There are beer enthusiasts who are deeply enriched in the beer making world, who own their own home breweries and who take advantage of all the benefits. Then, there are beer enthusiasts who have never even thought of making their own. I can’t imagine why a beer enthusiast wouldn’t at least be interested in giving it a try, but I’m going to try to change that now.
There are many benefits to brewing your own beer and I’m going to take it one step at a time. When you are ready to get off this wild ride, take stage coach left and no one will think any less of you for it. But I bet once this journey begins, you will want to ride it until the wheels fall off.
First, brewing your own beer is a way of putting a mark on your own home bar. You can even get online and design yourself a label and then place it on your bottles, glasses and beer taps even. When company comes over, you can have them all try it. It might just become their favorite beer meaning you might just get company more often if that seems like something you would like to have.
Then, you can start marketing your beer to the local bars. Give them a taste and see if they like it. There are different ways to make this happen. You can get in touch with a local bar owner and tell them you would like to have a tasting at their bar. You offer some of your beer for free and then when people say they like the taste, the bar owner will most likely want to stock it. Make a thing of it. It’s supposed to be a fun time. So, have fun!
The next logical level is to enter into some beer events. Start locally, but again have fun. Go across the country if you want. The more exposure you get, the more buyers you get. Don’t be surprised when someone approaches you to see if you want a sponsor. Sponsorship can take you to levels you have never imagined. Nationwide distribution. Export. International attention.
By this time of course, you have expanded your enterprise to include so much more than a bucket and a kegerator. You have built your brewery into a high powered system that produces enough beer to satisfy all your orders. You’ve moved your operation to a local location that houses your brewery and invites the neighbors to wander in and have a beer. You’ve had to apply for your beer license so that you can start selling your beer and you’ve had to build a bar so that your neighbors have a comfortable place to sit. You’ve got a sign on the front of your place with your name on it and you’ve been highlighted in the paper as the local beer expert.
With a few different flavors now in your inventory, you can have a seat. Take a breath. You’re finished the first phase of Operation Your Brew. The rest of the ride goes anywhere you want it to go.
If you are like most wine collectors – or just those who like to have a glass of wine with their meals – the purchase of a wine refrigerator is a good investment! Those folks who drink wine regularly know that wine tastes best when chilled to its appropriate temperature. Unfortunately, storing and chilling your wine collection in a home refrigerator is not a good idea because traditional refrigerators do not maintain proper temperature and humidity necessary for wine storage. Other options such as storage in a kitchen pantry or cabinet is not feasible since storage conditions can fluctuate which will cause the quality of the wine to deteriorate and cause spoilage. Another point to consider is that fine wine needs to be stored horizontally to keep the cork moist, and this is only possible with a special wine bottle refrigerator that allows this type of storage.
In case you’re a novice with wines and are looking to buy your first refrigerator, let’s review the ideal wine storage temperatures. The ideal temperature for storing and cooling wines is 55 to 58 degrees Fahrenheit. The best serving temperatures vary somewhat based upon the specific wine: champagne and sparkling wines 53-57 degrees F; light red wines 54-57 degrees F; rich red wine and full-bodied vintages 59-68 degrees F; light red 54-57 degrees F. When you are considering which refrigerator to purchase, make sure to take into account these temperatures and what type of wine you prefer in order to be able to select the best refrigerator for your needs.
Humidity is another important factor in deciding to buy a wine fridge. In order for a wine to maintain its fine taste, humidity levels of around 70% RH need to be maintained. At this level, the cork will not dry out and won’t allow oxygen to penetrate the bottle which would cause spoilage. Wine refrigerators control humidity by maintaining constant optimal conditions which will protect your fine wines.
The last thing to consider, perhaps the most important when choosing a wine refrigerator is your budget. With a limited budget, you can certainly purchase a compact wine cooler (such as a small 12-bottle refrigerator) which is adequate for you to start your wine collection if you plan to store only a few bottles. In this size, there are various refrigerators to pick from which will offer top quality and satisfaction. Conversely, if you are more serious about collecting wine and have a larger budget, you can easily find a refrigerator that will store a large quantity of bottles.
Purchasing a wine refrigerator to store all your wines of different types is a must for anyone who drinks or serves wine. A beginning hobbyist as well as more serious wine collector will see multiple benefits from optimal wine storage.
Learn more about wine refrigerators. Stop by Beth Stoner’s site where you can find out all about purchasing a wine refrigerator and how it can improve the quality of your wine collection.
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.
