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"Thommo":2c7o1i8y wrote: Are microbreweries doing anything to offer the punter a free mouthful or the publican a free keg as a trial?[/quote:2c7o1i8y]

A resounding "yes, they are". Most recently Trouble Brewing put on a couple of kegs of their new brew Sabotage and invited punters in to try them, for free. The other micros are constantly at supermarkets and off licenses doing tasters. Also, I've yet to be in a pub that's selling craft that has refused me a sampler well requested.

&amp;quot;Thommo&amp;quot;:2c7o1i8y wrote: Most lager drinkers can be persuaded Im sure to drink Pale Ale...........just tell 'em its lager <!-- s:twisted: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_twisted.gif" alt="" title="Twisted Evil" /><!-- s:twisted: -->[/quote:2c7o1i8y]

Tom in the B&C does this <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D -->

It's hard to keep up with the number of meet-the-brewer sampling sessions happening. Unfortunately free beer doesn't automatically translate into loyal customers. I'd argue that greater everyday availability on a wider scale is more important than promotional events in specific places.

&amp;quot;Thommo&amp;quot;:8a9np5fd wrote: We're a conservative bunch[/quote:8a9np5fd]

It's kinda hard not to be in some areas when you have no choice.

I know for publicans it may be seen as catch 22 in terms of demand and supply, but some pubs have shown imagination in geting new beers in and even the way they promote it.

My problem is (without generalising the entire industry) that many publicans have zero imagination. I'm struggling to think of any other segment of the service industry where repeated bad practice wouldn't result in closure. Will makes the perfect example- toilets. Not the hardest thing to keep clean. Apparently it is for some publicans.

Customer service. Comfort. Not having Sky bleeding Sports blaring at full volume. Wheelchair access. I could go on. Simple things that could be addressed by many pubs at limited cost, [i:8a9np5fd]if[/i:8a9np5fd], and i stress the "if", publicans really gave a fiddlers about their customers. And if they did put some thought into what their customers want, a lot of publicans could do with learning a bit more about the product they peddle.

Like i said before, would you trust a butcher that only ate lamb? Or one that "had heard about that stuff called pork" but won't be stocking it as there's no demand for it round here.

I hear ya.
But lots of people like that run down unkept way about some places.( not me )
They almost had a fit some years ago when Mulligans on Poolbeg St. did u their toilets!!
There was outrage up my way when a certain establishment was shut down by the authourites because the owners didnt spend money on the up keep of the building, toilets etc.. which led to a FB campaign ' Save our Pub' etc..It reopened soon after when they removed a smelly curtain that acted as a partition between bar and toilet and put a partition wall and temporary door there instead! I kid you not! I was there recently and I asked the auld dear behind the bar ' what craft beers do you have'....she replied 'What, what...whats dem?"

&amp;quot;Thommo&amp;quot;:1x7qid7i wrote: People who arent into craft beers dont like the after taste that hops gives you and as we were all 'raised' on dry beers its hard to change that.
[/quote:1x7qid7i]

Then how would you explain the States? From nothing but watery lager to Land of 1000 IPAs in a generation.

Grapefruit, gooseberry, pine, passionfruit, blackberry - there is no one aftertaste from hops.

Given the chance, the majority of macro lager drinkers will find a flavor and a craft beer that they like.

But there's the rub: Given the chance.

I think it's a case of slowy slowy catchy monkey...

Case in point, I think Sligo was a craft beer desert until the Swagman opened up, within a few months Hargodans put in 3 craft beer taps. Would they have put those taps in if the Swagman hadn't opened, maybe but I doubt it. Perhaps another few pubs will see that people are willing to try different beers and won't go into pubs that don't offer that choice.