KegWorks Blog

Waking up in the morning (well maybe closer to noon), still smelling the smoldering campfire and tasting the pine in the air. It just brings out the primal feelings in a guy. Chopping wood, starting fires, driving down a dirt road, having to push your car out of the mud, you just have to love camping for that. Where else can you go off and do these things in a place that your cell phone doesn’t work and your laptop doesn’t dare go.

Being a geek and being in such a wired environment it’s not easy to get “disconnected,” and sometimes the silence in the woods is deafening, but necessary. Going camping relieves stress, lets a guy be a man and use his testosterone for good, not to mention a great release from daily pressures of work and in general life.

Only the manliest need apply, chopping wood lumberjack style and having a beer in the afternoon, sounds like a great man getaway to me. Steak on a fire pit, at night, then wake up to bacon, eggs, home fries and a Bloody Mary. In fact make that Bacon-flavored eggs, Bacon-flavored home fries, Bacon-flavored bacon, (none of that turkey-bacon crap) and a Bacon-flavored Bloody Mary to top it all off.

Ok, back to reality. Although the rest of it might be going overboard, the bacon flavored Bloody Mary is
in fact very real. Don Yovicsin of Jakes Dixie Roadhouse makes his own bacon flavored vodka which is a huge hit, especially with his Bloody Mary drinking customers. He infuses it with real bacon and seems to have quite a hit on his hands.

The Bacon Bloody Mary Recipe, straight from the source:

1½ oz bacon-flavored vodka
6 oz Bloody Mary mix
Barbecue rub
1 Slim Jim
1 lime wedge

Mix the bacon-flavored vodka and Bloody Mary mix together. Rub rim of tall glass with barbecue spices. Pour mix into glass. Garnish with Slim Jim and lime wedge.

While it’s getting closer to winter than I’d like and the campfire season is dying down, I still have to admit to going to the campfire daydream from time to time. Mmmm… burning wood and bacon and … maybe I’ll just have that maple bacon flavored sucker at my desk to tide me and my testosterone over for now.

TAGS [ BACON VODKA | BACON BLOODY MARY | BLOODY MARY RECIPE | DRINK RECIPES | MAPLE BACON SUCKERS ]

Here at KegWorks, the offices and cubicles are abuzz with talk of football. (Tis the season, after all!)

I will probably be shunned for admitting this, but I myself am not a rabid fan. To be honest, my fair-weather fandom sports of choice are rugby, quickly followed by hockey. There’s just something intrinsic to both of my choices that make them seem more grassroots, less "corporate," and significantly more fun. It’s probably the sheer brutality of those sports or the genuine camaraderie with which the players participate.

I acknowledge that I can’t really participate in water cooler chat of football player stats or team standings. I’m only slightly embarrassed to mention to you that I don’t really know the difference between the AFC and NFC. I know, I know… that’s probably considered completely un-American, isn’t it? I do know that when Hannah reads this, I’ll probably get a quick "101" lesson. ;-)

What I can add to all this talk of football is a bit of trivia:

Did you know that the huddle was an invention of a Deaf football player?

The huddle was invented by a Deaf player named Paul Hubbard, the quarterback for Gallaudet University’s Bisons, back in 1894. The Bisons needed a way to prevent the opposing team from seeing the strategic plays being communicated amongst the Gallaudet team members who communicate using sign language. The huddle was born!

Gallaudet University continues its reputation as the world’s premiere liberal arts university for the deaf and the hearing-impaired.

TAGS [ FOOTBALL | HUDDLE | GALLAUDET FOOTBALL | HUDDLE HISTORY ]

I know Liz has already given you the Port-O-Pong low down, but she is not the only port-o-pong lover out there. It’s sweeping the nation. From coast to coast, Port-O-Pong is making beer pong dreams come true.

On a recent outing in Seattle to an insanely large arts festival, known in Pacific Northwest circles as "Bumbershoot," I realized the depths of Port-O-Pong’s lovability. Bumbershoot (which means "umbrella." ha.) took place just blocks from my house in the famous Seattle Center (think Space Needle). It’s a weekend long celebration of art – music, dance, comedy, crafts, (um, and Starbucks and Gyros apparently too).

