Join A Home Brew Club To Learn New Tricks

August 13, 2007 by CarpetGuy · Comments Off 

Join A Home Brew Club To Learn New Tricks
by Ann Marier

Those getting into the hobby of home brewing their own alcoholic beverages may want to consider joining a home brew club, geared toward the type of home brew in which they are the most interested. Whether your beverage of choice is beer, wine or grain alcohol and regardless of where in the country you reside, there is going to be a home brew club to match your interest.

Many times people follow directions for so long they tend to ignore the possibility there are other ways of doing things. As people become more experienced in home brewing, they may try different methods or different ingredients and often willingly share these findings with other members of their home brew club. The associations are designed for this type of sharing as well as gathering and sharing their finished products as well as discussing potential legal issues surrounding the home brewing industry.

Many times a home brew club will have local competitions where members can enter their brews to be judged on their zymurgy, or their study of fermentation. Those planning to enter any brewing contest must plan ahead, as it takes about four weeks for beer to properly ferment in the refrigerator before it is ready to drink.

Home Brewing Can Be Fun And Rewarding Hobby

Making your own beer can be fun and challenging at the same time, but it will not take a lot of time or space. Usually one burner on your stove will be enough space, except for storage, and in about two hours, up to five gallons of home brew can be in the keg or ready for bottling. One of the advantages of brewing your own, is you can make your own labels and put them on the bottles, making them easily defined as your own.

By joining a home brew club, you can get many new ideas and can ask questions of your own, finding out if a technique will work before you try it. Others in the home brew club may have already tried and failed and can offer advice on how to do things correctly. It may be better to ask and save a lot of time, ingredients and effort than to fail miserably.

Many members of a home brew club are more than willing to share their knowledge and experience, despite the intense competition of brewing the best. Whether beer, wine or straight alcohol, sharing tips with new brewers are what some of the more experienced brewers do best.

Ann Marier has written many articles about the house and garden providing helpful tips and advice. Her latest articles are all about home brewing and the intoxicating fun you can have with this hobby.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

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Alaskan Brewing

August 13, 2007 by CarpetGuy · Comments Off 

Alaskan Brewing
by David Riewe

The Alaskan brewing company is the oldest operating brewery in Alaska, with their amber beer being their most popular brand. They produce two other brands as well, pale ale and Alaskan frontier amber. If you enjoy fresh amber beer, Alaskan brewing is what you want.

As you may already know, brewing beer in Alaska is very hard to do. The coastal community of Juneau doesn’t have road connections to the lower 48 states, so everything arrives and leaves by water or air, with weather always having the final say.

In 1986, the Alaskan brewing company became the 67th brewery to operate in the United States and the only one to operate in Alaska. Since that time, Alaskan brewery has received more than 30 major medals and awards, including the best beer in the nation award during the 1988 Great American Beer Festival.

The popularity of their beers has led to a great amount of efforts to keep up with the demand from consumers. They also hold the unnofficial record for the production on a 10 barrel brewing system, which produces an amazing 42 batches a week.

The Alaskan Brewery offers several different styles of brew as well, which are listed below:

1. Amber – This is the company’s flagship beer, based on a turn of the century recipe that was used to quench the thirst of the miners during the Gold Rush era. It provides a smooth, malty, rich taste that goes well with meals – or friends.

2. Pale – Pale is fresh, crips, and inviting. Alaskan pale is great with crab, pawns, and salads. The floral aroma of the hops is derived from dry hopping the tanks during the entire fermentation process.

3. Stout – The oatmeal style beer of stout doesn’t have the harshness of other stouts. Great with chocolate and hearty meals, stout is also ideal to enjoy while walking in the snow.

4. ESB – If you like hops, the infusion of hops in this delight will amaze your nose while the refreshing cascade hops will provide a wonderful crispness to both the flavor and the finish. This beer is great with spicy food, wild game, and other wintery food.

5. Smoked porter – Very exclusive, Alaskan smoked porter has a world class reputation for its excellence. Brewed in the fall, this beer is ideal for storing in the cellar for later enjoyment.

6. Winter ale – This tender brew of spruce trees has been used for brewing in Alaska since the late 1700s.

If your into great beer then visit my beer blog http://www.mybeerjournal.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

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Why bother home brewing beer?

August 13, 2007 by CarpetGuy · 2 Comments 

Why bother home brewing beer?
by Michael Saville

Brewing beer at home is a popular pastime for many people. Even in the UK where the public house culture is very strong, home brewing beer has a big following. Successive governments have increased the tax on buying beer in pubs and so many people have looked to save money by making beer at home.

