How to Fill a Growler
Kegerators are a great way to store your signature craft beer, especially when dispensing single-serving pints for your patrons. But what if your customers want to take a larger amount home to share with their friends? Offering growlers is an excellent bar marketing technique that allows you to sell beer in large quantities and boost your bottom line. Keep reading to learn how to fill a growler and follow the appropriate growler-refilling practices.
Shop All Growler FillersWhat Is a Growler?
A growler is a jug designed to transport beer and other craft drinks from breweries and bars. It is typically made out of glass, but may also be available in ceramic or stainless steel. Most growlers are dark brown in color and feature a carrying handle. The most common growler size is 64 oz., but sizes can vary, with some being as small as 32 oz. and others as large as 128 oz.
Growler Filling Supplies
Before offering beer growlers to customers, make sure to have the following supplies to properly fill a growler:
- Growler - A beer growler is a glass, stainless steel, or ceramic jug that transports beer.
- Cap - A cap is the closure that’s compatible with a growler if it doesn't have a bottle fastener.
- Growler Fill Tube - A growler fill tube is a foot-long plastic tube that connects to your beer's faucet.
- Labels - Labels for growlers are blank paper stickers for you to write on in order to follow government-regulated growler ordinances.
- Sanitizer - Sanitizer is a liquid cleaning element that should be put in a red bucket to store your growler fill tube when not in use.
How to Fill a Beer Growler
Learning how to properly fill a growler can save you any potential wasted beer cost from overfilling and can ensure you aren't underdelivering the growler sale to your customer by not filling the growler all the way up.
1. Clean and Sanitize the Growler, Cap, and Tubing
Before filling, make sure that all of your growler, their caps, and the growler fill tubes are cleaned, sanitized, and air-dried. They should be air-dried by sitting them upside down. Some breweries keep a sanitizer bucket off to the side for the growler fill tube to live in until it’s ready for use.
2. Chill Your Growler
Once the beer growlers are cleaned and sanitized, place the empty growler in the refrigerator to chill. This step is considered optional but serves two important purposes: the refrigerator will vaporize the remaining water and sanitizer off of the jug, and the cold bottle will keep the carbonation from foaming out of your growler when the beer hits the jug. The reduction in foam helps keep the flavors and carbonation locked in.
3. Secure the Tubing to the Desired Beer Tap
On your direct-draw beer system, secure a foot-long growler fill tube to the tap of your customer’s requested beer. The growler fill tube should be clear, and some breweries swear by having the bottom of the growler fill tube cut at a 45-degree angle for ideal carbonation dispensing. A growler fill tube that has a metal connector with two O-rings provides the most seamless connection and ease of use. A plastic tube without a metal connector is fine, but can sometimes leak.
4. Reduce the PSI
The pound-force per square inch (PSI) on a beer kegerator is set at around 10-15 PSI when serving by the glass, which results in more turbulence and, therefore, more foam. Growlers should be filled more slowly for better control and less foam, so drop the PSI to 0 and slowly raise it back up until it reads 4 or 5 PSI.
5. Purge Growler with CO2
If your beer tap system has a counter-pressure CO2, use it. Fill the beer growler with CO2 for 10 seconds. This pushes out the oxygen that’s sitting in the growler. Oxygen disrupts a beer’s flavor, and since CO2 is heavier than oxygen, the oxygen will easily be pushed out by the CO2, maintaining your beer’s flavor notes.
6. Fill from the Bottom, Up
Once your tubing is securely on the desired beer tap, thread the growler fill tube into your growler so the growler fill tube hits the bottom of the beer growler. Doing this reduces turbulence when filling the growler, which reduces CO2 loss to maintain the beer’s flavor. Fill the beer until it hits a pre-marked line that may be on the growler, or until there’s 5-10% headspace.
7. Capping on Foam
To do the “Capping on Foam” method for sealing your growler, take the growler fill tube out of the growler and off of the beer tap. Top off the rest of the growler from your beer dispenser until it’s completely full. The beer should be foaming out of the growler, and that’s when you’ll want to secure the growler’s cap on nice and tight.
8. Wipe down the Surface
Give your growler a quick wipe down to remove the foam that spilled over the side before the next step.
9. Depending on Your State, Cap the Seal with Plastic Binding
Some states require that your growler’s cap is sealed with plastic or with electric tape. You may even need to label the beer growler with your brewery’s name, net weight, and government warnings.
Growler FAQs:
We answer some of the most common questions about growler filling below.
Should My Brewery Sell Its Own Growlers?
Selling your own beer growlers with your brewery’s logo on them can be extremely profitable. Not only will the growler be a constant reminder of your business to the people that purchase one, but it’s a way to get free advertising and word of mouth marketing.
Should I Fill a Customer’s Personal Growler?
This all depends on the growler regulation laws in your state, and then it's up to your brewery’s house rules from there. There are benefits to filing a customer’s personal beer growler: it’s convenient and eliminates the cost of a new growler, not to mention the eco-friendly impact it has on the earth. Before accepting a personal growler, inspect it for damage and cleanliness. Only accept clean, undamaged growlers and sanitize them in a quaternary solution for 60 seconds. Rinse the inside with water after sanitizing.
Should I Fill a Customer’s Personal Growler That’s from Another Brewery?
Most breweries will not fill another brewery’s beer growler unless the logo is permanently obscured or removed beforehand. There can be implications if the other brewery has a poor reputation or potential health code violations.
Should I Clean a Customer’s Personal Growler before I Fill It?
Always clean and sanitize a customer's personal growler and follow local health code regulations for safety. After the proper cleaning and sanitizing has been followed, it's also common practice to rinse the customer’s personal growler under cold water before filling to reduce the CO2 loss.
How Long Will Beer Keep in a Filled Growler?
If left unopened, your beer growler should be good for 7-10 days. If the growler is opened, the beer should be enjoyed within 24 hours or the carbonation will fall flat.
Learning how to fill a growler properly is important and is a great way to safely distribute your craft beers. If you've turned to limited dining due to social distancing or staffing shortages, filling and selling growlers can be very profitable for your business by allowing for you to make a large profit at once, while also showcasing your brand if you sell your own growlers. Be sure to follow the steps listed here to keep a profitable service for years to come.
