If you love beer but cannot have a large beer cooler, a mini-beer dispenser might be just the right fit. For years, a large keg of beer has been the mainstay for the beer lover, but can be too much for those who are occasional drinkers but enjoy the experience of a great beer after a long day.
The B95 is a highly efficient state of the art beer drafting appliance that utilizes a patented carbonator system to make sure your beer tastes like an authentic draft poured from the corner pub. The unit employs an LED controlled system that allows you to select and maintain a constant temperature of 36, 39 or 32 degrees.
With specific attention to detail, the device is sleek, compact and can keep a mini keg of beer fresh for thirty days. The makers of this unit also boasts that the system is “ultra-quiet and it even has a “Freshness indicator” that counts down for your 30 day schedule to ensure a maximum taste experience every time. In addition, it give a precise accounting of the amount of beer is available so that you can prepare for your next mini-keg.
In conclusion, if you are shopping for a mini-beer cooler that delivers on its promise for the perfect pour, the B95 Beer tender delivers. This contemporary designed piece of engineering is great for you and your spouse who enjoy a great pour experience or for a small group of friends coming over to watch the big game on the Hi-def TV.
Author: Bobbie Bailey
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Guest blogger
Everyone in business today is trying to reduce their operating costs; I don’t think there is a small business in existence that is making too much money. We spend time with our chefs reviewing food cost, and our GM or manager going over our pour cost. I think it’s amazing how much money you can actually save if you take the time to review and measure on a weekly basis. This is a process that takes time, effort and managing. If the managers do the work and we don’t review it, or pay attention to the information, it ends up being an effort in futility.
As an owner, we tend to focus on costs controlled by our managers; we measure them and even bonus managers on their numbers. This is a typical scenario, which we tend to accept as the norm, this is where we as owners tend to fail, sometimes miserably. We hold our managers accountable; yet tend to let ourselves slide. Owners are privy to so much more than a typical manager, our job is to spec everything for our managers, and then let the managers manage.
A good friend of mine shared with me information about a product called a line conditioner; this is a device that connects to your breaker panel. I’ve recently researched this product and am impressed by the data and am appalled our government or watch groups do not share this information or make it readily available.
Here’s where the beer comes in, we’ll call this the foam analogy. Take a draft beer with a lot of foam, there is a tremendous amount of waste, you only drink the beer and dump the foam. The actual power you use is the working load, this is the beer, and the wasted power is the foam. A line conditioner’s function is to manage the excess electricity, or in this case, the foam. I know this is breaking the whole process down into relative simplicity, my point is for everyone to understand there are things we can do as owners that can reduce costs way beyond food and liquor cost. If your beer taps were continually pouring draft beer that was thirty percent foam, you’d do something about it.
How much can the savings possibly be? When I asked this question, the rep I spoke with explained to me that his company typically quotes five to twenty percent. Off the record, he explained that he’d never seen a savings under seventeen percent and most were twenty to as high as thirty percent. I don’t know what this correlates into for savings for your business, for mine it ranges from three hundred dollars to up to one thousand dollars a month. I think when you do the math, the payback is maybe a year or less.
When I bought my restaurant, I witnessed one of the most bizarre things I’ve seen in my career. The breaker panel was located on the wall under my beer taps. It blew me away; the first major project I completed when we shut down that winter was to relocate our breaker panel. This is not how anyone should relate beer to electricity, remember the foam, take action and do your homework. This is money that runs right to the bottom line. Is your business making too much money? If the answer is no, then look into a line conditioner for your business and start saving.
Author: Richard Varano
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Bumper guardian
Mark your calendars and ice the beer, because the fantasy football season is about to begin. It’s doubtful that this season’s crop of rookies will make a significant impact on any team but there are a few rooks worth keeping an eye on. If you play fantasy football online and have been working on preparing for your upcoming drafts, consider this list of promising rookies.
Rookie Quarterbacks Everyone Are Talking About
When it comes to quarterbacks, there’s a reason NFL.com named Matthew Stafford “the most NFL-ready quarterback in the 2009 draft” (Copyright NFLDraftScout.com, distributed by The Sports Xchange). As team captain, he carried his team undefeated through the bowl games. He scans the field quickly for openings, and places the ball accurately regardless of distance. His footwork is quick and nimble in the pocket, and he can successfully complete a pass while defenders are taking him down.
