Best Brews Online Training

Client: WineQuest, for Four Points by Sheraton

Project: Four Points by Sheraton recently unveiled their Best Brews program, allowing guests to enjoy regional and craft beer at Four Points locations across North America. Roughstock designed and wrote the training curriculum for thousands of Four Points servers, bartenders and managers, introducing them to one of the most misunderstood beverage categories around. Our curriculum included Beer 101, Becoming a Beer Expert, and Selling and Serving Beer segments.

From Beer 101:

PORTERS and STOUTS
Porters and stouts are both technically ales, as they are made with top-fermenting yeasts. But the nature of these beers puts them in a class by themselves. Often mistakenly lumped together as "too heavy," or "too alcoholic," these are likely two of the most misunderstood styles among casual American drinkers. In fact, porters and stouts are often lower in alcohol and lighter bodied than their pale-colored cousins. Not only do they offer a wide range of flavors, they pair wonderfully with foods.

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Porter (ABV: 4%-7.5%)
Porters have a colorful history dating back to the street and river porters of eighteenth century London. The style is usually light to medium bodied, with a lower alcohol content than other beers. Porters are frequently considered session beers, so called because they can be drunk in longer sessions without the intoxication caused by more alcoholic styles. This surprises many, as porters have a characteristic deep brown to black color that belies their relative lack of heft.

But what the style lacks in body it more than makes up for in flavor. With sweet roasted, chocolate flavors brought out by specialty malts and occasional notes of tobacco, hops or fruit, porter is a smooth, full intensity style.

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