Which bottle opener to open a beer in style?

Reinforced ABS rocket bottle opener that launches the cap 3 m in a memorable PCHHHIT.

The beer mortar is the only one of the four to turn opening a bottle into a sonic and visual happening. The cap takes off about 3 metres in a PCHHHIT that raises a smile the first time — and the 40th. Compact format (17 cm, 120 g), so portable, unlike the wall-mounted model or the fridge magnetic one.

Limit: you need a clear metre above you (no low ceiling light, no audience in front of the firing line).

The basic stainless steel opener, flat or with a handle. Gets the job done for 50 years.

The unavoidable standard. Upside: universal, cheap, unkillable. Downside: zero effect, easy to lose, and the €2 soft-steel models bend within two years. The rational choice if you just want to open a beer fast and discreetly.

A fridge-top model that holds the cap with an internal magnet — modern and tidy.

A good compromise for the home kitchen: you stick it to the fridge, the cap stays put, no picking up off the floor. But not portable, and quality varies enormously by brand (the magnet can lose strength, the plastic scratches). Pricier than a classic without a major “experience” gain.

Fixed to the wall, usually cast iron, old-school neighbourhood bar style. Decor on purpose.

The decor option. Often cast iron, it screws to the wall, acting as a little monument to beer. Indestructible, ideal for a home bar, a cellar or a permanent apéro corner. Obvious downside: you can't take it on a picnic, nor give it as an “object to handle”.