J.T. Wampler, owner and brewmaster of Tanglewood Branch Beer Company, pours a glass of his East Kent Goldings IPA Monday afternoon from a custom tap made by local artist Rae Russell.
Photo: Dustin Bartholomew, Flyer staff
In case you missed it in the Daily Flyer this morning, there are some new Fayetteville brews available to taste at Tanglewood Branch Beer Company.
Owner and brewmaster J.T. Wampler will officially unveil the first of his locally-brewed creations beginning at 3 p.m. Monday, May 7.
Wampler’s first five brews include a Black IPA, a South Side Porter (named after the south side of Fayetteville), a pale ale, an EKG IPA (made with East Kent Goldings hops), and one Wampler calls “The Fifth’s Ale” (named after the pub’s mug club, “The Fifth Legion“).
Each of the inaugural brews is poured from a specially-made tap, created by local artist Rae Russell from roots found on her property.
Eight other creations will be unveiled soon, Wampler told us.
“Right now, we’re trying to get some feedback and see what everybody likes,” he said. “We had a preview event last night for our Fifth Legion mug club members, and we went through about 15 gallons of beer. It was a resounding success.”
Wampler opened the pub in September 2011. He was approved by the federal government to begin brewing in March.
He said he hopes to have a big crowd for the official unveiling.
“Last night night’s preview event was pretty laid back,” he said. “Tonight, I’m going to be ready to get in the back and wash some glasses. It’s going to be fun.”
awesome. Cant wait to try em all
Awesome news!
Went tonight to an absolutely packed house. I sampled all 5 of the new beers. My favorite was the Black IPA, but they were all delish. Also, bacon. The man is a genius.
I had seen Tanglewood crowing about their May 7 release date on Facebook and on a blackboard right above their bar. I saw an exciting post on their FB feed this morning asking “Guess what today is?” I logged off FB, went about my morning, and eventually headed down there to sip what I hoped would be some fine brews.
When I tried to order a house brew, the bartender sheepishly explained they had decided not to serve them until 3, so they could have a “grand opening” event. He said they had advertised this. Sure enough, when I got home, I saw a post about it, made a full 30 minutes before they opened today. None of the other posts trumpeting the May 7 release date mentioned anything about a “grand opening” at 3.
The whole thing struck me as unprofessional and just plain weird. I mean, what kind of business turns away excited customers that want to buy their product? I’ll probably give them another chance. I just hope their brew is better than their customer service.
Give Me Convenience, or Give Me Death!!!!!! Sir or Ma’am, the only thing you’re going to get at 12:01AM the day it premieres is The Avengers. Otherwise, wait three hours, and spend the time writing me instructions on getting whatever job it is you have where you can go drinking at noon on Monday.
I, too, desire a copy of the aforementioned instructions.
touche Arch
Har dee har. You think you want my job, but you don’t!
I work in the service industry. A critical part of my job is ensuring customer satisfaction. A major part of that, in turn, is managing customer expectations. People are willing to cut you a lot of slack if you’re just up front with them, and give them realistic expectations. When they said their beer would be available “May 7,” that’s what I expected. If they had billed it as available “3:00 pm on May 7″ all along, then I never would have written this boring, peevish rant.
I created an event on Facebook around a month ago with the times clearly stated. If anyone asked, we told them it was to start at Happy Hour.
http://www.facebook.com/events/271499546268256/
Sorry you feel slighted. Since you’re a customer service expert, please give me the magic formula to making every customer happy because I haven’t been able to figure it out on my own.
LoL, good one.
I was there last night. Unfortunately you had sold out of your beer when we arrived at 8, but its all good, we still enjoyed the beers you have on tap. Its such a cool spot to hang out and you guys promote bike and foot pedestrians with half off first beer which is awesome.
Looking forward to trying your brews next time I am there.
J.T.- I am also in the customer service industry and I’ve found that there is absolutely no room for sarcasm towards the customer in the “magical equation”. No matter what. Pretty basic stuff.
Jeeeeez, ya’ll are a sensitive bunch.
A customer who manages to not run across a business owner’s various efforts to advertise the particulars of an event, who apparently doesn’t properly inform the management that there is a problem, and who subsequently registers an anonymous public complaint doesn’t come across as much of a customer. A more committed customer, and in terms of cultivation a more worthwhile customer, would have discussed the matters of failure of advertising and disappointment with the owner, at the time, in person, instead of complaining anonymously in a public forum after it had ceased to be an issue. (If such a discussion did in fact take place, then the post should have made that clear.) The person in charge might have quietly offered a sample of the long-anticipated brew, if it was ready to serve.
The customer is always right, except when the customer becomes petty, abusive or fails to properly state the nature and extent of a problem.
“no matter what?”. Please…. I do not speak for JT, but in my opinion (and experience) customers who act like spoiled, entitled brats deserve to be treated as such. They started it!
Ok amigo, you got me on the FB thing. Thanks for taking time to personally respond.
Still, if you’re looking for the magic formula, I can tell you that part of it is doing everything in your power to give the customer what they want. Being all thin-skinned and sarcastic when you get criticism is not part of the equation. Cheers!
A sad thing about communicating this way is it’s impossible to get any real sense of emotion. I’m far from thin skinned on this or any other legitimate criticism. Sarcastic yes but thin skinned no. I was at the pub all day. Had you decided to talk to me Instead of making an anonymous complaint there would have been a completely different outcome. I know there is no magic formula for making every customer happy and I’ll have to console myself with the fact that I made several hundred other people happy Monday. Sorry you fell through the cracks.
Now when I have beer ready to sell, it will be available from 11am until it’s gone. And like I’ve said, I’m easy to find should you decide to step out if the cyber shadows and talk in person.
Cheers!
There is some pettiness on both sides of this discussion, but for heaven’s sake it’s a bar not the TSA. Just sell the guy a beer!
This might help the discussion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Q2_b0-6h64
Thank you Mr. Franks and vandelay.
I’m incredibly easy to find should someone want to have an adult conversation about my various shortcomings.
You make beer.
You – 1
Everybody who doesn’t make beer – 0
I understand, and accept your evaluation.
Some folks are just as advertised.
Made the trip to NWA from Little Rock just to be there for the beer premier. TOTALLY WORTH THE 180 MILE DRIVE!
Great Job on the bar and food, AWESOME job on the beer! Way to knock one out of the park to J.T. and his staff.
Enjoyed one of the best reuben sandwiches in NWA there recently, and mostly locally sourced ingredients! Looking forward to some decent local brews.