On the flip side, Mark Sanchez may bring the Jets a winning season. One of his greatest strengths is his ability to place the ball accurately anywhere on the field. His over-the-top delivery is effortless, and he recognizes a blitz quickly and reacts accordingly. He’s accurate in a pinch as well, such as in a rollout.
Of course, any veteran of fantasy football knows to have caution when ranking rookie QBs. To illustrate this point, let’s look at some of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. Brett Favre, John Elway, and even Dan Marino experienced a boost in their fantasy value after their first year in the NFL. Although Stafford and Sanchez have notable prowess, it’s more likely that we’ll see their talents reflected in fantasy football leagues over the next few years, but not necessarily during this season. With that said, rookie running backs can be magical in fantasy football (just look at what Matt Forte and Chris Johnson did last season).
Rookie Running Backs Fantasy Diehards are Watching
For 2009, keep an eye on Knowshon Moreno. He can power through the first line of defense, and has surprisingly soft hands that could boost his value in PPR leagues. According to NFL.com, Moreno is an “extreme competitor who can put the team on his shoulders,” (Copyright NFLDraftScout.com, distributed by The Sports Xchange).
Chris “Beanie” Wells is another notable up-and-coming running back. FantasyFootballXtreme.com named him their #1 rookie to watch, and for good reason. He rushed for over 3000 yards during his time at THE Ohio State University. He’s known for finding holes in the defense and he has a jarring stiff-arm to thwart defenders and possesses uncanny breakaway speed. Unfortunately, his history of injuries could be a risk factor.
I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw great things from Donald Brown. He’s quite a fast and agile player. Rare to rookies, he has a great sense of balance, which he uses to deceive the defense. He could become quite a weapon for the Colts this season.
Rookie Wide Receivers You Don’t Want to Overlook
If you’re debating which rookie wide receiver to add to your team, Hakeem Nicks has the goods. He set school records at UNC for receptions, touchdown catches, and receiving yards. He has great hands and can hang onto the ball even after hard hits. He can distance himself from defenders during a breakaway, and is tough enough to generate a lot of yards after catch.
Michael Crabtree has a bright future as well. Originally, he was the quarterback of his high school and went to college on a two-sport scholarship. As a wide receiver, he made 231 receptions in two seasons. His hands are smooth and able to catch the ball regardless of whether it’s inside or outside his body. There’s no doubt that he’s a competitor that will flourish over time.
A Rookie Tight End that Might Deliver During the 2009 Fantasy Football Season
It’s a risk to use a rookie as your tight end in fantasy football games, but if you’re willing to chance it, then Brandon Pettigrew is your best bet. He set a record at Oklahoma State University for the most receptions. And at 265-pounds, Pettigrew can throw a hefty block. If he’s running the ball, he can pull the defenders along with him. All in all, he’ll be a fierce competitor in the 2009 season.
Author: Jason McCoy
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Gadget reviews
Who will get your body and when and where will you be buried? If you want certainty and peace of mind, draft a will or trust. My instructions in my living trust specifies who my executor is to carry out my wishes. And my wishes are crystal clear in black and white.
My cemetery plot was purchased by my parents many years ago. They purchased enough plots to bury the entire family and then some. I already have a headstone with my name on it. My living trust also specifies my wishes on where I will be buried. My wife’s body is already there. She was laid to rest in 2001. Her body is waiting for mine. We bought a double-header headstone. My name and my wife’s name are inscribed in the headstone. There also is an inscription that reads, “Together Again.” These are not only our wishes, that is our final order. I will be buried next to my wife, whether I remarry or not. My living trust has my instructions and my wishes. My executor will carry out my wishes and instructions. There will be no debates or arguments.
And while I enforce my pre-arranged funeral and burial plans, I might as well write my own obituary. I have experience in writing most of my family’s obituaries. I might not approve what people will say about me or they might leave some important information left unsaid.
Writing my own obituary might sound strange, but think of all the pressure and confusion I will save from my grieving family. Who wants to write an obituary or have some funeral director write it for you during your time of bereavement? I just may start a new wave of popular self-written and self-published obituaries.
My advice to everybody is to draft a will or trust. A paralegal or an attorney will prepare the legal documents and make it easier for you. Do not rely on verbal intentions. They will only create a cluster of problems and bitter feuds.
