Beer and Halloween – Awesome Beer Related Pumpkin Carving Ideas

Halloween is almost here! Some people like to dress up and go out on the town, or take their families Trick-or-Treating. Others prefer to stay in and hand out candy all night, or just shut the lights off and pretend no one is home. No matter which end of the spectrum you fall on, everyone loves carving pumpkins!

Halloween is that special time of year when pumpkins are everywhere and really cheap. A pumpkin carving competition is a guaranteed night of fun with a couple friends, and even better if you add beer. If you plan to carve a pumpkin this Halloween we have some awesome beer related ideas in the gallery below you can use for inspiration.

Also be sure to check out this video from Tipsy Bartender on how to make a Halloween pumpkin beer cooler!

Did you know that tickets for BeerFest 2018 are on sale now? Get them early and surprise someone special.

Click here to buy tickets (opens in a new window)!

Enjoy the beer themed pumpkin carving ideas in the gallery below, click the image to see the next one!

[ngg_images source=”galleries” container_ids=”10″ sortorder=”778,768,765,773,767,769,764,771,772,774,775,776,780,779,770,777″ display_type=”photocrati-nextgen_basic_slideshow” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”DESC” returns=”included” gallery_width=”1000″ gallery_height=”1000″ cycle_effect=”fade” cycle_interval=”10″ show_thumbnail_link=”0″ thumbnail_link_text=”[Show picture list]” maximum_entity_count=”500″]*Source: http://thedrinknation.com/articles/read/5789-Booze-Themed-Pumpkin-Carvings & Google Images

Beer Promotes Good Health

Edmonton International BeerFest

Over the years, many people have blamed alcoholic beverages for their unhealthy habits. Beer is consumed all across the globe, and as of recently, researchers have proved that consuming a brew every so often is good for your health. A lower risk of heart disease, increased creativity, and improved immune system function are among the benefits that beer can offer.

Contrary to popular belief, researchers in Italy have recently discovered that people who moderately consume ales will have a 42 percent lower risk of developing heart disease compared to people who do not drink. Moreover, many researchers agree that having one or two drinks a day could reduce the risk of diabetes while improving kidney function. Possibly the greatest health related factor, however, is that malt liquor can improve the function of your immune system. The immune system is responsible for keeping you healthy, and recent studies have shown that moderate alcohol consumption can help the body fight infections. There are a plethora of benefits regarding physical well-being, but there are also benefits pertaining to mental wellness. Malt liquor has been proven to increase creativity and boost confidenfce in consumers. Despite the many health benefits that beer offers, it is important to remember that the best results will be seen when consuming in moderation.

Our annual BeerFest in Edmonton offers some of the best selections from the micro brewing community. Those interested in attending the event in 2018 can keep up to date by liking our Facebook page.

A Wallet for Beer Lovers

If you plan to go to the 2018 Edmonton International Beer Festival next year think about getting the Trayvax Element a wallet designed for the beer lover. It is made of leather and has a metal clip to hold money, a beer opener, and rear section for cash and cards. It holds up to 10 credit or debit cards designed to provide security.

Any man will feel comfortable and secure with this item at festivals. It is made of leather and steel and fits comfortably in your front pocket. It has RFID protection that protects your credit cards from electronic theft. They use special materials that protect your cards from being read. When you use the Trayvax wallet while traveling your money is secure.

The Trayvax Element is a slim and made in the United States. It is tough and can be used on the job, in construction, and warehouses. The best part is that is has a lifetime warranty. It comes in several different colors to suit your tastes like stealth black, canyon red, brown, Mississippi Mud, and tobacco brown.

A beer lover will find the Trayvax Element withstands the elements of a wild beer festival and other special events. This versatile wallet is designed for the beer lover, rugged outdoors person, the office, and everyday use. Well made and rugged it is a good investment.

Our annual BeerFest in Edmonton offers some of the best selections from the micro brewing community. Those interested in attending the event in 2018 can keep up to date by liking our Facebook page.

Beer…. Pain Reliever?

Edmonton International BeerFest

If you’re looking for an effective pain relieve other than Tylenol, try beer. A study conducted by Dr. Trevor Thompson from the University of Greenwich, and published in The Journal of Pain, discovered that raising your blood alcohol level to .08% (the legal limit) increases the capacity for pain significantly. This equates to the consumption of three or four glasses. Surprised? Probably not.

If you drink any type of alcoholic beverage on a regular basis, you know that it dulls your senses. Besides slurring speech, liquor also diminishes the impact of a fall or bump. A perfect example is a bar fight. Participants might bruise each other up, but won’t feel the impact from a black eye until the next day. The side effects go full force and with them comes immense pain. Yet, health experts warn against the use of beer as a pain reliever.Although potent, substituting beer for other types of pain reliever proves dangerous. Studies show the addictive nature of alcohol. Also, the number of calories in this beverage are high. So, the cons out weigh the pros. In other words, drink a cold one to relieve a headache only when no other options exist and you can exact self control.