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How to Capitalize on Sports Bar Marketing
There are a lot of tips out there that can help you run a successful bar, but sports bars present their own unique set of challenges and opportunities. By targeting the sports community, you can create a fun environment and a set of regular customers. But, how can you combat lulls between major sporting events and keep the interest and excitement piqued year-round? Can you appeal to a casual crowd without alienating sports fans? Read on for a few sports bar marketing ideas that apply to new and established operations alike. Shop All Sports Themed Furniture and Decor Use these links to learn more about individual aspects of sports bar marketing: What Is a Sports Bar? Sports Bar Marketing Traditional Sports Bar Marketing Sports Bar Designs What to Broadcast at a Sports Bar What to Offer at a Sports Bar for Non-Sports Fans What Is a Sports Bar? A sports bar is a bar that caters to sports fans by continuously showing televised sporting events. Sports bars are typically themed with sports memorabilia to enhance the atmosphere. For many, sports bars are their preferred way to watch major sporting events because it allows them to have a sense of community while watching the game. For this reason, big-ticket sporting events are extremely lucrative for sports bars. Sports Bar Marketing One of the most important elements of sports bar marketing is advertising. You may have great bar food and a lively atmosphere, but advertising through social media and other more traditional methods can help fill your seats, even during your local team’s off-season. Social Media Marketing Using social media as a sports bar marketing tool provides you with instantaneous connections with your customers. Establish a presence on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media platforms to make your business more accessible to followers. These sites can give you a strong and free way to spread the word about special deals and events to your target audience. But if promotions are all you have to offer on social media, they can easily become white noise, so be sure to actively communicate with your followers to establish a more meaningful and profitable rapport. Consider the following social media features to get your sports bar’s name known: Use Facebook Events to spread the word on upcoming events and gauge interest. Go live to notify customers of what they are missing out on at your location. Share Instagram Stories and Facebook Reels with some behind-the-scenes videos of your location and staff. Purchase a Snapchat Filter that customers can play with while in your sports bar and share with friends. Join a beer-based community like BeerAdvocate, TapHunter, or Untappd to indicate to customers what new beers you’ll be featuring at your establishment. Mobile Options In addition to your social media marketing, consider creating a website where customers can access information about your sports bar and the promotions you’re currently running. The National Restaurant Association discovered in a 2017 study that 90% of smartphone users first search for restaurant information online when choosing a dining establishment. A website, Google listing, or Yelp page will make your location more prevalent during their search. You can also try creating a loyalty app or mobile club using SMS marketing where customers can opt-in to have coupons and other special offers sent directly to their phones. There are a lot of things to consider when going this route, so be sure to research how to set up an SMS campaign system before you get started. Traditional Sports Bar Marketing In an age of technology, you may find that there is a lot of competition in an online setting. Here are some traditional sports marketing methods that can help you advertise directly to your local community: Advertise at a Local Game Marketing your sports bar at a local sporting event is a fantastic way to reach your target audience. Here are some advertising ideas you can use to advertise your bar at local games: Get your advertisement in the program. Buy banner space in the stadium. Ask to cater food during the game. On-Air Advertisements On-air advertisements during games are a great way to cast a wide net and get your sports bar's name out there. Below are some of the most common ways to advertise your sports bar on-air. Run a short radio commercial around game days. Submit a television commercial to run a few days before a big game. See if a television station would be willing to cast a pre- or post-game segment at your establishment. Run Promotions Running promotions and special deals is a fantastic way to reach sports enthusiasts and non-fans alike. Here are some of the most common promotions run by sports bars: Provide limited-time offers like new appetizers or drinks. Have a raffle giveaway. Incentivize large parties with group rates or discounts on larger dishes. Offer a freebie after team victories. Provide play-by-play discounts according to the action during a big game. Sponsor a Team Sponsoring a local team or charity can be a highly effective advertising choice in traditional sports bar marketing. This allows your bar to create connections with the local community while getting exposure for your brand name. Supporting your community establishes your company as a valuable asset to the neighborhood while providing a place where locals can come to dine and relax. When you sponsor an amateur league team, your advertisement may be placed on banners in the stadium, in the program during games, and sometimes even on their jerseys. Your sports bar also becomes a location where the team can bring their friends and family to celebrate victories or unwind after losses. Sports Bar Designs Once you have decided what you will be broadcasting in your sports bar, you’ll need to make sure that the sports atmosphere is established to accompany the games and matches. The atmosphere depends not only on your decor but on your staff as well. Sports Bar Themes Help your customers become fully immersed in the wide world of sports with some careful interior decorating. Pennants, pictures, jerseys, sports movie posters, balls, and other memorabilia should be craftily sprawled across the walls of your sports bar, with extra points for anything that's autographed. Here are some more ways to embrace the fandom in your establishment: Name a meal or beverage after teams or players. Print stat charts for your customers during big games. Set up a photo booth station with creative backgrounds and props for customers to take