KegWorks Blog

Ok – so yes, it’s the holidays; They’re flippin’ here. Here, like nobody’s business.

We are shipping $H*† out like crazy – and we love it.

We are filling up trucks, and filling up stockings. And (just so you know) people are using your KegWorks Wish Lists – so get psyched. You may get a gift or two that doesn’t suck this year. (Remember that sweater you got last year that you had to pretend was thanks-so-much-I-love-it worthy?)

So what are people buying? Here is a list of our top 10 gift items over the past 2 weeks:

  1. Authentic British Style Imperial Pint Glass with Etched Seal

  2. Mr. Beer - Homebrew Beer Making Kit Premium Edition

  3. Guinness Cast Iron Bottle Opener - Wall Mounted

  4. The Original Dirty Sue’s Olive Juice Martini Mix

  5. Q Tonic Premium Tonic Water

  6. Mr. Root Beer Kit

  7. Deluxe Beer Line Cleaning Kit

  9. Deluxe Portable Travel Bar Set – Mahogany

10. Pro Bartender Mixing Set

I’ll keep my fingers crossed that you get something good.

TAGS [ HOLIDAYS | GIFTS ]

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Our company-wide “Happy Hour” last Friday afternoon was nice and simple, just the way I like it. The theme beverage was the tried-and-true gin and tonic.

There were two goals for the hour: sample Q Tonic, a premium, all-natural tonic water and one of our newest products, and unwind after a long week at the crest of the holiday buying wave. Both objectives were reached ably and with gusto.

Along with the tonic water, Dave provided us with gin, limes and ice to mix our own drinks to taste. I ended up using approximately 1½-ounces of Bombay dry gin, 3-ounces of tonic, a lime wedge and a generous amount of ice, in case you were wondering.

I don’t exactly have what seasoned cocktail geeks would call a sophisticated palate (“pedestrian” might be a better descriptor), but I know what I like. I definitely liked my gin and Q Tonic - enough that I’ll be buying a few bottles for myself, and enough to recommend it wholeheartedly to you. For a professional mixologist’s perspective, check out Darcy O’Neil’s review of Q Tonic.

Apparently, the stuff has made a big enough splash in New York City to be mentioned in Esquire and Newsweek, among other major publications. Though it has garnered some attention and increased accessibility, it’s still not the easiest mixer to find. I think Dave has done a nice job making connections to make Q Tonic available here at KegWorks. If only the finest will do in your mixed drinks, this is definitely the tonic for you.

TAGS [ Q TONIC | GIN and TONIC | COCKTAILS ]

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Those of you who have been avid readers of KegWorks Blog know just how much I love stouts - particularly Guinness. Generally, I choose to keep my Guinness untainted, but every so often I’ll jazz it up a bit, whether it be a black and tan, Guinness cupcakes, or a Guinness ice cream float. For the winter holiday season, I enjoy dressing it up as a cocktail - Guinness Christmas Pudding. This 3-ingredient holiday hootch is quick, easy and sure to please.

Guinness Christmas Pudding

1 oz Drambuie
5 oz Guinness
1 oz Southern Comfort

Combine all ingredients and serve in a red wine glass. Tasty!

Have you got any holiday cocktails to share? Post them as comments here.

Cheers, and have a wonderful holiday season.

TAGS [ HOLIDAY COCKTAILS | DRINK RECIPES | GUINNESS ]

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My friend and I got started smoking cigars ten years ago. Ever since we started we were always into the hand rolled gems that we all know and love.

Finding new smokes and new shops is always something we scheduled, and still schedule, into our travels whether it is a family trip or a guys weekend to catch a ball game. In fact, cigars hunts have been the purpose of some trips.

Over the years we have found some rarities. For example, in Florida at the Sosa Family Cigar Shop in Disney World I found the Arturo Fuente Hemingway Between the Lines. This cigar is a “perfecto” - only 4 or 5 inches long - but it is rolled with alternating maduro and natural wrappers. The Sosa shop didn’t have these on display, but after talking with the tobacconist for a while (about other smokes and sharing a few stories) he brought them out of the back room to show me. I, literally, had to beg the guy to let me buy two of them. He only wanted to sell me one, which was impossible to accept, seeing as I had to bring one back for my friend.