There are both plus points and minus points to home brewing beer. The big advantage often cited by those who make beer at home is that they can select their own ingredients. The reason why this is an advantage is that people who brew beer at home can be sure they are using only good quality ingredients. For many people this means only using organically grown crops for the ingredients. By home brewing beer they can be sure that they will drink beer that does not contain any artificial chemicals or additives.

People who home brew beer generally are confident they will have a constant supply of beer, which is especially good for when guests unexpectedly arrive or a ball game is on the television. As the raw ingredients of beer are simple (they are just water, malt, yeast and hops), a home beer brewer can make beer in regular batches and store in the garden shed or outhouse. Lots of people find the very act of brewing beer a relaxing act and a stress reducer, even before they have tasted the fruits of their labour.

However, it is worth noting that home brewing beer is not for everyone. The first big disadvantage is that if you don’t brew your beer correctly you could end up with a concoction that tastes horrible; something that you would not be proud of serving up to your friends. Even if you know what you are doing, just one mistake could lead to a ruined batch of beer both in looks and taste.

A second negative for home brewing beer is that it takes a lot of time and effort. For most people it is much easier to pop into the supermarket on the way home from work and buy their beer than to wait for between thirty to thirty five days for a home brew. Beer making takes a long time; around ten to twelve hours for brewing and over a month for the beer to age.

Home beer making has become easier over the years. In the past at the very minimum it would have been necessary to mix the brew carefully, constantly check the gravity of the fermenting brew and then at precisely the right time transfer the brew into a barrel or bottles. However things have been simplified by the introduction of home brewing kits. In most cases these kits have a fermentation vessel that both looks and works like a barrel and this makes the entire process much easier to manage. The brewing and aging happen in this vessel. It just needs to be kept in a warm place for a few weeks and then when it is ready poor out directly. The risk of contaminates entering the brew during fermentation and aging is vastly reduced. It is possible to get a whole range of different beer types in home brew kits, even lager. Home beer making really is a lot easier than it used to be.

For me the advantages of making beer at home far outweigh the disadvantages. The taste of home made beer is pretty unique. There is a wide range of beer types you can make. You can make it as mild or as strong as you like. You have control over the ingredients you can use. As you become more experienced you can move from the safety of home brewing kits to making your beer right from scratch. It is a relaxing pastime and provides you with an immediate topic of conversation when friends come around to visit. All in all home brewing beer is lots of fun. Try it.

Michael Saville has written more articles about home brewing beer. These can be found at http://www.home-brewing.org The site provides information and advice on making beer at home, home brewing kits, and various recipes you can try.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

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Finding The Best Home Brewing Kits

August 13, 2007 by CarpetGuy · Comments Off 

Finding The Best Home Brewing Kits
by Ann Marier

Are you one of those people who are just beginning to appreciate the art of home brewing beer? If you are just a beginner and do not really have much experience on shopping for home brewing supplies and materials, it would be best for you to stick to home brewing kits for a start.

The good thing about home brewing kits is that you already have all the things that you need in one package so you need not spend so much time figuring out what materials and ingredients you should buy to be able to produce your own beer. Note that as a beginner, you may not really be very familiar with the things that you need to produce your own beer so it is not really advisable to shop for these materials and ingredients individually.

Getting Your Starter Kits

Before you go shopping for your home brewing kits, it would be a good idea for you to first research on the things that you need. If you know somebody or if you have a friend who is into , talk to this person and ask for advice. Most beer brewing enthusiasts are very eager to share their knowledge so it will not be difficult for you to extract some information from this person.

In fact, your friend might even invite you for a demonstration on how he or she makes his or her won beer. In case you get invited to watch him or her make his or her own beer, bring a notebook along and take notes. Pay close attention to the details especially on the materials and equipments being used. This information will be very useful when you go out and buy your own home brewing kits.

Most home brewing kits come in small and handy packages which you can use easily. For instance, if you are interested in buying some organic beer kits, there are many home brewing kits that are composed of small grain bags. The grain bags may contain organic malt extract and fresh organic hops. A brewing instruction can be found inside the grain bags. In most cases, the instructions attached to these home brewing kits are usually illustrated and are very simple to follow.

Now, many cases beginners do not really get the right taste of the beer on their first few tries. If your beer happens to taste funny or even horrid, don’t give up. Always remember that learning to make great beer takes time and a lot of patience. With constant practice, you will soon be making great tasting beer.