My eldest brother, Donald, died in 1975. There was no will. He was divorced and estranged from his wife and his only child. There was no communication with them while our family was planning his funeral and burial.
Our family carried out his wishes for being cremated and his urn buried at the foot of our grandfather’s grave. These were his verbal wishes and they were unanimously confirmed among our family members. We were fortunate that there were no arguments or legal debates. We all remembered what Donald’s wishes were. But having only verbal wishes sometimes are subject to a lot of problems.
During the past 22 years, I have buried my parents, my aunt and uncle, another older brother, and my wife. There were no problems because their wishes were included in a will or living trust.
Sometimes people have unusual verbal requests. When my uncle died, I remember him telling me he wanted to be buried with a McDonald’s cheeseburger, a small carton of buttermilk, a bottle of Budweiser beer, and a can of Copenhagen tobacco dip. His wishes were verified by a funeral director’s notes, then I carried out his wishes. Verbal wishes have their place, too. Remember them, they can easily be forgotten. Also, remember that they too, can be written in your will or trust documents.
Imagine the chaos if it were your verbal wishes to be buried with your first spouse, but there was no will or trust. Then if you remarried and your current spouse made arrangements for you to be buried with he or she–it would all be “he said” or “she said.” There was no significant evidence to dispute such a claim. Why would anybody want to go through all this emotional distress during a time when grief and closure are your paramount interests?
Being buried in separate cemeteries, as man and wife, raises other questions. My father is not buried in his parents’ family cemetery. He is buried with my mother and her family. It is common for sons and daughters in marriage to be buried with their spouse and their family members. It is unreasonable to think we will all be buried with our parents.
In the Anna Nicole Smith hearings concerning the debate whether she would be buried, Anna’s mother argued in court that her daughter should be buried in her native Texas with her immediate family rather than the Bahamas with her only son, Daniel. Anna bought four plots in the Bahamas when her son died. Her intent was clear that she wanted to be buried in the Bahamas with her son. Anna lived in the Bahamas at the time. She died in Florida. Anna had a will but no funeral and burial plans were documented. If she had done this, the court hearings would have been moot. And the travel expenses, the court costs, the attorney fees, and the time wasted would have been eliminated. In Anna’s case, even her intentions were debatable in court, despite the proof of purchase of burial plots.
If you want to rest in peace, drafting a will or trust is not only in your best interest but everybody else’s, too. Make your intentions and wishes crystal clear in black and white.
Author: Earl Erickson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Duty on LCD/Plasma TV
There is much the world knows about the British, they have a strange sense of humour, the weather is unpredictable, if you stand in one place for too long you will experience all four seasons in less than fifteen minutes. The food is terrible, the accommodation worse, the beer is terrible and they have no culture. How wrong can you get, if a strange sense of humour, terrible food, awful beer, rotten hotels and weather is not culture what is?
If you come to Folkestone and choose the right places, you can experience all that and more. You can catch a train from Charing Cross Station and be in Folkestone in an hour and twenty minutes, you may experience the culture of late running trains, delays because a leaf has fallen on the line or a fuse has blown and the signals do not work. Nevertheless, what do you care, you are on holiday.
If you plan your trip at the right time you can make the journey on a 1950s steam train, possibly the Golden Arrow.
Arrive at eleven o’clock in the morning. The sea fog has usually gone out with the tide, the rain clouds are not due for at least another two hours and the sun is breaking through the cloud. Get out the train at Folkestone Central Station, grab a cab and ask for the Fish Market.
Folkestone Harbour is a working harbour with small inshore fishing fleet and the occasional small cargo ship, take a walk along the harbour wall and smell the air, this was once a port that had a history of smuggling that goes back nearly 300 years. Beneath your feet are long lost smugglers tunnels where French contraband was carried to all corners of the town including the church?
In 1860, the headmaster of a local school complained in his book that you could see the smugglers selling contraband openly on the beach. Nearby is the place where Rothschild paid Folkestone smugglers to deliver gold to his family in France who then passed it on to their relatives in Spain to pay the British army fighting Napoleon. However, don not tarry too long, smuggling in Folkestone continued into the 1980s with tobacco, wines and spirits being carried through the harbour to supplement a meagre wage and may still be practiced today.
