United Nations of Beer

World's hardest barman

by Kenneth Hart
(World Beer Delegate)

World's hardest barman

Well what can I say? This man is an absolute phenomenon. If there was a prize for the world's hardest, toughest and best barman, he'd win it hands down every time!

Pumping out the beer and spirits in Austria's tiny Maria Alm, Peter Machreich keeps the punters coming back for more night after liver-demolishing night to the d'Almhütt'n – a pub that's barely the size of the average living room.

With almost every imaginable Austrian Schnapps available, he'll even serve it up mixed into chicken soup cocktails – yes that's right, cocktails made with soup! It's perhaps the only meal on earth that gets you absolutely hammered.

"Seven chicken soups and a beer, thanks" is a very common order, and being hard as nails, Peter will make it eight soups and two beers and have one with you – every time.

Hammering out the best tunes on request all night, it's not uncommon for him to stay behind the bar for 48 hours straight – you see, the customer is always king at his amazing pub! And when the night becomes the morning, the last man standing will always, always be him.

Even after rocking the house for three nights straight after a massive New Year's Eve binge that involved half the punters dancing on the tables for hours on end, drinking straight from the Bacardi bottles mounted above the bar. No softing out by mixing anything with coke or orange juice while Peter is on duty. Pure power parties are the call here every night.

So what keeps him going, you ask? Well, the pure pleasure of seeing people have a great time, he says. But we suspect a few chicken soups with Schnapps and beers may help the cause!