Ann Marier has written many articles about the house and garden providing helpful tips and advice. Her latest articles are all about home brewing and the intoxicating fun you can have with this hobby

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

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Home Beer Brewing Kits Are The Start Of An Intoxicating Adventure

August 13, 2007 by CarpetGuy · Comments Off 

Home Beer Brewing Kits Are The Start Of An Intoxicating Adventure
by Ann Marier

You will be right in thinking that there must be an alternative to drinking commercial beer that large factories containing huge copper containers manned by white-coated employees are churning out and for which you end up paying more than you wish to pay.

The answer is simple. You should think about buying home beer brewing kits and brew your own beer at home which will help to save your money while experiencing the pleasure of drinking beer that (if made properly) will taste the way that you want it to taste.

Make Two Gallons or More with a Kit

With Microbrew home beer brewing kits you will find that you can make as much as two gallons of beer that should cost you a mere twelve dollars or so. With the typical home Microbrew home beer brewing kit you will find that it comes with a Brew Keg as well as hops and malts and some “Boosters†as well that are “the additives that add the alcoholâ€. Along with the plastic caps for the Brew Keg that can be used over and over again is included the instructions.

You can use your Microbrew home beer brewing kit to make a variety of beers including Pilsners, Lagers, Stout, Light beers as well as ales that are fruit based. The whole home beer brewing kit exercise requires discipline and once you have combined all of the ingredients and closed the key and started to brew there is no scope for peeking by opening the keg until the whole process has finished.

You must learn to trust in the microbrew kit instructions and not deviate from the set path and you should certainly not rush the process at all.

If you like some variety, you can try out the Home Microbrew Kit for Root Beer as well as the one for Birch Beer. There are many different types of home beer brewing kits available that suits the budget, level of experience and those that can be gifted or contains the complete set of tools for brewing beer at home.

All said and done, home beer brewing kits allow you to gain added satisfaction in your glass of beer that just cannot be found in the average commercially brewed beer. Besides saving money, home beer brewing kits allows you to actually brew the beer that tastes just the way you want it and with some improvisation, it allows you to develop a personal style as well as flavor that just cannot be mass produced.

Ann Marier has written many articles about the house and garden providing helpful tips and advice. Her latest articles are all about home brewing and the intoxicating fun you can have with this hobby.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

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Home Brewing Beer With Kegs Is Easy And Less Expensive

August 13, 2007 by CarpetGuy · Comments Off 

Home Brewing Beer With Kegs Is Easy And Less Expensive
by Ann Marier

Home brewing beer with kegs is a lot easier than you may have imagined. If you are ignorant about how to go about this task then you will be missing out on a great opportunity as well as miss out on saving a good deal of money. If you are still in doubt then consider the fact that it only costs six dollars a gallon when you undertake home brewing beer with kegs.

Start by Buying a Kit

The first step you need for home brewing beer with kegs is to go out and buy a kit that contains, among other things, the keg, tap as well as many other tools that will come in handy later on. Also included are the ingredients such as hops as well as containers. These kits that cost a mere twenty dollars will set you on the way to home brewing beer with kegs and once you start you will find it hard to stop.

The cost of the kit depends on how much beer you wish to brew as well as your level of expertise. Home brewing beer with kegs provides you with the opportunity to brew delicious beer that will taste the way that you want it to taste and you will find it to be a hobby worth pursuing. After a at the office, home brewing beer with kegs will provide you with a way to unwind with a cool glass of beer that you yourself has made.

After having purchased the kit, it follows that you must then ensure that you follow the instructions to the T and also make sure that you measure the ingredients exactly. If you don’t get the quantities right by even a small margin, the taste can be different from your expectations. There are also home-brew radio stations as well as brew pubs that promote unpasteurized beer which shows how popular home brewing beer with kegs has become.

You will need to follow the basics of converting sugars into ethyl alcohol as well as carbon dioxide by yeast through the process of fermentation. The real difference between home brewing beer with kegs and the commercial means is that of scale, and if you have the right and sophisticated brewing abilities, there is no reason why you should not be able to brew the beer exactly as per you desire.

If you have the right equipment and have a degree of sophistication in your brewing abilities and you put in enough effort, you should also be able to make beer of quality as good as professional beer makers.