Take a turn around the seafood stalls, pick a dish of prawns or cockles or even jellied eels, and buy a pint of bitter beer from the nearby pub. There is an art to drinking English beer, do not sip as it will taste too bitter, take a long slow draft on the back of the tongue and swallow and you will discover why the English have kept this fine nectar to themselves for so long.
When you have finished your beer and seafood ask the landlady for directions to the Old High Street. Take a slow stroll up the steep hill, the narrowest public road still open to traffic in England. Look in the art galleries and watch an artist paint a picture. When you arrive at the top of the hill turn left and there is a pub, the Guildhall, or a little further to the British Lion where Dickens is said to have written one of his many books. Make a choice from one of the many selections of real beer, maybe the seafood was insufficient so have a light lunch and at about four o’clock call a cab and return to the Central Station.
As you travel home or to your hotel you may think that was not a bad day out, if you are an overseas visitor you will have seen a side of England and its culture that none of your fellow countrymen will have experienced.
Author: Bradstone Penfold
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Programmable Pressure Cooker
Fantasy Football auctions have to be the most fun 2-3 hours one can spend. So much of the season rides on those decisions. The auction has so much more potential for smashing success and dismal failure then a draft does. In an auction the price for any player is set by the market and when the market is 10-12 guys pounding beers it has the potential for wild variations. Meaning you can easily extremely overpay for a player or underpay and steal a player. When you do a draft these extremes just do not exist. Sure someone can reach for a player too early and another player can fall a little ways but the peak to valley difference in a draft no way approaches that of an auction. The other great part is because everyone is on equal footing you all have the some potential for success and failure. Where in a draft you may know a player has dropped way too far but if you are still 3 picks away and you can not act on it.
So with that preamble out of the way lets look at the 2010 fantasy football auction values produced by us as Fantasy Fortunes. The full list with player descriptions is at the website below. These values are based on a 10 team league with everyone starting with $100. If you are in a 12 team league take these numbers times 120% and I would also weight RB a little more heavily do to the diluted RB pool.
Atop the list is Chris Johnson $44, he finished strong and after the first several weeks was clearly the guy everyone wished they had. There is no reason to think he will not repeat next season. Every other RB has some level of baggage which Chris Johnson has none of.
Next is Adrian Peterson at $40, he is $4 less for a reason, FUMBLES. This is a major problem and MN is getting tired of it. He is still the man and has huge upside but turnovers cost them the Superbowl and Peterson gets benched when he fumbles.
The next two MJD and Ray Rice are at $35 and $34 and I think could be the steal of the auction at that price. Both should have great years and have very limited baggage. Next is Turner at $30 here is where the real baggage starts. The injury issue is a big deal but so are his TD totals. Big risk big reward potential.
I feel like there is a tier break here Frank Gore and Steven Jackson round out the top RBs at $27 and $25 both have good upside but both disappeared at times. Gore also seems to get nicked up each year.
Next we get into the WR’s we like Andre Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald at $24 and $23. Johnson gets the edge as he keeps his QB though both are animals and should produce good safe numbers.
Now we round out the 1st round of what would be a draft if your a caveman and still prefer drafting to auctions, we have Cedric Benson, Ryan Grant, Jamall Charles and DeAngelo Williams all for $22-$21. All have similar upside though I think the later two have the most. They all should be safe and do well but also have the potential for big games I think one of these 4 will finish in the top 3 of RBs for 2010. I like the idea of taking 2 of these guys and if they go at these prices and still have half my discretionary money left to round out my team.
The next WR on the list is Vincent Jackson at $20. Everyone knew this guy had it in him and he finally showed it. I would not be surprised if he is the #1 WR next year. Really like him and really like him at this price.
Now we get into the $19 grab bag of WR, QB and RB we have Mendenhall, Wayne, Rodgers, Brees, Desean Jakson, and Brandon Marshall. All with tremendous upside albeit Mendenahall. Wayne scares me a little he disappeared at the end of last season, though losing the Superbowl makes me think Wayne and Manning come out next season with an air of “The last ride of Wyatt Earp and his immortals.” Which brings us to Manning, Austin and Moss at $18. One WR on the way up the other on the way down. The only question is who would you rather have?
