Draft Beer Kits

New Draft Beer Technology

This is some awesome new beer technology.  Thought I’d share.

If you have some awesome beer technology to share, join us at the Pub for Beer Enthusiasts, Beertaps.com Pub.

Costly Mistakes With Your Kegerator Conversion

You can’t just go in blindly when you are converting your old refrigerator into a kegerator.  I’ve seen some horrible mistakes.  I’ve seen mistakes that have caused the refrigerator to be no longer usable in any capacity.  You don’t want your refrigerator conversion to turn into any of these catastrophes:

One day, a few friends of mine were enjoying their draft beers out of their freshly converted kegerator when all of a sudden they heard a pop.  They didn’t think anything of it because they had been hearing different sounds all day.  One of the beer enthusiasts decided to pour another drink and got a half glass with a lot of foam.  After closer observation, the beer line had popped off the regulator and was damaged.  The beer drinking fun was over until the beer line was replaced.  A good bit of beer was on the bottom of the refrigerator too.  A nice mess to clean up when you have a CO2 tank pumping air through a line to make sure the beer keeps flowing.

I have actually witnessed the next mistake go both ways.  The CO2 regulator needs to be set to the right psi.  Not over and not under.  Can you imagine walking up to the kegerator and not getting anything out of it?  Or worse yet, can you imagine damaging a beer line because you had the psi too high?  Great ways to ruin a party.

But, the one that takes the cake is the amateur who decided to just drill the hole through the door without knowing what he was doing.  The hole was too big for the shank because this guy wanted to drill the hole as big as the nuts.  Enough said about that!  Scrap the refrigerator and go find another one.

So before you make any of these mistakes, make sure that you know everything you need to know before you get started:

Converting a Refrigerator into a Kegerator

The Art of Bartending

For your own home bar, become a professional bartender OR

Learn to bartend to live the carefree life of a bartender!

Do you know how to make a Long Island Iced Tea, a Cosmo, a Kamikaze, or even a Cotton Candy? I’ve got those recipes plus over 100 more all in this easily downloadable e-book.

I teach you tricks on memorizing these recipes so that you never have to refer to your “Bar Bible.”

I have over 13 years behind the bar in my background. I have tended bar in 2 countries and 5 states. I have done it all: Biker bars, Hotel lounges, Strip Clubs, Sports bars, Neighborhood bar and grills, Karaoke bars, Night clubs, Pool Halls, and Country Clubs just to name a few.

I’ve gone to Bartending School. Heck, I’ve even taught at one. I couldn’t stand charging people $300.00 and up for information I was willing to teach for next to nothing.

I think this officially makes “So Ya Wanna Be A Bartender” the best bargain on the internet. It’s only a fraction of what anything else out there might cost.

Here are just a few more things you’ll discover inside;

• How to fake drinks you’ve never even heard of,  and have everyone proclaim your concoction as “The best they ever had.”
• A full list of all of the bar essentials you would ever need.
• How to match your glassware with your drinks.
• How to work your ice for even stronger tasting drinks.

And much much more…

Become a Bartender

A Unique Wine Rack Idea

When I saw this wine rack design the other day, I thought how easy it would be to build one for myself.

But, I like sharing DIYs with others and had to figure out how they could enjoy this unique wine rack design without spending a ton of money on it.

And my mind went to town.  But, I was in a hurry to share with everyone.  I haven’t had time to build one for myself.  So, I wrote a Wine Rack Idea article about how it will work.  If you can follow the blueprint in the article, you can enjoy a unique wine rack that might look like it cost you a pretty penny.  But for those of you who may need clearer instructions and step by step pictures, I would be willing to write a DIY for everyone who wants it.

Let me know, email me at beertaps@aweber.com to receive notification when I get the DIY together.  You’ll get a confirmation message from me, Stan Schubridge, and then you’ll stay up to date.  And yes, you can unsubscribe at any time so that’s fine to stay on the list until you get the DIY.

How To Make Your Home Bar More Bar And Less Home

When you are trying to create a bar in your home, of course you begin with the taps and the handles, mirrors and signs.  You built a bar!  It has to look right.  Right?

But when the bar is in place and you think you have it all, what kind of lame bar serves draft beer in plastic cups?  And I’ll be willing to bet that’s what you have.  Red plastic cups that you bought at the grocery store.  Hmm…all that work and then you tap out at the end.

Well, you can add some specialty glasses so that your friends are drinking in style.  This is where it gets tricky, but you can manage.  You don’t just want to get mugs of any kind.  You need to stock up your cabinets with mugs of all kinds.

