Blender v. Oasis

After working in 5 different bars I've been able to experience various changing bar technologies. One that may not seem so obvious is the blender. Most bars will buy the cheapest blenders possible since they don't get used that often. But many bartenders will tell you, they are a pain. While bartending in Cleveland, I utilized an Island Oasis machine. For the last 20 years, Island Oasis has made serving blended drinks easier for bartenders while combining tasty ingredients. Their most popular flavors are Strawberry, Pina Colada, Mint Mojito, Margarita and Ice Cream. These flavors can be mixed and matched together adding alcohol or alone.

Holiday Shots

Here are a few recipes for everyone looking for a fun, delicious holiday shot to cheers with:


Christmas Story
In a regular shot glass pour 1/3 Butterscotch Schnapps, 1/3 Baileys and 1/3 Goldschlager or another type of peppermint schnapps
In a pint size glass, fill roughly half way. 
Drop the shot into the pint glass and chug, chug, chug!

Mistletoe
In a shaker combine:
1/2 shot of Goldschlager
1/2 shot of Apple Pucker
Splash of Cranberry Juice
Shake and strain


Caramel Apple
1/2 Caramel Apple Scnapps
1/2 Absolut Citron
Splash Cranberry and Lime juice
Shake and Strain. 


Candy Cane
1/2 shot Peppermint Schnapps

1/2 shot Rumplemintz peppermint liqeur
Splash cream and Grenadine

Sam Adams Winter Lager

Sam Adams boasts to have the best tasting beers and this Christmas they want you to drink they're Winter Lager. Having a ruby color, they fill their beer with flavors of cinnamon, ginger and a bit of citrus from an orange peel. The mix of these flavors gives off a bit of spiciness in this full-bodied beer. Sam Adams pairs this lager with mostly spicy Thai food. The Sam Adams website also gives readers several recipes to both pair and cook with this beer. It has a 5.6% ABV, 22 IBUs, OC of 14.3 and has 193 calories per 12 oz.

12 Dogs of Christmas

Another holiday beer savored by Northeast Ohioans is Thirsty Dog's Twelve Dogs of Christmas. According to Thirsty Dog they make it with honey, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and "Santa's Secret recipe." It has a similar taste to Christmas Ale as well as a similar effect. Twelve Dogs of Christmas as an ABV of 8.3%, IBU of 21.5 and an OG of 18.5 P.
For bar owners, Thirsty Dog beers are distributed through Heidleburg. Cristy Leimkueler is a distributer for them and says that Twelve Dogs of Christmas tastes better than Great Lakes Christmas Ale.

Christmas Ale

Each year Clevelanders and surrounding area citizens wait patiently for a taste of the holidays.

"It's like Christmas is running through your mouth," bar-goer Ryan Ezzone said.
Brewed with honey and spiced with fresh ginger and cinnamon and some might say a dash of crack, Great Lakes Brewery concocts this delicious beverage for every November to December. Winner of at least five beer World Championships, Christmas Ale boasts that it can make any holiday event a cheerful one. With an ABV of 7.5%, an ABW of 6.0% and an IBU of 30, this ale is known for sneaking up on you. And though it pairs well with any holiday toast or cheers according to Great Lakes, it does not mix well for a pleasant morning-after. As most will tell you, getting bit by the "Christmas Ale bug" can be a dangerous thing. But, if drunk responsibly, it can be a delightful event.
Holiday brews originated "in the Middle Ages when spices were commonly used instead of hops to add flavor and medicinal qualities to beer." In the 1900's the recipe returned in Western Europe. Brewers created holiday brews for patrons and the beers were typically lighter. Now, most breweries make darker beers and add spices like cinnamon for more holiday flavor.

Fall Cocktails

With each new season comes new cocktails and beers. Summer sports fruity concoctions and Coronas. A simple Long Island is equal parts Vodka, Gin, Rum, Tequilla and Triple Sec filled with Sour Mix and Cola. For an even sweeter taste substitute Cranberry juice for the Cola. In the fall, Wing Warehouse makes a "Witches Brew" consisting of Spiced Rum, Apple Cider and sugar. It is typically served warm with whipped cream and a cinnamon stick. Sam Adams releases their Oktoberfest, as does Leinenkeugle and Great Lakes. Other companies release pumpkin ales. Shocktop's pumpkin ale has a dark, smooth but bitter taste. To me, it tastes a bit stale; while Thirsty Dog, located here in Akron, uses real pumpkin for their Pumpkin Ale. They also use, squash, honey and ginger. The beer has an ABV, or alcohol by volume, of 5%, 13.5 IBU;s, or international bittering units, and 13.5P OG, or original gravity.
Thirsty Dog follows a specific process to create their award winning beers:

With winter approaching the release of the beloved Christmas Ale is slowing being released. The next blog will discuss types of Christmas Ale, ingredients, and locations to purchase this holiday brew.

Save the Drama for yo Mama

At any place of employment there is a chance you'll run into drama. Ask any restaurant/ bar employee and they'll tell you the drama there might be worse than most places. Drug deals and affairs are the most common, but the most annoying is when employees bring their home drama to work. This blog is about avoiding these issues and maintaining professional in a world of immaturity.
The other day an employee confronted another about their issues of "not getting along." While it was good for her to confront this person, the time to do it is not on the clock. This makes your problem my problem and I do not want to deal with your problem, neither do your customers. If you have an issue with another person, address it on your own time.

If you are fighting with your boyfriend, leave your issues at home. Again, no one wants to deal with your issues while you are at work. You are there to make money and make people happy. They want to enjoy their dining experience and your fight with your significant other does not create that.