Author Archives: Party Aftermath

President/CEO of PartyAftermath.com

Kickstart Your Home Brew Career with a Brewing Pot to Make these 3 Simple Beers

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Posted by Party Aftermath on April 26, 2013 – 11:19 am
Filed under Beer

You’re out for dinner while James and Mary exchange smiles and winks, as they reflect on all of their travels and interests. Their eyes light up as they talk about the improvised jazz band they saw last week. They reflect on the delicious bowls of pasta they ate in Italy. They get all emotional over a classic 20th century novel they just read. All of their ‘being cultured’ talk might make your eyes roll, but deep down you probably feel envious because you may have the desire to expose yourself to new things as well.

Put your brewing pot to good use by experimenting with foreign beer recipes

So what if you aren’t too keen or don’t have the time and finances to enjoy new experiences? You can bring the experience to your own kitchen by means of your brewing pot, and you can experiment with new recipes from all around the world! Just because you may not be able to go wherever or whenever, it doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of here and now. Give some of these recipes a try, and you’ll feel like you’re living large.

Grab a Dart and Choose a Place

Remember seeing pictures with darts lodged in maps? You may have seen movies or T.V shows where the villain throws a dart on a map to reveal his intentions to take over a certain area. The action is also a metaphor for the strike he will launch against his enemies. Of course, brewing isn’t all about violence and bloodshed, so in your case, the act of throwing the dart simply represents the region that will inspire your next brew recipe. Beer is one of the most culturally diverse drinks in the world, so trying a recipe from another country will certainly open you, and your brewing pot up to a new experience!

Strike New Soil to Make New Beer

So where exactly should you begin to look in the search for new brew recipe inspiration? You can look just about anywhere. Forums, blogs, or magazines. Perhaps you can use your favorite beer brand as inspiration to brew your very own version of it. Whatever you decide, just remember to have fun with your brewing pot, and don’t limit yourself in any way.

Skip Hydration and Stay Thirsty

Hint: Would you like to be the most interesting man (or woman) in the world? If you owned that title, what would it mean to you? If you dream of holding that title, you can most likely thank an alluring advertising campaign for inspiring you. After all, who wouldn’t want to be like that guy?

Drum Roll, Please!

Answer: If the brand Dos Equis popped up in mind before you arrived at this answer, give yourself a pat on the back. Dos Equis is a product of the Cuauhtemoc Moctezuma Brewery in Monterrey, Mexico. Sure, your blood may not smell like cologne like the Dos Equis man, but you can craft a brew that would make him proud.

Description: Dos Equis is available as an amber lager (although the main brand is a pale lager), which is a yellow-orange colored brew that is quite popular in the US and Europe. You can usually find caramel malt flavors in amber lagers, and they typically have a maximum ABV of 5%. They usually have more flavors than regular pale lagers and they are usually hoppier than the Vienna lager styles which they resemble. Dos Equis XX Amber has ABV of 4.7%.

Ingredients to Make a Recipe as Interesting as Dos Equis:

  • 3.3 pounds 6-row malt (1.6L)
  • 1.1 pound 2-row malt (1.2L)
  • 1/3 pound Munich malt (9.7L)
  • 1/4 pound crystal malt (8oL)
  • Hallertauer Hops
  • Yeast

Shift Gears and Head to the Far East

Hint: Depending on your taste in beer, you or may not be familiar to the next beer brand and recipe. You could have seen ad campaigns for this beer brand already. But if you can guess the country known for high-performance cars and many successful animated T.V. Shows for kids, you can probably guess where this mystery beer comes from.

Lift the Curtains!

Answer: If the country you guessed is Japan, then congratulations. The beer of discussion for this section is called Asahi Super Dry. It is the product of Asahi Breweries, which is based out of Tokyo, Japan. Introduced in 1987, Asahi Super Dry grew to be the brewery’s most successful beer brand since it satisfied the desire of the Japanese who wanted a dry beer.

Description: Asahi Super Dry is a “dry” lager with a light golden color. Brewers of this beer use a very rare species of yeast known as strain No.318, which they state is responsible for the “complex aroma that results in an elegant and sophisticated flavor. Asahi Super Dry is a low alcohol beer, with an ABV of 5%.

Ingredients for a Super Dry Success:

  • 1.7kg can of Beermakers Lager
  • 1kg of corn syrup
  • 500g of rice syrup

Get Bold. Make Stout

Hint: Just by reading that headline, some of you may feel that your intelligence was insulted. Almost every beer drinker has some familiarity with this category. In fact, this category shouldn’t even be here to begin with. But you deserve to know how to make it, so here it is.

Yep, It is what it sounds like!

Answer: Yes, the beer of discussion in this session is Guinness. You’ve seen their ads, especially the ones of late, and you most likely get the impression that it’s a beer for the strong. Guinness has been around since 1759, and originates from Ireland as you likely know.

