Tips to Look Like a Bartending Pro!

Posted on April 30, 2012 by admin

Straight from getting your MAST certification, you might still feel a little wet behind the ears in the world of bartending. Here’s a few tips on how you can look like a pro from the start:

Keep a smile on your face

No matter how busy it gets, or how many customers are trying to get your attention, you can only serve one person at a time. Keep smiling, and try to crack a few jokes. Remember that people are there to have a good time, so they’ll be appreciative of you keeping things light.

Learn how to rim a drink properly

You want the salt or sugar to be on the outside of the rim; nobody wants it falling into the drink.  For a bit of dash, take a slice of lemon or lime and slick it around the edge, then tilt the glass and rotate it around in the sugar or salt.

Let other bartenders know where you are

Always, always let other bartenders know when you are behind them, especially if they’re known for trying fancy tricks with bottles. See how everyone else is doing it, but just saying ‘behind you’ or tapping them on the shoulder ought to do it. Equally, try to be aware of who is coming and going behind you, too.

Don’t cry over spilt milk!

You will spill something, and probably break something too. This happens, so just apologise, tidy up and carry on. It’s not the end of your career. You might be the butt of a few jokes for the rest of the night, but don’t take it personally.

Head to AACEA.com to get your bartending certification and enter into the fast-paced world of bartending.

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What can having your MAST permit do for you?

Posted on April 25, 2012 by admin

Anyone who serves alcohol needs a MAST permit; it does stand for Mandatory Alcohol Server Training after all. But did you know that even ID checkers have MAST permits? And also, that you need a MAST permit if you’re helping out by serving the wine at someone’s banquet event, or wedding dinner? There are two kinds of MAST permit; the Class 12 Mixologist permit and the Class 13 Servers permit. A Class 13 Servers permit will allow you to take and serve alcohol orders, and pour it into a customer’s glass at the table, but not to draw wine or beer from a tap, or mix drinks. If you’re between 18 and 21, this is the permit to apply for. A Class 12 Mixologist permit allows you to do everything someone with a Class 13 permit can do, but also draw beer and wine from a tap, mix drinks and manage an establishment. You can upgrade your permit when you turn 21 by taking the appropriate course.  At Americas Alcohol Certified Education Association, we offer upgrades and renewals – so whether you need to upgrade to a Class-12 permit, or simply need to get your yearly renewal, we can help!

MAST permits are good for 5 years, which means that you’ll suddenly be popular at all of your friends’ weddings and events as someone they can call on to help out serving the celebratory champagne! Of course, it also means you’ll be an easy hire for any bars looking for staff; they don’t have to wait for you to get your permit and you’ve already shown that you’re dedicated to the world of bartending.

Get your Washington alcohol permit with AACEA.com and start practicing your champagne towers for all those summer weddings!

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Tips to Spot Someone Who is Intoxicated

Posted on April 18, 2012 by admin

In the bartending industry, a  part of responsible server training is being able to tell when a client is intoxicated, and therefore must no longer be served. In this post on how to cut someone off at the bar, we gave you advice on how to do this in a way which minimizes the potential for aggression or upset. But how do you spot the signs of intoxication in the first place? It may seems simple, but for young bartenders, or those just starting out, it can be difficult to know where to draw the line.

If we take as a guideline, the fact that a person’s body can usually only process one alcoholic unit per hour, then during quiet periods, it should be simple to notice when someone is attempting to process more than this amount. Of course, body mass affects this process, so a larger person will take longer to get drunk. When it’s busy, however, it might be harder to take notice of how often a person is approaching the bar, especially if people are buying in rounds.

Luckily, intoxication presents itself in numerous ways. The most common symptoms of intoxication are slurring one’s speech, swaying and bumping into things. In a crowded and noisy bar, however, these could be overlooked. Something else to take notice of would be a previously mild patron who becomes aggressive, a social person who becomes withdrawn or a quiet person who decides to buy the whole bar a drink.

AACEA’s certified bartenders gain valuable experience like spotting inebriated customers at our mandatory alcohol server training classes. We provide online alcohol server training, while promoting responsible service and sales of alcohol.  To get your alcohol servers permit online from home, visit www.aacea.com.

