Have you ever had a real draft beer? A real one, we said! A beer served by a bartender who knows what to do and how to do it. A beer whose color reveals its quality, which is at the right temperature, served in the right glass and with the right dose of foam? And yes, brewing a beer is quite an art and you can't improvise it!
So serving a beer is an art. When we see some bartenders working, we can even speak of ritual. If you know the tea ceremony and imagine a ritual of the same importance for beer. Indeed, we do not taste a draft beer anyhow! Are you stumped? You should not. You will not have the same experience at all with your little foam depending on whether it is prepared according to the rules of the art or not. The glass should be rinsed even if it comes out of the dishwasher. And you have to rinse it with clean water, then cool it down so as not to have a temperature difference (and create a surplus of foam, that's also why some bartenders keep their glasses cool).
If you are not used to tasting pressure, you do not immediately see what will pop your eyes or rather your taste buds as soon as you taste a real pressure.
For the regulars, we agree, without foam your beer is a joke. On the other hand, too much foam and the bartender only has to flee as quickly as possible, the beer is no longer drinkable. Few people know this, but foam is necessary in order to keep the bubbles in the beer and prevent the precious liquid from oxidizing too quickly. Think about it when you order your next press.
“Many people wonder why a bartender competition. "And what else after?" "! But it's really something, you don't have a beer any way. I challenge all skeptics that they serve me a perfect beer. Heineken has developed "the perfect serve", that is to say the 5 key steps to offer consumers a quality draft beer, and it is this ritual that is highlighted in this competition " Julie, Trade Marketing Executive at Heineken.
Besides, in establishments where we know how to do it, we will never serve you a beer if the foam is not perfect.
You begin to perceive the complexity and we only talked about the cleanliness of the glass. The shape of the glass, its inclination, the opening of the tap, the intensity of the flow, the precision of the gestures ... We swear that we are not exaggerating at all! It is truly an art to serve a good draft beer and as Roel Kokkelmans, marketing manager at ILTT (distributor of the Heineken brand on the island) rightly says, “the main reason for a customer to order a second draft beer , is indeed the quality of the first ". There are many draft beer draft competitions and it was also during the first organized in Saint-Martin, the Heineken Bartender Contest that we met four bartenders who gave everything to ensure us a top tasting. They were also there to win the opportunity to represent the island during the final of the Heineken Global Bartender contest, a competition to be held in Amsterdam from October 9 to 11.
"During this annual event, the best bartenders in the world compete to become the best Heineken shooter in the world"
The event is important for the island since it is the first time that an island bartender will participate in this world event, with all that that brings visibility to our region. The Heineken firm, through its local distributor, ILTT, wishes to "develop more and more this type of operation in order to highlight the know-how, the expertise but also the passion of the bartenders for their trade". Lenny Bain, Managing Director ILTT explains that the group wishes to "highlight our local talents" and what could be better than an international competition ?!
So, last Wednesday, the local final was held. At the end of a competition which brought together 14 points of sale, four bartenders found themselves in the final. Ludo was there for the Boon (Simpson Bay), Victor for Buffalo wings (Simpson Bay), JR for the Bikini beach (Orient bay) and Sawen (Simpson Bay) for the Thirsty Barons which hosted the event. We pass you the unbearable suspense because honestly, from our point of view, they all had a lot of talent but it was necessary to decide.
Auke Vriens (Heineken Area Export Manager) and Nila Hoogenboezem (Event Manager) served as a jury and we can tell you that they were picky. “The bartenders were noted for their technique but also for their ease, which has been called the“ Star Factor ”, specifies Auke Vriens. We definitely don't do what we want with the pressure! At the end of the competition, Victor from Buffalo Wings took the win and will represent Saint-Martin in Amsterdam next month. So remember that to date, the best Heineken pressure shooter can be found at Buffalo Wings (Welfare Road, Paradise Mall Koolbaai, Sint Maarten). We take this opportunity to let you know that our neighbors from Aruba and Curaçao will also be represented, for them too this is a great first. Finally, we are dying to give our opinion ... We swear we were reasonable but we had to taste everyone's work to realize. Without forcing and having spent a lot of time tasting in the best Belgian and Irish breweries, we can tell you that there is level at home! _NB
For this first edition of the competition, it was Thirsty Barons who received.
A perfect organization and a new spot to discover absolutely. We did not expect that at all, we were told "sports" bar! The welcome is pleasant and cheerful. A charming, dynamic, professional and funny barmaid. We loved the trendy sports atmosphere and the modern and warm decor. And of course, we know how to serve a mousse!
65 corner plaza, airport road,
Simpson Bay - Sint Maarten
Open from 17 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. from Tuesday to Sunday
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