Canadian Beer Fest News
A great bartender can make the difference between an average night out and a fantastic one. You might not think so, but a bartender at the top of his (or her!) game can really enhance your night out. Here are the qualities to look for.
You don’t want a bartender that’s going to dominate your conversation or engage with you and neglect all his other customers. What you do want is someone who’s quick of wit, glib of tongue, and always notices when your drink is running low. If you’re having to chase down your bartender to remind him you need a refill, then you’re not in the presence of a great bartender.
If your bartender doesn’t know more about beer than you do, you’re in the wrong place. Any question you’ve got about any beer the place serves, and many that they don’t, should be at your bartender’s fingertips. If he hesitates or doesn’t know, find another place. It shouldn’t be up to you to train the staff. On a related note, bartenders need to be passionate about the beer they serve. It should show in their presentation and when they talk about it. In particular, they should be fussy about temperature, and be perfectly prepared to accept your decision if you find that the beer is not tasting right. Beer is a living substance and it can be moody. A great bartender knows that and will change the barrel if you say so.
The bar should be spotless. The bartender should be tending to it anytime he’s not fixing someone a drink, and where those drinks are concerned, he should be lighting fast on the delivery.
Okay, get your mind out of the gutter. Draught beer needs a good, foamy head. Not too big, and not nonexistent. Presentation matters, and a beer delivered to you with just the right amount of foam adds to the scent and flavor like you would not believe. A great bartender understands this and can pour a perfect pint every time, probably in his sleep.
Come enjoy the wonderful world of beer at the Edmonton International Beer Festival.
There are a number of fantastic beer museums scattered around the globe. If you’re a beer aficionado and have never visited any of them, then you owe it to yourself to do so. Below, we’ll outline three of the best, from third place to first and tell you why they’re worth the trip!
The beating heart of Japanese beer traditions, Sapporo has been brewing since 1877. The museum is housed in a former brewery from the nation’s Meiji Period. It provides visitors with an introduction to beer and brewing in Japan, and the grounds of the museum contain a small beer garden where tastings are available after you get your fill of history. If you’re in Japan for business or pleasure, this is one destination you won’t want to miss!
Surprisingly, two of our three “best” museums are located in Japan. This one’s in Tokyo, and unlike Sapporo, this museum has a much more cosmopolitan feel to it, featuring an extensive beer garden with beers from around the world, making it truly the best of the best in that regard. A full fledged museum located in SkyTree Town along with a mind boggling array of beers from around the world, it is unlikely you could try them all in a single visit, at least not if you plan to still remain upright. A fantastic place to visit again and again.
Japan might have two of our top three museums, but the crown for best of the best has to go to the German brewery museum. Located in Munich, it offers tons of great information about the German brewing tradition, and in its antiquities collection, you’ll find a drinking cup from the 4th century, BC. There’s even a dedicated microbrewery right there on the grounds, which makes for a fantastic way to end our tour through the museum proper.
If you don’t have your passport yet, get it, because these fantastic museums are ready and waiting for you.
If you can’t make it to Japan or Germany, how about Edmonton for the 2015 Edmonton International Beer Festival?