Are You Sick of Bars? Move the Tavern to Your House!

Are you tired of always having to go out to a bar for a couple of cold beers when you really just want to take it easy and relax a bit? Have you ever thought about how much money you spend when drinking out in public? For anyone who's had to put off their car payment for another week just because of last Saturday night, the solution is simple; beer taps right in your own home!

Buying draft beer by the keg not only costs much less but the quality and experience goes up as well. A draft beer system is a fairly simple way to enjoy great beer without going anywhere. A draft system uses gas (usually CO2 or a blend of nitrogen and CO2) to push beer from the keg right out of the beer tap handles and into your glass. Beer must remain in between 38-40 degrees Fahrenheit for two reasons: for proper pouring and to maintain the freshness of the beer, as it is not pasteurized. It can be a bit more complicated with multiple beer taps, but the basics remain; consistent temperature and a proper pressure level of gas.

At home beer taps are fairly simple in design. A small tank of CO2 attaches to a regulator, which reduces the pressure down to 10-12 psi. A hose goes from the beer tap handles to the keg. There are a variety of beer tap handles that go along with certain kinds of beers. All beer tap handles have a screwing or keyed fitting that hooks up to the keg and another hose that runs to the faucet where the beer is poured out. Tap handles usually run anywhere from $15-$150, depending on what style and brand you choose.

Most of the domestic keg coolers are designed to hold a pony keg, or about º of a regular sized keg. Some larger coolers are made for restaurants that hold Ω of a keg. There are also conversion kits where you can actually turn your old refrigerator into a keg cooler. It is a good idea to test out the size of the keg you'll be using with the fridge before building it to completion. Local beer distributors will more than likely loan you one for a small deposit down. After that, it's as simple as measuring a frame around the keg to make sure your cooler is big enough to hold the size keg you want. 

A five-pound tank of gas is usually enough for about 5-7 half kegs and is relatively inexpensive (between  $7-$12) to refill. Regular cleaning should be done to maintain proper flow through the system and to keep the taste of the beer great. This can be done by regularly running clean and hot water through the lines every couple of weeks or so. Whatever system you go with, there's a lot to be said about being able to stay in your own home and still being able to enjoy your favorite draft beer just like at the bar. Plus, think of how envious all your buddies will be!

Beer — The Cause of and Solution to All of Life's Problems

Prohibitionists and other conservatives have long viewed beer as the devil's brew. Beer itself isn't so bad; it's people that have given it a bad rap. When used in a controlled, social setting, beer is nothing more than a cold, refreshing break time treat.

Rich History: There is evidence that beer has been around almost along as history itself. Pre-historic man is said to have created beer before learning that grains could also be used to produce another dietary staple called "bread". Noah is said to have stocked his ark with beer. Ancient Babylonian clay tables revealing recipes for beer date back to 4300 BC.

Social Acceptance: Clearly, beer has always been in important element in social gatherings. It's a staple at sport arenas, card games and dart matches. Problems can arise, however, when beer drinkers indulge privately or believe they can drink away their troubles. Of course, binge drinking or drinking in excess also brews trouble.

Worldwide Acclaim: Beer is consumed all over the world. North America, South America, Asia and Europe all have rich beer histories. Breweries can be found in Mongolia, many African countries, and Middle East countries including Iraq and Syria. Virtually anywhere a thirsty traveler stops to rest, a cold pint can easily be found. Many beers of the world are imported and readily available to North American beer drinkers looking to explore new flavours.

Rating Systems: Some avid beer drinkers actually rate the beers they consume, tally the scores and post their comments on Internet websites to determine the world's most popular brews. Beer drinkers in America can correspond online with their Russian counterparts and swap bottles of beer through the mail. Others drink a variety of beers to keep and collect the bottles and caps. Pubs sometimes host beer clubs, awarding plaques or personalized steins to those who have purchased and quaffed every brand of beer on the menu.

Glass or Cans? Some beer drinkers prefer to quaff from a proper pint glass, and others downright refuse to drink from a bottle or can. Drinking from a glass or stein helps to release the aromas of the beer, so the drinker is able to appreciate more than just the taste of the brew. Pouring beer into a vessel also allows a head to form on the beer, an important element for many beer drinkers. Similar to wine and spirits, there are specific glasses available for different types of beer. Many brewers produce glassware intended for use with their own brand of beer.

Temperature: The ideal beer temperature varies depending on a number of factors. More experienced beer drinkers will tell you that a warmer temperature enhances the flavour, while colder temperatures inhibit the senses of the tongue and throat. Subtle nuances are weakened, and the main flavour is downright destroyed by low temperatures. On the other hand, those who work hard and play hard expect an ice-cold beer, served in a frosty mug. Irish beer drinkers insist that a pint of Irish Guinness is best served at room temperature.

Pouring: The way beer is poured has influence over the presentation of beer. The flow rate from the tap, position of the pour and the tilting of the glass all affect the outcome. How the beer is poured determines the size and longevity of the head, and the turbulence of the pour affects how the carbonization is released. More heavily carbonated beers, such as German pilsners, need time to settle before they're served. Many barkeeps will serve the beer with remaining yeast at the bottom of the glass to add extra color and flavor.

Served warm or cold, from a bottle or glass, beer is an important part of society from Montana to Mongolia. And sometimes, even those so-called little old ladies will gather to enjoy a pint with their mates.