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Washington Liquor Board Considers Extending Hours of Alcohol Sales

Posted on April 5, 2012 by admin

As part of our initiative to drive responsible alcohol sales, and provide certified alcohol servers with information in the industry, we’ve been following a new proposal that will extend alcohol service past 2:00 a.m.

Washington state law says that alcohol cannot be sold past 2:00 a.m., but soon local governments may be able to change that time, according to a new proposal from Seattle’s Mayor and City Council. The proposal would allow local governments to decide what time bars should stop selling alcohol. The hours would allow establishments to sell alcohol between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. at their discretion.

The proposal’s advocates say the change would help the city’s nightlife industry, and argue there are public safety merits to not closing bars at the same time – which puts a high volume of drunk drivers on the roads all at once.

However, some owners say they don’t want later hours because nothing good happens after 2:00 a.m. Federal Way Police Chief Brian Wilson warned, “There could be higher levels of intoxication associated with longer hours of operation, more drunk drivers on the road during peak early morning commute times, and greater demand for law enforcement services over that extended period of time.”

Many opponents say that changing this law will cause a burden on law enforcement due to limited department staffing during those hours.

What does this mean for staff with a class 12 permit? It would potentially mean longer shifts, and more sales. It could mean more tips – but not necessarily better tips. It will require MAST permit holders to be more vigilant about not overserving customers and about making sure their clients have access to transportation if they’ve been drinking.

To get your liquor permit, take our online alcohol server training from the comfort of your own home. Visit www.aacea.com for more information.

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AACEA Launches Free Alcohol Server Certification Contest

Posted on March 28, 2012 by admin

Are you looking to get your alcohol server permit, or Class-12 certification in Washington?  Lucky You! Get your bartender certification free – on us!  Just tell us why you want to become a bartender, and we’ll give one lucky bartender a full ride scholarship to our online alcohol certification class for free!

To enter, comment on our Facebook Page, or tweet @lenriggs on twitter, and use the hashtag #freealcoholservertraining.

For example, you could say “@lenriggs - I want to become a bartender because I make excellent flaming Dr. Peppers! #freealcoholservertraining” and you’re entered to win.  It’s that easy!

The contest will be open until April 25 and if you win, you will experience free mandatory alcohol server training courtesy of Len Riggs and Americas Alcohol Certified Education Association.  You can post on both FB and Twitter for 2 contest entries.  You also get one entry for sharing our contest with YOUR friends on Twitter and one entry for sharing our contest on Facebook.  That’s 4 chances to win – total!

If you need Washington alcohol server training, AACEA provides online alcohol server training courses that you can take from the comfort of your own home.  Imagine getting your bartender certification in your pajamas, and heading to work later that day.  It’s that easy.  Find out more at www.aacea.com.

Thanks to Contest Hound for helping us spread the word!



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Tips to Become a Better Bartender

Posted on March 23, 2012 by admin

There are a lot of things you can do to become a bartending pro – for example, you’ll need to obtain your Washington alcohol server permit.  But besides that, we have a few tips for the beginner to help you become a pro!

Keep your bar well stocked.  You can’t make a drink if you don’t have all the ingredients, and it’s very likely that you won’t have much time to walk away from the bar to grab a back-stocked bottle.

Don’t have an item/drink/liquor in stock?  If you say you’re out of something, it could sound like your bar manager is disorganized, or didn’t properly order stock for your bar.  If you say you’re “sold out” of something, it must be a popular item.

Keep your bar tidy.  Cleaning up the tools you’ve used to make a drink is part of making the drink, so get in the habit of rinsing out your shaker/strainer/blender when you’re done using it so you don’t have to do it prior to making the next drink.

When you’ve got a list of drinks to make, pick up that bottle only once!  Line up your glasses on the bar, ice the ones that need to be cold, and pour all the vodka you’ll need for this set of orders so that you don’t have to keep going back to get that bottle.  It’s more efficient to make multiple drinks at a time in this method than pouring drinks one at a time.

Don’t over-fill your glasses.  Many certified bartenders know that you need to allow around a quarter-inch of room at the top of a glass to avoid spills and messes.  If you leave a little bit of room at the top of the glass, your guests won’t have to sip off the top to be able to take their drink from the bar to their table.