Our annual BeerFest in Edmonton offers some of the best selections from the micro brewing community. Those interested in attending the event in 2018 can keep up to date by liking our Facebook page.

Photo by Jamiesrabbits

Simple tips for your first home brew

Edmonton International BeerFest

There is no doubt that home brewing is becoming more popular. Beginner kits are easier to find and tempt beer lovers everywhere with the dream of making a flavorful home brew that will let their inner brewmaster out.

Even though you are going to have a fun time using your kit there are few techniques and tips that your kit may not mention. The following tips will help your first and future brews be a success.Keep it Simple, Keep it Clean
Kits normally come with a beginner’s recipe. Use it. Don’t worry about adding additional ingredients to make your beer more exotic. If you don’t know what your doing there is a chance of ruining the batch. Learn a good form and routine first.

Unfortunately the best conditions for yeast to grow and ferment the wort are also the best conditions for bacteria to grow. Clean and sanitize everything the wort will come in contact with including thermometers, buckets, tubing…EVERYTHING. Also remember to clean what the final product will be stored in. Acid-based sanitizers and iodine-based sanitizer are recommended.

Chill Fast After Boil
There are various methods to chill your wort. For beginners a simple ice bath will do. Bacteria can infect your wort at temperatures above 80 degrees so you need to drop the temperature quickly. This will also reduce the haziness in the finished beer by causing proteins to coagulate and drop out.

Aerate the Wort
Boiling causes the wort to loose oxygen, which is important for proper yeast production. If the yeast doesn’t get the oxygen back it can lead to strange flavors. A good simple method to aerate the wort is shake it after it is placed in a sealed sanitized carboy or bucket. Place the container on the ground and rock it back and forth until it is frothy.

Pitching the Yeast and Controlling Temperature
Healthy yeast is crucial to a good brew. Pitching rate calculators can help determine the amount of yeast you need in your batch. Liquid yeast is a good way to achieve the appropriate amount, but is expensive. Other options include creating a yeast starter or using dry yeast. All three methods have their pros and cons so it is a good idea to research and figure out which method is best for you.

After pitching you’ll need to control the fermentation temperature. This is what helps the yeast turn the sugar in to alcohol. Each strain of yeast will vary slightly in the fermentation temperature so it is a good idea to check with the manufacturer for the proper temperature.

Take notes throughout the home brew process. They can come in handy next time and may give insight on how to improve your next batch.

Our annual BeerFest in Edmonton offers some of the best selections from the micro brewing community. Those interested in attending the event in 2018 can keep up to date by liking our Facebook page.

Unusual Uses For Your Beer

Most people prefer to drink their beer, at BeerFest we agree, but we all know there are times when some is leftover. However, we can’t bear to see it just poured down the sink when the party is over or when that batch of home brew goes wrong. So, we took some time to have some fun and experiment with more than one unusual use for leftover brew.

1. Make Incredible Bread
Cooking with beer is not new whether you have it in your hand or in the recipe. Since it is basically liquid bread it doesn’t take much to make actual bread out of it. Just add some flour and salt and you can make wonderfully crispy flat bread. Recipe: http://www.food.com/recipe/crispy-beer-flat-bread-154024

2. Roast A Moist Wonderful Chicken
Even when the lager has gone flat it can still perk up your chicken. Take that half-full can of lager and place the large cavity of the chicken over it. You can throw it in the oven or on the barbecue and the lager will evaporate as it cooks. This will leave you with a delicious, flavorful, lager infused bird.

3. Move Over Pledge.
Next time your favorite klutz comes over and spills his drink on your pristine finished wooden coffee you don’t have to fret. Just take out some of that leftover flat ale and apply it to the wood using a soft cloth. This will leave a nice sheen on your furniture and it will smell a little like ale. Just make sure to test an inconspicuous spot first.

4. Polish That Pot.
Beer is slightly acidic so it helps break down tarnish on brass and copper pots. Put a little on a clean cloth and buff. That and a little elbow grease will make those pots shine.

5. Keep Insects Away!
Humans aren’t the only ale drinkers out there. Forget the citronella candles, keep the bugs away by placing bowls of suds away from the party. The insects are attracted to the sugars in the liquid. Just remember to keep uncle Bill away from them.

Buy Your Tickets Today

Edmonton’s International Beerfest offers some of the best selections from the micro brewing community. Tickets for the 2018 Beerfest are on sale now! Buy tickets today before the event sells out!

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