Summer hasn’t quite rolled around as of yet but that doesn’t mean we can’t start preparing to beat the heat, when it does arrive. When this book, Cool Drinks for Hot Days, hit my desk, I couldn’t help but get excited about the upcoming months.

The book is bursting with thirst quenching coolers, juices, cocktails, slushies and shakes to whip up and suck down this summer - and they’re not just alcohol concoctions, either. Everyone in the family can find a new favorite in this volume.

Here’s a little teaser of some of the wondrous recipes you’ll find in Cool Drinks for Hot Days:

Mandarin Caprioska

1 mandarin, cut into wedges
Fresh mint leaves, torn
1 oz triple sec
1 oz vodka
Tonic water
Ice cubes

Put mandarin wedges, mint leaves and ice into a chilled rocks glass, squeezing the mandarin wedges as you go to release their juices. Pour in triple sec and vodka, and top off with the tonic water.

96 pages of mouth watering, body cooling ways to imbibe await you for just $16.95.

TAGS [ RECIPES | DRINK RECIPES | COCKTAIL RECIPES | SUMMER DRINK RECIPES | SUMMER RECIPE BOOK | COCKTAIL BOOKS ]

I’m a big fan of Canada. I have many friends there and I visit often (living in a border town makes it all too easy!) Whether I’m walking the packed streets of Toronto or exploring Old Montreal’s cobblestone district, I love the friendly people, the incredible character of each individual city, and all of the incredible beer!

I had a friend come to visit me in college and I was shocked to hear that she’d never enjoyed a drink with our neighbors to the North. We crossed the border (where the legal drinking age is conveniently two years lower than ours) and embarked on an evening of fine Canadian barhopping. Towards the end of the night, it had started to snow. We emerged from the final establishment on our tour, to find a gentleman wearing one of those furry earflap hats, drinking a beer, and cleaning off his car with a hockey stick. If only a moose and a beaver had wandered by…

The point of my little story is to remind everyone that Canadians have a series of stereotypes associated with their country; and one of the most prominent labels identifies them as true beer people.

They’re doing their part to live up that. According to a survey released yesterday on alcohol purchasing habits across their great nation, Canadians purchased $18.8 billion worth of alcoholic beverages in 2007-2008, a 4.3% increase compared to the previous year. Beer remained the top adult beverage choice for Canadians, capturing 46% of the alcohol sales market. It is still "by far the most popular alcoholic beverage in terms of both volume and dollar value," says the federal reporting agency Statistics Canada.

More Interesting Canadian Consumption Facts:

• Canadians drank 2.3 billion liters of beer during this period, with the sale of imported ales spiking to 7.2%
• In 2008, wine accounted for 29% of Canadian alcohol sales (up from 18%)
• Spirits made up 25% of sales (dropping from 29%)
• Sales of red wine accounted for 62% of the total volume of wine sold, and the sales of red wine has more than doubled since 2000

Note: Statistics on sales of alcoholic beverages by volume should not be equated with data on consumption, Statistics Canada says. Sales volumes include only sales by liquor authorities and their agents, and sales by wineries and breweries.

I wish the whole world shared Canada’s passion for beer. I know that we do here at KegWorks! We take every possible measure to make it easy for Canadians to use our site. It’s easy to shop – just click the Canadian Customers icon at the top of the page and all of the prices, duties and charges switch to Canadian Dollars. Shipping is also fast and easy thanks to our partnership with Canada Post and, for those in Ontario, it’s easy to stop by to pick up your order! We’re just 10 minutes from the Peace Bridge. More questions about Canadian orders? Click here.

For clarification on additional Canadian stereotypes, check out this cleverly executed Molson commercial:

Here’s to good beer, good hockey, and all of Canada. Cheers!

TAGS [ CANADA | CANADIAN BEER | MOLSON | MOLSON COMMERCIAL | CANADIAN DRINKING STATS | MOLSON ADS ]

We’ve all heard stories like these. Hell, most of us have had stories like these to share (unfortunately). Stories of the morning after…. The morning after you drank far more than you planned, went home with some hot little trick (or big sexy man), and woke up next to… well… not what you remembered going home with. Stories, like these, are divulged to friends with the disclaimer and understanding that "I was drunk," and "s/he looked hotter when I had a few brews in me," and are the reason that bar signs like these exist. Well, some of our friends across the pond say that excuse doesn’t cut the mustard.

