Sigh.... where do I even start with this one.
If I have a friend visiting Frankfurt, I take them here. They have a variety of craft beer and almost all of the good microbreweries in Germany are showcased here. The staff is friendly, and the people that go there are classy, but not pretentious like the crap you'll find on Fressgasse. I also know that many people go here have an affinity for craft beer. I feel I fit in well...
So what is the problem? I feel there are so many things at this point that I'm starting to find it frustrating.
When Naiv came about, it was cool and there was nothing like it in Frankfurt. Due to Germany being a bit behind and still being a beer loyalist country (I'm sorry, but drinking one beer for your entire life just sounds horrible, but that is just my opinion and my adventurous nature), there is STILL nothing like Naiv in Frankfurt. Usually, this is rare as competition typically knocks on the door within months of one business' opening. In other words, Naiv has a monopoly on the craft beer scene in Frankfurt. And they have since their opening. This sounds grand for most businesses, BUT.... Naiv has become complacent. So much that they are starting to bore the hell out of me.
Now I get it, Germany is not exactly at the forefront of the craft beer scene. There are limited (micro)breweries here and the blends the breweries introduce are by no means innovative, unique, or make me think like some of what is introduced in other countries (US, Canada, UK, Scandinavia, etc). And that is fine. But maybe Naiv should take their position as being the 'craft beer go-to place' in Frankfurt and offer something new every so often. I'M SOOOO BORED. I miss rotating beers. I don't even care if they are German! Just give me something new. The only German beers they have worth drinking over and over are ones from Crew Republic and And Union, both Munich breweries that have a solid portfolio across the board. But I'm a craft beer lover. I want something new. Import the stuff if you have to. Leave most beers as German beers, but import something to rotate your beers and offer something fresh to customers. They can say they offer stuff, like the beers from Kona Brewery (which is a good brewery... I've even been there in person), Steamworks (awesome Canadian brewery), but those have been there for months. Leave them there and work on offering some newbies here and there. I just wish they'd keep me wanting to come back on my own. Not going there solely because I have a friend in town.
Their store is awesome, on the other hand. Still lacking new beers in the frequency other brew shops do, but we are talking about the same place as above, so I'm not going to reinvent the wheel here.
Another complaint of mine in the 'I think they are giving up' department is they are now latching on to the gin craze. PICK SOMETHING. Pick something and be awesome at it. If you have a monopoly on the craft beer scene after like two years, stick with that and make people love it. I know Germans are a struggle with this, but do something to engage people more than offering a craft beer festival (that literally is only Americans going there) or beer tastings every so often. Now they are on to the gin tastings and I'm like 'meh'... they are losing their mojo.
The food is also pretty expensive. I ordered fries there today and they were going to charge me 5,90. Needless to say I went down the street and got two sushi rolls for 3/4 that price. Insanity.
Naiv could be a 5/5 if they wanted to be... but I really feel like they are losing themselves and becoming very complacent. When I stop in there and ask the bartender what is new on draft and he tells me a German pilsner, don't expect me to be a happy customer. Every time a keg is done, they should replace it with something new (if feasible). Every time I go in there, they should have at least 3-5 new beers for me to try. I go to Naiv like once a month or a little less. If they rotated beers and I knew each beer was there for a limited time until sold out, I'd be there 3 days a week. Just saying.............
If I was to make suggestions for this place, they'd be as follows:
1) Rotate beers. I spoke about it above so no need to rehash that.
2) Get customers involved more often. Once a month have people taste three beers and make it the next beer sold on tap. Not necessarily that, but have your customers engaged a bit more.
3) Offer a bigger variety. So yall have one saison on your menu in the actual bar. It's been the same saison for forever. Maybe rotate it with a new one or add another option. Add that Rye IPA. Goses are all the rage right now, but I can't get one inside of the Naiv bar.
4) Gain industry knowledge. When I was just in England I was sat at a brewery shop bar conversing with the staff and talking about beer. Would never, ever happen here as people don't have the same passion for it.
5) Utilize UNTAPPD! read more