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With no shortage of great beer already made here in the Bay Area (see hyperlinked list of Bay Area Breweries to the right after scrolling down a bit), beer enthusiasts could obtain a well crafted beer with very little effort. Despite this fact, the hobby of homebrewing is alive and thriving.

This past weekend, a record high 1,200 homebrewers from around the nation descended on the Oakland Convention Center for three days as part of the 31st National Homebrewers Conference, organized by the American Homebrewers Association…

Read the rest of Brian Yaeger’s article at the Examiner.com

Anyone who owns a kegerator knows the importance of keeping it sanitary. When the lines of a kegerator are used yeast and beer stones may build up and leave an insanitary surface. This surface is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and mold. At the least, this can lead to an off taste in the beer and at the worst it could cause serious problems for anyone who drinks beer that has passed through these lines.

Cleaning beer lines is a necessary task for anyone who owns a kegerator. It ensures that you and your party are drinking clean and safe beer. But many people are not entirely sure how to do this or what the process entails.

It is important to know that with any kegerator there is going to be a level of maintenance required. Fortunately, you can take care of beer line cleaning very quickly and use the opportunity to ensure other parts of your kegerator are running well and are properly cleaned. There are many different cleaning kits available for purchase, but they will almost always recommend the same cleaning schedule.
Typically, cleaning beer keg lines is recommended for every six weeks of use. However, there is no downside to cleaning the beer lines before every use if you do not use the kegerator frequently. When it comes to cleaning beer lines, they simply cannot be too clean.

The process itself is not complicated either. Once you purchase a cleaning kit, you will have everything that you need. Most cleaning kits use the process of the kegerator to clean the beer lines. A container which comes with the kit is filled with a mixture of water and a cleaning solution which also comes with the kit. The pump from the kegerator is used to move the cleaning solution through the lines and remove the buildup.

The cleaning solution should be allowed to soak per the instructions. Following the cleaning solution, water is pumped through to flush the lines. Finally, there is a step many people overlook. It is recommended to soak the other components through which beer passes, such as the faucet and tap, in the cleaning solution and clean them with a brush. If you clean only the lines, you are still passing clean beer through a dirty tap and possibly spoiling the beer.

While you have the kegerator apart for cleaning the lines, you can take the time to run some other basic maintenance as well. When you remove the lines and the pump from the kegerator you should take the opportunity to ensure that the o-rings and seals are functioning properly.

The coupling washer, friction washer and shaft seat should all be in good condition. The probe o-rings and keg coupler should also be properly coated with a food grade lubricant. This will ensure that the kegerator has enough lubricant to pump easily and that the seals are keeping the beer as fresh as possible.

If you buy a good cleaning kit and follow the proper steps, you will probably never notice the effects. But if you fail to properly clean your beer lines, you will most definitely notice the effects. You can easily avoid the embarrassment of serving rancid beer to guests and avoid possible health concerns as well. By cleaning the beer lines frequently and properly, you can ensure you have the best tasting beer possible.

Beer pong, also known as Beirut in some places, is a drinking game that has become popular throughout the United States. The game found its place among college frat parties and tailgating events. The original game was thought to be played at Dartmouth college in the 1950’s and much more closely resembled the actual game of ping pong.

The name beer pong is typically reserved for the version which utilizes paddles, while the name Beirut was adopted in the 1980’s for the paddle-less variation. While the debate may rage between colleges who originated the specific nomenclature, the rules for each game are fairly similar.

The setup for the game is simple. Two teams, usually consisting of two player each, start at either end of a long table. Originally, this table was a ping pong table, but the paddle-less version does not require a ping pong table.

Either six, ten or fifteen cups are then set up at both ends of the table. These cups are filled partially with different beverages. Beer pong, obvious by the name, uses an alcoholic beverage such as beer.

Light beers are usually preferred since a large quantity may be consumed fairly quickly. Dartmouth college, where beer pong was originated, has banned beer pong. Because of this, some students play a dry version using root beer or other drinks.

Since the game is considered a house game rather than an official game, rules vary quite a bit. The number of cups used, the types of shots allowed and the strategies are usually different.

There are many different kinds of shots in the game. Some games require a bounce before entering a cup, like the original game of ping pong. Other game types do not require any specific shot. For most rule sets when a cup is hit, the opposing team must drink the contents and then rearrange or re-rack the cups.

The game is usually won when one team manages to clear all the cups on the other team’s side. However, some house rules include a final showdown called redemption or death cup where the losing team tries to stay in the game with a successful double hit on one cup.

Regardless of the rules or the nomenclature used for the game, beer pong has become a popular drinking game all across the United States. There should always be precautions taken while playing any game which involves consuming copious amounts of alcohol.

However, if the players are careful, beer pong can be a great way to take a party to the next level. Bragging rights as a local beer pong champion can make a big man on campus out of anyone.

If you are hosting parties with a keg, you know that you need a quality pump. If you are worried about breaking the bank with a kegerator or CO2 pump, you can always go with a manual pump such as this Deluxe Bass Ale Beer Pump. This pump is made of high quality stainless steel and will last for a long time. In addition, the stainless steel is easier to keep clean and more sanitary than another type of material.

Bass Ale Beer Pump

If you are having a party or a get together, you will want to have draft beer on tap. This stainless steel pump is built to last and looks good. Durability and practicality are what make it stand out above the other pumps available. It is versatile as well. The coupler can be removed in favor of another type.

If you are looking to keep your beer fresh for more than a day or two, you may want to consider a CO2 pump. This hand pump uses manually pumped oxygen to foam the beer and get it to the glass. CO2 will keep it fresh for a longer period of time, but there is a cost differential between them that is substantial. If you choose this pump, you will not be disappointed in what you get.