By Indiana Lee, Contributor
As a bar or restaurant owner, you always want the best for your customers, including when it comes to the beer they’re drinking. The craft beer movement has continued to rise in recent years, and patrons have developed high expectations for quality beer, no matter where they go.
Thankfully, providing high-quality craft beer to your guests is easier than you might think. By doing your research, looking into your restaurant’s supply chain, and changing certain procedures within your business, you can do your part to ensure your patrons enjoy the beer you offer and have more positive responsible drinking experiences within your establishment.
Selecting the Right Beers
Perhaps the most important thing you can do to maintain customer satisfaction with your beer is to make sure you’re choosing quality beer to begin with. It can be tempting to go with “cheaper” options or lesser-known brands to save a buck. But that strategy can quickly backfire if your customers don’t like your offerings.
Beyond that, you could be investing your energy and money into beer that isn’t made or handled properly. Take the time to do your research on reputable brewers, and learn their processes from start to finish. If they set a high standard for themselves and their brewing methods, it’s likely to reflect in the quality of their products.
Evaluating Your Supply Chain
In addition to working with the right brewers, you need to have a solid understanding of how to manage your supply chain to ensure your restaurant serves quality beer consistently. This includes evaluating the businesses you purchase beer from, as well as vendors who supply other products that impact the beer you serve, such as drinkware, and the products you use to sanitize kegs and glasses.
Consider how vendors and distributors are getting products to your business. Your supplier or distributor should be timely, keep an accurate inventory, encourage a strong relationship, and have a plan in place to fight back against potential disruptions.
If you don’t already have a supply chain management system in place, it’s a worthwhile investment. Developing greater insight into your supply chain will help to improve customer service and will likely limit disruptions in the timeline between ordering and receiving your shipment of beer.
Keeping the Bar and Beer Equipment Clean
Once you’ve chosen the right beers and they’ve been delivered in a safe and timely fashion, the ball is in your court. Ensuring your beer stays clean and fresh once it’s in your care requires regular kitchen maintenance and upkeep.
Some of the most common and essential bar maintenance tasks include clearing keg lines, moving and sanitizing equipment, cleaning glass washing systems, and sanitizing faucets.
You should have a regular deep cleaning schedule in place to make sure your equipment and drinkware don’t become health risks for patrons. It doesn’t take long for bacteria to build up in equipment — especially equipment that’s frequently exposed to moisture, like dishwashing appliances.
Bacteria and mold can not only impact the taste of your beer, but they can also make your customers sick. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the right cleaning supplies and food service chemicals necessary to get rid of harmful bacteria and mold growth.
Train Your Restaurant Staff Appropriately
You can do everything right, from ordering quality beer to maintaining a clean bar and service area. But you can’t craft quality on your own. Owning a restaurant or bar means managing a group of people who work to keep operations consistent, even if you’re not there.
Of course, taking on new processes for quality assurance can be tricky if everyone isn’t on the same page. If you want to make sure your quality practices are sustainable no matter who is working within your establishment, utilize SMART goals. SMART goals should be:
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Time-Bound
For example, if your goal is a positive experience for every customer who orders a beer, how can you be more specific in training to help your staff achieve that? It could include things like making sure your staff learns about common beer terminology, how to serve different beers at the right temperatures, and which glasses to use for different styles of beer.
The measurability of SMART goals is important because it gives your staff something to work toward. Small, achievable goals are much easier for people to swallow because they won’t feel overwhelmed, and when they achieve those goals, they’ll feel more motivated to move on to the next one. By implementing SMART goals into your training program, you’re more likely to create a cohesive unit where everyone understands what’s expected when it comes to beer service.
You should also make sure your staff is trained in overall alcohol safety and look into any continued education that would benefit your staff, your guests, and your business.
You can easily ensure quality beer for your patrons with just a bit of extra effort. Put some of these tips in place to provide your customers with the best responsible drinking experience, and your establishment is likely to see greater success and growth because of it.