The $17 level gives us Thomas Jones and Ronnie Brown. One guy who you think will get hurt (Jones) and one who is a lottery ticket winner if he does not (Brown). If your picking between these two the gambler takes Brown the guy who holds 95% bonds in his portfolio goes Jones. For me I would take Brown.
We take a $2 price drop for Calvin Johnson and Beanie Wells. Both these guys are a throw of the dice though Megatron does OK even when a Junior College transfer is throwing him the ball, the only problem is I don’t see the situation improving next year. If the Lions get a QB move him up the list. As for Wells if the job is his he could be huge. Training camp should be interesting here.
$14 will get you your choice of Moreno or Boldin to be honest they both scare me. I could see either one having a terrible season though their upside warrants this price.
Addai $13 That Superbowl may have moved him up a bit. I keep thinking ok this is his last good year. He and Thomas Jones surprise me every year. Next is the $12 teir we have Kevin Smith, Pierre Thomas and Tom Brady. I think Pierre has the most upside of the bunch but man do they throw a lot and with Bush still there I don’t like it. This is officially the point where I will not allow myself to spend any less on my starting running backs. If I am being completely honest the lack of quality RBs in 2010 makes me sketchy about anything below the Ronnie Brown level. Tom Brady could be a good buy here if he returns to form. I think Kevin Smith benefits as well if the Lions get a real QB.
We drop $2 again to the $10 WR bin. Sidney Rice, Greg Jennings, Roddy White and Steve Smith. If Farve is back Rice is the best of the bunch if he is not then I like Smith the best if not only based on the Vikings game at the end of the season. He still has it and has great upside. Jennings and White scare me, I liked both of them a lot coming into 2009 and was very disappointed, with the year Rodgers had Jennings should have been a monster. Perhaps he will sync better with Rodgers next year.
$9 gets you some sexy options Matt Schaub Dallas Clark and Antonio Gates. All the sudden there are so many good plays at TE. If you are forced to play a TE in your league make sure you get Clark, Gates, Gonzo, Davis or Daniels. For me personally I’ll leave Gonzo to someone else but the crop of TE is so good that you should not have to over pay: but don’t get stuck without one of the elite.
Next we get Vernon Davis as good as the others just a $1 cheaper.
The $7 pool is all over the place Ochocinco, Rivers, Daniels (amazing value), Forte and Jonathon Stewart (minus $1 for how he spells Jonathon). I really like Forte at this price. He has tremendous upside. I actually like Rivers at this price as well. I don’t advocate spending a lot on QB since you can fish the waiver wire all season and do OK but I think you get good point separation over the waiver wire strategy with Rivers.
Rounding out the list at $6 is Colston, Steve Smith, Holmes and Romo. Colston is the value of the bunch. He will go for more in your auction so if you really want him be prepared to drop $10 or more. I fear Smith will not be the best WR on the Giants next season though that might be OK I just think Nicks could be great. Holmes is all over the place some love him some hate him so he will probably go for more but I think this is the right price. As for Romo I think the only reason he made the list was so we could make our peacock joke (see the list).
That is it. Check out the list at the website below.
Author: Josh Reitan
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Duty tariff
The years old rule is that kickers are picked in the last round. Should we deviate from that normalcy? In the last episode of our Fantasy Football Draft Day Do’s and Dont’s series, we will get a leg up on Kickers.
Do…
Start the rumor mill going with 4 or 5 rounds to go! Talk about Detroit’s Jason Hanson’s and Minnesota’s Ryan Longwell’s cannon legs. Speak of Buffalo’s Rian Lindell being only 11 of 18 from 40 yards or more in 2008. Talk about everyone except New England’s Stephen Gostkowski, who has 57 FGs over the last 2 years, and a whopping 8 10-point games last season. Shhhhhhh!
Do…
Pick New England’s Stephen Gostkowski in the next to last round! If anyone has picked a kicker before the next to last round, they are allowing you to steal value at the skill positions, and they are not going to be around come playoff time, so let them have at it. He is probably the only kicker you should take before the final round.
Don’t…
Pick Kickers from non-contending teams! 8 out of the top 10 scoring Kickers last year were from Playoff teams. Those teams that can not move the ball do not give their Kickers a chance, and they also do not win games. Leave these perennial losers alone.
Don’t…
Forget that there are 32 Kickers to choose from in a 12 man Fantasy Football League. Translated : Don’t waste a lot of time worrying about kickers.
