KegWorks Blog

Winos, connoisseurs and dabblers alike will appreciate this digital dual bottle wine chiller. Looking like something straight out of a spaceship, this wine chiller ensures your reds, pinks, whites and champagnes are at the perfect drinking temperature and ready for immediate consumption.

Two wireless temperature probes fit into your uncorked wine bottles and seal the spout while sending accurate temperature readings of the wine itself – not the storage chamber – to LCDs on the outside of the chiller. With separate thermostats, each chamber can be programmed to a different temperature, allowing you to chill a bottle of red and a bottle of champagne at the same time.

Your chiller is programmed with suggested serving temperatures for champagne, red, white or rose wines but you can adjust them manually if you’d like. The LEDs warn when wines are too cool or too warm and they’ll let you know when they’ve reached the optimal temperature for consumption.

Of course, you personally don’t need to be in the know on proper wine temperatures. The dual bottle digital wine chiller makes it easy - just press the button that matches the type of wine you’re enjoying and let it ride.

Cheers!

TAGS [ WINE CHILLERS | WINE | WINE BOTTLE CHILLER | DIGITAL WINE CHILLER ]

I know it’s still pre-Halloween but it’ll be that time before you know it. Slaving over the bird, dressing and gravy. Shopping in vain for the right gift for that special someone – and then having to wrap it. Those damn icicle lights.

If there’s one thing thousands of men across the country share in common during the holidays, it’s overcoming these and other maddening, yet traditional, tasks. Don’t fret; with some help from your friends here at KegWorks and the folks at Newcastle Brown Ale, you’ll get through it. We’ve got all of the products and tools you need to host killer holiday parties and Newcastle has put together an awesome guy’s guide to entertaining in style. The genius guide, dubbed the "Man-ual" is slated to hit supermarkets nationwide in November.

Newcastle has printed 175,000 of the 16-page guides (free for the taking) and they’ll be available at checkout counters at grocery and beverage stores across the country.

Along with lifesaving tips for navigating the entertaining season, the Man-ual will also offer consumers delicious, easy-to-make holiday recipes on perforated recipe cards courtesy of cookbook author and TV cooking personality "Sam the Cooking Guy." We were lucky enough to get a sneak peak and we can attest that it’s a fun read packed with tons of great info. And it’s free!

Newcastle partnered with tons of national brands for the give-away and they offer some great promotional discounts. The Man-ual boasts recipes including an Au Revoir Fondue made with Cabot Cheddar Cheese. For easy fireside entertaining with not-your-average Yule log, you can check out discounts on Java-Log®, the first and only eco-friendly fire log made from recycled coffee grounds.

Other highlights from the Man-ual include tips on toasting co-workers and how to avoid committing a fashion faux-pas at holiday parties (can you say reindeer sweaters?). So make sure your keg is full, stock up on some party essentials and grab the Man-ual for a stress-free and successful holiday season.

TAGS [ NEWCASTLE | NEWCASTLE BROWN ALE | MAN-UAL | HOLIDAY MAN-UAL ]

One of the things I love most about Halloween is the clever ways in which people choose to display their Halloween spirit. Some are content to simply go with orange or purple string lights, plastic spiders, paper cutouts to hang in their windows, and other similar décor.

What really gets my attention more than any of those store bought items is originality - or, in the case of The Pumpkin Works, the disturbing projects resulting from what could only be described as a very imaginative, very artistic and very talented (if not slightly disturbed) mind.

Behold the horrific glory that is pumpkinrot.com!

I don’t know about you, but I’d be tempted to take a step or two backward if I stumbled across one of these bad boys while taking a shortcut through a field, a wooded area - or even on a darkened, residential street, especially the scarecrows or bog man.

Happy Haunting!

Ed

TAGS [ HALLOWEEN | SCARECROW | PUMPKINROT ]

We are getting dangerously close to All Hallow’s Eve, my friends. In fact, I already had my first taste of haunting mischief and far too much fun this past Friday, at a friend’s (here, in his Madd Hatter costume) 6th Annual Madd Tattoo Halloween Bash. Delicious fun, in every way - thanks for throwing yet another delightfully creepy party, Mark. Glad I was able to attend this year!