According to a study by Dr. Vincent Egan from the University of Leicester, "overall participants who drank alcohol actually rated all the women in the photos as less attractive (compared to the participants who hadn’t drunk alcohol). This seemingly flies in the face of the commonly held notion of ‘beer goggles.’" (source)

I mean, I was never really a believer in the idea of "beer goggles" but I certainly didn’t think that people under the influence would actually rate peoples’ looks lower than they would while they were sober. Go figure.

TAGS [ BEER GOGGLES | BEER STUDY | BEER STUDIES ]

Over the last two or so weeks we’ve been posting clips of humorous beer commercials. It started with the Heineken Walk-In Fridge Ad (thanks Jen) and pretty much spiraled out of control from there (there are a plethora of funny ads now, aren’t there?)

Like Liz, I am a fan of thoughtful, well-planned commercials - especially ones utilizing humor - but I am not, however, one to buy a brand simply because the advertising sticks with me. I tend to buy according to my tastes. Of course, not everyone’s buying habits work that way, otherwise expensive, witty commercials simply would not exist. So, my question stands:

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TAGS [ BEER POLL | BEER SURVEY | BEER COMMERCIALS | BEER ADS | BEER AD POLL ]

Last week we posted some of our favorite humorous beer ads, (a) for comic relief and, (b) to ponder the question: Do funny beer commercials make us want to buy the beer, or do they just make us laugh? I’ll pop a poll up later to get a survey of how you all feel, but in the meantime, enjoy 3 more ads (thanks, William):

Heineken Oops Commercial

Miller Lite Cat Fight Commercial

Bud Light Luge Commercial
(I am aware the video below says "Miller Lite" but it is a Bud Light ad, I assure you).

TAGS [ BUD LIGHT ADS | MILLER LITE ADS | HEINEKEN ADS | BEER COMMERCIALS | FUNNY BEER ADS ]

Amidst my wanderings about the web this morning, I came upon an article by Paul Hightower for examiner.com, reminding us of ways to enjoy our favorite craft brews even while money’s tight. Switching to a cheaper beer is not the answer.

TAGS [ BEER BUDGET | CRAFT BEERS | HOMEBREW | BEER SPECIALS | BREWING BEER | DRAFT BEER ]

Cinco de Mayo, a holiday commemorating the Mexican army’s defeat of French forces at the Battle of Puebla, back in 1862, will be upon us in just over two weeks. This is not a celebration of Mexico’s independence, as is often the misconception, but a festival representing "the last time that an army from another continent invaded the Americas." (source)

Cinco de Mayo, as celebrated in the United States, has additionally taken on the form of a holiday to commemorate those in our country of Mexican ancestry, similarly to St. Patrick’s Day and Oktoberfest celebrating Irish and German heritages, respectively.

Everyone’s Mexican on May 5th, so join in the hoopla this year and throw your very own Cinco de Mayo party. We’ve got everything you need to get started, including:

• Corona Lime Slicer cuts perfectly sized slices to pop into the bottle
• Corona Lime Bomber squeezes the limes into the bottle for you without the mess
• Corona Baseball Cap for supporting your favorite Cinco de Mayo brew
• Disposable Margarita Glasses allow you to treat guests to authentic glassware that won’t shatter, even if the gathering gets out of control
• Colored Margarita Salts to rim your glasses for the perfect garnish
• Margarita Salt Rimmer adds the salt to your glass rims with ease
• Waring Margarita Madness Blender whips up perfect margaritas in minutes
• Plastic Tortilla Warmer keeps soft taco shells warm throughout your meal
• Sizzling Fajita Platter Set for authentic fajitas on Cinco de Mayo or any day of the year

¡Salud!

TAGS [ CINCO DE MAYO | CORONA | CORONA LIME SLICER | MARGARITA | MARGARITAS | PARTY SUPPLIES ]