Most Fantasy Football Championship Winners do not waste a beer fart on thinking about Kickers. Just draft him last and be done with it. This will signal the end of your Draft Day, and the beginning of your Championship march if you follow the tips in this Fantasy Football Draft Day Do’s and Dont’s Article Series. And do not forget to keep up to date with your stats at the Official NFL website, and prepare pre-Draft with The SportingNews Fantasy Football Guide. All the stats in these articles were obtained from these 2 awesome resources. The insight and tips were gleaned from my 17 years as a Fantasy Football Fanatic.
Author: Patrick ONeill
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Cool mobile gadgets
By far the most popular beer style sold in the UK is Lager. Typically a light, clear, sparkling brew served cold, but as it is of European origin and not a traditional British style, it will not be included in this article.
The principal styles of traditional British beer sold in the UK fall into the following categories; Barley wine, Bitter, Brown ale, India Pale Ale, Mild, Porter and Stout.
Barley Wine – This is the strongest of beer styles regularly sold in the UK. It typically reaches an alcohol strength of 8 to 12% by volume. The name Barley Wine refers to the fact it can be as strong as a wine. However the fact it is made from grain and not fruit means it is a beer. It should be sipped as you would a wine, and it has a fruity well aged sweet flavour and a deep amber or reddish brown colour.
Bitter – Typically ranges in strength from 3 to 5% alcohol by volume. It originated from brewers who wanted to differentiate these ales from other mild brews, produced from pale malts and more hops. Most are gold to copper in colour and are light bodied. Low carbonation. Alcohol should be low and not perceived. Hop bitterness is moderate to assertive. Most have a fruitiness in the aroma and flavour.
Brown Ale – Typically ranges in strength from 4 to 8% alcohol by volume. It’s colour ranges from deep amber to brown.The roasted malt gives them a caramel or chocolate undertone. Brown ales from northeastern England tend to be strong and malty, often nutty, while those from southern England are usually darker, sweeter and lower in alcohol.
India Pale Ale – Or IPA, typically ranges in strength from 4 to 7% alcohol by volume. First brewed in England during the late 1700s and exported for the British troops in India . So it could survive the long voyage to India they were well-hopped, as hops are a natural preservative. Basically a standard Pale Ale, but much maltier, with a higher alcohol content.
Mild – Typically ranges in strength from 2 to 6%. Mild has a very light hop character. Alcohol content is very low. Grainy or toasty malts might be present. Colours range from gold to dark brown. Traditionally a cheaper draft beer made popular in London and the Midlands of England.
Porter – Typically ranges in strength from 4 to 7%. Brewed originally in London, this dark beer was a cheap mass produced brew which got it’s name from it’s popularity amongst the market and river porters working in London at the time. Hop bitterness is moderate on the whole and colour ranges from brown to black. They are very complex and interesting beers.
Stout – Typically ranges in strength from 4 to 7%. Stouts are usually dark brown to pitch black in color. They can be similar to Porters in many ways. Stouts, in some but not all cases are made using roasted barley or unmalted barley that is kilned to the point of being charred, which gives the beer a dry character and a huge roasted flavour that can range from burnt to coffee to chocolate.
This wraps up my brief foray into British beer styles. It is a huge subject and I don’t pretend to have done anything more than scratch the surface here. If I have inspired you to embark on your own tasting journey hope you enjoy a new discovery along the way, or a renewed interest in this most noble and complex of beverages.
Author: Tony Kitson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Canada duty tariff
Home brewing kits can make all the difference in preparing the best home brewed beer. You can always make a home brew fit for the weekenders, but with the right home brewing equipment you can prepare a true quality beer.
You and your friends might even be surprised at the final quality of taste you produce when using home brewing kits. One of the most important things a home brew kit will do is replace the bits and pieces like paint buckets or plastic milk jugs that you may have thrown together to create your first batch of homebrew. Although the specially selected plastic buckets provided in less expensive home brewing kits are acceptable, glass containers are most desired for premium-flavored beer.
Even if your only desire is to create a nice tasting home brewed beer for the occasional weekend get to together, glass containers are highly recommended. You will really be disappointed with the final product if you attempt to save a few bucks by purchasing plastic containers- even if it is only for storage.
Before beginning the creation of any home brewed products, you should be familiar with the local county and state alcohol laws for the state in which you will be producing the products.