This smoke is still sitting in our humidors after about three years waiting for that special occasion. My friend, upon a trip to New York City, stumbled onto a little shop in the vicinity of Grand Central Station named Arnold’s, this is where he was able to find us the God of Fire also made by Fuente. A couple of years ago when these came out, they were impossible to find and it was unheard of to find them sold individually. However, Arnold’s had them… and now we have them. Original issue, sitting next to our Between the Lines, also waiting for that special occasion. Well, as it turns out one of these special occasions is upon us. Come back soon to find out the story behind the cigar that was smoked (who cares about the actual story behind the occasion, it’s just an excuse to smoke the rare cigar)!

TAGS [ CIGARS | ARTURO FUENTE ]

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Are you like me, and scrambling around to find the time to go out and get holiday shopping done? Oh my. Every year, I tell myself that I’ll start in November… and every year, I get more than halfway through December and still haven’t gotten a thing. When will I learn??? My prediction? Never. Which is why I’m glad for things like gift cards. And what’s even better, easier to give and more timely than a gift card? A KegWorks e-Gift Card.

Even if you’ve waited until the last minute, like me, the perfect gift is just a click away. A KegWorks Gift Card is the best way to please the bar owner, home entertainer, or beer lover on your list. And come on… there aren’t many people who don’t love beer, are there? It’s a win-win.

No time? No problem. We’ve got you covered.

TAGS [ KEGWORKS | GIFT CARD | HOLIDAYS | SHOPPING ]

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In my mind, there is almost nothing better than warming my bones in the comfort of a real fire, on a cold, wintry night. Each year, as winter rolls around again for yet another long visit, I begin to get anxious for the first snowfall, and in turn, the lighting of the first fire of the season. It’s especially comforting after a long day of snowboarding or digging out cars, buried by a freak storm. Nope, there is almost nothing better… in fact, I can think of only one thing that can heighten the experience of unwinding fireside… and that, is eggnog and brandy. Yum.

Warm or cold, homemade or store-bought (store-bought may not be homemade, but it certainly adds to the experience of relaxation), eggnog with a healthy dose of brandy always hits the spot. Top it with nutmeg, toss in a cinnamon stick for good measure, and you’re in for a tasty treat.

I was scoping out some of the newest additions to our site this morning, and found that we now have the Tom and Jerry Drink Mix in stock, which is a close cousin to my fireside favorite. Perhaps I’ll have to give that a shot as well!

TAGS [ EGGNOG | BRANDY ]

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Want to keep and serve two different beers at once from your converted refrigerator? Then follow these easy steps to add a second beer line!

1. Start with the airside first. Get our new 2-Way CO2 Distribution Bar with Shut Off Valves. With this distribution bar, you no longer have to remove the air outlet from your regulator. Simply connect the airline to the air input and run your two airline jumpers to your couplers. The 2-Way Distribution Bar easily and conveniently mounts to the wall of the fridge with two screws (not included).

2. You will need two new airlines to connect the distribution bar to your couplers.

3. Select a coupler. With your new two tap set up, you could serve an American beer like Bud, and a European beer like Heineken using a European Sankey Coupler.

4. Once you have chosen a coupler, you will need a new beer line jumper to connect the coupler to the appropriate length faucet shank for you refrigerator door.

5. Then select a faucet. Why not upgrade to something nice like the new Vent-Matic? This is the faucet I use on my kegerator. The all stainless steel faucet will improve the performance of your system and the taste of your beer.

6. Finally, select a new tap handle. You can get a functional unbranded handle or, see if you can match your new beer line to your beer with one of our branded tap handles.

Once you get your new equipment, all you will have to do is decide where to drill 7/8-inch hole in the fridge door for the faucet shank.

TAGS [ DRAFT BEER | KEGERATOR | BEER LINE ]

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