Keep your head up, your eyes open, your ears open and be alert as much as possible.  You’ll need to be aware of everything that happens around you.  Watch out for drinks that may need refills, suspicious activity, or guests who need their ID checked.

Use both hands.  The best bartenders have learned to be somewhat ambidextrous.

Many bartenders can walk behind any bar and be a great bartender regardless of the venue.  Often, it’s just a matter of learning the way the register works, and where everything is.  Learning these tips and tricks are a way to become a better bartender.

Alcohol servers learn tips like these and more at our online alcohol classes.  If you need your Class 12 permit in Washington, take one of our Washington alcohol certification classes.  Visit AACEA.com for more information.

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Do Hangover Cures Work?

Posted on March 18, 2012 by admin

At America’s Alcohol Certified Education Association, we provide alcohol server classes for servers and bartenders to get their Class 12 permit in Washington.  We are also committed to providing information that promotes responsible alcohol service.

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There are many folk cures that are supposed to help cure hangovers, and often these “cures” are designed to help replenish the vitamins and liquid you lost over night.  Try all the cures you’d like – exercise, greasy food, juice – there really is no true cure for a hangover, but there are things drinkers can do to avoid having a hangover, and things drinkers can do to make themselves feel better afterwords.

  • Get hydrated: Before drinking, hydrate with both clear water and sports drinks that contain sugar and important minerals and salts.
  • Don’t drink on an empty stomach: Before drinking, eat fat-containing foods and foods with high carbohydrate content. These ingredients slow absorption of alcohol in the stomach.
  • Avoid sugars:  Sugar increases the speed of alcohol absorption.
  • Drink slowly:  Sip the drink, and try to minimize the amount of total intake.
  • For those who get headaches right after drinking: Drink “headache-safe” beverages, such as white wine and light or clear-colored liquors.
  • Have an Ibuprofen: To prevent the effects of the hangover, you may be able to take anti-inflammation agents before drinking.
  • If soon-after or hangover headaches occur:  Take an anti-inflammatory agent like Ibuprofen (you must wait several hours if you took one in advance of drinking) or an anti-migraine agent if you have them available.
  • Rehydrate:  Drink water and sports drinks after your night out on the town. Avoid narcotic-containing painkillers or any ingredient containing acetaminophen (aka Tylenol). Alcohol can make those drugs deadly, and acetaminophen-containing products may cause serious liver damage when mixed with alcohol, which can sometimes be fatal.
  • Get a little exercise: A low-impact, or easy exercise may help boost your mood by releasing endorphins that are being suppressed by your hangover.  A little light exercise can help alleviate that.  Just make sure you’re continuing to hydrate, since exercise and dehydration can cause serious problems.

While there’s no one cure for a hangover besides rehydration, time and rest, the above tips may make your hangover hurt less.  Another tip is to ask your bartender for a glass of water when you order an alcoholic beverage and space each drink out with a glass of water in between.

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To get your Mandatory Alcohol Server Training certification from the comfort of your own home, or to find out more about our bartending school in Washington, visit www.aacea.com.

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What Glass Should I Use for Different Beers?

Posted on March 13, 2012 by admin

We reported a while back that bar glass shapes confuse even the most adept bartenders from time to time.  The right glass can definitely enhance the drink you’re serving – for example, red wine glasses are built for maximum surface area, letting the wine “breathe”.

So how well do you know YOUR beer bar glasses?

Beers are generally served in the standard pint glasses you see at every bar.  However, besides the standard pint glass, you may encounter:

Pints: Come in 2 shapes – regular pints and pub pints.  They’re beer glasses with slightly tapered walls, and a pub pint has a ridge around the top.  Pint glasses come in two sizes: Imperial 20 ounce glasses or US 16 ounce pints.

pub pint glass

Pilsner Glasses:  A long, narrow glass with walls that taper towards the base. Used to consolidate volatiles and support delicate heads of pilsners and other lagers.  These may be tall (imperial pint size) or short (weisen glasses).  They may also feature a short stem and be “footed”.

pilsner glass

Seidel or Stein: German-style mugs, often 1/2 liter volume, with handles and thick walls that maintain a cool temperature. An earthenware, ceramic, or metal version is called a stein.

seidel or stein

Goblet, Schooner or Chalice: Wide-mouthed, bowl-like, stemmed glass, generally used for serving abbey-style ales. Like tulip glasses, they are often etched to stimulate carbonation. These are also considered schooner glasses – which are often confused with the shorter pilsner or weisen glasses.

schooner chalice goblet

Tulip glass: These are much the same shape as the above schooner or goblet – bulbous with a smaller mouth and short stem, that support large heads of artisanal Belgian ales, or any beer you might “swirl”.  These glasses have etching on the bottom of the inside of the glass, that help stimulate carbonation which allows the beer to keep its head.