As with buying cars, you can purchase home brewing kits in basic models and in more expensive versions. The basic homebrew kit provides everything you need to brew a quality bottle of draft. Another premium option offered in the high-end kits is flavoring. The different flavors offered vary. Kits offering a variety of hops and even fruit flavors give you the opportunity to produce your own variety of flavored beers. Of course, most quality kits have instructions on using the hops and flavors so you will be able to try different creations of flavored homebrew without ruining a batch in the process.
Brewing supplies like strainers designed for the brewing process, wooden paddles and even specially designed cooking kettles can make brewing batches of your favorite beer easier.
Using glass containers for fermentation, as well as, for serving is a big step towards improving the quality and taste of a home brewed beer. Glass will help prevent an undesirable flavor in your mug of beer. Flavorings, such as hops, can also help you design a homebrew more specific to your own taste. While brewing supplies like strainers and large spoons may not change the end taste of your brew, they can make the whole brewing process much easier.
Home brewing kits are well worth their price especially in the learning stages. Consider the quality difference in your first batch of home brewed beer using items gathered from around the house to the flavorful taste of the frothy beer you now brew.
Author: Loren Bailey
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Canada duty rate
It’s only late September but Fall is officially here now. And with October’s chilly, crisp evenings only a few days away, I’m already thinking about all the great Oktoberfest beers I’ll have access to trying in the next several weeks. I snagged a mixed six pack of Oktoberfest-style beers this evening and Summit Brewing Co’s Oktoberfest Marzen was the first of the six to be poured tonight. Summit Brewing Company hails from St. Paul, Minnesota. I’m not all that familiar with the microbrews from Summit so trying this one gave me a little sense of curiosity and intrigue.
Pouring the chilled contents of the twelve ounce bottle into my glass, I immediately notice a respectable, creamy eggshell colored head which topped a nice mahogany, rust-hued liquid. Carbonation was somewhat lacking though, it was virtually non-existent. Did I get my hands on a bad beer?
Holding the glass up to my nose didn’t help. It smelled a bit like that all too familiar scent of when you’ve got yourself a skunked beer that just wasn’t handled or stored correctly somewhere along the way. I was worried I’d wasted $2.00 on this one.
However, I was somewhat pleasantly surprised once I started drinking this microbrew. There was nice comforting caramel malty sweetness. Not cloying or profound, but more common and expected. Being that I thought this one might be spoiled originally, this was a pleasant surprise already. I was a winner already just in the fact this wasn’t a drainpour beer. The mouthful was actually fairly thick and rich and only became more profound as the liquid warmed about halfway through the glass of beer. Nothing too off center here and there was a nice spiciness to this brew in the mouthful. No real hop presence at all however, not to worry though. This is an Oktoberfest. Alcohol presence did start to make itself known toward the latter part of the glass. As the beer warmed in my glass, the alcholic warming burn became more prevalent.
While Summit Brewing Company’s Oktoberfest was not the best Octoberfest beer I’ve ever tried, it was respectable. It was sweet, and very easy to drink. My bottle I’d originally thought was spoiled. So just finding out it was drinkable was a pleasant surprise that probably lent to a more favorable subconscious rating that would normally be the case. I’d felt like I got lucky I guess.
I’d recommend giving this Summit Oktoberfest beer a try if you see it in your neighborhood bottle shop or tavern, especially this time of year (just keeping in the spirit of the season). Summit Brewing Company’s Oktoberfest Marzen was very drinkable and smooth. There is nothing challenging or out of the ordinary with this beer however. It just kind of blends in with all the other Oktoberfest offerings you can find out there this time of year. Nothing too bad, but nothing all that special either. Not memorable. It is smooth though, and very easy to drink. Despite the 7.7 Alcohol by Volume rating, it’s one that doesn’t kick you too much in the butt but you’re by your second, you’re probably going to be ready to move on to something else anyway.
I’ll go ahead and give Summit Brewing Company’s Oktoberfest Marzen a 6.00 out of 10.00 possible points on my rating scale. I’ll also add, that I’d really love to try this microbrew fresh on draft sometime at a local watering hole. I’m guessing that it just might make a significant improving difference in this microbrew’s flavor and richness versus the long travelled bottled version.
Author: David James
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Mobile device news
