Diageo and Zagat have joined forces to launched an online guide — called drinkwell — labeled “the world’s first online resource guide to restaurants that are dedicated to serving the highest quality drinks and drink service.”
The guide currently list 15 cities, and will be nationwide by the end of the year.
The good news is it free. The bad news is there’s dang little beer.
What you do get: “Access to the ratings that Zagat surveyors have given to the hundreds of drinkwell establishments across the country, based on the quality of drinks, service, atmosphere and cost. Partnering with several world-renowned beverage experts including Dale DeGroff, Steve Olson, Paul Pacult, Dave Wondrich and Doug Frost, to develop the drinkwell Academy Staff Training Program for participating establishments, drinkwell-accredited establishments will be identified by a special black and brushed metal plaque.”
I only gave the listings a quick look — but aren’t blogs a shoot-first-and-ask-question later endeavor? — and it looks as if you go to Chicago you won’t find a lovely special black and brushed medal plaque at the Map Room, the Hopleaf or the Village Tap.
But you will find quality beer (pretty good service and atmosphere too).
I agree about the criminal lack of beer places. I immediately went to see if my favorite beer bar in the world was rated. They didn’t even consider The Brick Store (http://www.brickstorepub.com/) in Decatur, GA (Atlanta). Perhaps it will grow. Sure wish there was a “Suggest a Place” button.
David
I think this is just a Diageo marketing campaign. If someone like Monk’s,Eulogy, or The Standard Tap here in Philadelphia(none of which are listed, along with five or six other places) is concentrating on the “good beer experience”, then they aren’t selling a lot of Diageo products.