I have no beer in hand. Not I. I have a Manhattan. More than once in a while in the summer – and it still is summer – I like the clink of ice in glass. So it was with some interest that I read an article from Portland Maine’s community web news site, Switch, that a pal had sent me. It was about the best and worst of the working lives of a number of Portland’s finest bartenders. Most of the bartenders seem to work in cocktail places but my pal sent it to give me the gears as he pointed out that a “guy at novare res, the snooty beer bar, says that on a bad day “for me, nothing beats an ice cold miller – the champagne of beers.” Novare Res man also said a number of other things like:
Describe the atmosphere at your bar: Novare Res is a pretty laid back beer bar. Most requested drink: It’s all about the beer. Mmmmmm … beer.
Worst drink to mix: When I worked with a full bar, martinis were always the worst. Best drink for the worst day: For me, nothing beats an ice cold Miller High Life … Champagne of Beers…
Personal drink favorite: There’s a brown ale that we carry at Novare that’s amazing, and I’m a sucker for Miller Chill…
Well, as I learned in Lansing the other week, there is a proper time for Miller High Life and its not just at the end of a bad day. And just because you work in a great Belgian beer bar in Maine, well, it doesn’t mean you have to like the stuff, right? But shouldn’t he have narrowed it down a bit more that “a brown ale that we carry”… and what’s the hell is with the Miller Chill? Best line of any of the bartenders:
Worst drink to mix: Allen’s Coffee Brandy and milk, or “Fat Ass in a Glass.” Just mixing one makes me question humanity.
A few years ago I wrote a post about how Allen’s Coffee Brandy was the most popular drink in Maine but in all the years that I have visited there, I never met anyone who drank it. Pity those who work the front lines, the ones who have no choice but to serve “Fat Ass in a Glass” when the customer says so.
[Original comments…]
Luke – September 1, 2009 11:07 PM
http://www.blogaboutbeer.com
Not only is Allen’s the best selling alcohol in the state, it’s also the 3rd and 4th best selling booze here (depending on the size of the jug it comes in)! And, based on what I’ve read on your blog, you haven’t really been to the part of Maine that drinks Allen’s (hint: it’s the part of the state which is much closer to your country than to Portland)
Alan – September 2, 2009 12:08 AM
Ah, that must be it. Now to be fair, I have been in Baa Haa Baa many times as well as Bangor, being a Nova Scotian, but it is true that most of my time is in South Portland… but that’s because of Reds.
Bailey – September 2, 2009 5:11 PM
http://boakandbailey.com
One of the beer geek pubs in London made the mistake of employing a barman who was actually into beer a couple of years ago. He spent more time lecturing and correcting the customers than he did serving anything. He got particularly shirty when anyone tried to order just “a lager”.
Luke – September 3, 2009 12:12 AM
http://www.blogaboutbeer.com
I’m surprised you didn’t come across more Allen’s in Bangor, but you’ll definitely have to head further inland than SoPo or Bar Harbor (and less touristy) to really get a good sense of what booze in Maine is all about. Far too much of “fat ass in a glass” and “the Lisbon Falls” (Moxie and Jack Daniels)