pictures. Sports Bar Uniforms Your location may be decorated in the right way, but your staff can truly make the sports atmosphere come alive with their attire and their conversations. You may choose to have your wait staff all in referee uniforms to embrace the sporting theme while keeping it general. Another option would be to design a custom jersey for your sports bar featuring each staff member's name on the back. On special occasions, you might encourage them to wear their favorite team's jersey. And remember— sporting events are a social experience so, while not everyone needs to be a die-hard fan, hiring those who have a basic level of sports knowledge can turn some of your more passionate customers into regulars. What to Broadcast at a Sports Bar You may already be equipped with a great menu, great service, and great pricing, but what you televise at your sports bar can make or break your business. Perhaps the most important thing to consider when it comes to sports bars is excellent programming. Broadcasting the local teams' games is an absolute must, but you’ll also want to create a broadcasting schedule to cover your establishment year-round. Local Sporting Events To create regular customers, be sure to take full advantage of a fan base that is already established in your area during game season. If your sports bar is located in a town or city with a champion team, be sure to make your loyalty known by broadcasting their every game and getting into the excitement. Fans will then be able to use your establishment as a place to celebrate team victories or mourn team losses together. Even if the local team is off their game, maintaining a commitment to that team throughout the season can earn you some goodwill with its most ardent supporters. You can also draw local fans into your location by: Hosting a tailgate party for pre-game hype. Throwing big parties for significant games. Celebrating the opening of a sports season. Providing an after-party location for team victories. Pay-Per-View Broadcasts Broadcasting games from your local teams is important, but they will not provide you with year-round coverage. So, what should you broadcast when many of the major sports enjoy their off-season? Consider showcasing classic sports broadcasts from years past that have local, national, or worldwide significance. It's also important to expand your scope beyond regional sports coverage, especially when it comes to big games and events with broad appeal. You can take things to the next level by offering premium content that customers otherwise wouldn't have access to without paying subscription fees. This could mean showing pay-per-view events like boxing matches or providing access to every pro football game (which are regionally restricted). The key is to draw patrons in with something they couldn't just tune into at home on basic cable. Not sure what to show? Poll your customers on sporting events they would be interested in viewing that go beyond what regional cable can offer. Once you establish what you will be broadcasting, prepare a schedule that customers can access so they don’t miss their favorite events. What to Offer at a Sports Bar for Non-Sports Fans It's understandable that your target customers for your sports bar will be sports fans; however, to maintain a steady flow of business, you’ll also want to provide ways to attract and entertain non-sports fans. The key is knowing how far you can go to create an environment that will appeal to the casual crowd, without interfering with the sporting atmosphere enjoyed by your regular customers. There are various ways that you can cater to both sports fans and non-sports fans alike. Set up Game Stations Creating a game room in your sports bar can give customers fun activities to do while they wait for their food and keep them ordering drinks while they play. You can include games like: Arcade games Dartboards Board games Jenga Pinball machines Billiards Feature Competitive Events Competitive games get guests involved and excited, especially when there are prizes to be won. For prizes, you can offer a free beverage or appetizer, merchandise with your sports bar's logo on it, or gift cards. Here are some competitive events you may be interested in featuring: Trivia nights Cornhole tournaments Backyard beer games Card table games A basketball hoop to shoot for prizes Host Live Appearances Creating events like live appearances can give your customers something to look forward to and bring in a new crowd of faces who come to support the act and order food and drinks while they are there. Some suggestions for live appearances include: Book a local band Feature a local comedian Host an open mic night Bring in a local celebrity to do signings Rent out Spaces Larger parties of customers tend to gravitate toward locations where their group can have an added level of privacy. By adding a party room that can be rented or a patio that can be reserved, customers can then host private events at your sports bar. When those areas are not booked, they can be used for overflow seating. Back to Top You can build these tips into your sports bar marketing plan to start bringing in customers and keep them coming back for more, whether they are sports fans or not. However, don’t be discouraged if you do not see immediate positive feedback after implementing one of these ideas. Give it time, poll your regular customers about their needs and wants, and adjust accordingly to achieve success in your sports bar.
Different Types of Beer
There are over 9,000 craft breweries in the United States, proving that craft beer is bigger than ever. If you're interested in opening a bar or starting your own brewery, it's important to understand the different types of beer and their unique flavors. We break down the most popular beer types so you can talk about craft beer like a pro, make recommendations, and brew your own styles. Shop All Brewery Equipment Click below to learn about the different types of beer: Pale Lager and Pilsner Dark Lager German Bock Brown Ale Pale Ale India Pale Ale Porter Stout Belgian-Style Ale Wheat Beer Wild & Sour Ale Specialty Beer Types of Beer Video Watch our video below as we go over the different types of beer. <iframe scrolling="no" width="392" height="226" src="/v/?num=12750&width=600&height=500&embed=1" frameborder="0"></iframe> Types of Beer Here are some of the most common types of beer you'll encounter: Pale Lager and Pilsner Dark Lager Brown Ale Pale Ale India Pale Ale Porter Stout Belgian-Style Ale Wheat Beer Wild & Sour Ale Specialty Beer Beer Styles The types of beer can be broken