Description: Guinness is quite famous for its appearance and characteristics. Its color ranges from deep garnet to black, and it has a prominent head that is creamy and thick. It has a roasted and bitter taste due to its roasted grains, and it also has an acidic and sour accent to its taste as well. Guinness has a reputation for being ‘carb-heavy’, which is quite ironic since it ranks low in terms of its carbohydrate content. Yes, that’s a surprise indeed!

Ingredients for a Sturdy Stout:

  • Light Malt Extract
  • Roasted Barley
  • Flaked Barley
  • Carapils
  • Northern Brewer Hops
  • East Kent Goldings Hops
  • Brewing Yeast

Bring the World Into Your Kitchen

One of the best ways to experience something when you can’t reach it, is to bring it to you instead. For example, you may never get the chance to see a blockbuster movie in theaters, but you can order it on Pay-Per-View or you can stream it on Netflix. You can recreate the entire cinema experience, by making your own snacks and making use of the right home theater system.

Bring a foreign bar experience home, simply by using your brewing pot and a recipe

Likewise, you can taste the world so to speak, by making beer recipes from around the world in your brewing pot. As mentioned earlier, beer is one of the diverse drinks out there, so there’s no reason why you can’t an adventure out of brewing. Take advantage of the thousands of recipes out there. Who knows, next time you go out to dinner with James and Mary, you can tell them about all of the awesome recipes you and your brewing pot enjoyed together. 

 

 

 

 

 




 

 

Why Download Mumble? Voice Chat Expands On Your Favorite Games

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Posted by Party Aftermath on April 10, 2013 – 1:43 pm
Filed under Announcement

There are moments in every game that are iconic. Sephiroth slaying Aeris in Final Fantasy 7 is a shocking cut scene that many gamers remember. On a lighter note, everyone remember Mario saving the princess. The deep bond between Sarah Kerrigan and Jim Raynor, even as the Zerg tear them apart, brings a tear to the eyes of ardent Starcraft fans, and League of Legends fans hope that Garen and Katarina come together over the war between Demacia and Noxus. There is more to video games than pressing A to make your character jump; there are deep stories and amazing characters. New releases like Bioshock: Infinite prove that people want more than pretty graphics or cool game play mechanics – they want a story. There’s nothing better than sharing these stories with other gamers over Mumble voice chat. You can find out things you’d never have realized otherwise, advance through stories with an ally at your side, or join communities full of gamers to talk about your favorite moments. All of these things are possible through Mumble. When you connect to Mumble, you connect to a room full of people who are in the same boat as you: people who want to engage in a story, get the most out of it, and talk about what that story meant to them. Whether it’s a cooperative campaign or a mad session of theories and speculation, you can find people and communicate with them instantly through Mumble. Read on to find out why this voice chat client enables all of these things, and how you can take advantage of it.

Mumble voice chat expands on your favorite games

Find Fellow Gamers

Let’s be frank – not every city in the world is a gaming metropolis. There are some large gaming events that happen in certain cities as a yearly event like PAX (Penny Arcade Expo, which is held in Seattle, Boston, and Melbourne), E3 (the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles), or other conventions such as the Tokyo Game Show. Other than these large events, possibilities to find fellow gamers can be few and far between. Some universities, high schools, or colleges have gaming clubs or meet ups, but others don’t. What’s a player one without a player two to do? Mumble is a great way to meet gamers. Most large gaming communities have servers that are open to community members. After spending some time on the forums, you can dive into playing with people around the world. On Monday you can play League of Legends with a fellow from New York, and on Tuesday you can work your way through the Dead Space 3 campaign with a friend from Toronto. No matter where you are in the world relative to your gaming partners, you won’t experience latency or other troubling issues, allowing you to be close to people and enjoy the full experience without dealing with barriers. Mumble voice chat is almost like being on the same couch as your friend, controller in hand and ready to play!

Build Clans, Guilds, and Worlds

After spending time on Mumble voice chat with these people, it’s inevitable that some bonds will form. You might end up forming a regular team on a competitive game, making a guild together in your favorite MMORPG, or playing new releases the day they come out. With Mumble, you can coordinate forays into new games together. If you want to build a Minecraft server, you can figure out which plot of land belongs to who and how you’ll split up your minerals. If you’d prefer to play something with a little more action or intrigue, you can run through the Halo campaign and uncover the secrets of space. For players who want to indulge in action that’s been cranked up to 10, then you can play Mass Effect 3′s multiplayer and get a full extraction every time.

Discuss Gamers in Detail

A while back, book clubs used to be in vogue. Groups of people would read a new release and puzzle over every sentence or discuss the greater themes together. This style of learning and collaborating has fallen out of style, but it can be recaptured with the newest or best games around when you use Mumble voice chat. You and your friends can discuss the latest and greatest releases and try to puzzle out every mystery or figure out foreshadowing. Games like Heavy Rain or BioShock: Infinite are famous for their twists and turns, and other games use mechanics or storytelling tricks that are only able to be used in video games. You’ll never see a story like Telltale’s The Walking Dead or Braid if you read a novel or watch a movie! When you use Mumble, you gain access to your own club to discuss these things. There may have been content that went over your head, or a piece of foreshadowing that you missed entirely. Or you could inform another player as to why you hold a certain theory. You’ll find that your favorite games are far more fleshed out and enjoyable when you have people to discuss them with.