Everything You Need to Know About German Beer

Throughout Germany, beer is very popular with the culture. Germany contains well over 1,000 breweries, which is more than any other location in the world. All beer that is manufactured in Germany must follow the Purity Law, which lets manufacturers know what ingredients can and can't be used. Basically, the only ingredients allowed to make beer in Germany are water, hops, and barley malt. Due to the strict purity requirements, you can easily notice German beers by their overall level of quality. They have a distinct taste, with little to no aftertaste. Some styles of German ale include Koelsch, Weizen, and Altbier. Some types of German lagers include Bock, Pilsener, Dunkel, Helles, and Maerzen. Keep in mind that the taste, aroma, and color can vary, although all can be identified as being true German beers.

The German beer Altbier is a very common dark ale, that is top fermented in the lower regions of Germany. The beer proposes a yellow color, with a taste that is rich in hops. Another ale, Rauchbier, is known to have a smoky flavor with a smoked color. These beers taste great, and happen to be very popular throughout the regions of Germany.

German lagers are also very popular, and happen to be popular in other areas of the world as well. Pilsener is one of the most popular and most familiar of all German beers, providing you with more hops and less malt. Pilsener can be found for sale all over the world, and happens to be very popular throughout North America as well. Several bars serve it as well, as it happens to be one of the most popular dark lagers out there.

Throughout Germany, there are several different companies, produce over 4,000 different brands of beers. Some of the more well known and larger companies of north Germany are Beck, St. Pauli, Warsteiner, and Krombach. In the southern region of Germany, there are more breweries, although most of them are smaller, as they are locally owned and operated. Southern Germany also contains the Benedictine Abbey, which is one of the oldest breweries in the world. This brewery started producing beer in 1040 - very impressive indeed!

Germany is also home to Oktoberfest, which is held every year in Munich. Oktoberfest starts in late September and carries on for two weeks, ending in early October. During Oktoberfest, beer drinkers from all over the world will travel to Germany and celebrate German beers. Each and every year, over 5 million people attend the event, making it one of the biggest beer celebrations in the world. During Oktoberfest, local breweries in Munich are the only breweries allowed to serve beer in the bigger tents. There are six breweries in total, producing a variety of different beers. By attending this yearly event, you can learn more about German beer, sample the different varieties, and enjoy the rich bold flavors that make German beer so very popular.

Due to the success Oktoberfest gets each and every year, other cities around the world try and mimic this event. Even though they have success, their level of success isn't near as much as the original Oktoberfest - Germany. German beers are very popular around the world, with Oktoberfest helping to prove that very claim. If you drink beer but have never experienced what beers from Germany have to offer, you really should give them a try. Once you do, you'll quickly realize why German beers are so very popular - and why the taste simply can't be duplicated with any other beer.

Monster Craft Beer

We were out running some errands and happened upon Monster Craft Beer, so after finishing up the business that we needed to complete, we walked back over to Monster for a few beers. It is a cozy little place with a dark interior and several beers on tap and many more in bottles. We went with an imperial stout and an IPA, unfortunately I can't remember the names of either now (it was three weeks ago, sorry). The IPA was crisp and full of citrus flavors and a touch of hops. A very solid choice and a beer you could easily have a few of sitting outside by a nice fire. The stout, on the other hand, was a true monster. 10% alcohol and heavy with chocolate, caramel, and coffee flavors. It was delicious, but very heavy. This is one of those "don't drink two and drive" type of beers. It was amazing and highly recommended, but it is for slow drinking and contemplation, not a "session" beer as my Australian friend Ben would have described a beer like the IPA I mentioned earlier. If you get a chance to stop in at Monster Craft Beer, I suggest you take the opportunity.

Little Italia Coffee Shop in Daegu

Quite by accident we discovered Little Italia, but we are very happy that we did. It is owned by a Korean-American woman and her Italian-American husband who have relocated to Daegu in only the last few months. Their coffee shop is two months old and serves Italian coffee and sandwiches on homemade bread. My girlfriend happened upon Little Italia after seeing me off at the bus stop on my way to work. She noticed their sign out front with insanely low prices and simply had to try the place. Their sandwiches are amazing and feature Italian ingredients and the homemade bread that I mentioned before. When you arrive, be ready to be warmly greeted, because they will talk to you. They go out of their way to make people feel welcome. It really is a nice little shop. You can get an Americano for 1300KRW. Yes, 1300! And it isn't even a super, small cup. It is a regular size Americano. If you bring your own tumbler, you can get it for 1000. Espresso will run you 1500. If you find yourself over by Dongdaegu Station and need a little coffee to refresh yourself, definitely stop in at Little Italia. You will be happy that you did. Little Italia is located across the street from the Dongdaegu Station on Donggu-ro.

Daedo Brewery in Daegu

lite stout and ale

This weekend we stopped in at Daedo Brewery in Daegu for some delicious food and drink. Daedo makes there beer on site and with hops from Michigan state. The decor is warm and inviting featuring wood, steel, and brick. There is an outside seating area, but because this is January — we opted for inside. You can get beer to go at a discount. But if you stay to enjoy and post your photos to Instagram and follow @daedo_brewery, you will get a discount of 3000KRW. A perfect deal for us! We had the Mexican pizza and it was quite good and very spicy with jalapeños as one of the main ingredients. It wasn't the best pizza that I have had in Korea, but it was definitely in the top five for me and the best I've had so far in Daegu. The beer was lovely as well. My girlfriend had an ale that was a little hoppy with a medium level citrus flavor (not overpowering, but definitely present on the taste buds). I had the lite stout, which turned out to be well named, because it was not a heavy dark beer at all, but rather a very light stout with soft notes of chocolate and coffee. A nice stout for anyone who finds regular stouts to be to strong to handle. We can highly recommend Daedo Brewery and we will absolutely go back again. You can find the location of Daedo on the embedded Google Map below. Enjoy!

Mexian pizza