Noah's Ark Rant

[hops99]

Well, for those of you who haven't spent time in the Upper Midwest, Noah's Ark is the nation's largest waterpark, and a busy family vacation destination, especially in July and August. It's the centerpiece of the Wisconsin Dells, and I spent a few days there earlier this week with the wife and kids.

There are several small outdoor snack shacks around the park, some of which actually have an outdoor bar/hut that serves mixed drinks and beer. As expected, all of the taps were MGD/Labatt's and the like....until I happened across a hut that actually had New Glarus on tap!

I was pretty geeked to see New Glarus' spotted cow for a couple of reasons. Obviously, I couldn't wait to have a few pints of legit beer (a nice summer farmhouse ale), but I also found it amazing that the very small, but absolutely terrific, New Glarus brewery somehow landed a tap at the waterpark. Here's where the story starts to sour: I ordered my spotted cow, took a few sips, and was in heaven, but then I decided to proclaim my happiness to the guy who served me the beer. I told him to tell management that I thought it was great they actually decided to bring in some real beer, and it pissed him off.

He told me that he wished they hadn't put the tap on, that he didn't like the beer himself, and it didn't sell at all. He continued to tell me that 99% of the Wisconsonians at the park preferred MGD or Miller Lite, and nobody from out of state knew what the heck New Glarus was/is, and the other bartender chimed in as well. Of course, I told them I lived 7 hours away in Ohio, and that I've admired New Glarus brews for years, but it didn't seem to matter.

Here's my fundamental problem: I fully realize that I shouldn't have been surprised by the reaction, but I was still greatly troubled by it. When a small brewery scratches and claws for years to get into a major venue, whether it be an amusement park, sports stadium, concert hall, etc., only to have their product trashed by the employees of said venue, that's incredibly disappointing. Did Noah's Ark make the effort to educate the beer vendors/bartenders? How about using the fact that many out-of-area parkgoers haven't heard of New Glarus could be a great opportunity to sell the beer? Hey, you're on vacation, why not try something different?

The bottom line: I've seen too many great breweries shutter their doors in recent years to let this go. So, once you get your foot in the door, how do you kick it in, as a micro? I don't advocate dumbing down advertising to keep the foot in (Hmmm...how about a buxom blonde in a bikini riding a spotted cow? nah.), but I do believe that the word needs to get out better than it has for 95% of the micros out there in this great country. We all do our missionary work with family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc., but it often isn't enough. Meanwhile, A-B continues to grow and grow....

[steveh]

Boy, that's a shame to run into servers so vehemently opposed to a good beer. And the sad part is that the anger is based purely on sales. You're right, maybe if they were a bit more educated, and could "sell" the beer, they may find people like you who will actually buy it.

I'm surprised that the beer was tasty, from what the warm and loving tender said about sales, I'm surprised it wasn't a bit stale.

BTW - his assessment of 99 percent of Wisconsinites liking Miller best is way off - even if he's only polling the waterpark. Living just outside of WI, I know a lot of folk from "up 'dere," and my home-brew club is based there. There's plenty of swill haters in the Dairy State.

You could have left him with my credo (and a phrase that's printed on New Glarus t-shirts): Life's too short to drink bad beer.

S.

[wortchillergoal]

I think that you would be doing both the park and the brewery a favor with a letter to them about your experience. The brewery may want to take their product out. It will do them little good if someone tastes their beer for the first time and gets substandard product from the likes of the people you encountered. The park management needs to address this with their employees. You should get a smile and a thanks no matter what you purchase. I had something like this happen in Disney World save I had a better outcome. I can't remember which beer it was other than it was good. They were serving it to cold, ice, and not doing the beer justice. I pointed it out and why and they were eager to learn and asked if I would work there. They probably really did not care but made me feel like a king which is what customer service ias all about.

[ray m]

Man, Hops, that sucks...I would have been extremely pissed off, too, with such a reaction. But you know, I have learned many lessons in life, grasshopper. I used to be a somewhat outgoing individual, especially in situations such as the one that you described above---extolling the virtues of a fine brew to someone that, based on the occupation that funds their existence, I thought would probably give a rat's ass. But alas, the mullions that I personally have run into in this manner really don't give a hoot about your (or my) joy of finding great beer in a sea of pisswater. So, after a few such experiences & learning my lesson, I keep my comments to myself, UNLESS I observe a fellow customer enjoying the same brew, or a similar high quality selection. And even then, I will ponder whether or not I should even bother discussing it with the patron. Folks just aren't the same as they were 20 years ago...that's why I think this community board rules and you guys are such a breath of fresh air!!

[threecb]

It definitely sucks, but, it is a waterpark -- not a beer bar. These guys are workin' a tap for a summer job, so you can't expect passion from them...I'm glad you stood up to them in extolling the values of good beer, even if it was falling on deaf ears.

Still, dropping a line to both the brewery and the park might let both companies see an issue and work to resolve it *crosses fingers*...

[steveh]

Originally posted by threecb
It definitely sucks, but, it is a waterpark -- not a beer bar.

I was thinking something similar when I started to write my first response, but where does the revolution stop and start? Ahh - it's only a waterpark, it's only a baseball game, it's only my local, it's only my fridge! Eeek.

S.

The revolution is upon us! We have but one life to give for our taste-buds! All you have is swill, and it *is* swill you know? I'll take my hard-earned money elsewhere!