Of course, the riotous fun continues in full swing this coming Friday - did I mention how I love when Halloween lands on a Friday? So nice to be able to play until the wee hours of the morning, without repercussion, and finally slink into one’s homestead once light begins to emerge in the east - vampire life, for sure.

Thus far this season, I’ve only posted candy-coated cocktail recipes for your Halloween holiday. If you’re anything like me, you can’t handle an entire night of mouth-puckering sweet concoctions. At some point, only a classic will do. Well, this isn’t quite a classic, but it certainly has the bones of one. I bring you, the Monster Mash.

Monster Mash
2½ oz brandy
1 oz carbonated water
4 mint sprigs
1 tsp superfine sugar or simple syrup
1 cherry
1 orange slice

Muddle the mint sprigs with sugar or simple syrup and carbonated water in a rocks glass. Fill with ice cubes and add brandy. Stir well. Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.

Just a few classic ingredients, the Monster Mash is sure to please those of you who, like me, will most often imbibe in a Manhattan, muddled Old Fashioned or Maker’s, neat.

Cheers… and have a most fantastic Halloween!

TAGS [ HALLOWEEN | COCKTAILS | COCKTAIL RECIPES | HALLOWEEN COCKTAILS | HALLOWEEN RECIPES ]

Looking to increase your knowledge of beer styles? Whether you know nothing at all or consider yourself a bit of a connoisseur, the Beer Styles of the World Wheel can teach you everything you didn’t know you never knew.

The Beer Styles Wheel breaks down the 14 most popular beer styles from all around the world by fermentation, taste, alcohol content, color and origin. Created on a colorful, easy-to-read wheel, you can learn beer like the back of your hand without ever cracking open a book. Keep it at home as your secret weapon for beer-omniscience, or tack it up on your bar wall to get everyone in the know.

Learn everything about each of these 14 beer styles:

• Ale
• American Lager
• Bitter Ale
• Bock Beer
• Draught Beer
• Ice Beer
• Irish Ale
• Lager
• Lambic
• Light Beer
• Pilsner
• Rye Ale
• Stout
• Wheat Beer

What’s more, the Beer Styles Wheel offers up beer history, fermentation facts, details on the brewing process itself and a list of the top 20 brewing nations (hint: USA is in the lead - did you ever have any doubt?).

I would have to say the best part about the Beer Styles Wheel is that preeminent beer knowledge is yours for just $7.95. That’s right. For under 10 bones, you can know it all.

If wine is more your style, or you’re already a beer expert and want to learn something new, check out the World Wine Wheel for increased knowledge on all of the major grape varieties, where they grow, the wines made with them and the flavors they exhibit.

Couldn’t care less about wine or beer, but love a good mixed drink? The Cocktail Recipes Wheel offers up 28 of the most classic cocktail recipes, plus tips on glassware, tools, mixing and bar tending.

If complete spirits-omniscience is what you seek, save yourself some money and grab all three in the Spirits Wheel Complete Set for just $22.95.

Cheers!

TAGS [ BEER | BEER STYLES | BEER WHEEL | WINE | WORLD WINES | COCKTAILS | COCKTAIL RECIPES ]

It’s a great time to be a Buffalo sports fan. As of today, the Bills are sitting pretty in first place in the AFC East with record of 5-1 and although it’s still early in hockey season, our Sabres are in first place in the Eastern Conference with an encouraging record of 6-0-1. An overwhelming sense of optimism is taking over our city. As the rest of the country looks to Obama or McCain for hope, we’re banking on Trent Edwards and Thomas Vanek to better our futures.

I live in this city, I see the fans and I feel the pride.

In fact, it is my belief that Buffalo is home to some of the most die-hard, passionate, incredible fans in the major leagues. Mark Yost of the Wall Street Journal doesn’t seem to agree however. Mr. Yost referred to our beloved Buffalo Bills as "a team that has struggled to control some of the worst-behaving fans in all of sports" in his October 14th report. Although there were no statistics or research to back up his claims, Mark Yost did attend the Monday night game against the Dallas Cowboys last season. In his October 16, 2007 piece following that game he wrote, "it was without a doubt, the drunkest crowd I’ve ever seen at any sporting event. Many fans stumbling to their seats just before kickoff were absolutely plastered." Mr. Yost continued, "Walking through the parking lot before the game, I witnessed a scene all too common at NFL tailgates: home fans taunting the visitors with four-letter expletives."

