KegWorks Blog

When people diet, are they thinking carefully about what they drink? Drinking and eating are closely related. If you are eating the right foods but drink the wrong drinks, you will reduce your chances of losing weight.

When dieting, don’t drink to much alcohol or sodas that are high in sugar. They contain plenty of calories and also make you feel hungry. So moderation is the order of the day. Not all alcoholic drinks contain the same ingredients and have different affects on a diet. Pure spirits are one of the best types of drinks to consume while on a diet because they contain approx 100 calories and very little in way of carbohydrates. Examples would be shots of vodka, rum, Bacardi, or gin – with no mixer added. If mixing these drinks when on a diet, make sure you use diet tonic and diet colas, etc.

Wine is ok in moderation and many people like a glass with their meal. A typical glass of red or white is both low in carbohydrates and calories. Don’t go for sweet wines though; stay with dry, as they are not so fattening. Beer is full of calories and really, when dieting, drink in moderation. I know it’s hard.

Here is a calorie count chart on some common drinks:

Remember that a healthy lifestyle is exactly that; a lifestyle! Maybe consider taking a look at the big picture with your long-term weight loss and health goals in mind. You may find more aspects of your lifestyle that need to be altered. Not just your diet.

Another way to avoid high calorie drinks is to just avoid drinking all together. Yeah right!

TAGS [ DRINKS | CALORIES IN DRINKS | DIETING | CALORIES IN BEER | CALORIES IN ALCOHOL ]

Since it IS that time…

I’ve never been a huge fan of pumpkin anything……at Thanksgiving, I would always welcome an alternative dessert than the plain old pumpkin pie that America loves. When it comes to Pumpkin beers, a style that has started to come into its own the past two years, there are some that are pretty good.

Pumpkin Ale

Often released as a fall seasonal, Pumpkin Ales are quite varied. Some brewers opt to add hand-cut pumpkins and drop them in the mash, while others use puree or pumpkin flavoring. These beers also tend to be spiced with pumpkin pie spices, like: ground ginger, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, and all spice. Pumpkin Ales are typically mild, with little to no bitterness, a malty backbone, with some spice often taking the lead. Many will contain a starchy, slightly thick-ish, mouthfeel too. In our opinion, best versions use real pumpkin, while roasting the pumpkin can also add tremendous depth of character for even better results, though both methods are time-consuming and tend to drive brewmasters insane.

Here are my Top 5 Pumpkin beers; Post Road was the innovator, and still one of the best.

Dogfish Head Punkin’ Ale

Shipyard Pumkinhead Ale

Post Road Pumpkin Ale

Southern Tier Pumpking Ale

Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale

Cheers!

TAGS [ PUMPKIN ALE | BEER REVIEWS | WEYERBACHER | SOUTHERN TIER | POST ROAD | SHIPYARD | DOGFISH HEAD ]

We are down to less than 2 weeks until Halloween, and for many of us, the party begins this coming weekend (I know mine does!). Have you figured out yet which cocktails you’ll be imbibing in?

As I said in my last Halloween recipe post, even I enjoy sipping on the sickeningly sweet and scary this time of year. With that in mind, here’s another concoction for you to consider for your festivities:

Little Devil

¾ oz light rum
¾ oz gin
2 tsp triple sec
2 tsp lemon juice
Maraschino cherry

Combine ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, over ice. Drop in the cherry.

More to come…

Cheers!

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

Absinthe, the liquor of legends, is back in the US after 95 years of banishment. Infamous for inducing creative genius and wild hallucinations, and accused for all sorts of agonies, including serial murders, insanity and the loss of Van Gogh’s ear (all preposterous notions, of course) absinthe has finally returned to the States.

Known as "the Green Fairy," absinthe is a yellow-green colored spirit flavored with anise and wormwood. It is very high in alcohol content - some absinthe is as high as 144 proof - and causes an effect that can be equated to alcohol intoxication, enhanced by lively mental clarity and an uplifted mood, much like that of a good caffeine kick.

These effects are most likely the reason why artists and other creative types would be able to, while completely intoxicated, carry out their visions without falling into a drunken, sleepy stupor. Contrary to popular belief, absinthe is not a psychedelic drug. Hallucinations suffered by those who often imbibed in the 19th century were not caused by absinthe, but by severe alcoholism mixed with a modest dose of dementia.

Learn more about absinthe’s history and myths here.

Recently, I had the pleasure of enjoying the proper absinthe "Ritual" here at KegWorks. Not only did I love the taste of absinthe, but the ritual itself was an experience - one I’d like to savor at home as well. I’ll soon be picking up my own absinthe fountain, glasses and spoons to treat friends and family to the magic that is absinthe.

To perform the classic French absinthe ritual, you’ll need:

• An absinthe fountain
• An absinthe spoon
• A Pontarlier absinthe glass
• A sugar cube
• Water
• Ice

Step 1: Fill your absinthe fountain with cold water and ice.