Gamers who are looking for a new dimension to their favorite games should check out Mumble voice chat immediately. Most online communities host their own Mumble servers, and you can find your new group of best friends! Don’t worry if you can’t afford to go to PAX or E3 – you can have your own private club of gamers online, where you can go through campaigns together, unlock new secrets, and discuss it all through a critical lens. There’s nothing better than sharing what you love with fellow gamers, and Mumble makes all of that possible. Download it today to be able to access servers, and you’ll be able to connect to people just like you from around the globe. It’s easy to use and install, so there are no excuses for waiting! Try it out, and you’ll find there’s so much more to your favorite games than you first imagined.

 


 

 

Choose Leather Sofas for Sale that Look as Good as their Price Tag

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Posted by Party Aftermath on April 10, 2013 – 1:30 pm
Filed under Furniture

When you’re decorating your apartment or home, your desire to save some cash and not go all out on your expenses will likely end up battling with your desire to have nice things. It’s tempting to go too far in either decoration; you can end up with an elaborately decorated, gorgeous apartment that leaves you penniless, or an apartment that is filled with mismatched furniture hunted down from garage sales and Goodwill. The smart apartment and home owners have found a happy balance between those two extremes. You can too! Simply look at leather sofas for sale and you’ll be on your way. Leather sofas are the pinnacle of good taste, without going over the top. They’re an amazing anchor that you can build any sort of room around, and they’re comfortable to sit on to boot. Best of all? They won’t drain your wallet when you purchase them. The key is to take your time while purchasing the sofas and have a critical eye. Some retailers will try to fool you by offering substandard leather sofas that won’t live up to their price tag. Other retailers will sell leather sofas at seemingly amazing prices, but the product will fall apart immediately. Here are some suggestions for the standards you should adopt while shopping for sofas. Pretty soon, your apartment or home will be filled with beautiful couches anyone would be proud of!

choose leather sofas for sale

Why Choose Leather Sofas?

You might feel as though the process of searching for the perfect sofa is just not worth the time and effort. However, the leather sofa has a reputation of being the chameleon of furniture; it’s as flexible as you need it to be! If you are living in a bachelor’s apartment, then a leather couch will fit in just fine while uplifting everything around it up to a more classy level. If you’re living in a bright, expensively furnished condo, the leather sofa stays on the same level as the rest of the furniture while also providing a contrast to light woods and bright walls. Your first home may be a little sparse, but the leather sofa is a reassuring constant. There’s no environment that makes a leather couch look out of place! It’s comfortableness and style are a great bonus as well.

What Should I Look For in Leather Sofas for Sale?

It’s wise to not rush into a transaction on an impulse. You should have some idea of what you’re looking for, and what you want in a sofa. First of all, take stock of your needs and wants. Will you be moving in the next few years? Do you have roommates or family members? Which room is the sofa going in? What’s your budget? Shopping for leather sofas for sale becomes much easier when you have boundaries, needs, and wants you can express to the vendor. Once you have the basics covered, it’s time to look at the specifics. You can research vendors online to make sure that there are no skeletons in their closets. Some companies have bad reputations that they don’t want you to know about. Google can be your best friend while digging up dirt! If a company had bad reviews, a Yelp page full of obscenities, or pages slandering their bad business practices, steer clear. There’s no price tag in the world that can make up for the hassle a bad business can put you through.

What Are The Key Things I Need to Look For?

A sofa’s looks are one thing, but its construction is another altogether. Don’t be fooled by a low price or a flashy exterior – look a bit closer when you’re looking at leather sofas for sale. There are different types of leather. Bonded leather has been glued together from scraps, and while it is your cheapest option, it’s likely to fall apart. If you live in a home with animals or children, a bonded leather sofa is doomed to fall apart shortly after you purchase it. Split grain leather is another construction material you want to avoid. It also lacks durability, leading to a short life for your sofa. Full grain leather is the most expensive option, so many people choose to purchase it; while it is beautiful, it isn’t as durable and strong as other options. So what’s the best choice when you’re looking at leather sofas for sale? You want to go for top grain leather, which is from the outer layer of leather and is treated to make sure it’s durable and strong.

Secondly, you’ll want to look at the interior construction. Push down on the sofa while the cushions are placed to the side. If the sofa is well constructed and durable, the coils that support your weight will be well cushioned and unnoticeable. If you can tell the coils are there, you want to avoid that couch. Also, make sure to consider the type of wood that the frame is constructed from. You’ll want to go for oak or maple if you want something that lives a long life, but if you’re on a budget, pine and metal are suitable. Keep all of these matters in mind when you browse leather sofas for sale and you’ll be rewarded with a quality product.