down into hundreds of different styles, all with unique flavors, colors, and aromas. Two characteristics that are used to describe styles of beer are alcohol by volume (ABV) and international bitterness unit (IBU). What Is ABV? ABV stands for alcohol by volume and represents the percentage of alcohol in the beer. The amount of alcohol in the brew can actually affect the taste of the beer. Beers with a higher ABV have a more bitter flavor. In very strong beers, the alcohol can numb the tongue and neutralize the taste, so additional flavors are added to compensate. Brewers use ABV to achieve the perfect balance between sweetness and bitterness. What Is IBU? IBU stands for international bitterness unit and is a measurement of the number of bitter flavor compounds in a beer. The IBU scale starts at zero and has no upper limit, but most beers fall between 5 IBUs and 120 IBUs. Anything higher than 120 can't be detected by the average palate. Types of Beer List Below, we identify the different types of beer and offer tips for food pairings. Don't forget to choose the right beer glass for each style so you can enhance the drinking experience for your guests: Types of Pale Lagers and Pilsners Pale lager and pilsners are golden-colored beers that are light in flavor and low in alcohol content. This style of beer became popular in what is now modern Czech Republic and Germany. American Lager American lager is light in flavor, color, and alcohol content, and it's often produced in large quantities. ABV: 3.2-4.0% IBU: 5-15 Examples: Budweiser, Coors, Pabst Blue Ribbon Pairs With: American cuisine, spicy food Serving Temperature: 30-40 degrees Fahrenheit German Helles German helles is maltier than a traditional pilsner and features a bright gold color. ABV: 4.8-5.6% IBU: 18-25 Examples: Victory Helles Lager, Stoudt's Gold Lager Pairs With: German cuisine, pork, brie Serving Temperature: 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit German Pilsner German pilsner is pale gold in color with a medium hop flavor and a slight note of maltiness. ABV: 4.6-5.3% IBU: 25-40 Examples: Troegs Sunshine Pils, Sierra Nevada's Nooner Pilsner Pairs With: German cuisine, poultry, fish, spicy cheese Serving Temperature: 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit Czech or Bohemian Pilsner Czech or bohemian pilsner is a straw-colored beer with a noticeably bitter hop flavor. These beers can sometimes have a floral aroma. ABV: 4.1-5.1% IBU: 30-45 Examples: Lagunitas PILS, Dogfish Head Piercing Pils Pairs With: Spicy food, Asian cuisine, sharp cheddar cheese Serving Temperature: 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit Back to Top Types of Dark Lagers Dark lager is malty and smooth with toasted caramel flavors. These beers tend to have mid-range alcohol content and lower bitterness profiles. Amber American Lager Amber lager features prevalent malt flavors with varying levels of hoppiness. This beer is also characterized by a darker color, caramel aroma, and smooth taste. ABV: 4.8-5.4% IBU: 18-30 Examples: Yuengling Lager, Samuel Adams Boston Lager Pairs With: American cuisine, poultry, beef, cheddar Serving Temperature: 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit Oktoberfest Named for the Oktoberfest celebration in Munich, Oktoberfest is a full-bodied beer with a rich, toasted flavor and a dark copper color. ABV: 5.1-6.0% IBU: 18-25 Examples: Paulaner Oktoberfest-Märzen, Victory Brewing Company Festbier Pairs With: German cuisine, meat and vegetables, spicy cheese Serving Temperature: 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit German Schwarzbier Schwarzbier is a dark beer that is surprisingly light in flavor. Schwarzbiers are less malty than would be expected but still boast a slight sweetness. ABV: 3.8-4.9% IBU: 22-30 Examples: Shiner Bohemian Black Lager, Guinness Black Lager Pairs With: German cuisine, spicy food, muenster cheese Serving Temperature: 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit Vienna Lager Vienna lager is reddish in color with a sweet malty flavor. These beers boast a subtle hop flavor and crisp drinkability. ABV: 4.5-5.5% IBU: 22-28 Examples: Dos Equis Amber Lager, Great Lakes Eliot Ness, Blue Point Toasted Lager Pairs With: German cuisine, Mexican cuisine, pork, spicy cheese Serving Temperature: 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit Back to Top Types of German Bocks German bocks are heavy on malty flavor, making them sweet and nutty. Bocks have lower alcohol levels, while doppelbocks, weizenbocks, and maibocks move up the alcohol scale. Traditional Bock The bock is a malty, sweet beer with a toasty flavor and a dark copper color. ABV: 6.3-7.5% IBU: 20-30 Examples: Samuel Adams Winter Lager, Great Lakes Rockefeller Bock Pairs With: German cuisine, meat and vegetables, chocolate, Camembert cheese Serving Temperature: 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit Doppelbock Doppelbocks are stronger than the traditional style and boast a higher alcohol content and a fuller body. ABV: 6.6-7.9% IBU: 17-27 Examples: Troegs Troegenator Double Bock, Samuel Adams Double Bock Pairs With: Heavy foods like red meat, pork, or ham, sharp cheeses Serving Temperature: 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit Weizenbock Weizenbocks are wheat bocks and can take on fruity, malty flavors. ABV: 7.0-9.5% IBU: 15-35 Examples: Victory Brewing Company's Moonglow, Southern Tier Brewing Company's Goat Boy Pairs With: German cuisine, poultry, chocolate Serving Temperature: 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit Maibock Maibocks are more pale and hoppy than traditional bocks, although the malt flavor is still present. ABV: 6.0-8.0% IBU: 20-38 Examples: Capital Maibock, Hofbrau Maibock, Smuttynose Maibock Pairs With: Italian and German cuisines, fish, shellfish, asiago, Swiss cheese Serving Temperature: 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit Back to Top Types of Brown Ales Brown ales feature malty overtones and tend to have toasty, caramel flavors. They typically feature mid-range alcohol content and hop bitterness. American Brown Ale American brown ale is a dark beer without the bitterness of porters and stouts. This style boasts a dark caramel color and a medium to full-bodied profile. ABV: 4.2-6.3% IBU: 25-45 Examples: Brooklyn Brown Ale, Sierra Nevada Tumbler Autumn Brown Pairs With: American cuisine, heavy foods like beef stew, red meat Serving Temperature: 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit English Brown Ale English brown ale features a nutty malt flavor with a caramel aroma. ABV: 4.0-5.5% IBU: 15-25 