Step 2: Pour a "dose" of straight absinthe into your glass, using the measuring reservoir as a guide.

Step 3: Place your absinthe spoon on top of the glass and put a sugar cube over the slots or holes.

Step 4: Put your glass, with the spoon and sugar cube, under the fountain faucet so that water drips onto the sugar cube and dissolves it into the glass.

As water melts the sugar, oils from the anise and fennel cause a cloudy effect, known as the "louche."

Step 5: Allow 3 - 5 ounces of cold water, about the amount it takes to completely dissolve the sugar cube, to drip into your glass and stir. Enjoy!

Can’t wait to try it at home? Believe me - I’m with you all the way. Get everything you need in one fell swoop with our Deluxe Absinthe Ritual Kit, and experience the liquor of legends today.

Cheers!

TAGS [ ABSINTHE | ABSINTH | GREEN FAIRY | ABSINTHE RITUAL | ABSINTHE HISTORY | ABSINTHE MYTHS ]

With autumn comes the traditional trip to Murphy Orchards in Burt, NY for apple picking. For me, Fall also signals the time of year when I tend to rotate to my favorite choice of beverage for this beautiful and vibrant season: Hard Cider! Just the sound of it makes tendrils of drool form at the corners of my mouth. Mmmmmm ciiiider (ala Homer Simpson).

There are some great hard ciders out there and each has its own unique flavor and kick. As with any beverage, your choice will be determined by your own palate and preference. The ones I identify as my personal favorites are from the Green Mountain Beverage family of products. They are the makers of Cider Jack, Woodchuck, Strong Bow, and my all-time personal favorite, Woodpecker. Some may argue that others out there are better, but I find that these particular ciders fit my taste buds like a glove. I’m not a cider snob by any means; I just know what I like when I taste it.

I’ve also experimented using hard cider in cooking. It really enhances the flavor. For example, here’s what I cooked up for dinner last night:

Sautée apple(s) and skinned pear in margarine in a medium sized pan until golden brown. Add Hard Apple Cider, cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper and chopped fresh garlic. Let simmer for 10 - 15 minutes to soften the fruit, stirring occasionally. Fruit should be soft, but not mushy. Serve hot over fresh grilled chicken.

The pairing of grilled chicken and the sweet, fresh fruit is irresistible! (Anyone who’s had Aidell’s Chicken-Apple Sausage can attest to the great combination of these two flavors.) The awesome smell that will fill your kitchen and your house as you sautée the apples is reason enough to cook this – very homely, warm and welcoming! Of course, when you’re ready to wolf down the chicken, you’ve just got to have a nice, ice-cold bottle of hard cider to wash it all down and to further enhance the entire flavor experience. Give it a shot. I’m sure you’ll agree

Bon Appétit!

TAGS [ HARD APPLE CIDER | HARD CIDER | HARD CIDER RECIPES | WOODPECKER ]

Over the weekend, the Great American Beer Festival was held in Denver Colorado. Beers in 75 different categories were awarded gold, silver and bronze medals.

Being based in the state of New York, we are always happy to see winners from our state.

2008 GABF winners from New York are:

For a complete list of winners see the official GABF site and download the PDF file containing the complete list.

Congratulations to all the 2008 winners! Now go out and drink some good beer!

TAGS [ GABF | GREAT AMERICAN BEER FEST | BEER FESTIVAL | BEER FEST WINNERS | GABF WINNERS ]

You don’t have to live in the US to have an easy-going transaction with KegWorks. All of our friends up north benefit from our partnership with Canada Post, which makes delivery a breeze.

Kegworks fulfills online Canadian orders that initiate from our website through our Customs Agent, BorderFree. Orders being shipped to Canada pass through this agent for inspection.

All a customer needs to do is to click the Canadian Customers link at the top-right of our website and begin shopping. All prices will be shown in Canadian Dollars.

The customer will see their order total including all duties, taxes and shipping, in Canadian Dollars before they actually place an order. Real-time exchange rates are applied to every order. BorderFree captures all of the customer’s information regarding their order (name, add, items, credit card info).

When BorderFree receives the package, they match up the items in the order with the original purchase order. If everything is correct, BorderFree then charges the customer’s credit card and ships the order via Canadian Post. "Web/PH Order BRDFREE" will appear as the billing company on the customer credit card statement.

Now, if you happen to live in Ontario or somewhat close to the Niagara region, it may just behoove you to stop down and see us to pick up your order instead. KegWorks is located just 10 minutes from the Peace Bridge.

Hope to see you soon, and we hope you’ve had a great Thanksgiving.

Cheers!

TAGS [ KEGWORKS | CANADIAN ORDERS | HOME BAR ACCESSORIES | DRAFT BEER SUPPLIES | COMMERCIAL EQUIPMENT ]