Good idea
For reasons that are too boring to explain, I’m a member of the British Guild of Beer Writers (America doesn’t have one), and as a result I get all kinds of great newsletters and info from England. Something called “The Intelligent Choice: The definitive guide to the cask ale market” just arrived. It’s a fairly in-depth brochure with lots of ideas on promoting the sale of real ale.
I like this one, from Nigel Barker, who runs a place called The Wellington in Birmingham, where cask ale accounts for 75 percent of all sales (including spirits and food). The place moves so much beer, the blackboard beer list over the bar had to be constantly updated; it looked a mess. So, Barker reports, “I got a mate who works in IT to create this system for me. We’ve got a 42-inch plasma screen now that’s linked to our stock-taker and constantly updates the selection. It’s also linked to our website. There are people who have it as their screensaver, and when they see an ale they want to try, they’re straight in here at lunch time.”
I know at least a half-dozen local beer freaks (myself included) who’ve tried to organize updated tap lists at local bars - and all of them ultimately gave up because bar owners don’t want to deal with the hassle. I understand that, but if a bar is going to go to the trouble of updating its list on a chalkboard, why not take a minute to input the info online?
And imagine the database that Philly would have if, say, 50 different bars agreed to update and share their tap lists.
Meanwhile, take another look the ABVs on that Wellington beer list. Not one over 6 percent.
November 12th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
ggrrr…methinks it’s time to try again