KegWorks Blog

So, it’s another hot day here in “th’Buff” and as a result of having my brain nearly cooked in my own skull, I found myself looking on the Internet for things that will help me think cool thoughts while on my lunch break. It’s not that the AC here at KegWorks is on the fritz or that someone neglected to pay the bill, it’s just that as I look out my window it just looks even hotter, muggier and stickier than earlier - and that is definitely not within my 5 degree temperature tolerance range. I just know that the moment I step outside I’ll be stewed in my own juices. Blech! Think cool thoughts, Ed. Think cool thoughts…

Found one. If this one doesn’t help, I don’t know what will…

One of the things on my Great, Big Fun ‘To Do’ List of Life is to visit Sweden during the winter. Aaaaah, winter. Apart from soaking up Scandinavian culture, the medieval and gothic architecture – (not to mention scoping out tall, fair-haired hotties) – I’ve always wanted to stay in the Ice Hotel for a night or two and throw back a couple at the Absolut Ice Bar in Jukkasjärvi. I’ve read about them extensively, seen photos of the hotel and bar all over the internet, and have even watched lengthy Discovery Channel–type episodes on the “behind the scenes” planning and construction of the Ice Hotel and Bar. Not only are they both feats of temporary architectural wonder and an artistic feast for the eyes, but they are cool – COLD compared to the weather outside today. Check out these suites, for example. Aaaaah. That’s the stuff. I’m feeling cooler already.

Sweden isn’t the only location you’ll find an Absolut Ice Bar. These amazing structures have sprung up in Stockholm, Copenhagen, London, and Tokyo – just to name a few. Other, non-Absolut ice bars and hotels have been known to spring up in Quebec, Finland, Norway, and Romania.

Since I can’t exactly make it to either the Ice Hotel or the Ice Bar this year, I can at least simulate part of the experience by using my new Cool Shooters Ice Shot Glass Mold and by standing in front of the AC set to full speed.

Here’s to cooler heads and cooler days!

TAGS [ ICE BAR | ABSOLUT | ABSOLUT ICE BAR | ICE HOTEL ]

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I’m going to be honest here; ice cream is one of my favorite things. Ever.

Coincidentally, alcohol also ranks up there on my list. Needless to say, I was pretty pleased when a recipe for Drunken Affogato (Ice Cream Shots) arrived in my email inbox, courtesy of www.chow.com.

After some reading, I learned that “affogato,” Italian for “drown,” usually refers to ice cream doused in espresso (which also sounds delicious). Swap the espresso for some alcohol however and you’ve got yourself a grown-up ice cream float.

If you’re entertaining, these tasty little treats make a very impressive dessert/after dinner drink. They’re easy; they only take about 5 minutes to prepare and it is pretty much impossible to screw them up. You can even use an old catering trick to avoid scooping ice cream while your guests are there. Scoop the ice cream onto a small baking sheet lined with parchment ahead of time. Place in the freezer and when it’s time for affogato, you’re good to go.

Check out these incredible flavor combination ideas! Each recipe makes 24 servings.

For chocolate shots:

3 cups chocolate ice cream
¾ cup coffee-flavored liqueur, like Kahlua
24 whole hazelnuts

For vanilla shots:

3 cups vanilla ice cream
¾ cup lemon-favored liqueur, like Limoncello
24 whole macadamia nuts

Directions for both:

1. Place a small scoop of ice cream in each glass (use small ones, like cordial glasses or shot glasses)

2. Top with 1 tablespoon liquor and 2 nuts

3. Serve immediately

Have any flavor ideas of your own? Post ‘em here!

TAGS [ ICE CREAM | LIQUOR | ICE CREAM COCKTAIL | LIQUOR ICE CREAM | AFFOGATO ]

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This past weekend was spent moving into my new place in Buffalo. And while heavy boxes, squished fingers and strained backs seemed to be the orders of the day, I made some time to sit and rehydrate with family and friends that helped me move. While rediscovering furniture that has spent the better part of 2 years in storage, I got a chance to show off my authentic British pint glasses and a couple of other personal purchases I made from work recently. Not surprisingly, the hits of the weekend seemed to be the Bone Chillers and Cool Jewels ice molds by Fred.