Examples: Newcastle Brown Ale, City Star Brewing's Bandit Brown Pairs With: American cuisine, heavy foods, red meat, poultry, gouda cheese Serving Temperature: 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit Back to Top Types of Pale Ales Pale ales are generally hoppy but lower in alcohol content than IPAs. They are typically light, drinkable beers. American Amber Ale American amber ale is a malty, medium-bodied beer with a caramel flavor and amber color. ABV: 4.4-6.1% IBU: 25-45 Examples: Lagunitas Imperial Red Ale, Stone Brewing Company's Levitation Ale Pairs With: American cuisine, meat, fish, blue cheese Serving Temperature: 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit American Pale Ale American pale ale is a medium-bodied beer with a noticeable hop flavor and a light copper color. ABV: 4.4-5.4% IBU: 30-50 Examples: Sierra Nevada Brewing Company's Pale Ale, Smuttynose Shoals Pale Ale Pairs With:Seafood, poultry, cheddar cheese Serving Temperature: 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit Blonde Ale Blonde ales balance the flavors of malt and hops nicely, and they often have a fruity aroma. ABV: 4.1-5.1% IBU: 15-25 Examples: Victory Brewing Company's Summer Love, Flying Fish Brewing Company's Farmhouse Summer Ale Pairs With: Italian cuisine, spicy food, fish, pepper jack cheese Serving Temperature: 35-40 degrees Fahrenheit English Bitter English bitters are named for the bitter flavor that the hops present. They have fruity flavors and lower alcohol content. ABV: 3.0-4.2% IBU: 20-35 Examples: Sharp's Brewery's Doom Bar Bitter, Surly Brewing Company's Bitter Brewer Pairs With: Fried food, fish, feta cheese Serving Temperature: 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit English Pale Ale Also known as "extra special bitters," English pale ales have a strong hop flavor that is balanced by sweet malt. ABV: 4.5-5.5% IBU: 20-40 Examples: Black Sheep Ale, Flying Fish Extra Pale Ale Pairs With: American and English cuisines, meat, English cheeses Serving Temperature: 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit Back to Top Types of India Pale Ales (IPAs) IPAs (short for India pale ales) boast strong hop bitterness with piney and floral flavors. These beers also have high alcohol contents. American IPA American IPAs have more hops, big herbal or citrus flavors, and high bitterness compared to pale ale. ABV: 6.3-7.5% IBU: 50-70 Examples: Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA, Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA Pairs With: American and Indian cuisines, meat, poultry, fish, gorgonzola cheese Serving Temperature: 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit Imperial or Double IPA Imperial or Double IPAs are American IPAs, but with a stronger flavor, hop bitterness, and a higher alcohol content. ABV: 7.0-14.0% IBU: 65-100 Examples: Russian River Brewing Company's Pliny the Elder, Lagunitas Maximus Pairs With: American cuisine, meat, fish, sharp cheddar Serving Temperature: 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit English IPA English IPAs are similar to the American style, but with a weaker hop flavor and lower alcohol content. ABV: 5.0-7.0% IBU: 35-63 Examples: Goose Island India Pale Ale, Shipyard IPA, Samuel Smith’s India Ale Pairs With: American and Indian cuisines, fish, parmesan cheese Serving Temperature: 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit Back to Top Types of Porters Porters are all dark in color, and they feature flavors reminiscent of chocolate, coffee, and caramel. They tend to be more chocolatey than brown ales, and less coffee-like than stouts. American Imperial Porter American imperial porters are dark in color, but lacking in burnt malt taste. They also boast a malty sweetness. ABV: 7.0-12.0% IBU: 35-50 Examples: Sierra Nevada Brewing Company's Porter, Stone Smoked Porter Pairs With: American cuisine, barbecue, meat, asiago cheese Serving Temperature: 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit English Brown Porter English brown porter is similar to the American style but usually with a lower alcohol content and less malt sweetness. ABV: 4.5-6.0% IBU: 20-30 Examples: Shipyard Longfellow Winter Ale, Arcadia London Porter Pairs With: American and English cuisines, meat, chocolate, fontina cheese Serving Temperature: 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit Robust Porter Robust porters are stronger and more bitter than a brown porter and feature a subtle caramel flavor. ABV: 5.1-6.6% IBU: 25-40 Examples: Smuttynose Robust Porter, Thomas Hooker Imperial Porter Pairs With: American and English cuisines, heavy foods like stew, colby cheese Serving Temperature: 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit Back to Top Types of Stouts Stouts are dark beers that are similar to porters but with stronger roasted flavors. This style also features mid to high alcohol levels. American Stout American stouts feature malt flavors working to create strong chocolate and coffee notes, but without overpowering hop bitterness. ABV: 5.7-8.9% IBU: 35-60 Examples: Highland Black Mocha Stout, Bell's Kalamazoo Stout Pairs With: Heavy foods, meat, oysters, chocolate, brie cheese Serving Temperature: 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit American Imperial Stout American imperial stouts are strong dark beers with a malty flavor and a deep black color. ABV: 7.0-12.0% IBU: 50-80 F Examples: Dogfish Head Brewery's Worldwide Stout, Stoudt's Fat Dog Imperial Stout, Bell's Java Stout Pairs With: Heavy foods, poultry, aged cheddar Serving Temperature: 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit Oatmeal Stout As their name suggests, oatmeal stouts feature oatmeal in their malt blend. This adds smoothness and sweetness to the beer. ABV: 3.8-6.0% IBU: 20-40 Examples: Young's Oatmeal Stout, Troegs Java Head Stout Pairs With: Meat, shellfish, chocolate, Camembert cheese Serving Temperature: 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit Milk Stout Lactose sugar adds a smooth sweetness to milk stouts. ABV: 4.0-7.0% IBU: 15-25 Examples: Young's Double Chocolate Stout, Lancaster Brewing Company's Milk Stout, Samuel Adams Cream Stout Pairs With: Mexican cuisine, beef, chocolate, ice cream, cheddar Serving Temperature: 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit Irish Dry Stout Irish dry stouts are dark beers; black in color with a bitterness that comes from roasted barley. ABV: 3.8-5.0% IBU: 30-40 Examples: Guinness Draught, Murphy's Irish Stout, Beamish Irish Stout Pairs With: Heavy food like beef and stew, barbecue, burgers Serving Temperature: 