Bartending For a Cause

In addition of writing for this blog I am also a NJ state certified bartender. I have held my license since November 2010. I attended National Bartenders School in Woodbridge, NJ where I trained in a real bar environment. I attended classes for martinis, manhattans, Rob Roys, cream drinks, after dinner drinks, highball drinks, two liquor drinks, wines, champagne, coffees, frozen drinks, collins, sours, and shots. I learned bar set-up, clean-up/closing, customer service, and NJ State laws.
I have experience bartending at fundraisers, charitable events, fashion shows, parties, and beer festivals. I am available to bartend at your fundraiser/charitable event gratis. My resume and references are available upon request. Please email i.love.drinkingisasport@gmail.com for more information.

~Melodie
(NJ Beer Girl)

Event - Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival

The 7th Annual "Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival" will be held this weekend on March 30 &31. Over 80 local/national breweries will feature a variety of craft beers. Local favorites will be on hand, such as Cape May Brewing Co., Brooklyn Brewery, Carton Brewing, Cricket Hill, Shmaltz, Kane Brewing Co., and NJ Beer Co. This event is a must for any craft beer enthusiast or home brewer. You will be able to speak with representatives from the featured breweries. In addition there will also be culinary demonstrations, beer seminars, and vendors selling food/clothing.

There are three sessions:
Friday March 30: 7-11pm
Saturday March 31: 12-4pm
Saturday March 31: 6-10pm

This year features an expanded musical line up including:
Friday March 30 - Session 1
7:15pm Muscle Shoals Revival
8:00pmThe Apache Match
8:30pm Stellar Corpses
9:30pm Nicos Gun
10:15 pm Marky Ramone's Blitzkreig


Saturday March 31 - Session 2
12:15pm Who Dat
12:45pm Kyle Mc Gill
1:15pm Griz
1:45pm New Sweden
2:30pm Tsunami Rising
3:15pm Turf War

Saturday March 31 - Session 3
6:15pm Full Blown Cherry
7:00pm The Bailey Hounds
7:45pm Strawberry Jam
8:30pm Even the Slept
9:15pm Brick + Mortar

Tickets can be purchased online from ticketmaster for $50/per ticket.

More information can be found on the "Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival" website http://www.celebrationofthesuds.com/

The Atlantic City Convention Center
1 Miss America Way
Atlantic City NJ 08401

Please drink responsibly!! Saddle River Tours offers buses from various NJ locations, with a casino credit refund of a portion of your bus ticket.

Event - Funky Jewbelation Release

One of my favorite brewing companies Shmaltz Brewing Co. is releasing it's newest barrel aged beer " Funky Jewbelation" on Tuesday March 27. The party will be held from 7-9pm at:
Rattle and Hum

14 East 33rd Street
New York, NY 10016

Shmaltz Brewing Company has a variety of craft beers under HE'BREW beer and Coney Island Brewery. The Coney Island Brewing Company is located in Coney Island and is the world smallest brewery. You are welcome to visit them and take the tour.

Exhibit - "Beer Here" @ New York Historical Society

The New York Historical society will be hosting a new exhibit on brewing in New York. It will run from May 25, 2012 to September 2, 2012. The exhibit "Beer Here: Brewing New York's History" will examine the production/sale and social aspects of beer in NYC from the 17th century to the present.


This is perfect for any history buffs. This is a summary from their website:
Beer has been brewed in New York City and State since the days of its earliest European settlement, when it was a vital source of nourishment and tax revenues. Brewing continued locally and statewide throughout the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, and for much of the nineteenth century New York State was home to one of the country’s largest brewing industries. Early nineteenth-century development of New York State’s hop farming industry was vital to this growth, and from the 1840s through the 1880s the state was the largest producer of hops in the United States.

There will also be an opportunity to sample some beers, there is a small beer hall that will feature a selection of favorite New York City and State artisanal beers.

