In 2012, we put together a post that we thought would have the bar crowd excited, especially the beer drinkers. Much to our chagrin, the World’s Top 15 Beer Festivals was met with more disdain than adoration.

It seems in our quest to find the World’s Top Beer festivals we overlooked many of the smaller craft brew festivals, which of course upset beer connoisseurs from around the web and all over the globe. Just take a look at the comments on reddit. Yikes! Well lesson learned.

One common complaint found in many of the comments, hate-mails, and death threats (okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a bit about the last one) was our lack of including, or even mentioning, the Great Taste of the Midwest.

We wanted to see what the fuss was all about, so last summer we packed up the BarWhiz van and took a road trip out to Madison, Wisconsin to attend this much lamented beer festival.

Occurring on the second Saturday of every August, 6,000 Wisconsinites converge on beautiful Olin-Turville Park to sample the 600+ offerings of over one hundred brewpubs and microbreweries from all over the Midwest.

It’s not just about drinking at the Great Taste of the Midwest beer festival. Beer education is also a big part as well. From cooking with beer, to beer pairing, and everything in between, the presentation pavilion is the place to be to get your beer education on. With most sessions capping the limit at 100 people it can be hard to get a seat, so arrive early if you want to join in on the fun.

So yes, we now agree with all the seasoned beer festivalgoers, the Great Taste of the Midwest definitely needs to be included in the list of the World’s Top Beer festivals. If you want to check it out for yourself, the 2013 Great Taste of the Midwest is on Saturday, August 10, 2013.

For more information visit their website: www.mhtg.org.

***Update***
Unfortunately, by the time this post was ready for live submission the 2013 Great Taste of the Midwest was already sold out. To commiserate your loss we’ve decided to share with you some pictures of the 2012 festival:

About the Author
Corey Rozon is a freelance writer from Ottawa, Canada.

#1 – Beer

Beer goes with camping like peanut butter goes with jelly. So it’s no wonder that beer has taken the #1 spot for most popular drinks for camping. If you are car camping you can bring everything from a case of bottles to a beer keg with you. However, if you decide to do some real camping, you know like where you hike into the woods, or paddle upstream in a canoe, you will want to bring something that is a little easier to transport, like cans.

Typically 1 litre of booze will add an additional 1-pound to the overall weight of your backpack. Since everything you bring in you must also be brought out, you may find these tips to lightening your load for getting loaded very helpful:

Leave the cooler at home.
Coolers are not only unnecessary, but they can also be extremely heavy. Thankfully the great outdoors offers many ingenious ways to chill your suds:

Place your beer in a body of water. Find a place where the current won’t carry them away and your beverages will stay cold all day.

If there is no body of water around you could always use a sock. Simply wet a clean sock and put your beer inside. Hang the sock from a tree and as the water evaporates the heat will be drawn away from the beer, which in turn will cool it down.

Mix your own beer.

If you really want to save some room in your pack, you can always mix your own beer with Pat’s Backcountry Beverages (www.patsbcb.com/beer-concentrate). This powdered beer is light and easy to carry. All you need is a carbonating water bottle and some water. In no time you’ll be enjoying some freshly mixed brews.

#2 – Whiskey, Scotch and Rye

It can get cold out there in the wilderness. That’s why every camper, from the hiker to the car camper, should carry along a trusty flask of some firewater. A few sips of some good whiskey, scotch or rye and your blood will be sufficiently warmed to make it through the night.

#3 – Wine

Sure you cooked your dinner over a campfire, but that doesn’t mean you can’t class up your meal with a nice Chardonnay. A fine tetra pack of wine is a must have for any camping trip. Not only are the tetra packs easy to transport, both in and out of the woods, but best of all you won’t have to use that corkscrew option on your multi-tool pocketknife.

#4 – Cocktails

We couldn’t have a list of the best drinks for camping without including at least one cocktail recipe. And since a night around the campfire isn’t complete without having a least one round of s’mores we have come up with the S’moretini.