[hopjack13]

i was at disneyland this weekend with my son ,(they don't serve beer there) and we went to the california adventure park.(they do serve beer there:confused: ) same location same company , but two differnt parks. we left disneyland and headed over to the california adventure park where i was happy to find they served handcrafted ales , karl strauss, i have never tried this beer before . so i asked the girl serving what the afterdark ale (or something like that) was like? she said "it's a darker stronger beer......do you like dark beer?" i knew i was wasting my time with this one, just give me an ipa i said. for some reason when i go out anywhere to have a beer at least 9 out of 10 times i know more about what thet're serving then they do. it seems that people *most* are not educated on what they're pouring.

[threecb]

Originally posted by steveh
...where does the revolution stop and start?

I was commenting more on the hiring practices of a waterpark vs. a beer bar. If I get that kind of talk at a beer bar, I'd be more inclined to be insulted. I wouldn't, however, refrain from comment wherever I was. I just wouldn't feel inspired enough to spark debate, I think.

BTW, My local minor league ballpark (Somerset Patriots) serves Flying Fish on Tap. The person pouring it usually looks bored out of their mind, but at least it's there for me to choose as I scoff at the Lite drinkers ;) !

[steveh]

Originally posted by threecb
I was commenting more on the hiring practices of a waterpark vs. a beer bar.

I understand, but I guess what I was getting at is just where do you draw the line? The tender at the water park sounded ignorant and uneducated, if you don't try to fight against that at the core, will you ever be able to overcome the Evil Swill?

What originally popped into my head when I read the first post was, "What should you expect from a waterpark?" Then I thought, "Why shouldn't I expect (demand) to get a decent beer no matter where I go?"

I guess what I'm saying is that we should stop being the silent minority - no matter where we go. When we hear, "What? Budweiser's not good enough for you?" Our immediate answers should be. "No." And a firm stance. And yeah, it can't hurt to take the next step up to the manager or the brewery.

It's great that your minor league team carries good stuff. The Kane County Cougars carry Goose Island at their stadium, and you can even find good beer at Wrigley Field if you look hard enough. And on the flip-side of the above, what could it hurt to drop the food manager of the stadium a quick "thanks" for carrying good beer?

S.

[threecb]

Originally posted by steveh
I guess what I'm saying is that we should stop being the silent minority - no matter where we go. When we hear, "What? Budweiser's not good enough for you?" Our immediate answers should be. "No." And a firm stance.

That is my stance. And it is a firm one. I'm not silent, but I recognize that we are a minority. If they're (the lesser-likely real beer venues) are carrying it, at least the venue is recognizing that there is a minority out there that would enjoy the better choice. The schmuck pouring it is part of the majority that just doesn't know any better...


Originally posted by steveh
And on the flip-side of the above, what could it hurt to drop the food manager of the stadium a quick "thanks" for carrying good beer?

This is a good point. I sometimes do this in restaurants, but I should do it wherever I see it to help make sure it stays there...

[Richard English]

Whenever I visit a bar that doesn't serve good beer (usually in a hotel or theatre, of course, since 90% of UK pubs do sell good beer) I always fill in the questionnaire (or write a letter if one's not supplied) and complain.

Most companies don't bother to answer (which makes me wonder why they bother to put out the questionnaires - but that's another story) and of those that do a typical reply is something like, "...there's no demand for proper beer..." To which my response is, "if you don't stock it then obviously there will be no demand!" Few bother to respond further but the point is made.

To tell a story that shows the other side of the coin, I wrote and complained about the quality of the draught Bass in the bar at Charing Cross Station (that's in London, UK) and got a very nice reply from a lady who explained that there had been a problem with the cellar cooling and gave me a voucher for £5 (about two pints worth). Where do you think I go whenever I'm in Charing Cross? How many extra pints do you think they've sold me because of their proper attitude? How many people do you think I've told this story to? Which is the more sensible approach to a customer complaint?

[threecb]

If only more places realized the value of great customer service! Just an acknowledgment is fine, but when they go the extra step, as in your Charing Cross example, Richard, the establishment has a chance to gain a lifelong client.

[brewmonkey]

I too have written, filled out forms and called managment when I have been unable to find proper beer at a place. Sometimes it is worth it to go a step beyond and offer up some suggestions of beers, like what you were looking for.

Alot of bars hear of craft beer, and think about the 1500+ breweries falling into the category and think, "Where do we start?" A good majority that I have spoken to had no clue that they could get something "local" that people would recognize and buy or one of the more popular regional specialties. They are afraid to venture out on that limb due to the highcost if running a bar (keeping bottled beer stocked can be an expensive proposition).

So next time, include 2 or three suggestions, maybe if they here the same thing being asked for they will start to keep some on hand. The next thing you know they may have more then the one!

[wortchillergoal]

A big part of loding a complaint is making sure it falls on the right ears or seen by the correct eyes. I work for a grocery retailer that sent members of it's management teams from several stores to beer camp. Yet, the selection in our beer cooler was just dust on the dresser compared to an independent competitor just up the street. One day when the owner, father and son team, were walking through our store they happen to ask me what I thought of the operation. I told them that as one of their employees it was a shame I had to go elsewhere to buy my beer. A discussion followed and our beer selection improved, not enough as I think it should but a step in the right direction. So my point is either know whom you're talking to or play the numbers game so you find the right person.

[Richard English]

Good point. But even a complaint that falls on deaf ears is better than no complaint at all.

One reason why I prefer to write is simply that the missive has greater permanence and, even if ignored by its initial recipient, might just be seen (and acted upon) by a later reader.

[wortchillergoal]

Originally posted by Richard English
Good point. But even a complaint that falls on deaf ears is better than no complaint at all

Yes, that is what I meant by the numbers game. Keep complaining long enough to everyone who will stop and listen. Sooner or later you will find the right or properly motivated person.