BarBack Olympics Makes Drinking a Legitimate Sport. Finally

BerDerp™

Ice relay course form the 2008 BarBack Olympics at 111 Minna.

​On Sunday, 20 of the San Francisco Bay Area's best barbacks take center stage at Mezzanine in a series of challenges designed to replicate being deep in the weeds at the bar: bottle relay, ice bucket race, beer restocking race, and keg-changing. Sponsored, appropriately enough, by Fernet-Branca ― the bar and restaurant industry's drink of choice ― you can count on at least a few of the contestants running the course super-charged on shots of the black magic liqueur.

So far on the list of participating bars are representatives from 500 Club, 15 Romolo, Amante, Benders, Blur, Buckshot, Bullit, John Collins, Columbus Cafe, Eve, Hemlock, Hi-Fi Lounge, KozyKar, Mezzanine, The Parlor, RBar, Showdown, Smuggler's Cove, Som, Mr. Smith's, Temple, Tonic, Triple Crown, Hotel Utah, and Vertigo. We'll see if past winners Kevin Demattia (Zeigeist/Benders) and Christopher Pinedo (Mist) will make appearances to defend their titles.

Shirt-making, live music, dancers, and Fernet freebies sweeten this free event. Full drink specials menu as follows:

The Industry, $1
A shot of Fernet-Branca and gingerale back

The Italian Job, $5
Shot of Fernet-Branca and a Peroni beer

Fernet-About-It, $4
Fernet-Branca with cola or pineapple juice on the rocks with a squeeze of lime

The Barback Margarita, $5
Tequila Corralejo Reposado and Tres Agaves margarita mix

The Organic Margarita, $6
Casa Noble 100% Organic Crystal Tequila and Tres Agaves margarita mix

Cuba Libre, $5
Zaya Gran Reserva rum and cola with a lime

California Tea, $5
Seagram's Sweet Tea vodka, fresh lemon juice, and soda

The Head Nod, $7
Crystal Head vodka with tonic or soda

Peroni, $4

2010 BarBack Olympics
When: Sun., Nov. 14, 8 p.m.-1 a.m.
Where: Mezzanine, 444 Jessie (at Mint)
Cost: Free, but you have to RSVP online