Ann Marier has written many articles about the house and garden providing helpful tips and advice. Her latest articles are all about home brewing and the intoxicating fun you can have with this hobby

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

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Home Beer Brewing Success and Why You Should Brew Beer at Home

August 13, 2007 by CarpetGuy · Comments Off 

Home Beer Brewing Success and Why You Should Brew Beer at Home
by Paul P. Duxbury

Home Beer Brewing is becoming an increasingly popular hobby for men and women of all ages. The ever increasing price of drinks at bars and clubs coupled with a greater interest in entertaining at home have made it increasingly popular.

So yes you can start home beer brewing! However it dos not have to be a solitary occupation locked away in the cellar or shed for hour after hour. As well as being a hobby for the individual it can also be a family project through which you introduce members of the family to alcohol and the need to be responsible with it. Some people do not understand why people make their own beer. They wander why they want the all the mess and clutter associated with creating their own brew. They believe that it is far easier to simply go to the store and get what they want when they want beer. However, it is not simply about the convenience or the cost of the beer stores.

The actual reason why a lot of people have started home beer brewing is because they think it is both enjoyable and exciting. This is a way for them to participate in hobby that they like and that keeps them busy. Some people create their own brew just because they have never tried it before and now the proliferation of Home Beer Brewing Kits and other resources provide them with the opportunity relatively cheaply.

It is also a way for individuals to reconnect with their ancestors and family history. There are so many different recipes for beer, not only held by the breweries, but that have also been handed down through different families. They are using the recipes that their ancestors used and seeing if they can do what they did, In the process they are discovering that they can create great tasting beer. Many of the recipes are easy to follow and have an ingredient list that is easy to find. There are different things that people can buy to make their beer making experience more fun.

With the right kit and the best beer-making recipe, it has come within the reach of many more people and anyone can try making great tasting beer. Even if it is a one shot thing, it will be worth seeing if you can create a beer that is just as good as the beer that is purchased in the store. You can create anything with the home beer brewing supplies that you can now find in the store.

Buying the kits to brew your beer is going to make it easier for a lot of people to do. You can get everything that you need with this kit and it will make your beer brewing easier. Finding these kits will make the beer brewing adventure even more fun for someone that has not had the opportunity to try making their own beer yet.

Finding out about making your own beer is easy. You can go online and get all the facts and the tips that you need to get started on making your own beer. There are many tips and pieces of advice that you can use when you start your new hobby of making your own beer and I hope you will enjoy your own beer!

Paul Duxbury writes extensively on Home Beer Brewing and on Beers and Beer Accessories

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

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The Origins of Wine and Winemaking

August 13, 2007 by CarpetGuy · Comments Off 

The Origins of Wine and Winemaking
by Andrea Flint

Wine has a long and venerable history, with references to its use cropping up in ancient texts from thousands of years ago – not least, of course, in the Bible. We know for a fact that it was firmly established in the Middle Eastern culture of around two thousand years ago, and for it to be so commonplace at that time it must have been around for quite some time before that.

Viticulture was certainly a large part of the economy of the Roman Empire, and the spread of Roman civilisation included the spread of wine growing and wine drinking as the colonising soldiers moved across the Old World. In ancient Rome, a common form of wine was known as mulsum, heavily sweetened with honey, and produced on large agrarian estates largely by the slave population. What remained in the wine press after crushing the grapes – seeds and skins mainly – was often fed to livestock, or alternatively brewed into a very low quality ‘wine’ and given to the slaves who’d grown the grapes.

We also know that winemaking was familiar to the ancient Greeks, from whom the Romans learned so much, and there’s physical evidence of this in the form of a stone wine press found in a Minoan villa on the island of Crete, dating back to around 1600 BC. The winemaking facilities discovered there appeared to be quite advanced and sophisticated, suggesting that the Minoans had been practising the art of winemaking for a considerable period before that date.

Prior to this, the trail is a little less clear as we go further back into history. The ancient Greeks had strong trading links with nearby eastern cultures such as Egypt, and although we can’t be sure, it seems that it was from the ancient Egyptians that the Greeks learned to make wine.

Physical evidence of wine production in ancient Egypt includes remains of wine jars and stoppers dating back to the earliest years of the civilisation, and wine was used both as a food and a medicine. Wine in pharonic times was not only made from grapes, but also from figs, pomegranates, and other fruits, a practice which continues across the world to this day in the rural production of ‘country wines’ such as damson and elderberry.