These really are some cool ice molds – and they are, without a doubt, worlds away from the big, clunky aluminum trays we had as kids. I remember that my brother and I would dare each other to stick our tongues to the aluminum trays – just for fun. I even remember that the big, ugly, utilitarian monsters even had a lever built into it so you’d have to pull it to eject the ice. How scary is that? Do you remember those? If not, I’m just dating myself, I guess.

With the help of modern technology, the days of fingers or tongues stuck to an ice tray (or pinched by monster lever arms) are a thing of distant memory – and we have more than just plain, ordinary cubes to show for it.

If you have any doubts about how cool these are, just ask my 4 year old nephew, DJ, or 6 year old niece, Stephie. For the record, neither of them are drinkers (unless you count juice boxes in the list of “hard drinks”). And while you may doubt their choice of drink, you can definitely trust that these kids know cool when they see it.

DJ loves the Bone Chillers (what he calls “pirate ice cubes”) and Stephie is definitely partial to the Cool Jewels - since she’s all about the jewelry already. Pirates and “girls’ best friends” aside, these silicon molds are sure to liven up your home bar, holiday, or next family gathering regardless of age.

Here’s a little something for the kiddos (or perhaps your inner child) to enjoy. Have fun!

DJ’s Pirate Gut Juice
Prepare and pour Cherry flavored Kool-Aid into Bone Chiller mold and freeze. In a regular glass, pour prepared lime Kool-Aid. Serve with the prepared cherry Kool-Aid Bone Chiller ice. The red skull and crossbones are a really gross contrast against the green Kool-Aid. Perfect for little ones who are clearly made of snakes, snails, and puppy dog tails.

Princess Stephie’s Royal Beauty Potion
Pour orange juice into Cool Jewels mold and freeze. Serve over 7-Up or mixture of half 7-Up and half cherry Kool-Aid. Fit for a princess!

Now that the little ones are all taken care of, it’s time for you to make a little something for yourself. Go on and plop a leftover skull and crossbone or an ice diamond into that drink. You know you deserve it!

TAGS [ ICE | ICE MOLDS | ICE CUBE MOLDS | ICE TRAYS | ICE CUBE TRAYS | BAR ACCESSORIES | PARTY SUPPLIES ]

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Did you know that Johnnie Walker was a Scottish grocer and never distilled a drop of whiskey; while Jack Daniel started distilling at the age of 9?

Or that Smirnoff Vodka was originally marketed as “White Whiskey–No Smell, No Taste.” Vodka was promoted as easy to mix, light on taste and, when mixed with one’s morning coffee, hard to detect on the breath. The perfect drink for an increasingly affluent society looking to drink away Prohibition. (Which reminds me of my favorite drinking quote from a movie; “Generally I recommend my men stay away from vodka, and stick with scotch and bourbon. So the brass will know they’re drunk and not stupid.” – Kurt Russell in Tequila Sunrise)

Forbes Online did a great article on the stories behind many of the most popular spirit brands on the market today.

Be sure to click the link “In Pictures: Behind Booze Brands” to the view the slide show.

–Tom

TAGS [ JOHNNIE WALKER | CAPTAIN MORGAN | JOSE CUERVO | JACK DANIELS | SMIRNOFF ]

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According to the Environmental News Service, the flex-fuel vehicles to be used at the Democratic National Convention in Denver next month will be running on beer.

Yep, beer.

To be specific, waste beer from Coors brewing.

Molson Coors is donating enough clean-burning ethanol fuel for the fleet of 400 General Motors flex-fuel vehicles that will meet all of the convention’s transportation needs. Those using the fleet of beer-operated automobiles will include the U.S. House and Senate leadership, DNC officials, state party chairs, delegates, staff and members of the media.