Finally, make sure that you buy a sofa that’s appropriate for your living situation. If you’re planning on having wild parties or tons of visitors, a modest loveseat may not be the best choice. On the other hand, if you like to lounge by yourself and watch television marathons, a giant sofa that dominates your living room may not see much use.

Shopping for leather sofas for sale is a great way to find some beautiful furniture that will fit any apartment. However, don’t allow yourself to be tricked into buying a sofa that will fall apart, and don’t spend too much on a sofa that you could find cheaper with a little time and effort. As long as you stay alert and don’t go the lazy route, you should be able to find a good deal on a piece of furniture that will grace your apartment for years!

 

 

 

 

 

Dress Up Your Invitation Card with an Awesome Theme!

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Posted by Party Aftermath on March 19, 2013 – 11:33 am
Filed under Weddings

Have you ever been in a situation where you feel like you’re stuck on a plateau? In other words, did you ever feel like you personally, or something you were doing was going nowhere? Perhaps it was learning a particular skill, or beating your previous record for a workout. Or maybe you were asked to supervise or attend some event, and it just felt like there was no excitement to it. If you are designing invitations for an event you might feel the same way. The good news however, is that you can send the appeal of your invitation card through the roof with the use of themes! Always remember that your invitation is a representation of the event you are hosting, so you should try to make it exciting.

An invitation card that alludes to pop culture creates laughter and interest.

Why Do Themes Matter for Invitation Cards?

First of all, it’s important to recognize the purpose of a theme. A theme is a central idea, message, or moral that a piece of work conveys. You can find themes in works of art, such as paintings, books, movies, music, and dance. They also exist in other creative works such as advertising, architecture, and live events. Common themes in the realm of entertainment touch upon universal ideas that affect everyone, such as romance and personal growth.

Themes are not necessary for any of these creative works, but they make art much easier to relate to. Think of those repetitive movies or songs out there that offer nothing but a cheap thrill. Sure, they may be catchy and even amusing, but do they grip you like entertainment that reaches your emotions? Of course not! Likewise, invitation cards that use themes have the power to reach deep into the heart and mind. How so?

Makes for a Good Feel

An invitation card is more than just a fancy piece of paper with a few words and pictures on it. Think of how people feel, when someone gives them a card. When it comes to invitations, extending a welcome to someone triggers a sense of belonging and acceptance. Congratulating someone for their success, or giving your condolences for the loss of a loved one makes that person feel appreciated and cared-for. Your invitation has the power to do the same thing, and adding a unique theme to it can incite some good feelings. You can make your recipients smile, laugh out loud, feel warm on the inside, and even offer them hope. Don’t neglect the emotional impact of a theme!

Makes People Antsy

Can you remember a time you were so excited to go somewhere, that you couldn’t stop thinking about it? Maybe as a kid, it was knowing you were going to Disneyland in the summer. Or as you got older, you were probably skipping about knowing you were going to the biggest concert of the year. Why was the anticipation so intense?  Maybe it was the ads, or you might have had a sample of what was to come. It’s all about wetting the appetite. An invitation card that uses a clever theme will wet the appetites of those who receive it, and give them the desire to see what it’s all about. Sparking that interest is half the battle in getting people to show up, so grabbing their attention will serve you well.

Can’t Think of a Theme? Think Again

If you are thinking of a cool theme to add some flair to your invitation, you may wonder where to look. It might even seem somewhat difficult to do so. But you don’t need to be an artist or philosopher in order to find a theme that will appeal to your guests. Think of the things you talk about and do with your friends and family members. This could be a variety of activities and topics. Just taking a look at your interests can provide you with a ton of ideas that you can use to make your invitation an eye-catcher.

A historical theme for your invitation card can make any event look classy

  • Pop Culture Has it All – The world of entertainment and celebrity icons abound with ideas, since they are filled with creative people in general. Your favourite films, T.V shows, novels, video games, fashions, and brands are all sources of inspiration. And the icons behind them can all be sources of inspiration as well. Everyday slang, phrases, buzzwords, and catch phrases can spur on ideas for your invitation cards, especially when it comes to the way it’s written. Memes have become a common form of expression, and everyone who has a phone or tablet shares them with their friends to spark a few laughs. Coming up with a pop culture theme is quite easy. All you need to do is pay attention to details the next time to turn on your T.V, visit a website, or overhear people chat in public.
  • Score Big with a Sports Theme – If you’re hosting a sports event, then choosing a sports theme is an obvious one. For major sports events such as championships, you can incorporate some humour regarding the final two teams playing. In other cases, you can add your knowledge of certain in-game plays or player profiles and statistics. You can play around with other things, such as sports terminology or references to famous blowouts and unlikely comebacks from underdogs. Choosing a sports theme for your invitation doesn’t need to be complicated, since the information is available all over the web. And if you’re still unsure, you can always ask a friend who knows more about the sport.
  • Historical and Speculated Events – Another source of inspiration when it comes to designing your invitation could come from events. If you know a thing or two about history, you can incorporate those details into the card. This could be an event, person, place, or object that has historical significance in the world. You can even make light of something that is disputed by historians and other people. If history isn’t necessarily your thing, then you can make light of speculated events. Things such as aliens landing and robots taking over humans, can all be fun and humorous. Just make sure that you don’t offend others or yourself in the long run with these kinds of ideas.