2 oz marshmallow vodka
1 oz chocolate liqueur
splash of half and half
chocolate syrup and graham crackers for rim
marshmallow for garnish

Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice, strain into martini glass rimmed with chocolate syrup and graham cracker crumbs and garnish with roasted marshmallow.

If making mixed drinks is not your specialty, you can always purchase premixed cocktails such as, Cosmopolitans, Mojitos and even Kamikazi’s that come packaged in lightweight plastic bags. Check out all the flavours available at Shot Pak (www.shotpakinc.com).

About the Author
Corey Rozon is a freelance writer from Ottawa, Canada.

Spring has finally sprung, and with the onset of the warm weather, for those of us north of the equator, it means we can finally enjoy a cold one outdoors. From outdoor patios to backyard parties one of the best places to enjoy a refreshing ice-cold drink is at an outdoor music festival.

Before we divulge the list of the most popular drinks at a music festival we’d first like to provide you with some words of caution. There are many key elements to surviving a music festival, especially a multi-day one. Remember, it’s not a sprint; it’s a marathon. So pace yourself and above all, remember to hydrate.

The majority of music festivals have a strict no outdoor alcohol permitted policy, so unfortunately you’ll have to stick with drinking what is available. If you’re more of the unscrupulous type you can always try one of these 6 inventions to smuggle booze into festivals… but if you get caught you didn’t hear that from us. Now on with the drinks:

#1 – Beer

By far the most popular, and most accessible drink at a music festival is of course beer. Whether it comes on tap, in the bottle or in the can no music festival experience is complete with a plastic cup of frothy goodness.

#2 – Wine

For the higher classed drinker, or just those of you that don’t like a cold refreshing beer, the second most popular music festival drink is wine. If you don’t want the dreaded black-teeth of red wine, we suggest sticking with the white.

#3 – Coolers

Coolers, whether wine, vodka or some other kind of sugar laden beverage is another popular drink for many festival-goers. Even if you don’t like coolers, at any given moment you may be Bro Iced, so be prepared and be careful out there.

#4 – Cocktails

Although not the most popular drink at a music festival, they can be the most delicious, and most dangerous. If the music festival you are attending offers cocktails, make sure you following our words of caution: pace yourself and stay hydrated.

#5 – Specialty Drinks

As alluded to, you typically don’t have too many options when it comes to types of drinks you can purchase at a music festival, so sometimes you have to improvise and create your own. With a plastic glass of beer, some ice and a can of el Jimadore (or any other premixed margarita) you can make your very own Beergarita!

About the Author
Corey Rozon is a freelance writer from Ottawa, Canada.

Last year we discussed the top 19 party cities in all of Canada, but as you may very well know, one person’s party city is another person’s snoozefest.

A city can mean different things to different people based on their experiences. Whether you live in that city, were raised in that city, are tourists to that city or a backpacker just passing through, your wants, needs and expectations of a party may be different from everyone else.

Today we are going to focus on one particular group: backpackers. With youth hostels located in over 85 cities across Canada, the great white north is one destination with the backpacker’s travel budget in mind.

Not only can you find a cheap room at one of the many hostels across the country, but some of these hostels also have their very own bars! Cheap beers and cheap beds equal a fun time in my books.

So without further adieu, here are the best Backpacker Bars across Canada:

British Columbia
The Cambie Pub – Vancouver

When it comes to hostels, cheap, quality, and clean rooms are what is most important to many backpackers, and that is exactly what the The Cambie offers. What makes a stay at the Cambie even better is their onsite pub. Rated as the “#1 place to get wasted on the cheap” the Cambie really knows how cater to the backpacker’s budget. For more ideas on how to party on the cheap, check out our Miser’s Guide To Clubbing.

Alberta
The Storm Cellar – Banff

Billed as a True Traveler’s Pub, the Storm Cellar is the in-house bar for the HI-Banff Alpine Centre, one of the best ski and snowboarding hostels in the Rockies. The pub is a cozy place to unwind after a long day of hitting the slopes. Sip a few pints, play some darts, or take part in one of the many daily events, from Karaoke and trivia to live music from some great Canadian artists. If skiing is your thing, check out our list of the Best Ski Resorts To Party At.