On Saturday, we popped in to check out a few artists that we have been wanting to scope. Upon our arrival at the main stage area, I was ultra-surprised to see a booth proudly displaying one of our coolest new products, the Port-O-Pong, as the prize for a contest. If Port-O-Pong can drive uptight Seattleites to pong anywhere, you can do it to.

I know what you’re thinking – ‘dude, I am way too (worldy, rich, old, boring) to play beer pong‘. But it’s time to let your guard down, people. Get in touch with that guy you knew in college (you know the cool one with all that hair) and port your pong today.

TAGS [ BEER PONG | BEIRUT | PORT-O-PONG | FLOATING BEER PONG | BUMBERSHOOT ]

In celebration of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) going online and not creating a black hole that will swallow the Earth, introducing…

The Black Hole Martini

3½ oz vodka
½ oz black raspberry liqueur
Lemon twist for garnish (or to simulate particle creation)

-or-

The Alternative Universe Martini

3½ oz Blavod Black Vodka
Garnish with edible gold flakes or lemon

Here’s to science!

BTW, if you want to get updates as to whether or not the LHC has created an actual black hole that will consume the Earth, get up-to-the-second updates HERE (thanks John!).

Cheers!
Ed

TAGS [ LHC | LARGE HADRON COLLIDER | BLACK HOLE | MARTINIS | MARTINI RECIPES | COCKTAILS | COCKTAIL RECIPES ]

There are a lot of things I’m into (floating beer pong for example), however one of my biggest passions is cancer research and support. I’ve had cancer impact my life in a big way, so I volunteer a few of times a month at an organization called Gilda’s Club (named after Gilda Radner from SNL).

Check out these sobering facts: Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men in the United States, second only to lung cancer and it is the most common cancer, other than skin cancers, in American men. It is estimated that this year alone 186,320 new cases will be diagnosed and about 26,660 men will die of prostate cancer.

Prostate exams aren’t normally something you bring up in conversation, but you should. It could save a life.

Rick Lyke had a great idea for breaking the ice. He wanted to reach men in their late 30’s, to make them aware of the potential risks "through the universal language of beer." Mr. Lyke launched Pints for Prostates, an awareness campaign aimed at getting the word out to men about the importance of regular PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) testing and prostate health screening.

"The more men we reach, the more lives that will be saved," writes Lyke.

One in six men is at risk of developing prostate cancer during their lifetime and early detection is critical to getting the disease under control. "Pints for Prostates will help us reach more men at a time when a growing number of men are at risk."

Pints for Prostates is focused on reaching men during September, (which is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month). Beer and beverage related publications have pledged a combination of advertising space, news coverage, website marketing and special event support. The media involved include our friends at All About Beer, DRAFT magazine, the seven regional Brewing News newspapers, Imbibe, BeerAdvocate, Celebrator Beer News, Bartender Magazine, Modern Brewery Age and Beer Northwest.

Creative development and design for the ads and logo for Pints for Prostates was donated by Eric Mower and Associates, a marketing communication agency with offices right here in our hometown of Buffalo (as well as Rochester, Syracuse and Albany, N.Y.; Charlotte, N.C.; Atlanta, Ga.; and Sarasota, Fla.) Lyke is a senior partner with the firm and heads up the agency’s southeast public relations operation.

The organization is now working on reaching out to breweries, brewpubs and on-premise retailers to get their support in a cooperative effort.

"One of our goals is to get brewers to print a PSA testing message on the back of beer coasters they use to promote their brands in restaurants and taverns around the country," Lyke said. "Men can tell you about their favorite IPA (India Pale Ale), but few know about their PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen). We need to help educate them about getting the simple blood test that measures prostate specific antigens because it can save their lives."

For more information on the program please visit www.ustoo.com/PintsforProstate

Cheers to a good health and a great idea! Now go and schedule your prostate exam.

TAGS [ PINTS FOR PROSTATES | PROSTATE CANCER | CANCER AWARENESS ]

As the official product description writer here at KegWorks, I have the privilege of seeing the products we sell before they make it onto the website for your perusing pleasure. When a portable, floating beer pong table found its way onto the "new products" pile on my desk, I must admit I was quite intrigued.