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AACEA provides alcohol server training which promotes responsible service and sales of alcohol. To get your alcohol servers permit in Washington visit www.aacea.com

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Behind the Bar Basics

Posted on March 9, 2012 by admin

At America’s Alcohol Certified Education Association, we provide alcohol server classes for servers and bartenders to get their Class 12 permit in Washington.  We are also committed to providing as much knowledge as possible to our bartenders-to-be.

There’s a lot more to becoming a bartender than just pouring drinks for paying customers.  For anybody who’s considering becoming a bartender there are a couple bartending basics  that prepare any good bartender for the coming day:  You must have the right tools and the right workspace.

Behind the Bar

Any bartender will tell you, organization is key.  You don’t want to be behind an unorganized bar, with a line of customers out the door who are waiting for drinks.  This is frustrating for you as a bartender, and frustrating for your customers who won’t understand why it takes so long to get a drink.

You need to make sure you have access to everything you need for your shift – everything needs to be readily available or easy to grab without having to leave the bar.  Keep your bar tools close, and make sure your most popular liquors are within arms’ reach.  It also helps to check the menu at your establishment and make sure that you have the ingredients available for any drink specials you might be offering.  It also helps to have popular garnishes ready to go – especially citrus.  Cut these up before hand and have them ready to go so you’re not cutting fruit when your bar is the busiest.

The Right Tools

You won’t get very far as a certified bartender if you don’t have the right tools.  These tools include strainers, shakers, bottle or can openers (a “churchkey” works well for both), a corkscrew for wine, and a few rags to mop up should anything spill.  Safety is key, so it’s handy to have a mat behind the bar along with a mop and broom for any mishaps.

It’s also important for certified alcohol servers to know a few different types of glasses for the drinks they’ll be serving:  Highball glasses are often taller than old fashioned glasses (or “rocks” glasses).  Tumblers aren’t the same size or shape as pint glasses.  White and red wines have different size and shape openings.

For more information on bartending school in Washington or to get your Mandatory Alcohol Server Training certification from home, visit www.aacea.com!

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Oscar Party Prep: Champagne Punch

Posted on February 24, 2012 by admin

The Oscars are upon us!  Whether you’re hosting a party at home, or serving alcohol at a well-loved bar, choose a delicious bubbly drink for your Oscar Party attendees.

A champagne punch is a festive addition to any occasion!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup triple sec or Grand Marnier
  • 1 cup brandy
  • 1/2 cup Chambord, or other raspberry flavored liquor
  • 2 cups unsweetened pineapple juice
  • 1 quart chilled ginger ale
  • 2 chilled (750 ml) bottles dry Champagne
  • 2 cups raspberries

1. In a large bowl or pitcher, combine the triple sec, brandy, Chambord and pineapple juice and chill covered for at least 4 hours or overnight.
2. In a large punch bowl, combine the triple sec mixture, the ginger ale, Champagne and ice cubes if desired.
3. Garnish punch with raspberries and serve.

If you need a recipe that’s more tailored to the individual, but still packs a punch, try a French 75!

Ingredients

  • 2 oz gin
  • 1 tsp sugar (superfine if possible)
  • 1/2 oz lemon juice
  • 5 oz Brut champagne

1. In a cocktail shaker, combine the gin, sugar and lemon juice and shake well with cracked ice.
2. Fill a Collins glass partway with ice and strain the gin mixture into it.
3.Top off with champagne.

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America’s Alcohol Certified Education Association provides online alcohol server training – you can get your Washington State alcohol server‘s permit in only 3 hours, and you can be at work in the service industry that day!  Check out our online training to take alcohol server training classes in Washington and Oregon from the comfort of your own home.  Visit www.aacea.com.

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