Vintage mugs from old fashioned beers add such a touch of class.  Especially when you have friends asking you where you got the mugs.  That’s when you realize saving money on those red plastic cups wasn’t worth it after all.

But, don’t stop there.  You should have Pilsners and Pints, Dimpled Mugs and Retro Pubs.  Get mugs with different logos like Coors, Molson, Blue Moon and Killian.  It’s a blast to make sure that you drink out of the right glass for the right kind of draft.

Logo Beer Glasses

The Nitty Gritty Of A DUI

Today it seems that you hear the abbreviation constantly. DUI task forces are constantly on the news. However, not everyone understands the basics of a DUI are or even what DUI stands for.

DUI is actually driving under the influence and this actually means that a person has decided to operate a motorized vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Although the states all have different definitions of what a DUI is, in each state driving while under the influence of substances is illegal.

A DUI charge is a criminal charge. Though alcohol is legal to drink for individuals over 21, driving while your blood/alcohol content is above the legal limits is illegal. Additionally, being under the influence of illegal drugs is obviously a crime, but driving while being impaired by even prescription medications can be a crime as well.

There are many police officers who are on the look -out for those who may be driving under the influence. They often drive erratically drawing attention to themselves. The reason for this is a person’s focus and reaction time is greatly diminished.

Initially, if an officer pulls you over he will question you if you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. From there he will probably have you perform some field sobriety tests. These test your coordination and reactions. It may be walking on a straight line or stand on one leg and touch your nose with each hand. Should he feel the driver is DUI he will ask the driver to submit to a breathalyzer test or even blood tests to check your current levels are.

It is necessary to remember that laws vary from state to state but most will allow the driver to decide which advanced test to take. There is also something called implied consent, which is found in each state. What this means is that at the time you got your license you consented to be tested if you were stopped. The point here is that driving is a privilege and you are putting many innocent people on the road and yourself in danger.

Every state had different consequences for DUI’s. Some of the most common consequences include a stay in jail, possible community service, suspension of your driver’s license, fines, and even probation. Of course, the severity of the consequences is directly tied to how severe the infraction is. If your blood levels are severely over the legal limits or if this is your second or third offense, you can expect that your consequences would be more severe than those for a lesser infraction of the law.

DIY Kegerator – A Beer Keg In Your Refrigerator Or Wherever Else

It’s been a dream for many beer drinkers around the world.  But, putting a keg in an old refrigerator for your apartment, den or garage isn’t that hard to do when you have the right material.

A Kegerator Conversion Kit is all you need and there is something that you may have never thought about, but it’s a surprise and I’ll tell you in a minute.  These conversion kits change any old refrigerator into a kegerator in minutes.  Install the shank and faucet directly in to the door of your refrigerator and hook up the Co2 inside.  You’ll be drinking from your kegerator in no time at all.

But, here’s something that not many people think about.  The Kegerator Conversion Kit can also be used for other home bar designs.  Wall mount it to a closet.  That’s right!  Turn your closet into a kegerator.

All you need to do is install the shank and faucet on the wall the way you would the door of your refrigerator.  Then, grab a large trash can full of ice just like you would for a normal keg party.  Hook up the Co2 inside the closet and you are ready to drink some cold beer with the keg hidden in the closet, fully functional for your party.  Of course, this is really only good for keg parties when you have them.  But, you can try to keep ice in the trash can as you keep swapping out kegs.

As this idea starts to spark the imagination, I want to see Kegerators everywhere!  Garages, Bedrooms, Kitchens, Living Rooms, Bathrooms, through the wall to the Patio outside…etc.

Beertaps has the Kegerator Conversion Kit you need!

The Drink Beer and Making Money Industry

You watch people on television having a great time.  Some of the reality television shows allow their contestants to be viewed while drinking.  Some actors like Norm have made a career out of it.  But, can you get paid to drink beer?

It would be nice to know, wouldn’t it?

I loved watching Tara Reid get drunk on the Wild On… episodes that she hosted and on the Taradise show that had a short run.  You sit back and watch the show thinking, “Man, why can’t I land a gig as sweet as that?”

You get paid to roam around the world, find the best places ever and drink their alcohol to show people at home how fun it is.  That’s the gig of the century.  But, then the thought occurs to you that only blessed people like Tara Reid get gigs like that.

Well, not anymore.  Getting paid to drink is no longer a gig for the beautiful and talented.  It’s a job all of us can have.

