How to Recognize a Good Cocktail Bar?

How to Recognize a Good Cocktail Bar?

There’s Good bars, and then there’s great ones.
Good bars abound, there’s one near you right now, and you might not even know it! In fact, check out the bar list at Bars and Taps and see what you’ve been missing.
Or course, not all bars are created equal. From Irish pubs to sports bars, there’s something for everyone and every occasion, and sometimes the occasion calls for cocktails. Who’s up for a well-made mixed drink?
However, recognizing an authentic cocktail bar is not always easy, so here are some tips for identifying a good cocktail bar every time. Does your favorite bar have what it takes?
1. Even the speed bar is packed with the good stuff.
Bars often stock their speed bar or well with ‘House’ spirits and liqueurs, and they’re usually on the inexpressive side, literally low-quality cash cows. When you ask for a Rum and Coke, that’s where the rum comes from, not from the nicer stuff on the back shelves.
Folks behind an authentic cocktail bar know that even their well spirits must be of a decent quality. They might not be top-shelf spirits, but they’re at least not generic. If you see recognizable brands in the rails behind the bar, then you’re in the right spot.
2. There’s no Tropicana in sight.
Many classic cocktails call for orange juice, and it’s used for craft cocktails, too. Now, pressing orange juice is a pain, especially if you must go through a dozen pounds every day.
Freshly pressed juice is an act of love and a sign that people are committed to their craft. So, if your favorite bar serves fresh juice and not the stuff that comes in a box, then you’re in the presence of greatness. Yes, that Screwdriver is worth ten bucks. And the same goes for lime and lemon juice, by the way.
3. Ice is handled with care.
You might not know this, but the quality and condition of the ice make all the difference in cocktail-making. Ice can make or break a mixed drink. Cocktail bar managers and bartenders know it.
In the same way you can tell a lot about an establishment by peeking at the bathroom, you can assess a bar’s cocktail program by the way they handle ice. Some cocktail bars will go the extra mile and have fancy ice balls or large cubes — they might even chisel each piece of ice. Okay, some bars go over the top, but at least they’re not making your drink with half-melted ice.
4. Cocktail bars have something for everyone.
Cocktail bars serve classic cocktails, and they probably have some of their own inspiration, too, but a good cocktail bar also has a decent selection of craft beer and even wine. They have something for everyone.
Don’t expect twenty-five different beers on tap, but you’ll surely find a curated selection of drinks that aren’t cocktails. Bar managers know not everyone is into sophisticated cocktails every night; they know sometimes you just want a cold one. Well, they’ll take care of that, too!
5. Great cocktail bars are an experience.
A good cocktail bar is more than a watering hole; it’s a multi-sensorial experience. When cocktails are good, service is often good as well, and the same goes for the decor, the music and even the crowd. Everything is just nicer.
That’s when you know it’s okay to pay extra for your drink. You’re paying for the experience, and great cocktail bars are so good at it, you often pay gladly and leave something extra for the staff.
Good cocktail bars need not be refined or high-browed; they can still be edgy and grungy, but the quality is there, and you can tell the moment you step through the door.
Who’s Up for a Round of Drinks?
Find a bar near you at Bars and Taps and see if they’ve got what it takes to be called a cocktail bar. If they don’t, well, that doesn’t really matter — they have beer, don’t they?
Call some friends and visit a local bar, whether it’s to watch a game or listen to live music; nothing beats discovering a new, exciting bar.

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Craft Beers On The Rise Across America

Craft beer is defined by Brewers Association as beer that is ‘small, independent and traditional’. There are more than 150 beer styles and over 20,000 brands to choose from. The most popular beers in the US as of 2016 included: Pale Ale, Two Hearted Ale, Zombie Dust and Ballast Point. In US cities, craft beer popularity has risen steadily in the recent past years, taking 6.5% by volume in 2012, and 7.8% in 2013. In 2014, craft beer claimed 19.3% of the US beer market. In 2016, the craft beer share in the beer market was at 12.6%. The drop can be attributed to its rising popularity which led to giant brewers like Heineken, Molson Coors and Anheuser-Busch inBev buying and guzzling the competition. These giants have made deals with or completely bought several craft brewers. Despite this drop, there are already more than 5,000 breweries operating and the Brewers Association estimates there are roughly 2,000 more craft breweries in the inception and planning stages. Americans continuously crave a taste for something different. Craft beer is here to stay. Be sure to find your favorite brand of craft beer and keep trying the new ones as they come along.