The first great civilisation of historic times was in Mesopotamia, close to Egypt, in what is modern day Iraq and surrounding areas. Although records from this era are sketchy, considering that writing was not invented until the latter part of the civilisation, there is evidence that wine was produced here too. A clay jar bearing traces of what could have been wine has been discovered in what is now northern Iran, and carbon dating shows that it was made around 5000-5400 BC. This is the oldest known evidence of wine consumption, but as this period of pre-history stretches back to 8500 BC, it is likely that winemaking had been known and practised for maybe thousands of years before that.

So, next time you relax with a glass in your hand, ponder for a moment that what you are drinking could be the results of over ten thousand years of cumulative learning and experimentation with the magical process of fermenting grapes!

Andrea writes for a wine guide site, 1Stop Wine, where you can read wine articles and search a database of relevant sites.

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

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Gas Grill Buying Tips For Barbecue Enthusiasts

August 13, 2007 by CarpetGuy · 1 Comment 

Gas Grill Buying Tips For Barbecue Enthusiasts
By Paul Graham

Gas grills are a popular choice among barbecue enthusiasts.
Mainly because compared to charcoal grills, gas grills are
easier to clean. In addition, there are lesser accidents related
to the use of gas grills and in ten minutes it is ready to
barbecue. For those thinking of buying a gas grill or upgrading
to a gas grill for grilling, there are a number of things to
consider before purchasing one. Taking these few tips into
consideration will make the search faster and easier, and in the
end the grill you purchase will be more satisfying for you to
use.

1. Three Levels Of Gas Grills

Entry-level

Thesegas grills are the most basic gas grills available in the
market today. They are reasonable priced starting at $ 150 to $
300. Entry-level gas grills don’t need wood or charcoal and
produce their own heat. With regards to this type of gas grill,
it is best to choose one made of stainless steel for the frame
and main body.

Mid-Range

These gas grills on the other hand are a bit more expensive but
also offer more features than the basic gas grill. Prices for
mid-range gas grills range from $ 350 to $ 1150. For these types
of gas grills it is best to choose those made by established
manufacturers in order to get a quality product.

Deluxe Models

These gas grills are the cream of the crop with prices starting
at $ 1500 and most models going for more than $ 5000. High-end
gas grills often make use of big BTU ratings as a selling point
for them. However the brand name and materials of the gas grill
should be the main concern when buying a deluxe model gas grill.

2. Basic Elements Of A Gas Grill

The basic structure of most gas grills sold in the market is
fairly straightforward. The burners generate heat and some type
of heat dispersal system is above the burners. On top of all
this are the cooking grates where the food is placed. The
equipment underneath the hood is what separates a typical gas
grill from an excellent gas grill. A gas grill that has at least
two or more individual burners allow for greater heat control.
This provides for even heat over the cooking surface thus
producing better tasting food. Drippings cannot be avoided when
barbecuing, however this causes flare-ups. Certain gas grills
are equipped with systems to control flare-ups and turn it into
flavorful smoke to enhance the flavor of the food.

3. Understanding BTU (British Thermal Units)

Most gas grills sold in the market use BTUs as the main selling
of their product. However most people don’t understand the
relevance of BTUs to a gas grill, let alone the meaning of BTU.
BTU stands for British thermal unit, which indicates the amount
of gas that a gas grill is able to burn. With gas grills,
sometimes less BTU are better since it allows for food to cook
more efficiently. Too much of it can damage the burners and cut
short the life of the gas grill. However for larger grills,
having higher BTUs is best in order to cover the larger cooking
area.

4. Check For Solid Construction

It is important to select a gas grill with a stable and solid
construction. A poorly built gas grill has the tendency to
wiggle and may fall apart once set in place. Avoid buying a gas
grill that is not displayed on the sales floor, make sure that
there is a display available to be able to check out the
stability of the gas grill before purchasing it. Select a gas
grill that is crafted of high-grade U.S. Steel and also go for a
gas grill with a baked-on, porcelain enamel finish. Check that
the grates are made from either cast iron, porcelain-coated cast
iron or aluminum and stainless steel.

5. Gas Grill Maintenance

When buying a gas grill it is important to consider the amount
of maintenance required to keep it running for years to come.
Select a brand of gas grill that provides uncomplicated yet
comprehensive product information and offers a toll-free
customer service line. Check if the brand provide trouble-free
access to parts and services along with a reliable dealer
network.

About the Author: For more great gas grill related articles and
resources check out http://gasgrills.dinningstyle.com

Source: http://www.isnare.com

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On The Texas Barbecue Trail

August 13, 2007 by CarpetGuy · 1 Comment 

On The Texas Barbecue Trail
By Paris Permenter

Among polite society, a few subjects are invariably touchy,
threatening to flare into heated debate. Politics. Religion.