Ontario
Mugshots – Ottawa

One of the more unique hostels in Canada is found in its capital city, Ottawa. The HI-Ottawa Jail hostel is located in the old Nicholas Street Gaol, which was built in 1862. Hostelling International purchased the building after it’s closure in 1972 and converted it into a hostel leaving much of the structure intact. Yes, that means you can spend a night in jail without the embarrassment of a having to call a friend or family member to bail you out. The jail’s chapel, which is typically only used in winter months, has been converted into the hostels on-site bar Mugshots. During the summer months the bar moves out into the courtyard, which was once the gallows and the place of the last public execution in Canada.

Québec
Tiki Bar Barbu – Sainte-Anne-des-Monts

Located 8 hours east of Montreal, right near the mouth of the St. Lawrence River is The Sea Shack, Sainte-Anne-des-Monts festive hostel. Ideally located to take advantage of all the outdoors has to offer, the Sea Shack hosts visitors all year round. Other than the amazing activities this hostel has to offer, from skiing to kayaking, what keeps people coming back for more are the famous parties hosted at the Tiki Bar Barbu. With live music acts from virtually every genre as well as many themed party nights, at the Tiki Bar Barbu the party never stops.

About the Author
Corey Rozon is a freelance writer from Ottawa, Canada.

Here at BarWhiz we are not only your guides to a great night out, but we are also a pretty good resource for all things party, which of course includes beer. Although we’ve written some posts specifically about beer in the past, we are by no means experts on the subject. So where do we get our information from? By turning to those in the industry, from craft brewers, beer connoisseurs and even beer snobs.

Today we would like to share with you a list of our most favorite Beer Blogs – from the informative to the downright ridiculous, these 54 beer bloggers really know their stuff.

If you know of any beer blogs we should add to our reading list feel free to leave a comment below. Also, if you are a beer blogger yourself, click on the image above for more information about the 2013 Beer Bloggers Conference

So without further adieu, here are our top 54 favorite beer blogs:

