So I am going to write this review from the perspective of someone who is a bit critical about the draught beer that I am served. My wife calls me a beer snob. I prefer to think of it as being an enthusiast and I have sampled hundreds of beers, done 35 plus micro brewery tours, dabbled in home brew and done a lot of reading to figure out modern draught beer systems. I have also spoke with the general manager of this Earl's location multiple times about issues with their draught beer based on prior visits.
So last night I again was served flat Rhino beers at this restaurant (both the lager and the ale). I do not understand why I was served these beers. Any half competent bartender should be able to spot such issues by simply looking for the right kind of bubbles along the inside of the beer glass after pouring said beer. In fact, the first pair of beers I was served, the bartender neglected to even rinse the glasses with fresh water so the beer would not stick to the glass. And on the second attempt, they attempted to serve me beers that were poured into glasses that were rinsed but were still flat. The lager should have had a lot more carbonation than the ale but both were equally flat.
So Earls is a restaurant that has gone to great lengths to have unique beer offerings - they have contracted with an excellent brewery in BC to brew two signature beers (the ones I ordered) and they also have a quality rotating tap from this brewery. They have also installed a special tool at the bar to make spraying the glasses an easy task. The general manager claims they have a contractor come in and clean the draught lines every few weeks and adjust the carbonation levels. So why do they not have a bartender or manager sample a few ounces of beer every day to make sure things are perfect so customers can have the quality beer experience they are seeking and paying for?