With so much else going on in the world, I have a hard time finding drunken people at a football game newsworthy - even if they’re swearing. If I were to sit down with Mr. Yost, I’d tell him that my friends and I attended that very same game and we all thought it was pretty awesome.

I know it’s disturbing but I’ve tailgated for hockey games too. At the Ice Bowl on New Years Day, drinking was a part of my "stay warm" strategy. In dire situations where tickets weren’t available, I’ve even gone so far as to have a few drinks at a bar to commemorate the occasion.

Maybe I’m too far removed from sporting event customs in other parts of the country or maybe I’ve been brainwashed by the hoards of unruly, intoxicated monsters that inhabit this city but I’ve always considered beer to be a part of the game day experience.

Please forgive my sarcasm. I don’t mean to get defensive but I can’t seem to understand why we sell so many multi-tap beer pumps, Ultimate Tailgating Grills, and Sippin’ Seat Flask Seat Cushions during football season if it’s such a bad idea get drunk at a game.

Perhaps I’m just one of the "worst-behaved fans" being cited? Regardless, I think that someone should buy Mr. Yost a beer this Sunday.

Go Bills!

TAGS [ NFL | FOOTBALL | BUFFALO BILLS | TAILGATING | NHL | HOCKEY | BUFFALO SABRES | BEER | DRAFT BEER | KEG STANDS ]

It’s official. Well, mostly…

As I emerged from ASL Class last night, I realized that what was falling from the sky wasn’t just rain, but snow. Buffalo got its first snowfall of the season last night. It didn’t last long at all and I won’t deny that I’m happy it didn’t stick – despite my love for winter and snow-related activities. Even I am quite content to wait for Mother Nature to arrive at my doorstep in heaping piles of white. I mean, it’s not even Halloween yet. It’s just too soon.

This whole business of Halloween and snow (or at least cold, rainy weather) floods my mind in a rush of memories. I remember trick-or-treating quite a few times on those cold, damp, rainy or even snowy Halloween nights of long ago. Frankly, it sucked and not just because the wet made the freshly fallen leaves smell and look gross but the sound of slush being kicked around going door-to-door really seemed to dampen everyone’s spirits.

There was always the inevitable argument with Mom and Dad about having to wear a jacket over my costume or haul around an umbrella. (Batman use an umbrella? Inconceivable!) After all, how was anyone supposed to see my super cool costume or know what I was dressed as if I was all bundled-up? Still, I would always try to put my costume over my jacket, but that never seemed to work in my favor. Either it was impossible to attempt or it looked completely and utterly ridiculous.

The payoff for braving the cold, wet weather was always the candy or at least getting to stay up late on a school night. Of course, there was always the consequence of developing a serious case of the sniffles or a sour tummy in the days that followed. In the end, it was all worth it. Every kid knows that.

Now that I’m a bit more grown up the means by which I celebrate Halloween have become more festive, more adult, and certainly more fun. I can still dress up in a costume and hang out with my friends, but now I can have a few cocktails and scare the s#!t out of trick-or-treaters when they come by the house begging for handouts. Who says kids get all the fun? [Insert sinister smirk here]

And so, to you my fellow grown-up Halloweenies, I’d like to share a heaping pile of Treats to help your Halloween get off on the right foot, especially if you’re hosting a party. Here are 13 frighteningly potent potions that are sure to make your Halloween party a killer one:

ONE LAST THING BEFORE YOU GO… Please remember that while we all love werewolves, vampires, goblins, zombies, and other horrific creatures during this time of year, we don’t want to see any you or anyone else become real ghosts, so please drink responsibly.

Cheers and Happy Haunting!

TAGS [ HALLOWEEN RECIPES | COCKTAILS | COCKTAIL RECIPES | HALLOWEEN PARTY SUPPLIES ]