All About Beer Magazine - Volume 37, Issue 5
November 21, 2016 By

The Circle of Appreciation

It may be obvious, or even trite to say, but what I appreciate is being appreciated. My favorite bars, pubs and breweries welcome me, see me as more than just a source of revenue and are genuinely happy to have me there. If I’m a regular, they greet me by name, know what types of beer I like and are eager for me to try something they’re excited to serve me. Sometimes they even reach out to tell me to come in for a “can’t miss” beer they have. If I’m not a regular, they still ask my name, maybe shake my hand and get to know me. They efficiently take care of all of their customers, yet make me feel like I am the most important one. When I leave, they thank me, not in a TGI Friday’s, 15-items-of-flair kind of way, but in a manner that makes me feel like I’ve made a new friend and makes me want to come back to my new favorite bar.

It has often been said that beer is the most social of beverages and that the beer community is a collegial one. The best beer bars embody this. They love to welcome customers, both old and new, with whom they can share their passion for good beer. They appreciate customers who appreciate the beer craft, and that, in turn, makes me appreciate them. It creates a circle of appreciation. –Don Tse

See the full list of “50 Things to Love About Beer.”