Having been a full time college student just over two years ago, I’m no stranger to the game of beer pong. I spent many a Saturday night honing my skills, challenging my friends and perfecting my game at basement keg parties. When the weather got warm, we’d often move our contests to the backyard – but the beer pong tables we had were quite heavy and usually a pain to relocate. I had thrifty friends that transformed old doors into custom beer pong tables while others chose to go with a giant slab of wood from the local lumberyard. Although many of the tables I played on were decorated with pictures, bottle caps, logos and artistic visions that would have made Van Gogh weep, none of them were capable of floating.

That being said, I’m sure you can understand the excitement and enthusiasm I have for this recent KegWorks offering. Not only did I send the link to most of my friends, I purchased one of my own to try out on my vacation. The PortOPong comes packaged flat in a convenient mesh tote that takes up next to no car space, so none of my friends objected to my new toy joining us on the 12-hour drive to our cabin in Northern Maine. I also brought along party cups and beer pong balls, so we’d be all set for a week of sun, fun, friends and delicious New England beer. We couldn’t wait to get the games going and the party started, so we wasted no time inflating the float and diving in.

The table comes with string, so we tied one end of each piece to the built-in grommets and then anchored the table down by tying the other end to rocks that we carefully placed on the bottom of the lake. We played game after game and each one seemed to be more fun than the one before it. It could have been the afternoon sun or all of the beer we were consuming but regardless of the reasons, we really had a blast. There isn’t much that I love more than being in the water, so combine that with beer, competitive fun and friends I’m a pretty happy camper. Literally.

I had to return to NY before the rest of my friends, as I had a very important wedding to stand up in, but I left the inflatable table for them to enjoy and from what I hear, they certainly did make use of it. I was sure to get it back as soon as they returned though, as I had big plans to bring it with me for another weekend in the sun, this time at my aunt and uncle’s place in the Finger Lakes. I wanted to share the awesome experience of floating beer pong with some of my college roommates who came with me and they loved it too. I must note however, that it is important not to put an age limit on the game. My aunt Mary and uncle Bill joined in the fun as well. Even though it was the first time either of them had played beer pong, I think it’s safe to say that they had just as much fun as we did.

Just because Labor Day is looming ahead and my whirlwind summer is fading away, don’t think I’m packing away my portable beer pong table anytime soon. Although Buffalo will be too cold for swimming sooner than later, football season kicks off in no time and this genius invention will make the perfect addition to our tailgating crew. (Go Bills!)

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or new to the game of beer pong, I seriously suggest in investing in one of these vinyl wonders. The portability factor certainly opens up a whole new world of possibilities and playing beer pong has never been easier. Wherever, whenever… now that’s my kind of game!

TAGS [ BEER PONG | BEIRUT | BEER PONG TABLE | FLOATING BEER PONG TABLE | PORTOPONG | DRINKING GAMES ]

This past Saturday, I joined some of my colleagues and bosses at the annual Buffalo Brewfest, held this year at HSBC Arena, where our beloved Sabres take the ice during winter months. This year was my first in attending the Brewfest, which was over 3000 strong. I could barely believe my eyes, gazing down on all of the attendees from the 2nd level.

And the brews? There were more than I could possibly count. One thing I truly love about Buffalo is that we really love good beer. My personal favorite experience at the fest was that I finally got the chance to taste cask ale, brought to the table by Harpoon Brewery. I’ve been wanting to try it since I conversed about it with our resident draft beer guru, Pete. The ale poured a golden red color, with a rich, tan head. The complexity of flavors was brought out by keeping the ale at a higher temperature than your regular, run-of-the-mill brews. Truly an experience I’ll not soon forget.

Buffalo certainly does love its beer, but the love goes both ways; here’s a list of all of the breweries that graced us with their presence:

With all the Brewfest proceeds going to benefit the Buffalo Hearing and Speech Center, there’s not much you can’t love. Do yourself a favor, if you haven’t visited already, and swing by the Buffalo Brewfest next year. I’ll see you there!

TAGS [ BUFFALO BREWFEST | BREWFEST | BREW FEST | BEER FEST | BEER FESTIVAL | BEER TASTING ]