It might tell you something about the current political climate when a very Liberal-ish drink, the espresso martini, is putting Labor ahead in at least one poll.
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At Braddon's Hopscotch bar, they've rolled out Beer Democracy in time for the federal election, a contest to determine who will "govern" the bar.
A beer and a cocktail is assigned to each party: Labor, Liberal and the Greens. The number of each ordered by patrons is tracked, then added to the tally board at the end of each night.
As of Wednesday, the count was 378 to Labor, 373 to the Greens with the Liberals a way behind with 334 votes.
But it's the espresso martini that is skewing the totals.
"Everyone loves an espresso martini," says Nick Parkinson, director of Hopscotch.
"It's the people's choice."
The Greens, with Asahi on the taps, are well ahead on the beer count. The Liberals' Stone and Wood is polling behind Labor's Capital Coast Ale.
The cocktails include the martini, a Japanese Slipper for the Greens, and a Pink Panther for the Liberals.
Mr Parkinson said the tongue-in-cheek contest had boosted sales and provided a great conversation starter for patrons.
"The election is the talk of the town and the talk of the nation; it's affecting everyone's conversation at the moment," he says.
The taps on the bar boast the smiling faces of Scott Morrison, Bill Shorten and Richard Di Natale. Patrons can't see which party is which beer, and some are just happy to take a punt.
"We allocate the beers to make it a fair election, the Greens have earned their place on the board, we weren't going to give them an unpopular beer," Mr Parkinson said. Indeed the Greens won the last vote in Beer Democracy in 2016.
On Saturday night there'll be a post-election party at Hopscotch well into the night.
"It will be a good chance for people to drown their sorrows or celebrate with a drink of their choice."
When I suggest that perhaps Hopscotch should have served up a Clive Palmer option, Mr Parkinson disagrees.
Let's think what would be appropriate: a pale, full-bodied bitter beer, or a sickly sweet cocktail?
"If there was a Clive Palmer beer it would be in the back left hand corner of the fridge out the back," he said.
Karen Hardy
I've covered a few things here at The Canberra Times over the years, from sport to education. But now I get to write about the fun stuff - where to eat, what to do, places to go, people to see. Let me know about your favourite things. Email: karen.hardy@canberratimes.com.au
I've covered a few things here at The Canberra Times over the years, from sport to education. But now I get to write about the fun stuff - where to eat, what to do, places to go, people to see. Let me know about your favourite things. Email: karen.hardy@canberratimes.com.au
