Your cart is currently empty!
Steven Coulson
Steven has been drinking beers, wines and spirits for decades and has a propensity to go about them at length after a few drinks.
Latest Posts
- 57/m: Love beer, but it doesn’t love me as much anymore
- No Stupid Questions Wednesday – ask anything about beer
- Does anyone else get treated like a beer snob for ordering literally anything that isn’t a macro lager?
- Is there a polite way to refuse a beer that’s being served in the wrong glassware without making everyone at the table uncomfortable?
- # What’s the most pretentious thing you’ve ever said about beer that you secretly didn’t understand yourself?
Categories
Tags
Social Links
The Art of Polite Refusal: Navigating Misserved Beer in Social Settings
Dinner outings are often a delightful experience, especially when they involve unwinding with a refreshing beverage. However, for beer enthusiasts, the experience can turn complicated when the beer is served in the wrong glassware. Such was the case during a recent dinner where I ordered a hefeweizen, only to be presented with it in a standard pilsner glass.
While it may seem trivial to some, the choice of glassware for specific beers plays a significant role in enhancing their taste and aroma. The design of a hefeweizen glass is meticulously crafted to highlight the characteristics of the beer, concentrating its rich aromas and allowing for optimal head formation. Unfortunately, I found myself in a situation where I didn’t want to appear finicky in front of my colleagues, who likely equate all beer glasses as interchangeable.
Faced with this dilemma, I opted to drink the hefeweizen from the pilsner, trying to suppress my thoughts about how much more enjoyable it could have been in the correct glass. To add to my frustration, I later spotted the proper wheat beer glasses conveniently resting behind the bar, which implied that it was simply a matter of the server’s choice rather than a lack of proper tools.
This leads me to wonder: is there a respectful way to address such situations without causing discomfort or awkwardness at the table?
If you’ve found yourself in a similar predicament, consider these tips for politely requesting the correct glassware:
-
Choose Your Moment: Bring up your preference after the server has delivered the beverage but before they leave the table. This way, it feels like a simple adjustment rather than a rejection.
-
Express Enthusiasm: Frame your request positively by mentioning your love for the specific beer and how much you appreciate the nuances that the right glass can enhance.
-
Use “I” Statements: Focus on your personal experience with beer by saying things like, “I’ve found that hefeweizens taste best in a proper glass; would it be possible to switch?”
-
Keep it Light: Add a touch of humor to lighten the mood. A simple, “I’m a bit of a beer nerd, and I’d really enjoy this in the right glass!” can ease the tension.
-
Be Understanding: Acknowledge the server’s efforts and show appreciation for their work, which creates a friendly