The most important thing to remember when making your invitation card, is to make sure it relates to your event and your guests. It wouldn’t make sense to create a card that talks about Abraham Lincoln for a Superbowl party!  So always make sure that the theme of your card reflects the kind of event you are hosting or taking part of.

Add a Theme to Gain the Attendance of Your Dreams

If you’ve ever had the problem of having people ignore your invitations, the reason was probably due to a lack of interest. It doesn’t matter how valuable your event may be, a poorly designed invitation will dissuade people from attending. If you are in the process of designing an invitation for your event, take this to heart. Adding a theme to your invitation card will make it hard for people to ignore your event, due to curiosity. It’s human nature to tune into things that interest us, so take advantage of this by adding a subject, topic, or even attitude that resonates with people. By making the effort to do so, you just might be impressed with the volume of people pouring in through those venue doors!

4 Reasons Why a Mumble Server is Key to a Gaming Community

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Posted by Party Aftermath on March 1, 2013 – 5:43 pm
Filed under Online Gaming

There are many gaming communities on the Internet, each one with their unique flavour, reputation, and style. Among the most famous are /v/, Reddit, Something Awful, Penny Arcade, NeoGAF, and IGN. You can see these communities in famous games like EVE Online, World of Warcraft, or League of Legends shaping the game and pulling off daring feats. Something Awful, for instance, are always called Goon Squad when they choose a new game to play. Of course, there’s always room for more forums and communities in the mix! If you have something to say, or one of these famous communities don’t scratch your itch for gaming friends, you may even be one of the people to start the next big thing. These gaming communities start as a forum or a website meant for people who have a passion for games, but over time, they grow into a collection of friends and allies, and sometimes players even meet their best friends and spouses through these groups. There’s a key to this growth, and that is a Mumble Server run by a friendly forum member or admin. What is Mumble? Mumble is a voice chat client that removes the need for text communication. You choose a user name, a server, and log on to chat, plan, and share. There are very few barriers to communication, and the technology is top notch in terms of sound quality and results. Read on to find out four reasons why setting up one of these servers will turn your forum into a real community.

 

A Mumble Server for your Gaming Needs

Build Connections

When you play online, you’re often talking to people with abstract or code names through lines of text. Try as you might, it’s difficult to learn and share things with someone named “Sabin420” or “Arbnot”. This means your ability to build connections is stunted. However, when you bring things on Mumble, everything starts to change. You learn people’s names and voices. Instead of Sabin420 and Arbnot, you’re playing with your friends Marcus and Jane. You know their voices as soon as you hear them, you learn their quirks, their accents, and you talk about more than just the game. The results are stunning for your gameplay – you work as a team, and as friends, rather than a random jumble of individuals thrown into the arena. You’ll be amped to log on every night for your League of Legends ranked team, or an attempt at the Throne of Thunder if you are playing with friends on a Mumble server and not faceless strangers through text. You’ll also have a gameplay benefit from knowing each person’s strengths, weaknesses, and quirks – you’ll be winning matches in no time!

Grow Together

Many gaming communities are a place to meet people with kindred interests. These communities often last for years, or even decades. As an example, the Penny Arcade forums have members who have been regularly posting on the boards for over a decade! People grow from teenagers into adults, meet friends through communities, and grow together. This is a beautiful example of the Internet, and a Mumble server facilitates that grow beautifully. Many guilds, clans, forums, and groups even have get togethers over dinner, movies, and parties. Some lucky individuals even meet their future spouse or their best friend.

Achieve New Heights

There’s more than just heart warming benefits to a Mumble server. You’ll gain a killer instinct that you bring into all of your games! You’ll be able to shout essential orders in a second instead of having to furiously type them out. Change your strategies, adapt to the enemy, and plow forward in record time. Top players all demand voice chat for this reason – don’t get left in the dust. Join the trend, and you’ll shoot up the rankings list faster than ever. You and your community will have better teamwork, higher damage, lower deaths, and more results. You can turn from a mediocre group of players into a ferocious threat to be reckoned with! Mumble doesn’t force any technological demands on your computer that can cause lag, so you get all benefits and no drawbacks.

