Sion Pe'er behind Bardak's taps. |
For example, Sion told me that most bars are "accustomed" to earn between 300% to 400% on the drinks they sell. In plain English, that means that they sell a drink for three to four times the cost of what they paid for it. (If I was shocked, it's because it's the first time I've heard it -- but it's a fact of life.)
That helps to explain why Israeli boutique beers are so pricey in most pubs.
"If we were to sell craft beers at the regular mark-up, they would cost 32-38 shekels per 330 milliliter bottle," says Sion. "But we work on a smaller mark-up so we can sell craft beers at 27-29 shekels per bottle. This is about the same cost as our imported bottled beers. Draft pints (410 milliliters) of Israeli boutique beers sell for 26-28 shekels."

"And we're going to replace the Goldstar with Shapiro's new lager beer," Sion confided. This will be a limited edition, sold only on tap. In addition to the drafts, Bardak stocks around 38 different bottled beers, and more than half of these are from Israeli micro-breweries.
When Bardak opened in July of last year, there were only three taps, as well as the bottled beer. "Those bottles that sold well got their own taps," said Sion. "That's the way it works. We may add three more taps this summer."
The bottled beer on sale at Bardak includes beers from Alexander, Shapiro, Bazelet (Golan), Herzl, Dancing Camel, Negev and Malka. A written menu on the blackboard offered another six bottled "winter beers," including Jack's Winter Ale by Shapiro (flavored with Jack Daniel's Tennessee whiskey), Negev Chariton, Shapiro Stout and Alexander Black. "We are open to all the Israeli micro-breweries," says Sion. "However, experience has taught us that it's the bigger ones who are easier to work with and more reliable.
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Free beer tastings. |
The menu at Bardak is built around pizzas (which are named after Jerusalem neighborhoods) and salads (named after Jerusalem parks). The cocktails are named after the city squares. Bardak has a kosher certificate from the Jerusalem Rabbinate.
The ultra-friendly staff at Bardak. |
The comments I have seen on Trip Advisor heap praise on Bardak's pizza, service and . . . Israeli beer! That keeps the tourists coming and is a powerful endorsement for Israeli craft beers.
The Bardak model shows that if you put Israeli boutique beers in the spotlight, promote them, and charge competitive prices, they can sell well and give you a thriving business. The decision in front of Bardak's customers is not "big beer" (cheap) vs. boutique beer (expensive), but rather, "Which Israeli craft beer are we having today?"
It's a model that should be adopted by more bars and restaurants in Israel.
Great news Doug. Where are they located? Do they have a web presence (site/facebook/etc...)?
ReplyDeleteThanks for asking: Bardak is at 38 Keren Hayesod, right at the corner with Jabotinsky.
ReplyDeleteFor the Facebook, try this: https://www.facebook.com/bardakbardq
Greener you did it again, great article about a great place, thanks.
ReplyDeletegreat article
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http://blogcarnival.com/bc/submit_208.html
You make an outstanding field journalist. Well done, and thanks for bringing this establishment and its story to the attention of us beer lovers in the capital.
ReplyDeleteThis post was included in The Pre-Purim aka Adar Bet Kosher Cooking Carnival! Please visit, comment and share, thanks.
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