Photo Courtesy Mike Donohoe
Behind Bars is BACK and this time we’re chatting with Mike Donohoe from Session Beer Market, on the south side of town. Session just celebrate their two year anniversary. They’re a bottle shop with an extensive selection in bottles and cans, and a humble but impressive draft list. Go say hi to Mike!
AT: What is your favorite thing about bartending?
MD: The metal bottle opener thing has a loop at one end and I’ve gotten pretty good at spinning it around my finger. I’m pretty sure I’m the first person to do this, and it’s pretty fun. Oh and the people you get to connect and make memories with over the years are pretty rad too. Last week I actually performed a wedding ceremony for two people that I met doing this.
AT: Do you have any advice for current or future craft beer bartenders?
MD: It’s really cool to develop that dynamic with a patron where you can guess what they’re going to order every time, but they’ll almost always be more appreciative if you can open up new styles and ideas for them. It’s fun and rewarding to help people find new “usuals”. Its really satisfying (for both you and the patron) when you can get someone to go all the way from Miller Lite to barrel aged stouts.
AT: If you were a beer which one would you be?
MD: Tough one. I would probably be Bells Hopslam. Bitter, still has a few long-time fans, and every year you think “it was probably better last year”.