Be A Team

A collection of individuals all typing through text are not likely to get much done. There’s a reason why the biggest, most impressive challenges in the world of gaming are all pulled off by clans, guilds, and communities. They work together through voice chat and use the most daring strategies alone. When you use voice chat, you’re unlocking the secrets of victory. Imagine if a military unit went into combat with no way to communicate or talk to each other – the results would be horrendous. Use the technology at your disposal to reach new heights and work as a solid team.

If you run or participate in a gaming community that lacks voice chat, it’s time to invest in a Mumble server. You’ll meet the friends you’ve been playing with on a whole new member and learn things about your new chums that you never would have otherwise. You’ll grow together, reach landmarks together, and become closer than ever. You’ll work as a team and overcome everything in your path to reach new heights and dominate the game of your choice. It’s the biggest win/win proposal around! Check out Mumble today to see the benefits for yourself.

Brew Pot & Brew Kettle Equipment: 5 Quick Tips for Beer Brewing

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Posted by Party Aftermath on September 11, 2012 – 2:07 pm
Filed under Beer

When it comes to the love of beer, there is nothing more satisfying then enjoying a beer you’ve brewed yourself. In the pursuit of this experience there are some quick and fast tips to help make your brewing experience the best it can be such as keeping your brew pot and environment always clean, using the right equipment and so much more. Below you will learn 5 quick tips for beer brewing:

The advantages of using high quality brew pots

Tip1: Always Use the Finest Beer Ingredients

One of the most important parts of your beer is the ingredients you use to make it- remember quality over quantity is key! You should always make sure that you use the freshest, highest quality ingredients that you can afford. Also, you don’t want to leave them sitting around before you put them to use, use them as soon as you possibly can to make sure they are as fresh as possible. Avoid corn sugar and cane sugar unless your specific beer calls for them or else you’ll find that your beer has a cider-like quality. For the rest of your ingredients just make sure that they are as fresh as you can possibly get.

Tip 2: Make Sure your Work Environment is Clean and Safe

It’s very important to make sure that the area you are brewing in is clean and safe. If you have any spills clean them up as soon as you can to avoid any future accidents such as slip and falls. Making sure that the area is clean is also a good idea to prevent fires, be certain that you do not put anything flammable near your heat sources. It’s also a good idea to avoid wearing loose clothing or accessories that are prone to dangling into flames.

Tip 3: Keep your Brew Kettle and Brew Pot Clean and Sanitized

Unsanitary brew pots can not only spoil your beer and be a waste of your ingredients, but it can also brew beer that is unfit for consumption. Obviously you want to make good beer, or at least drinkable beer so always make sure that you keep your equipment as clean as you possibly can. Always clean out your brew pot and equipment with appropriate cleaning liquids and rinse thoroughly. Depending on the materials in use you may want to investigate the best methods of cleaning before you get started as some chemicals can be corrosive to certain metals.

A lesson for home brewing and using quality brew pots

Tip 4: Pay Attention to your Fermentation Temperature

Fermentation temperature is critical to achieve your desired end-result, which means depending on the type of beer you’re brewing you’ll need to either bring your temperatures up or down. If you’re going to be brewing in the summer generally you’ll want to be cooling down your fermentation. If you don’t have a fermentation refrigerator it’s possible to cool your fermenter simply by putting some wet blankets on it and place a fan blowing directly on it.

Tip 5: Wort Cooling Methods

Because cooling your wort is so very important if you are planning on brewing your own beer for any significant period of time you might want to invest in an immersion wort chiller. For exceptional beer, quickly cooling your wort is very important. It will stop the growth of bacteria and reduce the formation of dimethyl sulfide, both of which have the power to utterly destroy your beer.

Dog Bite Attorneys: How They Occur & Statistics

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Posted by Party Aftermath on February 16, 2012 – 12:59 pm
Filed under Announcement, Business, Law, Ontario, PAM News & Press

Statistics have reported that every year over 4.7 million people are severely injured from a dog and the more frequent victims are children ages 5-9. The real problem here is that very few individuals, especially people who own dogs, actually realize the extent and potential for injury and death from their favourite pets.

How Do These Dog Bites Occur?

Several lawyers in Hamilton have had a lot of past cases with dog bites and have come to realize that the fault of the bite is from the victim itself due to their negligence or poor judgement. Unfortunately, there are multiple cases that involve a dog biting a human being because of the dog owner’s negligence. It is truly sad that people have a love for their dog, but only ignore or are blinded by the fact that the dog is strong, intelligent and a dangerous animal, leaving the dog owners and those who come in contact with the dog unprepared and uninformed about what safety measures they should take if the dog were to take sudden action.

Dog bites can occur when the owner is negligent in restraining their dog whether it is in an enclosed area or on a tether or a leash. When the unfortunate happens and the dog is threatened by sudden movement there are no restraint systems in place.

In many cases, the dog is actually trained to guard and protect the owner and their property and to attack any trespassers or strangers. In some cases this may work well if someone were to try and hurt the dog owner, but the trained dog may act aggressively towards people it encounters who have no harmful intent and bite or even maim the unintentional offenders.

