Sweden’s dream bartender has ‘beer smarts’ and is charismatic rather than just another superficial Cocktail Tom Cruise fast talker, according to a new survey conducted by Czech brewery Pilsner Urquell.

Apparently we don't want fast-talking, wise-cracking bartenders like Mr Cruise anymore....

The iconic brewery, famous for developing the first golden beer back in 1842, asked 1026 Swedish drinkers to describe their perfect bartender.

Most want someone who is pleasant, knowledgeable and helpful, while those who joke around, talk too much and focus on drinks with new and strange tastes come much further down the list of top ten characteristics a dream bartender should have.

The survey was conducted in association with the annual International Master Bartender competition organised by Pilsner Urquell which they’re billing as the world’s biggest contest in beer knowledge for professional bar personnel.

The Swedish final will be fought out at the Stockholm Beer and Whisky Festival on October 2^nd and the winner will go on to represent Sweden in an international final in Prague later the same month.

Bartenders like Marvin pictured here may not have film star appeal but they know their stuff, a characteristic many of us want in our dream bartender, according to the recent survey (picture courtesy of Hotel Monteleone).

“We’re seeing a clear trend that the factors behind (a bartender’s) status have changed in recent years. Instead of the ‘outside’ we are now more impressed by knowledge and bartending skills”, says Henrik Persson, the man responsible for the Swedish heats of Master Bartender.

(footnote: The Master Bartender competition is open to both men and women – indeed the reigning Swedish Champion is Majsan Johansson from Kock & Vin in Gothenburg).

If you thought pouring beer into a glass was easy then think again! Participants in the Pilsner Urquell International Master Bartender Competition had to have steady minds as well as steady hands when they recently competed for the honour of being crowned the world’s best pilsner pourer.

Majsan Johansson, a bartender from Björns Bar in Gothenburg was at the final in Berlin representing Sweden where she competed against bar colleagues from 16 other countries chosen from an original field of 4,000 entrants worldwide.

Majsan had to answer a series of questions incorporating brewing chemistry, beer history and the theory behind how to pour the perfect glass of Pilsner Urquell. She then had to hold her nerves in check to pull a PU in a single pour with a perfect head (which I’m told should be exactly 35mm high!)

Although Majsan didn’t quite make it into the final top three she had a blast in Berlin anyway. Here’s how she got there…..

Just glad I didn't have to do the washing up!

it may be too late. For the sixth year in a row the Soldaten Svejk pub in Östragötgatan in Stockholm is serving up unfiltered, unpasteurised Pilsner Urquell between 9-17th October. Or until the casks run dry, which last year only took five days.

This traditional-style Czech pub is the only place outside of the Czech Republic where the unpasteurised version of this beer (similar to the stuff you get at the end of the Pilsner Urquell brewery tour) is available.

I managed to squeeze into the launch party last weekend where the incredibly friendly Soldaten staff kept thrusting pint glass after pint glass into my hand. So what’s the difference between this and the regular PU you ask? For me it’s the exceptionally light carbonation and creamy mouthfeel. This beer feels almost flat and yet tastes intensely fresh, with the spicey saaz backlash it’s known for still clearly evident.

If you’re out of luck this time make sure to be in Stockholm around the same time next year. This is one of those rare beer opportunities you simply cannot miss.