Best benefit of the heat? Cheap beer
| Wednesday, Aug 25 2010 06:00 PM
Last Updated Wednesday, Aug 25 2010 06:00 PM
You won't find a lot of moaning and groaning at Ethel's Old Corral on Alfred Harrell Highway as the temperatures climb over the triple-digit mark. In fact, you will find people cheering the thermometer in hopes it climbs over 105 degrees.
That's because the northeast Bakersfield restaurant and bar drops the price of its draft beer as the temperature climbs. When it reaches 100 degrees, draft beer drops to $2 a glass. When it hits 105 degrees, the price drops to $1 a glass.
"It gives people a reason to be glad it's hot, rather that just complain about it," said Natalie Mears, the restaurant's owner.
As Bakersfield's "dry heat" got hotter in July, Mears cooked up her "beat global warming" idea. She says she has made good on her offer at least five times this summer, mostly serving up $2-a-glass beer as temperatures crested 100 degrees.
She predicted $1-a-glass beer would be flowing freely this week as temperatures were predicted to be well above 105 degrees.
"One dollar beer tones down the heat. It's not so much a drudgery," said Mears, who has owned Ethel's for six years.
"It's a fun thing," said John Hayes, a retired Chevron employee and East Bakersfield High graduate who stops by for lunch nearly every day.
Ethel's, which also goes by the name The Old Corral, is northeast Bakersfield's equivalent to "Cheers," where regulars hang out and everyone seems to know your name. But even "newcomers," like Mike and Loretta Schield, who moved to Bakersfield in 1996, find Ethel's enduring. "It's one of Loretta's and my very favorite places," Mike wrote in an e-mail alerting The Californian to the discount.
The discount beer offer is based on the readings from a simple thermometer hung on Ethel's patio.
"There's nothing fancy at Ethel's," Mears said.