Molson Coors CEO Leo Kiely commented “We are pleased that our waste beer can fuel the convention fleet and help support an environmentally conscious convention.” To go along with the fuel, Coors will also be providing the convention with beer.

The ethanol Coors is donating is not of the corn-based variety but made from waste beer generated at their brewery in Golden, Colorado which now produces three million gallons of this cleaner-burning fuel annually. As it turns out, Coors has been converting their beer waste to ethanol since 1996.

With 11 flex-fuel models for 2008 and more than 15 planned for 2009, GM has pledged that half of the vehicles they produce by 2012 will be flex-fuel capable. There are already two million flex-fuel vehicles on the road today.

Who knows, someday soon “stopping at the gas station for beer” might have a whole new meaning.

Less beer wasted and a cleaner planet? I’ll drink to that.

TAGS [ ETHANOL | BEER | COORS | MOLSON | BEER FUEL | FLEX FUEL ]

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Not too long ago I used to partake in a hefty amount of alcohol consumption. I would often get hangovers. That still was not enough to keep me away from the strip of bars that were walking distance from my apartment. These days it’s rare that I don’t feel very sick after a few too many drinks. Here is a graphic description of how a typical hangover takes affect along with some visual aids.

First you need to question the things alcohol does to you before you feel all crappy.

1. Karaoke?
2. Telling people you love them?
3. Telling long stories?
4. Fights / Beer Muscles?
5. Trying to challenge someone who is way bigger than you?

Next is the realization that you have had too much and you will be paying the price. Let me take this opportunity to state the obvious. NEVER drink and drive and NEVER let your friends drive drunk.

I have tried some of those hangover remedies that you find in stores. They don’t seem to help me at all. I have my own tricks and techniques for the pain and sickness:

1. Cool off - getting in a cool room or getting some ice water and a cold cloth for my head really helps, even before the headache starts.

2. Good distractions - play music or TV or something that will take your mid off of the stupid thing you just did to yourself.

3. Get comfortable - no matter what it takes, get into a position that settles your body and head down. Go ahead and straddle the arm of your couch if it feels right.

4. Lights out - you know as soon as you can, you want to sleep, so prepare for bed. Sleep is your main goal.

5. Be prepared - get everything you need within reach:

• Leave vital lights on
• Make sure the bathroom is clear
• Keep ice handy
• Lots of water and whatever you use to re-hydrate

One more thing, make sure you have nothing to do the next day. Chances are you will not be leaving the bed until the next evening.

Good luck!

TAGS [ HANGOVER | HANG OVER | HANGOVERS | HANGOVER REMEDIES | HANGOVER REMEDY ]

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Everyone in the Buffalo area knows that when the clouds part and that great big yellow ball in the sky starts to glow a little hotter, it must be summer. With summer comes a heap of fun outdoor activities for just about any taste and any age, including the Erie County Fair (known as “America’s Fair” to non-Western New Yorkers), Thursday in the Square (free concerts), Taste of Buffalo (a fantastic food festival), and – of course, the endless train of weekend lawn fetes.

Lawn fêtes (or carnivals) and Buffalo go together like Kielbasa and Weber’s mustard. You simply can’t have one without the other.

Each summer, church parishes all around the Buffalo area open their lawns and parking lots to host some of the best carnivals in Western New York. Complete with great food, games (including the ever popular “I Got It!”), rides, raffles, massive beer tents and live bands playing until the wee hours, a Western New York Lawn Fête is not something to be missed.

Drop by these fantastic community celebrations (as well as any other WNY event this summer) and you’ll want to come back for more next year.

QOH Carnival
7/11 – 7/13
Queen of Heaven Parish @ Seneca Street & Mill Road
West Seneca, NY

OLBS Lawn Fête
7/25 – 7/27
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish @ French Road
Depew, NY

Look out beer tent, here we come!

TAGS [ CARNIVALS | LAWN FETES | BUFFALO CARNIVAL | AMERICAS FAIR | ERIE COUNTY FAIR ]

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