KegWorks Blog

There are plenty of uses for beer that extend beyond the obvious enjoyment and consumption of it. Although it is hard to imagine having beer and not drinking it, you might want to consider trying some of these other ideas:

• Marinate meat in it- it tastes better than wine and makes your meat really tender. Delicious. You can even take your beer meat to the game with this awesome tailgating grill.
• Help the grass grow- seriously, when you pour beer on those annoying brown spots on your lawn, the grass absorbs the nutrients, sugar and energy it needs to sprout faster.
• Kill slugs and snails – fill containers or wide-mouthed bottles about a quarter of the way up with beer then bury them in your garden. The slugs and snails will be attracted to them, then drown.
• Kill mice – fill a bucket or pail a third of the way and leave a board or something propped on the bucket, leading to the rim. The mice will smell the beer, jump in and not be able to climb out.
• Calm a stomachache- when your belly hurts, just sit down and drink a beer. The carbonation will settle your stomach and the alcohol helps to reduce the pain as well. It won’t work if you have an ulcer or gastritis and if you have too many beers, you could end up with a worse stomachache. Remember, moderation is key.
• Polish gold- wet a piece of cloth with some beer and rub your gold (but not the stones) to get the shine back. Use a second cloth to dry it.
• Bathe in it- add a few cans of beer into your bath. The yeast is good for softening and soothing your skin.
• Polish wooden furniture- let some beer sit until it goes flat and then dampen a washcloth with it and use that to polish your wooden furniture. You’ll love the shiny and healthy look it leaves.
• Cook with it- when boiling shrimp, try using beer instead of water. Season to your liking; just make sure you don’t overcook.
• Drink it to celebrate your resourcefulness.

TAGS [ BEER | BEER USES | BEERS | BEER RECIPES | USES FOR BEER ]

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I get many calls during the course of the week from people who are having trouble with their draft beer systems. Many of the problems stem from old equipment or lack of care for their system (read: cleaning and maintenance). But one of the major problems stems from lack of planning, which means the whole system is set up incorrectly from the start and the cost of fixing it is huge!

Many expensive problems can be avoided by buying the proper equipment at the outset, laying the system out correctly and having a certain respect for the system and its needs. People, especially those in decision making positions, should realize that spending a few extra dollars in the beginning will save them thousands of dollars in the long run. There will be less wasted beer for one, and there wouldn’t be any need to add these necessary parts later. Now, if the infrastructure for the beer system is incorrect, forget about it; you better just get used to foamy, flat beer.

Planning is key and it’s cost effective - not to mention you will be serving a much better product for ultimately less money out of your pocket. Looking for some guidance in setting up and maintaining draft beer system at home? Check out KegWorks Community: Draft Beer Systems for tons of tips and tricks.

TAGS [ DRAFT BEER | DRAFT BEER SYSTEM | KEGERATOR | KEG FRIDGE ]

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This morning, upon opening my email for the day, I was presented with an article, “A Pint-Sized Problem,” sent by Dave. Although I’ve heard of pubs and restaurants, here and there, shorting patrons on their brews of choice, I had no idea it was such a prevalent problem.

Turns out quite a few establishments are turning to 14-ounce glasses, usually the size and shape of a 16-ounce pint, but with thicker glass on the sides or on the bottom of the glass, especially since the prices on hops and barley have risen so much. On top of serving inadequate pints, bartenders are also charging more. Less beer for more money? Perish the thought… and yet, it’s happening more and more often. I noted from the article that bars can get 20 more beers out of a keg by serving 14-ounce glasses instead of a true pint. What’s a beer lover to do?

Luckily, you and I aren’t the only ones upset about the Less for More Pour. And not all establishments are jumping on this wagon. Portland, Oregon’s Raccoon Lodge has begun serving beer in 20-ounce glasses, instead of 16-ounce pints;

“The 16-ounce glasses held only about 14.5 ounces, says restaurant manager Lisa Crombie; the 20-ounce glasses hold about 18 ounces. ‘We just thought it was fair,’ Ms. Crombie says. ‘People were paying for a pint, so they should get a pint.’”

Cheers to Raccoon Lodge for truly fulfilling the pint, as it should be. (You do know that an actual pint in Britain is 20 ounces, right? How did we fall into 16-ounce pints here, anyway???)

