Lagers are darn tough beers to make. Their crisp and clean taste leaves little for imperfections to hide behind. Making a standup pilsner, bock, or dunkel can really test a brewer’s capabilities and equipment. If you’re thinking of brewing a lager, consider yourself warned! Is a Lager an Ale? No! All beer can generally be separated into two overarching categories; …
Second Chance Foods Doubles Down on CoolBots
Rescuing Food – Reducing Hunger – Raising Awareness Second Chance Foods does exactly that: They rescue food from grocery stores, restaurant suppliers, home delivery services and local farms that would otherwise get thrown out and go to waste. They get new food donations every single day, distributing it all within 24 hours to local hunger relief organizations. This constant stream …
Kombucha Origins: The Surprising History of a 2,000-Year-Old Drink
Sourdough bread, kombucha, home improvements, meditation, vanlife conversions – the crippling anxieties and systemic shortcomings of this pandemic era have inspired us to try new things in different ways. Kombucha, in particular, has gained massive popularity in the United States over the course of the past 10 years, and in these explorations of “at-home-in-a-pandemic-experiments” more people than ever are brewing …
The Beginner’s Guide to Vinification
Vinification is the process of turning grapes into the alcoholic beverage we know and love as wine. This process happens via fermentation. Vinification is an activity nearly as old as human civilization itself! A 2017 discovery found evidence that humans made wine as early as 8,000 years ago. These days, aspiring winemakers and enthusiasts go through years’ long courses in …
Grow, Cook + Share: Nashville Food Project Fuels Community With Help From CoolBot
The Nashville Food Project does a lot of amazing things. The simplest explanation is that they grow, cook and share. This non-profit organization’s cornerstone philosophy is that all people should have access to the food they want and need. The Nashville Food Project aids this mission with their gardens, where they grow organic food and share resources; in their kitchens, …
Where are they now? An update from Mayfield Flowers.
When we last spoke with Keely Sindler, she and her sister Marcy were about five years into their floral business, Mayfield Flowers. Needless to say, lots has happened since 2017. We recently had a chance to catch up with Keely and get an update from Mayfield Flowers — which has grown from blooming to flourishing. “The past year was interesting …
The Beginner’s Guide to Brewing and Correctly Storing Sake
The sweet, clean taste of Japan’s national drink has long since hopped the oceans and made waves on eager tastebuds around the world. Unlike wine, sake is made from fermented rice instead of grapes. The process of making this “rice” wine is akin to that of fermenting beer – and is totally possible to try at home if you’re feeling …
Understanding the Spring Turkey Season in North America
The sound of gobbles and the scent of wildflowers fill the spring air during turkey season across North America. Hunting these birds is a cherished tradition across the continent. These beautiful birds are great for hunting, eating, and appreciating. Scientists estimate about 8 million turkeys live across North America. The vast majority (almost 90%) live in the U.S. Due to …
Where are they now? Revisiting Store It Cold’s First Turnkey Cooler Customer: Martin Prebula of Saints Row Brewing
When we last spoke with Martin Prebula in 2017 (aka a million years ago), he was in the midst of launching his passion project: Saints Row Brewing. Prebula took on the noble cause of pioneering the craft beer scene amongst his local community in Rockville, Maryland (about 20 miles outside Washington, DC). Not only was Saints Row Brewing one of …
Is Kombucha Good For You? The Surprising Benefits of Fermented Tea
Is kombucha actually healthy? Or is it simply another health fad, like coconut oil, kale, or acaí? Humans have enjoyed this fermented tea for thousands of years, starting in China and moving throughout the world. Surprisingly, given this long history of kombucha consumption, little scientific research has looked into the health effects of this drink. Clinical Studies on Kombucha Health …