as Taf says, probably most likely candidates are the well on folk looking for free booze. I'd imagine the average drinker if he/she were to rock over would think this is interesting but ultimately would conclude these guys are off their game. Prior to contracting this hobby and hitting the slippery slope the first time I met a homebrewer was in the US and I thought he was off his chuck; sniffing a bottle immediately after cracking it, holding his glass to the light, sniffing some more, then tasting and commenting on passion fruit, figs, dates, appropriateness of carbonation levels, hop forward.... and that was just one guy. A full gang sniffing at glasses etc. would be a fairly intense proposition I would think. The unsolicited drop in a shot glass and hand it out is an interesting one - don't tell them it's homebrew. I've done this at home to the unsuspecting who don't know I brew. You get brutally unbiased feedback and an interesting reaction when you tell them you brewed it. The barman won't lose as the volume is small and it may get people to step out of their comfort zone and try something different at the bar or engage if they are really interested.
By the way, when my wife sees me sniffing a bottle immediately after cracking it, holding my glass to the light, sniffing some more, then tasting and commenting on passion fruit, figs, dates, appropriateness of carbonation levels, hop forward.... she looks at me quizzically and says,'what the fu@k are you up to'.
Dara
aren't most tastings on quieter evenings though and kick off between 7 - 8? Would mean less people about and those that are there are hardly gonna be locked at that stage?
Quote from: delzep on June 29, 2013, 11:45:10 AM
aren't most tastings on quieter evenings though and kick off between 7 - 8? Would mean less people about and those that are there are hardly gonna be locked at that stage?
yeah i think only to invite people over at the start of the night, dont like the idea of sending over samples etc
Quote from: imark on June 28, 2013, 05:16:42 PM
I think a couple of lads popped over to us last night for our Liffey Brewers meet. I didn't speak to them myself so I don't know what went down. Maybe one of the other lads can provide more detail.
Would the barman want to recommend some home-brew when he could be selling that lad a pint though? I think you're more likely to mention it in passing when you're ordering a pint.
I spoke to the two guys for a while. they were wondering what the grain mill was for. One of them is celiac and was very interested in making beer that was definitely wheat free. He said he reacts very badly to wheat and cant always trust what's said on the label of a beer. I got dragged away from them and they were gone when the tasting was happening later.
Quote from: mcgrath on July 01, 2013, 11:08:18 AM
I spoke to the two guys for a while. they were wondering what the grain mill was for. One of them is celiac and was very interested in making beer that was definitely wheat free. He said he reacts very badly to wheat and cant always trust what's said on the label of a beer. I got dragged away from them and they were gone when the tasting was happening later.
its not just wheat products celiacs cant tolerate, its gluten which is also in barley! hope the lad didnt brew his own thinking wheat free meant it would be ok!
Cider for these people.
Otherwise expensive Gluten free beer.