USBG Boston

USBG LEAD seminar: 21st Century Tropical

Join us for a candid conversation on tropical drinks, cultural context, appropriation, and how to create vibrant, welcoming spaces with intention and respect. This session explores how social and political climates fuel escapism — and what responsibility we carry as hospitality professionals. Escapism isn’t the problem. How we execute it matters.

Featuring:

Acadia Cerise Cutschall — A Brooklyn-based beverage professional, artist, and organizer whose Oglala Lakota heritage informs her work at the intersection of spirits, contemporary Tiki, and Indigenous-led hospitality conversations.

Kyle Rioux — Founder of The Weary Traveler’s Club and longtime spirits educator, known for shaping Southern California tiki bar programs and speaking at major cocktail gatherings nationwide.

Chockie Tom — An Indigenous (Numu/Paiute and Pomo) storyteller, bartender, and founder of Doommersive and The Cornsilk Road, bringing cultural and labor-focused perspectives to the global drinks industry.

Frederic Yarm — Boston bartender, cocktail historian, and author of two books documenting the city’s cocktail renaissance, with longtime leadership in the USBG’s education initiatives.

📅 Tuesday, March 10 🕚 12 PM PT / 3 PM ET
🔗 Register here: https://tr.ee/f9dorThJf5 (Link in 's bio)

Access Included with active USBG Membership. Paid registration available for non-members.

Coffee Networking Event on Tuesday December 16th 1-3pm. Come to Lamplighter Brewing near Central Square (not the one by Lechmere), buy yourself a coffee (or a beer, no judgment), and chat with like-minded bar professionals in the city. No need to be a member. Attendance is free save for your beverage and/or purchase. Feel free to discuss anything from job searches to how to deal with problem guests, and bartender events (like Tiki by the Sea, Portland Cocktail Week, Tales, and Runamok) to educational things like books to read and podcasts to listen to. We'll also be looking to the future to see if anyone wants to help guide the chapter into a strong 2026 by taking on a leadership role.

Pepita Coffee inside Lamplighter proudly brews up coffee drinks from Broadsheet Roasters and serves food from Iggy's and Forge Baking Co., and is located at 284 Broadway in Cambridge, MA, just outside of Central Square and easily accessible by the Red Line and other forms of public transportation. Once there, look for and other members of the USBG Boston.

Feel free to comment if you are planning or thinking of attending.

Boston Harbor Distillery Tour & Tasting! Nov. 18th 1pm.

It's been over four years since we've visited them, and Boston Harbor Distillery has once again invited USBG Boston down for a tour of their distillery and a tasting of their product line Tuesday November 18th at 1pm. Founded in 2012, the distillery produces a variety of products ranging from rye whiskey to maple cream liqueur, and there's some new products since the last time! This event is open to USBG members and those interested in getting involved with our chapter.

Please RSVP with Eventbrite through the Linktree link in USBG Boston's Instagram profile or via:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/boston-harbor-distillery-tour-tasting-tickets-1925954845789?aff=oddtdtcreator

Notes from yesterday's EdWeek roundtable discussion entitled "Engaging with Challenging Guests":

:: engaging with challenging guests :: Yesterday, USBG Boston hosted all four of its Education Week 2024 events that included a comparative tasting of tequila production technique...

Our third session for EdWeek is .shibuya's class on ice. We started with the history of the ice trade (that started in this part of Massachusetts) and the science of directional freezing before getting into technique. Check out the array of tools in the second pic!

Our second session for EdWeek has begun with a round table on how to engage with challenging guests. From bouncers at rock clubs to GMs of fine dining and folks who have worked everything in between.