This week joining us Behind Bars we’ve got Jarrod Howe, the taproom manager at Broomtail Craft Brewery. Broomtail is one of the very first craft breweries to emerge on the scene following Front Street and they’ve been knocking it out of the park ever since.
AT: What’s your favorite thing about bartending?
JH: I would definitely have to say my regulars. I’ve been hanging out with some of our customers for 3 years and consider many of them to be very good friends. We all look out for each other and it never really feels like work when you are hanging out with your friends (and lots of them bring me food). Also, lots of dogs. Dogs, food, friends, music, and beer. What could be better?
AT: Do you have any advice for current or future craft beer bartenders?
JH: The best advice I can give to any bartender (and I stress this to all of the new employees I’ve trained) is to get to know your regulars. Learn their names, learn their orders, just learn about them as people. I am consistently humbled by the kindness and generosity of our customers. Who knows, some of these people might become one of your friends, and who doesn’t want to tip their friends well?
AT: If you were a beer, which one would you be?
JH: I’m gonna go with our Moe-Beer Brown Ale. Simple, yet classic and delicious, you can never go wrong with our flagship Brown Ale, and as Broomtail’s longest working employee, the people that come to our taproom expect to see me (like it or not), just like they expect us to always have our Moe-Beer ready to pour.