#1. – 2 Beer Guys Beer Blog – USA

#2. – A Girl And Her Beer – California

#3. – Aleheads – USA

#4. – Beer and Baking – USA

#5. – A Good Beer Blog – USA

#6. – BeerSmith Home Brewing Blog – USA

#7. – Hop Bunnies – USA

#8. – OC Beer Blog – USA

#9. – The Beer Here – USA

#10. – Boak and Baileys Beer Blog – United Kingdom

#11. – Brew York – USA

#12. – The Charlotte Beer Blog – USA

#13. – Craft Beer Geek – USA

#14. – Crafty Pint – Australia

#15. – Drunk and Unemployed – USA

#16. – Hail the Ale! – New York

#17. – Home Brew Manual – Argentina

#18. – Home Bru – South Africa

#19. – Hoppy Nomad – USA

#20. – It’s a Fucking Beer – USA

#21. – Ladies of Craft Beer – USA

#22. – The Beer Project – New Zealand

#23. – Portland Brewpubs – USA

#24. – Real Ale Reviews – United Kingdom

#25. – The Beer Cast – United Kingdom

#26. – Victory Brewing Company Blog – USA

#27. – ABREWCADABREW – Japan

#28. – Beer Culture – Czech Republic

#29. – I’ll Have Another Stout – USA

#30. – BeerNorway – Norway

#31. – Beer Reviews Beer Blog – United Kingdom

#32. – Beer Reviews by Professor Sudz – USA

#33. – BetterBeerBlog – USA

#34. – BrewDog – United Kingdom

#35. – Brewer’s Daughter – USA

#36. – Bruisin’ Ales Beer Blog – USA

#37. – Capt Keith’s Beer Blog – USA

#38. – Ding’s Beer Blog – USA

#39. – Fuggled – Czech Republic

#40. – Lost in the Beer Aisle – USA

#41. – Michigan Beer Blog – USA

#42. – The New School – USA

#43. – Non-Snob Beer Reviews – San Diego, California

#44. – The Not So Professional Beer Blog – USA

#45. – The Beer Blog – USA

#46. – SOB Beer Blog – USA

#47. – Snobby Beer – Dayton, Ohio

#48. – Snobs of Beer – USA

#49. – The Tale of the Ale – Ireland

#50. – The Beer Whisperers – USA

#51. – The Brew Site – USA

#52. – Thirsty Pilgrim – Costa Rica

#53. – TorontoBeerBlog – Toronto, Canada

#54. – Washington Beer Blog – Seattle, Washington

About the Author
Corey Rozon is a freelance writer from Ottawa, Canada.

Just the other day I happened to walk past the local Beer Store delivery truck and noticed their new logo, “We were green before green was cool”. I bet the hipsters just loved that one.

I know I’ve been ‘recycling’ my beer bottles, well ever since my very first beer – everyone always remembers their first. In fact, back in my first year of college, my roommate and I saved up all of our empties and cashed them in to fund a year-end kegger, but not before we first built a throne out of them. Oh college.

So I wondered, what do others do when they have too many empties? Here are just a few examples that I found:

#1 – Beer Bottle Temple

If you have ever enjoyed a Trappist beer, then you know how much monks love their suds. Some even go so far as to say that they invented beer, but we know today that beer has a much older history than when Benedictine monks began brewing it in the 6th century. Whatever the case, this group of Buddhist monks in Khun Han, Thailand found a very creative way to use up their unwanted empties – they had over one million of them – and built the Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew, also known simply as the Million Beer Bottle Temple. Kinda’ puts my throne to shame.

#2 – Beer Bottle Chandelier

This beer bottle chandelier is a unique piece of beer bottle art that most likely graces that finest beer bottle mansions in the land. Well actually it can be found at ‘On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina’ in Los Angeles, California, but we do have a beer bottle house coming up next.

#3 – Beer Bottle House

Located in the former mining town of Calico, California, this now historical landmark ghost town is the home of the Calico Glass Bottle House. Although it was not an original structure of the mining town, it was built to show that miners typically used what they had handy to build homes in the desert. And after a hard day of mining silver, there’s nothing like knocking back a few hundred bottles of beer.

Another great find is Grandma Prisbrey’s bottle village in Simi Valley, California.
In the website it’s written “Bottle Village is a one-third acre site covered with an assemblage of shrines, wishing wells, mosaic walks, structures and follies constructed primarily from discarded glass bottles.”.
They have great photo galleries of the place, here’s a picture (click on it to see one of the photo galleries):

#4 – Beer Bottle Sculpture

Located on the famous Beer Street in Qingdao, China, is a sculpture made entirely from Tsingtao beer bottles. The sculpture actually forms the character 九 that has the same pronunciation as part of the characters that make up the word beer.

#5 – Beer Bottle Lamp

For those of us without the architecture background that it would take to create a beer bottle building there is always the option of making a lamp. However, it does only take one bottle, so I’m not quite sure what you’ll do with the other 23 of them… ah yes, bring them back for a refund and turn them in for more beer.

Casas de Botellas

It is not beer, but if you’ve read so far and still interested in the bottle house trend,
know that in South America there are several countries with bottle house building projects.
Check out Casas de Botellas, a project dedicated to helping the poor have a place to live by building houses made of bottles, along with other materials often referred to as garbage.

About the Author
Corey Rozon is a freelance writer from Ottawa, Canada.

 
We’re not talking about the classic Adventures of Bob & Doug McKenzie. These strange brews aren’t used for evil mind-control purposes, although they may alter your perception. The strange in these brews are all about the names.

With the rise in popularity of microbreweries, as well as craft and homemade brews, there are some pretty strange sounding beer names on the market. Here are just a few of them:

#1. Arrogant Bastard Ale

Produced by the Stone Brewing Company out of Escondido, California, this 7.2% abv this aggressive ale was actually banned in a few states due to its profane language.

