Recently, at a neighborhood bar, the keg had nearly kicked for a beer I ordered, but the bartender asked if I’d still like to try it. He kindly poured what he could into a shot glass to have while he grabbed me another drink, and I was actually really into my tiny lager. Then, this week, I intentionally had a shot of beer at Dean’s, New York’s new chic British pub. There, you can get a mini Guinness with an oyster—also lovely.
Yes, maybe, I was getting a kick out of the absurdity of the little drink; due to the keg issues, that first beer had a tiny, fluffy cap of foam that honestly resembled the “golden ratio” of the Japanese sharp pour, and fluffiness begets cuteness (I don’t make the rules). But also, I realized that I sometimes want less in this era of increasingly tall tallboys, and I don’t think I’m alone in this. That same impulse is partly what’s driving kölsch service, a trending way of serving beer in narrow 0.1-liter glasses that you can refill at your own pace. Sometimes, less is more.
But what do you think? We’ve been doing some more beer coverage lately and I’d love to know what trends you’re seeing and liking.
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