Everyone knows this saying, correct?

Try something once, maybe the first experience isn’t a particularly enjoyable one.

Just in case something in your mood is off, or the company you are with, or your stress level doesn’t allow you to properly enjoy an experience, you give it a second chance, right?

How many chances does one thing deserve, before you decide that it’s really, just not for you?

How many times is enough, before you call it quits?

How many bad experiences can you have, before you finally say, “Ok! That’s it. I just can’t do it anymore.”

For some, the answer is one.  “I tried Brussel sprouts that one time when I was four, never again.”

For others, twice is the correct answer. “I didn’t really care for theater the first time, but the play wasn’t interesting.  So, I tried a different one, and there’s something about the medium of expression that I don’t care for, so I don’t think that live stage performances really appeal to me.

For myself, apparently I give third chances, in certain circumstances.  I made a bold statement, several years ago, that I would only give second chances.  This related directly to breweries, my feelings on the application of chances to other considerations, being considerably more variable.

I’m not sure why I gave this brewery a third chance.  I don’t really know what in me reached out, to attempt to salvage a positive opinion from one twice sullied. Perhaps I’ve been feeling particularly generous of late?  Maybe I’ve been influenced by social scuttlebutt?  It could be, that my maturity has led me to leniency?  Or, it could simply be, my yearning for a small, local, micro-brewery, to produce good beer worthy of a craft beer drinkers palate?

Moo Duck brewery is out of chances.

I like to try out beer in new locations.  I like to support local businesses.  I enjoy craft beer.  This is why I have tried to give Moo Duck, ample opportunities to impress me as a consumer.

A few short years ago, I had a low side of mediocre experience the first time I went there.  I had a sampler of amateur, home-brew quality beer.  Most of which tasted medicinal, predominantly lifeless, and was tinged with poor quality control.  The beer wasn’t good, though the staff was friendly, the atmosphere sterile, and garage like, and the accommodations sparse.

The second time, my “Ok I’ll give it one more shot” time, was a mimicry of my first experience.  Decent service, same atmosphere, (but now with convenience store hotdogs on rollers, and heatlamp nachos) and beer that I could accurately demarcate one, in an eight beer sampler, bearing the label of “I’d drink this again.”

Why did you give it another chance?  How in the world did you choose to engage your time, and money, on another experience at Moo Duck?

The answer is simple, depending on your tolerance level.

I was hopeful.

I don’t like to give up on things.

I don’t like to give up on ideas.

I don’t like to give up on efforts.

So I went to Moo Duck for a third time.

There happened to be a musical guest attending the night I went.  Unfortunately, the musician, situated directly near the garage door opening, was mic’d a little too loudly, and wasn’t particularly enjoyable, thus creating a prohibitive social environment.

After conquering this atmospheric hurdle, I ordered a sampler.  I chose the peach triple, coffee stout, tequila barrel lime-zested ale, and an experimental ipa.

The peach triple was abominable.  The idea is a fantastic one, and Hardywood Craft Brewery makes an excellent example of a peach triple.  This didn’t taste anything like a triple, or have any notes of peaches.  In all honesty, after a few sips, a gag reflex that I didn’t think I had, kicked in.  In no way can I recommend this beer.

The coffee stout, tasted like a week old filter full of coffee grinds, dunked into a flat, low abv stout, then sat on a counter for a few days.

The lime zest, barrel-aged pale, was a refreshing departure from the mostly deplorable, other offerings.  But the tequila flavor didn’t come through a whole lot, and though there was a bit of mouth-puckering saltiness, and sourness, after a few sips, I found myself looking around the sparsely occupied room for someone to share this with, or to pawn it off.

The experimental ipa, was actually quite enjoyable.  It was New England style, hazy, fairly fruity, and aromatic, and on my recommendation, should be a focus for Moo Duck.  Though, based on the draft lineup, I sadly don’t see being a regular item.

Yes, the beers were sub par, at best. And truly, I would normally walk away from such a place with little comment, given an ok experience overall.

But this was my third time at Moo Duck.  And I had two unfavorable experiences before.

The beer was not good.  The atmosphere was rather irritating.  And the staff, on this last visit, gave off the absolutely insincere vibe of not caring at all if I was there.

The “bartender” took my order, along with my friends order, and plunked our samplers in front of us.

We conversed among ourselves, not once being addressed while we agonized through our four samplers.

We weren’t asked if we wanted food.  We weren’t asked our impressions on the beers.  We weren’t regarded in the least.

The bartender poured draft, after draft, for others surrounding the bar, without asking if we needed additional drafts, water, or food.  He didn’t even check to see if we enjoyed our sampler.  To be fair, he was incredibly timely when removing our empty glassware.  When doing so, he didn’t take the few courteous seconds to acknowledge either of us, at all.

When our samplers were empty, we both stood at the bar, away from our empty glasses.  I had my wallet in hand, and chatted with my friend.

We stood at our chairs, and waited a solid, ten minutes before the bartender asked us if we were prepared to close our tab.

The third time was not a charm, despite what the saying may suggest.  The third time is the clincher.  I will never give this brewery another chance, nor do I suggest anyone give it a first.

Humbly yours,

J