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit Back to Top Types of Belgian Styles Belgian beers are known for their spiced fruity flavors and high alcohol content. Despite their high ABV, belgians are usually low in bitterness. Belgian Pale Ale Belgian pale ale contains a toasted malt flavor that is subtle enough to not overpower the taste of the hops. ABV: 4.0-6.0% IBU: 20-30 Examples: Weyerbacher Brewing Company's Verboten, Samuel Adams Belgian Session Pairs With: American cuisine, fried food, fish, salad, tangy cheeses Serving Temperature: 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit Belgian Dubbel Belgian dubbels feature rich and malty flavor with a spicy, fruity note. ABV: 6.3-7.6% IBU: 20-35 Examples: Chimay Premiere, Blue Moon Winter Abbey Ale, Flying Fish Abbey Dubbel Pairs With: American cuisine, barbecue, meat, Limburger cheese Serving Temperature: 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit Belgian Tripel Belgian tripels are lighter-bodied beers with a slight hoppy bitterness and a high alcohol content. ABV: 7.1-10.1% IBU: 20-45 Examples: Victory Golden Monkey, Weyerbacher Merry Monks Pairs With: Pasta dishes, meat, poultry, gouda cheese Serving Temperature: 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit Belgian Quadrupel Belgian quadrupels are dark brown, full-bodied beers that exhibit flavors like brown sugar and fruit. They also have a very high alcohol content. ABV: 7.2-11.2% IBU: 25-50 Examples: Weyerbacher QUAD, Brewery Ommegang Three Philosophers Pairs With: Smoked meat, goose, brie cheese Serving Temperature: 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit Belgian Strong Dark Ale Belgian strong dark ale features a very high alcohol content with complex fruity flavors. ABV: 7.0-15.0% IBU: 20-50 Examples: Bell's Brewery's Hell Hath No Fury Ale, Dogfish Head Brewery's Raison D'Etre Pairs With: American cuisine, barbecue, blue cheese Serving Temperature: 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit Belgian Saison Saisons (also known as farmhouse ales) have earthy notes and a medium hop flavor. ABV: 4.4-6.8% IBU: 20-38 Examples: Samuel Adams Rustic Saison, Dogfish Head Brewery's Noble Rot, Victory Brewing Company's Helios Pairs With: Indian and Asian cuisine, poultry, seafood, parmesan cheese Serving Temperature: 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit Back to Top Types of Wheat Beers As you might have guessed, wheat beers use wheat as their malt. They're generally lighter in color and alcohol content. Their tangy flavors go great with fruit and brewers often add seasonal fruits to wheat beer. American Pale Wheat American pale wheat beer is pale in color, lower in alcohol content, and has a light bready flavor. ABV: 3.5-5.6% IBU: 10-35 Examples: Blue Moon Summer Honey Wheat, Shipyard Summer Ale Pairs With: Mexican cuisine, spicy food, poultry, mozzarella cheese Serving Temperature: 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit Belgian Witbier Witbier gets its name from its white color and has a light, fruity flavor to match. ABV: 4.8-5.6% IBU: 10-17 Examples: Hoegaarden White Ale, Dogfish Head Brewery's Namaste, Blue Moon Belgian White, Victory Brewing Company's Whirlwind Witbier Pairs With: Seafood, poultry, pork, salad, soft cheeses Serving Temperature: 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit Berliner Weisse Berliner Weisse is tart, sour beer with a pale color. Sometimes raspberry syrup is added to dull the sour taste. ABV: 2.8-3.4% IBU: 3-6 Examples: Dogfish Head's Festina Peche, Freetail Brewing Company's Yo Soy Un Berliner Pairs With: German cuisine, ham, salad, soft cheeses Serving Temperature: 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit Dunkelweizen Dunkelweizen is a darker version of a Hefeweizen. These beers have a malty flavor with hints of banana. ABV: 4.8-5.4% IBU: 10-15 Examples: Samuel Adams Dunkelweizen, Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse Dunkel Pairs With: German and Indian cuisines, fish, goat cheese Serving Temperature: 40-45 degrees Fahrenheit Hefeweizen Hefeweizen is a light-colored wheat beer with a crisp taste that can sometimes have hints of cloves or apples. ABV: 4.9-5.6% IBU: 10-15 Examples: Sierra Nevada Kellerweis Hefeweizen, Magic Hat Circus Boy Pairs With: German cuisine, seafood, fish, brick cheeses Serving Temperature: 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit Back to Top Types of Wild & Sour Ales Wild or sour ales are typically very low in alcohol, and feature tart, sour flavors that come from (safe) bacteria in the brew mash. American Sour American sour beer packs a wild punch from the bacteria used in the fermentation process. ABV: Varies IBU: Varies Examples: Samuel Adams American Kriek, Weyerbacher Riserva Pairs With: Fruit, strong cheese Serving Temperature: 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit Belgian Fruit Lambic Belgian fruit lambics are brewed with fruit to make an intense sweet and sour flavor. ABV: 5.0-8.9% IBU: 15-21 Examples: Upland Brewing Company's Raspberry Lambic, Dogfish Head Festina Lente Pairs With: Fruit, salad, chocolate, soft cheese Serving Temperature: 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit Flanders Red Ale Flanders red ale evokes a malty, fruity flavor underneath a strong sour taste brought on by Lactobacillus bacteria during fermentation. ABV: 4.8-6.6% IBU: 5-18 Examples: New Belgium Lips of Faith La Folie, The Lost Abbey's Red Poppy Ale Pairs With: Meat, blue cheese, cheddar cheese Serving Temperature: 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit Belgian Gueuze Gueuzes are aged beers that give off a very strong sour flavor. ABV: 6.2-8.1% IBU: 9-23 Examples: Brouwerij Boon's Boon Gueuze, The Bruery's Rueuze Pairs With: Strong cheeses Serving Temperature: 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit Back to Top Types of Specialty Beers Beers made with additional spices, flavorings, or fruits are called specialty beers. Any lager or ale can be made into a specialty beer by adding ingredients to enhance the flavor. American Black Ale American black ales are dark in color and feature a malty, roasted flavor with medium to high hop bitterness. This style is sometimes called a black IPA. ABV: 6.0-7.5% IBU: 50-75 Examples: Lagunitas NightTime, Founders Dark Penance, Victory Yakima Glory Pairs With: Aged cheeses, seafood, chocolate Serving Temperature: 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit Barrel-Aged Beer A barrel-aged beer is any type of beer that has been aged in a wooden barrel. Sometimes these barrels have been used to hold bourbon, wine, or other