And don’t forget to add one more topic to that list if you’re
in Texas: barbecue.

Whether you spell it barbecue, barbeque, bar-b-que, or just
bbq, one thing’s for sure: barbecue is more than just a meal,
it’s a mantra.

At last count, Texas boasted over 1,300 barbecue joints,
ranging from side-of-the-road greasehouses with slamming screen
doors to sit-down restaurants with beautiful vistas, air
conditioning and even (gasp) wine lists. The business of
barbecue rings up over a half-billion dollars annually, a cobweb
of commerce that connects an otherwise diverse, sprawling state
with a common mission: Go forth and seek out good barbecue.

Although you can find good barbecue throughout the South, the
Texas variety is different from that in other barbecue capitals.
Texas barbecue means beef brisket, basted meats, and
tomato-based sauce, or sometimes no sauce at all. The selection
varies from pit to pit but in most tradition reigns.

In each region, divided by hundreds of miles, the local
barbecue is influenced by other culinary cultures, from Southern
to Tex-Mex to Southwest. Cabrito or barbecued goat is often
served in the western portion of the state while pork or lamb is
a more common offering in East Texas. Cooking styles vary as
well. Out on the West Texas plains, barbecue is usually cooked
over a slow fire of mesquite wood while in Southern and Central
Texas pecan and oak are more common. Farther east, barbecue pits
are stoked with hickory. Throughout the state, meals are served
with sides of cole slaw, pinto beans, and spongy white bread,
often on plates of butcher paper. Dessert, if found at all, is
usually a scoop of banana pudding with a dose of vanilla wafers.

Unlike Kansas City and Memphis, Texas has no clearly defined
capital of ‘que. But Texas does have what’s sometimes nicknamed
the “barbecue belt,†a smoky swath that runs through the central
part of the state and includes:

Llano: On the westernmost edge of the barbecue belt lies the
community of Llano. What makes Llano unique among the central
Texas barbecue towns is its cooking style. Most pit masters in
this town rely on indirect barbecuing. In a firebox, wood burns
down to coals, then it’s transferred to the main section of the
pit beneath the meat to impart a delicate smoky taste subtler
than ordinary smoking. Don’t miss Cooper’s Old Time Pit
Barbecue. From its huge rectangular pits located by the front
door to the dining room lined with loaves of white bread and
jars of jalapeño peppers, this is the real deal.

Taylor: Taylor calls itself “The Barbecue Capital of the
World,†home of two legendary barbecue joints separated only by
a parking lot and small road at their locations on Second
Street. Louis Mueller’s is housed in one of the most authentic
barbecue joints in Texas, with an old-fashioned screen door,
smoke-covered walls, and giant fans that provide the only cool
breeze on a hot summer day. Next door, Rudy Mikeska’s serves its
equally fine offerings in a more citified atmosphere. During his
lifetime, Rudy Mikeska was the dean of Texas pitmasters. If
there was a political function to be held, Rudy Mikeska and his
barbecue specialties were there.

Elgin: In Texas, the town of Elgin is synonymous with sausage.
The small community, located about 25 miles east of Austin,
produces the sausage sold by many barbecue joints through the
state. The best known of Elgin’s smokin’ stops is the Southside
Market, probably one of the most recognized names in Texas
barbecue lore. In business since 1882, the market is known for
its Elgin hot sausage, sometimes known as Elgin Hot Guts.

Lockhart: Twenty-three miles south of Austin lies another
“Barbecue Capital of Texas,” Lockhart. The test of a real Texan
is to know the correct pronunciation of the town’s Kreuz Market.
No, don’t say “Cruise.” It’s “Krites,” rhyming with “lights.”
Also in town, don’t miss Smitty’s, housed in the building where
the original Kreuz Market was located, and Black’s BBQ, which
claims to be the oldest barbecue house in Texas continuously
owned by the same family. Since 1932 the Black family has been
firing up these brick pits every day for lunch and dinner.

Luling: Located east of Austin, Luling is the land of oil
wells. No longer a boomtown, today the barbecue restaurants are
the ones producing black gold. The best known spot in town is
the City Market, a no-frills smoky meat market, with ambiance
replaced by plenty of local atmosphere.

About the Author: Paris Permenter and John Bigley are the
authors of Texas Barbecue and numerous other books on Texas
travel as well as the editors of http://TexasTripper.com,
http://www.TexasTripper.com, an online travel guide to the Lone
Star State.

Source: http://www.isnare.com

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