#2. Monty Python’s Holy Grail Ale

This 4.7% Holy Grail of ale was brewed by the Black Sheep Brewery out of North Yorkshire, England. It was released in 1999, just in time for the 30th anniversary of Monty Python. in 1999.
Ten years later on the 40th anniversary Holy Grail is still going strong. It’s a full-flavoured hoppy golden ale with dry finish – just like their humor.

#3. Buttface Amber Ale

The Big Horn Brewing Company out of Washington brews this American-style amber ale. Drink too many of these bad boys and you may end up butting your face against the wall… or worse, the floor.

#4. He’brew: The Chosen Beer

This San Francisco brewing company, Shmaltz Brewing, brews a number of different beers under their He’brew: The Chosen Beer line. Types include Origin Pomegranate Ale, Funky Jewbelation, Messiah Nut Brown Ale, and Genesis Ale. Nothing like a cold refreshing beer with a smooth aftertaste of blasphemy.

#5. Moose Drool – Brown Ale

Big Sky Brewing out of Missoula, Montana has a few interesting names for their line of beers, with the strangest by far being Moose Drool. Using four different varieties of both malts and hops, this brown ale is surprising easy drinking at 5.1% abv. But if you have too much of it, the Moose isn’t the only thing that is going to be drooling.

#6. Face Plant Winter Ale

The Nelson Brewing Company brews this certified organic winter ale out of British Columbia, Canada. At 6.5% abv, this may be the first beer that can predict your future – after consuming too much of it that is.

#7. Hoptimus Prime – India Pale Ale

Considered a Double IPA, Ruckus Brewing Company’s Hoptimus Prime uses five different hop varieties, and three different types of malts, which results in a very hoppy beer. Now Autobots, roll-out!

#8. Yellow Snow – India Pale Ale

Your mother always said, ‘Don’t eat yellow snow’, but she never said anything about drinking it. Rogue Ales out of Newport, Oregon brew this IPA that is golden in color and hoppy in flavor.

#9. Moylan’s Kilt Lifter – Scotch Ale

At 8.0% abv, this scotch style ale will blow the kilt off even the most robust of beer drinkers. Produced by Moylan Brewing out of Novato, California, they suggest their Kilt Lifter is best enjoyed if you let it first warm slightly in your glass. A beer that strong, I don’t think it will have a choice.

#10. Old Leghumper

Akron, Ohio is home to the Thirsty Dog Brewing Company who have quick an extensive selection of beers, 16 to be exact. Although the names range from Irish Setter Red to Barktoberfest (you get the theme), the strangest name bay far is their robust porter, Old Leghumper. Using two types of roasted malts, Old Leghumper is a rich porter with a chocolaty taste.

#11. Pigs Ass Porter – Porter

This little piggy went to the bar, and this little piggy went to a club. This little piggy picked up another little piggy and this little piggy went “wee wee wee” after drinking too much of Harvest Moon Brewing Compnay’s Pigs Ass Porter. With plenty of body, this porter is brewed with four different kinds of malts creating a creamy, smooth, slightly chocolate tasting brew that even Orwell’s Napoleon would enjoy.

#12. Polygamy Porter

The Wasatch Brew Pub in Park City, Utah is responsible for brewing this dark, medium bodied brew with a hint of chocolate and malty flavors. At only 4.0% abv, when it comes to Polygamy Porter why just have one!

Author: Corey Rozon

 
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.
When it comes to the format in which you drink you beer, whether from the tap, the bottle or the can, the choice is really in the eye of the beer holder. However, some amateur beer connoisseurs swear by one form or another as being the best tasting format.

Jerry Bushon of New Belgium Brewing Co., one of the biggest microbreweries in the US, disagrees: “From a sensory perspective, there is virtually no difference in the beer. Blind tasting has shown that the beer is consistent throughout.”

We’ve decided to delve a little deeper and try to uncover once and for all which suds are the best, from the tap, the bottle or the can.