It seems that there are plenty of beer companies starting a trend.  They love to pay people to drink their beer and give them feedback.

“Just two nights ago I attended a beer & wine discussion group and for about 1 hour of my time, sampling a few different beers and wines and answering some questions I received $70.” Tim Costello, author of Make Money Drinking Beer.

It does appear that the blessings have been passed on to the rest of us.  So, if you think you can participate in a drinking group where people will be drinking and talking about drinking, the learn more about how to make money drinking beer…

How to Get Your Drink the Right Way

Ah, the bar. It’s the perfect social setting. It’s the place where you can have either the best or the worst time.

So trying to be slick and all cool-like, you mosey your way to the bar and wait. Hold on, actually, you don’t wait. You pace around nervously trying to get the bartender’s attention.

So you pull something off like this. You hold out your money like you’re important. And, you call out the bartender’s name as if you know each otherbut you don’t.

Doesn’t appear to make any difference, does it? You feel like you’re being flat out ignored. Obviously, you have to wait just like everyone else.

The American Idol-esque karaoke act wasn’t that great either. So you think you can sing? Singing won’t get you your drink, waiting will.

Do you have a dog at home? Yeah, well whistling at the bar doesn’t help matters. Save the whistling for when Fido wanders away from home.

In order to speed up the process, remember that there are certain rules to abide by. “Oh woe is me” never got anybody anywhere. You’re still waiting, and sometimes the wait can be longer than usual.

By the way, trying to impress the cute girl or boy next to you doesn’t necessarily score you points in this situation. Offering them the “go ahead” might backfire. Your place in line just got pushed back a few notches.

So be calm, collective, and above all, patient. The less you cause a scene, the better. Who says that good drinks don’t come to those who wait?

The most important rule is to leave a tip. Especially a tip that’s more than the usual amount. Bartenders will definitely love you for this.

So don’t forget to tip. And put on something hot. Bartenders will notice the attractive people.

Garrison Keillor – View of Cincinnati, Love of Beer

Cincinnati Poem

We’re in Cincinnati and it’s good to be here
In a city of pork and a city of beer.
Old beer signs everywhere you walk:
“Good Old” Brucks, Brenner’s XL Pilsener, John Hauck
Barbarossa, King Gambrinus, or Crown.
You eat you some Pork hocks with leeks and garlic cloves, you need beer to wash it down.
Similarly, to go along with a pint of beer, you need more than a pretzel
You need Pork Meatloaf with brown gravy and spaetzle.
A big pork sandwich and something to drink,
Geisbauer, Bierbrauer, Linck.
Nothing chintzy
Here in Cincy.
Like it or not, Cincinnati was not vegetarian.
It went for pork shanks with bread dumplings and a pitcher of Bavarian.
No lemonade, no cranberry juice, no apple cider,
But a big mug of Weber’s, Lackman, Jackson, Mohawk, Gerke, Burger, or Foss-Schneider.
And all of the pig was used, even the snout
To make Bierwurst, Mettwurst, Bratwurst, piled high with sauerkraut.

Beers with distinguished names like Butcher & Weidmann and Windisch-Muhlhauser
To give a sense of dignity to the drunken carouser
City of suds and city of swine,
Some greasy goetta sausage and a glass of Christian Moerlein,
Or Little Kings cream ale

Beer by the bottle, the barrel, the hogshead, and the pail,
Golden brown glasses of beer with nice big heads
And Hudepohl-Schoenling, Cincinnati’s finest, hu-dey “Hu dey think gonna beat them Reds”
It was the national capital of beer.
In 1890, they produced a million barrels a year.
Old breweries along McMicken Avenue on the hill north of Liberty Street,
Making beer out of water, yeast, sugar, plenty of hops, and wheat.
Oh in Cincinnati there was lots to do:
You had a Hudy and a Pork cordon bleu.
Cincinnati was a regular culinary riot.
How sad to be on a diet.
What a terrible loss.
To miss out on the roast pork loin with beer sauce.
And it is politically incorrect
And you may object
To my saying so, but I suspect
Something joyful and boisterous and profane
Was lost when we decided to abstain.
A man sitting down to pork braised, roasted, fried, boiled, battered, with a glass upraised,
A man who is a little fried himself and his eyes are glazed.
That may have been the night he became your daddy
Here in Cincinnati.

_____

If you ever find a place that you want to call home

and you can name off the reasons why,

then you’ll be as lucky as this guy!