Think I’ll stop out for a tasty brew tonight, and try some measuring at my own favorite hole-in-the-wall. If I find that I’m being shorted on a weekly basis, I know where my preferred bar can get some true, 16-ounce pint glasses…

What can you do about puny pints in your own neck of the woods? Well, beer activists are currently chatting about creating stickers for the windows of bars that serve true 16-ounce pints. This way, patrons can take their money places that they know won’t stiff them on their favorite brews. Prefer to take immediate action? The article suggests that you try asking for a “top-off” once the foam settles. And why not? I do it every time I’m out for coffee; why not beer? Most likely, you won’t be denied… at least that’s the hope.

TAGS [ BEER | BEER PINT | PINT GLASSES | PINTS | FALSIES | HOPS SHORTAGE | DRAFT BEER | BEERS ]

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We recently starting stocking some very exciting new draft beer parts – a 3/16-inch tail piece, a 4-inch shank and a complete single tap conversion kit.

Now, I know what you’re thinking… “Uh Liz, those aren’t new. KegWorks has always carried those things.”

You’re right; except for one thing- these parts are different. Unlike the ones we’ve always carried, these guys are made of high-quality stainless steel. Not only are they shiny and seriously good-looking, they last much longer than standard brass or chrome-plated parts do. Also, they won’t react with your brew to produce those underlying metallic tastes that have a way of subtly ruining your delicious draft beer.

What these little parts are made of might seem like a minor detail now but trust me; you’ll see (and taste) what a difference the metal makes.

TAGS [ DRAFT BEER | DRAFT BEER PARTS | DRAFT BEER EQUIPMENT | DRAFT BEER SUPPLIES | KEGERATOR | KEGERATORS ]

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Just in time for summer, KegWorks presents a new way to keep your keg, home brew tank or growler ice-cold for outdoor (or indoor) parties. Keglove Keg Insulators use Neoprene, the same material that wet suits are made from, in conjunction with re-freezable ice jackets, to keep your keg beer crisp, cold and refreshing for up to 24 hours. The best part is, Keglove insulators are reusable, so you’ll never find yourself constantly refilling a trashcan with all of your party ice again.

Keglove Keg Insulators come in 4 different sizes

• Half keg size
• 5-gallon keg size
• 5-liter mini keg size
• Growler size

Each Keglove insulator comes with a matching ice jacket. We suggest grabbing up an extra keg jacket to keep frozen in case the party lasts more than a mere 24 hours… hey, you never know!

TAGS [ KEGLOVE | KEG | KEGS | DRAFT BEER | KEG INSULATORS | KEG COOLERS | KEG BEER INSULATOR ]

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A beer clean glass is a glass that is properly cleaned and sanitized so that the beer in the glass maintains its proper flavor and head.

Beer glasses should be not be cleaned with dish soap. To correctly clean a glass, a detergent should be used. Detergents are different from soaps. Soaps are made from fats and oils that leave a residue that sometimes does not rinse completely off glasses and can ruin the head on your glass of beer. Detergents, on the other hand, are made from chemical compounds that are water soluble, so they dissolve completely in water and do not leave behind any residue on your glasses.

If you have a home dishwasher, using dish detergent should be fine. If you only have a kitchen sink, like me, you should wash your beer glasses separate from your other dishes, with a separate sponge and a liquid detergent or glassware cleaning powder. Make sure you rinse thoroughly and air dry. If you do it right, your glasses should be free of streaks and spots once dry.

A properly cleaned glass will retain a thick foamy head and the beer will be clear and free of bubbles once it settles.

TAGS [ PINT GLASSES | BEER CLEAN GLASS | GLASSWARE | DRAFT BEER ]

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I know what you need. You need draft beer, on tap, in your very own home. That’s right… free flowing draft beer, any time you want it, in the comfort of your living room, or porch, or wherever it is you like to sip delicious draft beer. What better time than Spring to convert an old fridge or freezer into a kegerator? Do it now, and you’ll have it all summer long… not to mention for the rest of the year and every year after.

Not sure what it takes to get draft beer at home? Not looking to spend a load of cash to get it? I’ve got the perfect solution, and install tips to boot. A kegerator conversion kit is the cost effective way to get what you want, and get it now. And it’s easier than you think… check out our instructional video on how to convert a refrigerator into a keg fridge:

Now that you know how easy it is, what are you waiting for? Still weary and in need of more info on draft beer at home? Check out KegWorks Community, our new home bar and draft beer help section, and get what you want on tap.

TAGS [ DRAFT BEER | KEGERATOR | KEGERATOR CONVERSION ]

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