Other dog biting cases maybe caused by an oblivious or ignorant family member or babysitter leaving a small child alone with a dog without supervision. A child that can be known for their restraint and empathy can easily provoke even the most mildest-tempered dog to attack. Unfortunately, these dog bite accidents are extremely tragic on children especially if they are serious or fatal injuries that could have been prevented.

Pet owners or other individuals who come in contact with the dog can unwittingly act in an offensive or aggressive manner. Often enough, the dog feels threatened or in other cases the dog thinks the human is playing, but in most cases the dog is unaware of the potential physical damage they can do to people. Dogs view the world differently from humans and it is easy for an uninformed person to cross the line. The dog may feel obligated to attack especially if a person comes too close to the dog’s puppies, removes food while the dog is eating or a toy the dog is playing with or when a dog is teased or physically abused. Because of these negligent acts of human beings towards these animals, these situations are the fault of the pet owners or the humans involved.

Statistics

  • As a result of dog attacks, over 1,000 people visit the emergency room daily.
  • In the last 30 years, dog bite incidence have increased steadily and dramatically.
  • Each year, 20 to 30 people die because of dog bites.
  • The following breeds are responsible for at least 75% of dog bite attacks: Alaskan Malamutes, German Shepherds, Huskies, Pit Bulls and Rottweiler’s.
  • It has been a proven study that the month of August has the most dog bite attacks. It is believed that the cause of these attacks are because of the weather and longer daylight hours which make people stay outside longer where they can come in contact with dogs.
  • Mail men and women workers account for approximately 3,000 dog bites every year.
  • Most frequently bit on the neck, face and head; 70% of serious dog bite injuries happen to children.
  • Several dog bite attacks occur in the home or other familiar locations.
  • Almost 33% lawsuits are filed because of dog bite cases.

The second leading cause of children injury is dog bite attacks.

Let’s Get The Party Started On Lenzr This Fall

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Posted by Party Aftermath on October 24, 2011 – 4:11 pm
Filed under Announcement, Business, Lenzr, Ontario, PAM News & Press, Party Events, photo contest, Toronto Events

Bread, we consume it at breakfast, lunch and dinner each and every day especially before going out on a Friday and Saturday night. What is it that makes bread so delicious that we eat it everyday? Why not capture your everyday bread for Lenzr’s photo contest, Our Daily Bread for your chance to win a breadmaker! That is right, the prize is a breadmaker courtesy of ShaSha Natural Artisan Bakery’s organic ingredients e-store. Contest ends December 1st, 2011.

Are you the type of partier that just loves dressing up for Halloween, more so one that enjoys showing off their Homemade Halloween Costumes? Well, this next contest on Lenzr that is sponsored by Jib.ca who specializes in social media contests is giving you the chance to win $250.00 in candy or cash! Show off your latest costume makes or your favourite, who knows you could be the winner on December 1st!

What is your favourite Warehouse Stockpiles? Oh, I know probably the Beer Store or even LCBO. Seeing how you will be going to one in the near future, be sure to bring your camera to take pictures of your favourite drinks stacked and ready to be shipped. You could win $250.00 photo licensing courtesy of production planning and inventory management software company, Solarsoft. Contest ends December 1st.

House for Renovation after the killer parties you had all summer long? Could not be a better time for Lenzr to throw a photo contest courtesy of Toronto mortgage broker, The Calum Ross Team. Capture your house ruins to win an Apple iPad 2 – Contest ends January 1st, 2011.

Are you intrigued and believe you can win at least one of those contests? Simply get out there and start shooting..who knows you could be the winner of a breadmaker, cash/candy, photo licensing  or an Apple iPad 2! Now I do not know about you, but I am pretty sure my family would be happy if I won at least one of those contests, especially the cash – Perfect for Xmas presents!

Choosing A Band For Your Wedding

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Posted by Party Aftermath on September 13, 2011 – 2:08 pm
Filed under Announcement, Ontario, PAM News & Press, Party Events

For decades wedding traditions have stayed the exact same, but in fact the key steps to finding the perfect wedding band for your reception has changed dramatically. Most brides-to-be today are finding their music on the internet where they can easily see and listen to wedding bands from across the globe right in the privacy of their own home.

Below you will find five steps in finding the perfect wedding band for your special day:

Evaluate Wedding Bands Via The Web

If you find a website that is popular, you could easily find the information you want right away. If you are planning a ‘military wedding’ and find a band that dresses in military wear, you might of found that perfect band. However, many brides and grooms to be are looking for a classy group that can play a variety of music or you could have guests aging from 8-80 where a band can play Big Band Swing, Motown, Rock and Top 40 which would of course keep your dance floor full. Regardless, be sure to read through the band’s song list – Does it include songs from various genres, do you see music you would like to hear?