On Tap

When it comes to beers on tap they are typically carbonated by force injection with various levels of CO2 and sometimes nitrogen. Some beer drinkers feel this can change the taste of beer, while others prefer this format, especially from a freshly tapped keg.

Although many Brewmasters agree that the taste remains unchanged on tap we decided to investigate a little further and found some advice from a professor, specifically the Anheuser-Busch Endowed Professor of Malting and Brewing Sciences at University of California, Charles Bamforth.

As the author of, ‘Beer Is Proof God Loves Us’, Bamforth says that when it comes to drinking beer on tap, “If the person knows what they’re doing and at the end of the day they’re cleaning the lines and then rerunning the beer through the taps to expunge any cleaning solution, it has the potential to be the best.”

The difference in taste, when drinking a beer on tap, is likely more a hygienic issue rather than a change in taste from the vessel that the beer is transported in. If you can find a bar that cleans their lines every night, than this may be the best option when it comes to drinking beer on tap.

In A Bottle

Before the beer is bottled for shipping it is usually given an extra dose of dextrose, yeast, or other forms of sugar to help create carbonation, and sometimes they are even force carbonated. Some think that this process changes the taste from its keg counterpart, however Professor Banforth’s disagrees, “If there are 50 beers on tap, what do you order? Something out of a bottle.” His reasoning being that many things can go wrong with the beer that is on tap, from staleness to bacterial infection because of unclean lines.

In The Can

Once thought to be only good for cheap mass produced suds, cans are becoming very popular in the craft-brew circles as the vessel of choice. Not only are cans lighter and more portable than their glass counterparts, but they also offer better protection from light and oxygen, the two causes of spoiled beer.

Clearly the can may be the real winner here, but with many establishments only offering selections on tap or in the bottle what is a poor beer drinker to do?

If the bar carries many brands, some of them won’t be as popular as others. Beer that has sat around longer, especially those from a keg or bottle, will tend to loose their delicious flavours and take on a more ‘skunky’ taste.

The very first thing you should do before you place your order is ask the bartender which is the beer they sell the most. This will minimize the risk of getting a beer that has sat around for a long time. Whenever possible it is advised to drink locally and never imported. When it comes to imported beer the Professor of Beer states, “There’s an above-average chance that it has aged unprofitably. Even bottles that have traveled far are pretty much out of the question.”

Brewmasters and Professors aside, you could always follow the advise of good ole’ Hank Thompson, “On Tap, in the can or in the bottle, to me it will all taste the same.”

Author: Corey Rozon

So the time has come to answer a very important question here at Barwhiz: Is there a difference between Beer, Ale, and Lager? We have all heard these terms being thrown around in pub circles for years but have we actually taken the time to find out the discernible difference? If not, now is that time.

Beer is the third most popular beverage in the world, behind water and tea respectively. It is delicious and is generally made with the following ingredients: water, some form of starch (usually malted wheat or barley), hops, and brewer’s yeast – those are the basics.

During the making of beer, known as the brewing process, hot water is mixed with the starch source creating a substance called “wort”. The wort is then boiled and hops are added for flavoring. This hopped wort is then cooled and brewer’s yeast is added for fermentation. And voila, Beer!

It is in this fermentation stage, however, that beer becomes categorized as either an Ale or Lager. The temperature during the fermentation stage as well as the type of yeast that is used for fermentation is responsible for creating either an Ale or a Lager.

For example, Ales are fermented with brewer’s yeast that ferments on the top of the liquid. The fermentation process is also carried out in a warmer temperature (roughly 59 – 77 degrees F) creating a stronger more aggressive taste and often a higher alcohol content.

Lager beer on the other hand (from the German word “to store”) is made with brewer’s yeast that ferments on the bottom of the liquid. The fermentation process always takes place in a cooler environment (roughly 40 – 55 degrees F) and lasts longer than Ale’s fermentation process. This longer, cooler fermentation process safeguards the Lager from having a fruity taste as it produces a more clear, smooth, crisp taste.

