Duluth News Tribune:
Your beer will remain cold until the last sip at Aces on First in Duluth because of a unique innovation added to the bar.
Aces on First became the first bar in Minnesota to install stainless steel coasters known as Chilldiscs that keep a 4-inch surface in front of every barstool at a frosty 26 degrees.
“It really keeps the drinks cold. It’s new, innovative and it’s fun,” Patronas said. “It was scary at first to have someone drill into your bar, but Aces wants to be cutting edge.”
Chilldisc, which was invented by Fred Kent of Westminster, Md., has reached bars in 13 states, mainly on the East Coast, since it was introduced to market last year. Kent’s invention pumps a corn-oil substance from insulated tubes underneath the bar to each coaster.
“It’s like a food-grade antifreeze, but there are no coils like a standard refrigerator,” said Kent, who has worked on the invention since 2004 after a 30-year career in the commercial refrigerator and metal fabrication businesses. “It’s a proprietary method of cooling to get the same results.”
“It’s a great product because it gives a competitive advantage,” Bradley said. “In the recession and this economy, it helps to get that happy-hour crowd.” He also said bars can offset their cost by selling the advertising space on top of the coasters.
Photo by Chilldisc.