spirits, adding to the flavor of the beer. ABV: Varies IBU: Varies Examples: Allagash Curieux (Bourbon Barrel-Aged Tripel), Great Lakes Barrel-Aged Blackout Stout, Narwhal Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged) Pairs With: Varies Serving Temperature: 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit Chocolate Beer Chocolate or cocoa can be added to any style (lager or ale) to form a delicious chocolate beer. ABV: 2.5-12.0% IBU: 15-40 Examples: Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock, Shenandoah Chocolate Donut Beer, Yuengling Hershey's Chocolate Porter Pairs With: Varies Serving Temperature: 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit Coffee Beer Coffee beer is typically a porter or stout with added coffee flavor. This flavor can be achieved by steeping coffee beans in water or the beer mixture. ABV: 2.5-12.0% IBU: 15-45 Examples: Samuel Adams Black & Brew Coffee Stout, Sierra Nevada Coffee Stout, Stone Brewing Company’s Coffee Milk Stout Pairs With: Meaty stew, hard cheeses Serving Temperature: 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit Fruit and Vegetable Beer Any type of beer can be infused with fruit and vegetable flavors, so flavors will vary greatly. ABV: 2.5-12.0% IBU: 5-50 Examples: Samuel Adams Rebel Grapefruit IPA, Modern Times Beer’s Fruitlands Sour Cherry Gose, Weyerbacher’s Imperial Pumpkin Ale Pairs With: Salad, brie cheese Serving Temperature: 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit Gluten Free Beer Gluten free beer is brewed with fermentable sugars and grains that do not contain gluten. These beers vary in color, flavor, and alcohol content. ABV: Varies IBU: Varies Examples: Wicked Weed Brewing’s Gluten FREEk, Widmer Brothers Brewing Company’s Omission IPA, Lakefront Brewery’s New Grist Gluten-Free Pilsner Pairs With: Varies Serving Temperature: Varies Herb and Spice Beer Herb and spice beer is any lager or ale that has added flavors from roots, herbs, or other spices. Many pumpkin spice and seasonal fall beers are examples of this style. ABV: 2.5-12.0% IBU: 5-40 Examples: Dogfish Head’s Midas Touch, Rogue Ales’ Juniper Pale Ale, Small Town Brewery’s Not Your Father’s Root Beer Pairs With: Varies Serving Temperature: 45-55 degrees Fahrenheit Honey Beer Honey beers are ales or lagers that are brewed with honey to add sweetness and unique flavor. ABV: 2.5-12.0% IBU: Varies Examples: Boulder Beer’s A Honey of a Saison, Samuel Adams Honey Queen, Burial Beer Company’s The Keeper’s Veil Honey Saison Pairs With: Salad, light creamy cheeses Serving Temperature: 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit Pumpkin Beer Pumpkin beer is brewed with fresh pumpkin and common fall spices. These beers are increasingly popular and can be made with lagers, ales, and sour beers. ABV: 2.3-5.0% IBU: 5-70 Examples: Elysian Brewing Company’s Night Owl Pumpkin Ale, Weyerbacher Brewing Company’s Imperial Pumpkin Ale, Samuel Adams Harvest Pumpkin Ale, Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale Pairs With: Poultry, soft creamy cheeses Serving Temperature: 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit Rye Beer Rye beer often features malty, roasted flavors, with lower hop bitterness. Rye beers can be made as ales or as lagers, and will either take on a sweet or spicy flavor. ABV: Varies IBU: Varies Examples: Founders Red’s Rye IPA, Great Lakes’ Rye of the Tiger IPA, The Bruery’s Sour in the Rye Pairs With: Spicy meat, creamy cheeses Serving Temperature: 45-55 degrees Fahrenheit Session Beer Any style of beer can be brewed as a session beer, as sessions are simply less strong, more drinkable beers that are perfect for summertime consumption. ABV: 3.5-5.0% IBU: 10-35 Examples: New Belgium Brewing’s Slow Ride Session IPA, Samuel Adams Rebel Rider Session IPA, Victory Brewing Company’s Swing Session Saison Pairs With: American cuisine, spicy food Serving Temperature: 30-40 degrees Fahrenheit Smoke Beer Smoke beer is any beer that is brewed with malt that has been kilned over an open fire. The smoke adds a noticeable, but not overpowering flavor, which is inspired by traditional German rauchbier. ABV: Varies IBU: Varies Examples: Ithaca Beer Company's Gorges Smoked Porter, Goose Island Beer Company’s Prairie Smoke, Denver Beer Company’s Smoked Lager Pairs With: Roasted vegetables, hard cheese Serving Temperature: 30-40 degrees Fahrenheit Back to Top Lager vs Ale Most types of beer are classified as either lagers or ales. Lagers are made with yeast that ferments at the bottom of the beer mixture, and ales are made with yeast that ferments at the top. Besides the yeast used to make lagers and ales, there are spontaneously fermenting yeasts, which produce wild or sour beers. Pale Ale vs India Pale Ale Although often confused with each other, pale ales and India pale ales have some distinct differences. Pale ales tend to have a softer less-bitter taste, while India pale ales usually have a strong hoppy taste. Additionally, India pale ales tend to have a slightly higher alcohol content than pale ales do, further contributing to their stronger taste. Top Fermenting Beers The yeast that is used in ale production ferments throughout the beer and settles at the top of the liquid. It has a higher tolerance to alcohol and ferments at warmer temperatures when compared to the yeast that’s used to make lager. IPAs, stouts, and wheat beers are all examples of top fermenting ales. Bottom Fermenting Beers The yeast used in lager production is more fragile than what’s used to make ale, and it settles at the bottom of the liquid vessel after fermentation. It needs to ferment more slowly and at cooler temperatures than the yeast that’s used in ale production, and it has a lower tolerance to alcohol. Pilsners, bocks, and Okerberfests are all examples of bottom fermenting lagers. Spontaneous Fermentation Beer Lambics and sour beers are made with a process called spontaneous fermentation. This type of fermentation occurs when beer is exposed to wild bacteria and yeast. These beers originated in Belgium, but brewers all over the world have found ways to manipulate this process to create sour, funky-tasting beers of their own. The American sour, Belgian gueuze, and Flanders red ale are all examples of spontaneously fermented beers. Back to Top Now that you know more about the different types of beer that are out there, hopefully you are inspired to add something unique to your beer list. Use this guide to help you and your servers feel more confident about recommending beers to customers, or maybe even create a menu that is centered on perfect beer pairings.