Most of the beer that is consumed around the world today is Lager beer; however, Ale’s have been making a comeback in North America and Britain of late.

Now that you know the difference between Ales and Lagers, it’s up to you to find one that tastes right to your own personal palate.

Cheers.

Author: Corey Rozon

Happy Hour is a cherished tradition in any work place.
Be it retail, construction or any variety of office job, employees love any opportunity to drink away the stress of the work day.

While work locations may differ, there are certain personality types common to any work place. If you are looking to organize a Happy Hour event at your job, look carefully at these work personalities and decide if you really want to put them on the invite list.

The Informant

This is the person in the know. Often a receptionist or the employee sitting closest to the break room, they hear everything happening in the company. Who’s getting fired? Did “so and so” really get that promotion? The informant is someone you want to pal up with.

Happy Hour Plus – Ply them with a bit of liquor if you want advanced notice to get your resume in order.

Happy Hour Downer – Not everything that happens at Happy Hour stays at Happy Hour. There are never guarantees they won’t share with the higher ups things said when tipsy employees start sharing how they really feel about their bosses.

The Butterfly

Everybody knows the Butterfly and generally likes the Butterfly. At work they float from desk to desk with hellos and smiles, but never stay too long. Generally happy people, many know the Butterfly, but few know much about the Butterfly. They just want everyone to get along and be happy.

Happy Hour Plus – They make sure everyone at Happy Hour feels included.

Happy Hour Downer – Easily distracted, they can abandon the group and start chatting up other groups (and potentially forget to pay before leaving with their new best friends)

The Stick

When it comes to work, they are all business no fun. Their eyes are set on what is best for the company and fraternizing with co-workers is a waste of productivity. If they actually go to a happy hour it will only be to get the Butterfly off their back about being such work-focused a Stick.

Happy Hour Plus – Might be good for buying a round of drinks in an attempt to prove they can relax.

Happy Hour Downer – It’s hard for the Stick to leave work at work. They might see this as an opportunity to keeps talking about their ideas of how to improve productivity or complain about overly lazy fellow employees.

The Librarian

It’s hard to read the Librarian. Generally, in the workplace, you don’t always know they are around. They will come in, do their job then go home. Don’t go to them for the latest gossip, they don’t have time for that. The Librarian isn’t unfriendly or unpleasant. Most times they choose to stay clear of work politics and drama.

Happy Hour Plus – In general, they prefer to keep work and work. Not being up on the latest gossip, you can fill them in on old news and feel like the true “in the know” person. Also, they will keep the happy hour focused on fun and off of work (a good antidote to The Stick)

Happy Hour Downer – Some Librarians really like to cut loose and let their hair down outside work, sometimes too much. This can make it difficult take their quiet work persona seriously.

The Clown

Every job has one. They are always quick with a joke, a prank or anything to keep the mood light. It’s hard to dislike the Clown, but they can get taxing when deadlines are looming. Bad news doesn’t exist in their world. They will find any way to look on the bright side or find the humor in any situation including layoffs.

Happy Hour Plus – If anyone can get Librarians out of their shell, it’s the Clown. The life of the party, they will make sure every one has a drink in hand at all times. You might even be able to persuade Clowns to buy rounds of shots for the group.

Happy Hour Downer – Clowns aren’t known for their restraint. They can go overboard with the drinking quickly and get really obnoxious. They are usually the first ones thrown out by bouncers.

The Grouch

Life sucks. Work sucks. Everything sucks. They are the biggest challenge for Clowns and Butterflies. No matter how good the news, Grouches will find something wrong with it. Basically, they are happiest when they are able to make their coworkers miserable.

Happy Hour Plus – Good luck getting them to show up to a Happy Hour

Happy Hour Downer – If they do show up, they’ll just keep complaining and bringing the mood down. Chances are, the Grouch will just get meaner as they get drunker. If they get any sense they can ruin a Happy Hour, they will make sure to show up to any they get wind of.