posted by admin on Jan 31
A study by Cornell University’s New York State Agricultural Experiment Station and the University of Rochester Medical Center suggests that red wine grapes may help prevent tooth decay.
The researchers found that red wine grapes from the Finger Lakes and pomace, the residue remaining after winemaking that can also be used to make grappa, contain substances that help prevent dental problems. Polyphenols in the grapes interfere with the ability of bacteria to to cause tooth decay. The researchers think this might help kill other harmful bacteria that causes more serious health problems.
The study appeared on the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry website.
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posted by admin on Jan 31
I love winter.
I can’t get enough time outdoors in the snow - whether it be hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, or just having an impromptu snowball fight. Hell, I’ve even been known to drag out the grill occasionally on those quiet, ice cold, snowy nights. Tonight is going to be one of those nights. I can just feel it. There’s something about the intrinsic contradiction of cooking out in winter that makes it so much fun. I mean, what better time to smell a barbeque than when you least expect it in the dead of winter, right? Right.
So, as the heavy snow began falling here in Buffalo today, I began to think about the whole cooking out thing and how much I miss making my “Dirt Track Chicken” – a recipe handed down to me in the pits of Spangdahlem Raceway in Germany, back in the days when I raced a modified, rollcage-clad, ‘76 VW Bug around a dirt track.
“Dirt Track Chicken” was always a favorite amongst drivers and fans alike, if only for it’s most important ingredient: Bitburger Beer (or “Bit” as it’s known). 
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posted by admin on Jan 30
It’s been 114 years since the last legal drink was purchased in the Lakeside neighborhood of Duluth, Minn. Now the Duluth City Council has voted to allow residents to have a say in whether to let Prohibition stand in the community.
The city council voted 7-2 earlier this week to allow a referendum to be placed on the November ballot. Residents will vote on whether they would like to have alcohol available for sale in their community. A state law passed in 1894 bans the sale of alcohol in Lakewood.
The vote by citizens is non-binding. The city would still have to ask the Minnesota Legislature to repeal the law.
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posted by admin on Jan 30
A couple of announcements of acquisitions of California wineries crossed my desk in the last few days that are worth noting. For one, they involve hundreds of millions of dollars change hands. And, these moves indicate some major players are going to focus more attention on mid- and upper-range California brands.
On Monday, Diageo boosted its stake in the U.S. wine market with a $105 million acquisition of Rosenblum Cellars. Diageo is best know for brands like Guinness Stout and Johnnie Walker Scotch, but has significant holdings in California that including Sterling, Chalone and Beaulieu vineyards.
Rosenblum Cellars produces more than three dozen wines in Californian and is best know for its zinfandel and other red wines. Dr. Kent Rosenblum will stay on as a winemaker and adviser.
Last week, Constellation Brands, which is based in Upstate New York, announced it was selling off its Almaden and Inglenook brands to the Wine Group of San Francisco for $134 million. The Wine Group already moves 40 million cases annually of brands such as Franzia, Corbett Canyon, Mogen David, Glen Ellen and Concannon Vineyards.
Constellation sells more than 100 brands and late last year purchased Clos du Bois, Geyser Peak and other labels when it bought Fortune Brands wine business for $885 million.
The deals mean that Diageo and Constellation will be more focused on growing premium wine brands. The battle for retail shelf space and slots on wine lists will certainly heat up in 2008.
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posted by admin on Jan 29
A customer sent us a link to his growler collection. When I went there I was expecting like thirty growlers, which was not the case at all. From his list it’s more like 800 growlers. Take a look at some of his photos (custom built shelves and everything) or his list by state, very impressive. He’s even got one from our local Buffalo Brew Pub! He truly is the Growler Man.
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posted by admin on Jan 28
On a cold and blustery Monday, the conversation here in the KegWorks Marketing Department turned to pizza. This was actually a very brief conversation, however as the day has progressed, I found that I couldn’t stop thinking about warm, cheesy, gooey pizza. Upon the realization that I was unable to recall the last time that I had a slice, I made an executive decision. I wasn’t just going to think about pizza, I was going to get a pizza for dinner just a few short hours later. In the true spirit of a KegWorks employee, I decided that pizza alone just wouldn’t do. I would just have to have yummy beer to accompany my yummy pizza.
Naturally, I got very excited and as the clock neared 5, I couldn’t contain myself. I thought 
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posted by admin on Jan 28
I am sure there is a commandment that tells all not to covert ridiculously overpriced but gorgeous looking art deco-styled goods - just like this £155 cocktail shaker. I like and I want. Apart from a killer G&T I don’t even make cocktails at home!
This gorgeous cocktail shaker from Alessi is the epitomy of 1920’s style. It was initially attributed to Marianne Brandt (Bruckmanns Silber Lexicon, Munich 1982, and H. Wikmann, Die Neue Sammlung, Munich, 1995) but subsequent studies by Peter Hahn, the director of the Bauhaus Archive, have since seen it attributed to the Swedish designer Sylvia Stave. The design is a contrast of forms - it has a large spherical body and slender handle and it was originally manufactured between 1920 and 1930 by the C. G. Hallbergs company of Stockholm. Now manufactured by Alessi it’s a true classic in every sense. It’s made from polished stainless steel and forms part of the ‘Alessi Officina’ collection which includes their most sophisticated, experimental and innovative products, as well as small-scale and limited productions.”
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