Asking a bartender for a draught beer

Question

¡Hola! everyone. Being as "Cinco De Mayo" is coming up, and given New Orleans' motto of "Any excuse for a party," I plan on drinking a few beers this Friday. Thinking of the phrase, "Draw me a beer, please," which is how one sometimes asks a bartender for a draft beer, how does one saw "draw" in the sense of "drawing" a beer from a tap?

Also, what is a common Spanish word for "bartender"? I've seen "camarero/a de bebidas" and "cantinero/a."

¡Muchas gracias, amigos!

Answer 1

Regarding to draw: That fight might not be worth fighting. I suppose you could try sacar; that's a verb used for drawing water from a well. My gut tells me that it would sound odd in your beer context (or in the context of drawing a bath, for which I think preparar is common).

But then, "Draw me a beer, please" sounds a bit odd to me in English.

I'd probably opt for the noun phrase cerveza de barril.

In Mexico, both of your terms for bartender are understood, but the one I have encountered most is bartender.

Thank you, JT. Yes, I know the term is a bit outdated in modern English. I wondered because I heard an old Johnny Lee Hooker blues favorite where the chorus included "Draw one, draw two, draw three more glasses of beer." - Winkfish, May 1, 2017

I've never heard 'draw me a beer' but in the UK they still pull pints! and Guiness is bottled or draught. I would use the equivalent of can I have a pint of ... with the name of the beer. - Mardle, May 1, 2017

or being female can I have a half of ... - Mardle, May 1, 2017

Mardle: I'm sure "Can I have" would get you your beer. I've heard a Spanish teacher say that it sounds funny to them because it is like asking for permission. They don't differentiate between may and can the way proper English does :) - DilKen, May 1, 2017

Instead, this teacher suggested ¿Me puede(s) traer...? Or ¿Me podría(s) traer... Can you or could you bring me a ... - DilKen, May 1, 2017

She said, although the waiter or bartender would know what you are saying and probably not mention anything to you, they might think...sure you can have a beer...but do you want one? :) - DilKen, May 1, 2017

I've also been corrected by Spanish speakers here, that they never use tener = to have for eating or drinking like we often do in English, they use tomar instead. ") - DilKen, May 1, 2017

Another indication for servir...look up pour in the SD dictionary. To pour somebody a drink = Servir una bebida a alguien - DilKen, May 1, 2017

Winkfish: Since servir can also mean to serve, you should use cerveza el barril to make sure you are understood. Otherwise, the bartender will say, Por supuesto, "qué tipo de cerveza? - - DilKen, May 1, 2017

Yes I know me gustaria tc isnt used. Spanish are more direct. But equally you do not use dar. - Mardle, May 1, 2017

Mardle: yes, I agree, but I understand dar is often used in outdoor markets, food trucks, etc. Very informal. - DilKen, May 1, 2017

The Spanish teacher says: You might have heard the verb “Dar” in the context of a shop when you wish to look at or buy something and say. However, this verb is not usually used in a bar or restaurant and you should avoid saying: “Dame” or “Deme” - DilKen, May 1, 2017

Answer 2

Ponme/póngame una caña/ birra/ cerveza/ rubia o tostada/

Answer 3

Winkfish this is what your looking for: Sacar which means to draw.

Beers are most of the times kept in closed containers so we normally use the expression "sácame" sácale, sácanos una(s) cerveza(s).

Sácame una fría, sácame otra cerveza, sácame otra del barril are perfect, Any Spanish speaking cantinero would understand you want another beer if you use any of the above.

Thank you, Doc. That looks like the closest to what I'm looking for. - Winkfish, May 1, 2017

Sacar is also used to take something out of the refrigerator, so without mentioning del barríl I wouldn't think you would necessarily convey that you want a draft beer instead of a bottle - DilKen, May 2, 2017

You also need to mention the size of the beer and perhaps the brand if there is more than one brand of draft beer on tap. - DilKen, May 2, 2017

Sácame una pinta de Coors del barril for example for the first one - DilKen, May 2, 2017

Answer 4

beer/ale on draught / cerveza de barril

Ian: This was already pointed out, he is looking for the verb: to draw, or to pull and I've given him a couple of options. Maybe a native will have another option. - DilKen, May 1, 2017

Answer 5

Winkfish:

These links may help you. They are from Spain.

Bar vocabulary and how to order

How to order in a bar or restaurant

I think the most widespread translation of draft beer is cerveza de barril (beer from the barrel)

Ordering in a bar can be as simple as:

Ponme una cerveza (put me a beer)

Póngame a cerveza (usted form of the above)

Ponme otra (give me another)

Don't forget, in many places the employees will speak enough English that you can say:

¿Cómo se dice "I would like a draft beer" and then if you want to show that you know some Spanish and are just trying to learn the best way to say things with the local lingo, you could say.

Es mejor decir: ¿Póngame una cerveza de barril? o ¿Me puede dar una caña? o Quisiera una cerveza. Dígame por favor

Let the bartender know that you want to practice your Spanish by saying:

¿Me puede hablar en español, por favor?

Hábleme en español, por favor.

Thank you, Ken. Those are useful links, which I will study. I amd, however, looking for the Spanish word for the specific word "draw" as in "drawing a beer." - Winkfish, May 1, 2017

Winkfish: I would generally opt for the most common way that a Spanish speaker would say something. I doubt they would say it the way you're trying to do it. - DilKen, May 1, 2017

The bartender pulled a pint and handed it to his customer.El barman sirvió una cerveza y se la pasó a su cliente. - DilKen, May 1, 2017

¿Me puede servir una cerveza de barril? Google translates this as "Can I get a beer on tap? - DilKen, May 1, 2017

Tirar can mean pull, as in pull a lever, which is an alterative in English to draw...pull me a beer. - DilKen, May 1, 2017

Another indication for servir...look up pour in the SD dictionary. To pour somebody a drink = Servir una bebida a alguien - DilKen, May 1, 2017