The next thing that you will want to do is see if any audio samples are listed on the website you are on. Take your time and listen to a few of them very carefully and be sure to go with your guy feeling. Did you enjoy what you listened to? Do you like the lead singer’s voice? Did you enjoy the musical instruments? Doing this, you will be able to narrow down your band search dramatically especially after evaluating online demos.

Of course this should be on top of the list when searching for wedding bands, but make sure the band has done a wedding ceremony Ontario before as they might not like to travel to certain lengths.

Once you have compiled a list contact the bands by phone or by email right away because they could already be booked full for the next 1-2 years.

What To Ask These Bands

Of course the first thing you will want to ask the band is if they are available on your wedding day, if they are, you should now ask what the pricing is like. Each band vary between size and price so find out as much information as possible. If your wedding consists of 60-150 guests, a smaller band would be more appropriate as if you are having 200 or more guests attending, a larger band would be best.

Next is to ask the band members how long they have been together and if they have any references from past wedding ceremonies. A good idea to consider asking for is a full length CD Demo and any information the band can easily mail to you.

If a band has not responded within 24 hours, consider looking elsewhere – The band members should respond to any of your concerns and should be handled in a professional and courteous manner. Another great idea to ask is if they would be playing in your area before your wedding day so you can watch them perform live.

Watch The Band Perform Live

In most cases a band will have a calendar that includes public appearances such as pubs and restaurants. While you observe the band performing live you should like what you hear and also what you see – Is the band playing at a comfortable volume? Is the dance floor full? Can you actually imagine the band performing on your wedding day?

When the band goes on break, take time to introduce yourself to the bandleader and ask them any questions you may have.

Book The Wedding Band

After deciding on a wedding band, hire them. Nothing worse could happen if you have your heart set on a band and finding out they are now unavailable. Your contract should include the date, time, place, number of musicians, names, address, phone number and any other important information.

Plan In Advance

There is not one thing better than good planning – The more details you can take care of in advance, the easier it will be on your wedding day. If you are unsure of what your first dance should be, ask for an opinion from the bandleader – They should have plenty of helpful ideas. If you have indicated to the band a new song for them to play, be sure you provide them with a CD copy at least 6-8 weeks notice so they have plenty of time to rehearse your special song. Also be sure to tell the band about any certain preferences you may have such as you do and do not want say country and pop. Take time to write little notes beside the band’s song list stating which songs you wish not to be sung and put stars beside ones you really like.

Last, but not least feel confident knowing that you have hired a professional and experienced wedding band to perform on your special day – Enjoy the music and most importantly have fun on your wedding day.

Fall 2011 Events in Toronto

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Posted by Party Aftermath on September 9, 2011 – 2:54 pm
Filed under Air Canada Centre, Announcement, Business, Ontario, PAM News & Press, Party Events, Sound Academy, Toronto Concerts, Toronto Events, Toronto Festivals

Who says you need corporate event management when you have PartyAftermath! Well, seeing how our summer went so flippin’ fast we need to move onto fall events that will make you feel like summer never ended! So what is happening this fall that will make you scream for more?

The Sheepdogs

Formed in 2005 from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, The Sheepdogs are a Canadian rock band consisting of Ewan Currie (Vocals and Guitar), Leot Hanson (Guitar), Ryan Gullen (Bass) and Sam Corbett (Drums). This year, The Sheepdogs beat SIXTEEN other bands to win Rolling Stone’s ‘Choose The Cover’ Competition to be featured on the August 18th, 2011 cover of Rolling Stone Magazine. Currently the band is signed with Atlantic Records and is planning to tour with Kings of Leon.

The Sheepdogs will be performing in Toronto at the Sound Academy on Thursday, September 22.

Foster The People

Formed in 2009 from Los Angeles, California, Foster the People is an American, indie pop band with band members; Mark Foster (Vocals, Keyboards, Piano, Synthesizers, Guitar, Programming, Percussion), Mark Pontius (Drums and Extra Percussion), and Cubbie Fink (Bass and Backing Vocals). The three formed the band while they were in their mid-twenties and are known for the song ‘Pumped Up Kicks,’ which reached #1 on Billboard’s Alternative Songs Chart, #3 on the Rock Songs Tall and #3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Foster The People will be coming to Toronto at the Sound Academy on Saturday, October 1st for 8PM.

Kings of Leon

Formed in 1999 from Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, Kings of Leon is an American rock band composed of brothers Anthony Caleb Followill (Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar), Ivan Nathan Followill (Drums, Percussion and Backing Vocals) and Michael Jared Followill (Bass Guitar and Backing Vocals) with their cousin Cameron Matthew Followill (Lead Guitar and Backing Vocals). The three brothers and cousin named the band for their grandfather Leon.

Kings of Leon will be traveling to Toronto at the Air Canada Centre on October 11th for 7PM.

So now that you have THREE killer events to attend to this fall, what are you waiting for? Pick up that phone and start buying those tickets because you do not want to miss this!