How to Run a Successful Bar
Whether you manage a brewery or nightclub, the challenges of running a successful bar go far beyond just keeping customers' glasses full. You need to ensure that you're well-stocked, serving tasty drinks, creating events to excite potential customers, and protecting yourself from any potential liabilities. While managing a bar may be difficult, we broke it down into 8 simple steps to help you make a profit from your bar business. Shop All Bar Supplies 8 Steps to Run a Bar Successfully Whether you own a bar and want to improve your profits or you're considering starting a new bar, following these 8 steps to learn how to run a bar. 1. Keep Your Bar Stocked <figure class="article-image"> </figure> Keeping your bar stocked goes far beyond just filling your back bar cooler or refrigerator with beer, liquor, and wine. You will want to track what drinks your customers are drinking and which types of alcohol you're using more often than others. This will allow you to adjust your orders, so you spend less money on alcohol that's less popular while keeping your bar filled with popular items. Essential Items Every Bar Needs Stocking your bar or nightclub is also more than just the liquor and beer itself. Here's a list of things that you should always have on hand in your bar: Bar napkins Straws and stirrers Glassware Mixing glasses Cocktail shakers and strainers Liquor pourers Cocktail mixes Garnishes 2. Measure Your Liquor to Reduce Overpouring<figure class="article-image"> </figure> While an extra-strong drink may not seem like an issue, consistently overpouring drinks can end up costing your bar thousands of dollars in the long run. Fortunately, there are ways that you can measure your pouring and prevent waste in your bar. Here are a few examples of how your bar can prevent overpouring and waste: Use measured pourers. Measured liquor pourers make it easy to approximate portions and help prevent spillage to eliminate the risk of wasted product. Teach bartenders to use jiggers when crafting cocktails. Using jiggers when crafting cocktails not only prevents overpouring, it also ensures that your customers get a consistent drink each time. Choose the right glassware. Using the right glassware can also help reduce your liquor costs. Heavy-base glasses have a thicker bottom, so you don't have to use as much liquid to fill them as standard glassware, which will result in savings over time. These bar managing tips can not only help you reduce waste in your bar, but they can also ensure consistency, which is key for keeping your customers happy and coming back to your bar. 3. Create Signature Cocktails <figure class="article-image"> </figure> While many customers may order popular drinks like rum and coke or a Tom Collins, creating drinks that are unique to your establishment gives you a competitive edge over other bars. Additionally, if you create your own craft cocktails, you can price them higher than traditional beverages, helping to increase your profit margin. When creating new recipes and cocktails, you want to consider your target demographic and their tastes. For example, if you're near a college campus and have a customer base in their mid-twenties, you'll want to design strong cocktails that use liquors like rum, vodka, or tequila. On the other hand, bars with older customers may want to use top-shelf liquors like fine whiskey or bourbon in their recipes. When managing a bar, it's also important to keep on top of current drink trends and offer customers something new, like spiced or fruity vodka infusions. You can also up your cocktail game by adding unique garnishes to your drinks, like fruit kabobs in daiquiris. 4. Host Happy Hour and Events Hosting a happy hour is a great way to draw customers in with low prices. You can then let your delicious cocktails and excellent service convince the customers to stay past happy hour and pay full price for your items. Your happy hour menu should feature discounts on items with a high-profit margin, group specials, snacks, and designated driver discounts to maximize your profits. Another option to bring customers into your business is to host events. Events can be a one-time thing or they can become a regular occurrence, which is a great way to build a regular customer base that can help your bar succeed. There are many different types of events that you can put on depending on your clientele and establishment's theme. Here are some popular options: Trivia Speed dating Karaoke Arcade or game nights Tailgating or sports parties Open mic nights Participating in a bar crawl Schedule your weekly events to target specific times and demographics, such as the post-work business crowd, weekend brunch-goers, or sports fans before, during, or after a big game. Additionally, be sure to advertise your happy hour specials on social media, outdoor signs, and posters in your front-of-house space. 5. Hire the Right Bartenders <figure class="article-image"> </figure> The bar industry has a very high turnover rate, which results in lots of money wasted on training new employees. Your bar can prevent this by implementing strict standards when hiring and creating a rigorous training regimen that weeds out any poor fits early in the process. One of the best ways that bar managers can retain good employees is with incentives, such as bonuses, favorable shifts, or pay raises. But, not all incentives have to be monetary. Some employees are instead motivated by the potential for promotions or learning new skills. For example, if you have a dishwasher who is dedicated to working hard but who also wants to learn bartending skills, reward them by offering some training and allowing them to bartend during slow periods of business at first. Another essential aspect of keeping your employees happy is ensuring that you're promoting a comfortable atmosphere where your staff feels welcome to share their ideas and concerns. If employees don't feel like their concerns are being heard by the general manager or the owner, they'll leave. Additionally, if you engage in dialogue with your staff, you can learn more about them and how you can keep them happy and working hard. 6. Train Your Bartenders and Wait Staff to Upsell <figure class="article-image"> </figure> A great way to boost profits in your bar is to train your staff to upsell customers. Upselling involves your bartenders or wait staff suggesting that customers try a specific high-value item or add it onto their order. Upselling is beneficial for both your business and your staff because bigger checks mean bigger tips. The key to upselling is to frame it as a personal suggestion. For example, instead of offering your customers an expensive alternative to their order, have your bartender tell them that the alternative is their favorite drink or it's a new special that's delicious. Framing the sale as a suggestion will make your customers more likely to try the more expensive option. Also, be sure to keep your food menu in clear sight of patrons. Patrons might approach your bar doors with just drinks in mind, but after a round or two, that appetizer menu strategically placed in front of them might start to look tempting. You can also boost sales by offering food and drink pairings based on common flavors or contrasts. Educate your staff on the best food and drink pairings. What beers go well with your appetizers? What wines pair best with your desserts? Offering knowledgeable suggestions will be viewed as helpful rather than a sales pitch. Lastly, train staff to detect undecided customers. If someone has glanced at their menu for an extended period of time, a simple "Can I suggest one of our specials?" can help sway them. 7. Invest in a POS System An essential for any successful bar, an electronic Point Of Sale (POS) system organizes orders and keeps track of transactions. These order and receipt systems ensure smooth communication between the waitress, bartender, and kitchen to help keep track of customer tabs on even the busiest of nights. It also allows bar managers and owners to see the breakdown of sales by employee. POS stations run from $2,000 to $5,000, so research the best POS system for your business before purchasing one. 8. Take Liability Seriously <figure class="article-image"> </figure> Alcohol service is a risky business. When managing a bar, you should train staff to handle alcohol-related safety issues, not just for the safety of customers who have consumed too much alcohol, but to protect your bar from fines, imprisonment, loss of liquor license, increased insurance costs, and even losing your business. If your establishment serves alcohol to a minor or visibly intoxicated patron, not only will you face criminal fines, but you can be sued in civil court for damages that person causes after leaving your bar. Many new and smaller establishments skip liquor liability coverage to cut down on premiums or are simply unaware of coverage, so know the specifications of your insurance. Look to trusted, established alcohol training resources to effectively teach your staff. The National Restaurant Association offers ServSafe Alcohol training to prepare bartenders, servers, hosts, bussers, valets, bouncers, and all front-of-house staff in the event of safety and liability issues. State Liquor Control Boards also offer initiatives that teach bar staff how to recognize signs of intoxication and detect fake IDs. The bar industry is very competitive, and it can be difficult to run a bar successfully due to the razor-thin profit margins. But, by taking a more active role in your business, ensuring that your bar is stocked with everything it needs, and training your employees for success, you can help your bar become profitable and succeed.