The last time I was at Anheuser Busch in St. Louis there were no limits on the samples. I saw a guy drink 8 pints in about an hour. Unfortunately the brisket I’d eaten at Pappys wasn’t sitting right so I was unable to take anyone to school.
Which got me thinking. I wonder if for liability reasons breweries serve a reduced alcohol version,especially when they’re giving unlimited samples.
I’ve never tasted any difference at any brewery I’ve been to, so the answer is probably no. Just wondering though.
To offer a ‘reduced alcohol content’ beer, they’d have to reformulate it, and brew a batch specifically for that event. Also, this batch would be different from their usual offerings. In my mind, it just wouldn’t make sense to offer samples of a beer that’s not even representative of what it’s meant to represent.
If they do, I would think it would be more for legal reasons, than liability. Most states have entirely different licensure rules, for establishments serving under-beer and over-beer. It might be impossible in that state to get a license to serve full-strength beer, or to offer it for consumption at a price deviating from the state control board/s stipulations. If the guy drank 8 pints of 3.2 in an hour, he’s legally intoxicated. That’s 3 ounces of alcohol.
Note that 3.2 point beer is alcohol by weight. That’s roughly 4.0% alcohol by volume, which is the main measurement labeled currently by 99% of brands. In other words, 0.2% weaker than a Coors Light or Guinness Draught.
As said, most breweries not in cultural wastelands (:)) don’t even make a 3.2 formulation. And I’m not sure they wouldn’t cut you off. They expect a growler purchase at least in the end.
In Missouri? Not likely.
I only used “3.2” as a generic term for lower alcohol. IIRC they were not selling growlers or any other carry outs at AB.