With so many quality bars around the country, it means a great deal to be labeled as “the best.” From the menu and cocktail quality to the atmosphere and bar teams, a lot goes into being recognized at the top of the industry. Tales of the Cocktail’s Spirited Awards have become one of the most prestigious and coveted honors a bar can attain.

“Whoa. That’s Instagram-worthy.” In today’s digital age, there’s no higher compliment. That’s especially true in bars or restaurants. When a colossal-sized cheeseburger, an artistically presented slice of cheesecake, or a glowing craft cocktail arrives in front of us, our first instinct might be to reach for our phones and share these creations with the world.

"We've noticed the non-drinker has evolved," said award-winning bartender and founder of London's Dandylyan said in a recent article in Forbes. "It means you have people not drinking for a multitude of reasons, but they still want to socialize." This is a statement on the non-alcoholic or low-alcohol beverage trend that is gaining in popularity both at home and abroad. Consumers who choose not to imbibe have more than just the basic teetotaling options of decades past, and operators who understand this and are willing to step out of their comfort zones stand to attract a new type of customer.

If you stop and think about it, you can probably come up with a few cocktails that incorporate vegetables -- Bloody Mary's, Mojitos made with cucumber, or even a jalapeño-infused Margarita. And while fruits are still far more popular than vegetables when it comes to cocktail flavors, don't count out the veggies just yet.

Summer is here, and one of America's greatest pastimes is traveling the country in search of the Great American Ballpark. Here at Perlick, we're doing the same thing, though we're not just limiting our tour to baseball. From the World's Greatest Arena to the Frozen Tundra here a little closer to home, let's take a quick look at the evolution of stadium beer and beverage service from famous arenas across the country.

If there's one thing we recall from high school science class, it could be that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. What Newton was basically saying was that nature has a way of balancing itself out, but what he might not have realized was the same goes for an effective beer system. Everything you do, every change you make, has an impact to the system as a whole.

For many of us, it feels like the spring weather takes longer to arrive every year. When it does finally arrive, springtime brings with it trees blossoming, birds chirping, and crisp, refreshing beers to pour. Of the four seasons, spring is often overlooked when it comes to associating beer styles, and it can be attributed to a lack of specific seasonal flavors tied to spring.

Despite the adversity the lodging industry faces with home sharing services like Airbnb and VRBO, there's also an enormous opportunity for properties to attract and cash in with food and beverage. In a recent edition of Foodservice Equipment & Supplies, our own VP of commercial sales, Jim Koelbl, sat down to discuss the current beverage trends in the hospitality industry, and the conversation was enlightening.

Whether you're a brand new brewpub in Colorado's Front Range or are looking to replace your beer dispensing towers in one of the West Coast's tried and true microbreweries, Perlick has a new line of beer dispensing draught towers that will make an instant impact in your establishment. Having the right piece of beer dispensing equipment can add character and ambiance to your bar or restaurant, which will make beer sampling a more memorable experience for the beer lovers who visit your establishment. And when those memories are positive, those visitors will return.

Taking pride in your beer is a good thing. Whether you draw ornate designs in your Guinness foam or simply serve beer at the right temperature, we're looking for people like you to share your perfect pour in our Perlick Perfect Pour contest.

Health code regulations and standards can vary from state to state, but regardless of where your bar or foodservice operation is located, health code violations can be catastrophic to your establishment. Bars and restaurants that continue to violate inspections can lose business, get a bad reputation, or even be shut down for extended periods of time.

Every year, the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies review several thousand product designs and graphics from more than 48 different countries in search of recipients for their GOOD DESIGN™ Awards. In 2014, the Perlick 650SS Forward Sealing Flow Control Faucet was one of these winners. The GOOD DESIGN program is focused on quality designs that yield the highest forms, functions, and aesthetics. It is an international symbol of a company's commitment to innovation and superior design.

Tobin Ellis and Perlick have partnered to create a unique line of bar equipment. The Tobin Ellis Signature Cocktail Station includes sinks, ice storage, speed racks, drain boards and refrigeration – the important things. Designed for the craft cocktail movement but applicable in any bar setting, the Tobin Ellis Signature Cocktail Station represents the elimination of all the things that annoy bartenders, at least when it comes to equipment.