To read more about the exhibit check out the New York Historical Society Website.
www.nyhistory.org/exhibitions/beer-here

Coulthard's Brewery built in 1792

New-York Historical Society
170 Central Park West
at Richard Gilder Way (77th Street)
New York, NY 10024
Phone (212) 873-3400

Hours:
Tuesday-Thursday, Saturday - 10 am-6 pm
Friday- 10am - 8pm
Sunday - 11 am-5 pm
Monday - CLOSED

Happy National Potato Chip Day - Potato Beer

March 14 is National Potato Chip Day. What better way to celebrate than trying some Potato Beer.

There are many recipes out there. Here is a sample of one. I am not a home brewer so I'm a little lost here. I'm hoping a home brewer can try this and let me know how it tastes.



If you are looking to purchase brewed beer try these links:
http://www.lazymagnolia.com/ourbeer.php
www.beeradvocate.com
Full Sail Sessions Lager


Spiced Sweet Potato Ale

Starting Gravity: 1.050 (9/7/09) Days @ 68º F
Final Gravity: 1.010 (9/23/09)
5.23% alcohol (by volume)
Apparent Attenuation: 79.31
Real Attenuation: 64.36

Mash (@152º 90 min)
11 lb Maris Otter
0.5 lb Crystal 40
0.5 lb Crystal 105
0.25 Special B Malt
0.25 Melanoidin Malt
4 lbs NC Sweet Potatoes (Baked for 90 minutes at 350 degrees, peeled and mashed)

Boil (60 minute boil)
0.25 Hallertauer Pellets (3.7 AA) (60 min)
0.20 EK Goldings Pellets (4.75 AA) (60 min)
0.33 Horizon Pellets (10.9 AA) (60 min)
0.25 Nugget Leaves (Homegrown) (12.0 AA) (60 min)

Spices at flame out:
1 Cinnamon Stick
1/8 tsp Nutmeg (ground)

1 tablet Whirlfloc (Boil – 15 min.)
½ tsp Brewer’s Choice Wyeast Nutrient Blend (Boil – 10 min.)

Primary (68º F)

Safale S-04 English Ale

Spices made in tea and added to Primary after fermentation:
1/2 tsp Allspice (ground)
1/8 tsp Ginger (ground)
1/8 tsp Nutmeg (ground)

Recipe - Bobby Flay's Spiked Milkshakes

Bobby's Flays book "Bobby Flay's Burgers, Fries & Shakes" features many shakes and adult spiked shakes. In 2010 Bobby Flay opened a chain of restaurants know as Bobby's Burger Palace where you can try his shakes. If you feel like making them at home you can get the recipes from the book. Here are a sample of two spiked shakes recipes.



Vanilla Bean Burbon Milkshake

• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 1/2 fresh vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped (reserve pod for another use)
• 11 ounces premium vanilla ice cream (about 1 3/4 packed cups)
• 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) bourbon

  Combine the milk, bourbon, and vanilla bean seeds in the blender and blend until combined, about 5 seconds. Add the ice cream and blend until smooth, about 10 seconds.
  
  Mocha-Caramel-Kahlúa Milkshake

• 1/4 cup whole milk
• 1/2 teaspoon instant espresso powder
• 3 tablespoons chocolate syrup
• 3 tablespoons caramel sauce, plus more for garnish
• 11 ounces premium vanilla ice cream (about 1 3/4 packed cups)
• 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) Kahlúa
• Freshly whipped cream
• Chocolate-covered espresso beans, for garnish (optional)

Combine the milk, espresso powder, chocolate syrup, caramel sauce, and Kahlúa in a blender and blend until combined, about 5 seconds. Add the ice cream and blend until smooth, about 10 seconds. Serve immediately, garnished with the whipped cream and chocolate-covered espresso beans and a drizzle of caramel sauce, if desired.

Follow this link to purchase the book from amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Bobby-Flays-Burgers-Fries-Shakes/dp/0307460630/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331062686&sr=8-1

Recipe - Spiked Shamrock Shake

Starting March 1, Mc Donald's has brought the Shamrock Shake back to most locations. This has always been one of my favorite shakes. It tastes great alone, or try spiking it.

"Island Shamrock Rum Shake"
1 Mc Donald's Shamrock Shake
2 ounces Captain Morgans Rum or Malibu Coconut Rum

You can add more or less rum depending on how strong you want your shake.

Enjoy!!