How to Brew Your Own Beer

Why would anybody in the world want to brew your own beer, when you can easily hop in your car, bike or motor chair and drive on down to the distributor! Well, making beer is not only fun, but extremely cheap, and the perfect addition to any summer party or bbq! We promise your guests will be so impressed with your creation, they may actually want to buy it. If not, who cares...they will still be impressed that you made your own beer...Who does that... You do, because your a Trendsetter!




What You Will Need: Can be found at your local hardware store

- One 10-gallon "food grade" plastic pail with lid. Cost: about $12.00
- Siphon hose. You'll need a 74" length of 5/16" "food grade" vinyl tubing. Cost: $2.00
- Hose clamp for siphon. Cost: $1.00
- Twelve 2- liter plastic pop bottles, with lids.
- Hydrometer. Cost: $8.00. A thermometer is also useful.
- Large pot, or turkey roaster.

Ingredients

Malt Extract. One 40oz. can of any flavor you like ( light, dark, stout), or a 1.5kg "tall" can of same. The 1.5kg can contains more malt extract so you can make a larger batch or use the same method here to make a richer beer. You can also buy 'pre-hopped' extract which will impart more of a hop flavor to your beer.
- Yeast. 1 tsp brewers' yeast. Note: some malt comes with little packets of yeast included.
- Sugar. 6 - 7 cups of regular white sugar, or 8 - 9 cups of corn sugar (preferred).

These ingredients should cost between $10.00-$15.00, which will in the end yield at least 65 bottles or cans of beer. The average 12 pack of beer costs around $10.00, which is about the price of these ingredients. That means your getting more than 5 times your money's worth! How trendy!

Brew

1. Pour 10 liters of fresh, cold water into the 10 gallon plastic pail (carboy). If the pail is new, wash it out first with a mixture of water and baking soda to remove the plastic smell.
2. In your largest pot, bring 7 liters of water to a boil.
3. Add one can of malt extract. Stir and cook uncovered for 20 minutes.
4. Add the sugar and stir to dissolve.
5. As soon as the sugar is dissolved, pour contents into the carboy. Pour, or 'splash', the contents quickly, which adds air to the mixture. The more air the yeast get initially, the better. It allows them to rapidly grow and get things going.
6. Top up with bottled drinking water or tapwater until temperature is neutral. (If using tapwater, it is recommended to boil first to kill bacteria, or use an ultraviolet light water filter.) Test using a clean, sanitized thermometer. The carboy will now be a little more than half full.
7. Sprinkle in the yeast, and stir well. Cover with lid. (Set lid on loosely; if capped too tightly, a carboy can explode from the carbon dioxide gas that is produced.)

Keep covered and avoid unnecessary opening. The beer will be ready to bottle in 6- 10 days, depending on ambient temperature of the room and amount of sugar used in the brewing. Room temperature should be 20-24 Celsius at the highest; 16-20 Celsius is better but it will take the beer a day or two longer to ferment.

Test for readiness with a hydrometer. Set hydrometer into the beer and spin it once to release bubbles which cling to it and give a false reading. The "ready to bottle" reading should be about 1.008 for dark beers and 1.010-1.015 for light beers. If you don't have a hydrometer, you can judge readiness by tasting a sample - it should not be sweet tasting. There should be little or no bubbling action in the beer.

Bottle

Set the carboy on a sturdy table and the 12 2-liter bottles on the floor, with newspaper underneath to catch drips or overflows. Using a funnel, put 2 level teaspoons of sugar in each bottle.

Siphon the beer into the bottles, trying not to disturb the sediment on the bottom of the carboy. (One method is to tape a plastic straw alongside the bottom end of the siphon hose with 1" projecting beyond the end. The tip of the straw can touch the bottom of the carboy without the siphon drawing up sediment.) Tip the carboy as you near the bottom.
It is important to not splash or agitate the beer too much when bottling as any oxygen introduced can lead to oxidation and a “cardboard” taste.

As you fill the bottles, keep the end of the siphon tube near the bottom of the bottle to avoid frothing. It is essential that the bottles ar not completely filled - leave an airspace. Screw the caps on tightly. Invert each bottle and shake to dissolve sugar on the bottom. Set bottles in a warm area for the first few days, then store in a dark, cool spot. You can drink the beer within a few days of bottling, but it will improve with age.

Scrumptious Recipes Using Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola will always be known as a cool, refreshing, soda-of-choice for many, and Pepsi rival for others. Back here in Pittsburgh from where we are writing this blog, it is currently 80 degrees outside and rising! Barbeque, swimming, and a nice refreshing drink are all I can focus on in this blistering heat! Speaking of bbq and Coca-Cola, I have always heard people talk about the mysterious, exotic taste that Coke can bring to your typical bbq dish, so I decided to explore. Lucky for you, I am going to share all of these yummy recipes...any HEY, even if your freezing your patootie off in sub-artic weather, these recipes will be sure to warm you up!



Your Typical Bbq, With Coca-Cola Flare

Prep Action:

Coca Cola Barbeque Sauce


Cook 1 chopped onion and 2 chopped cloves garlic in 2 tablespoons butter until soft.
Add: 2 c. catsup
6 oz. Coke
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. Mustard
2 tbsp. Vinegar

Simmer 1 hour or until thick.

Appetizers

Baked Beans

3 cans pork & beans, drained
1 c. Coke
1 c. catsup
1/2 onion, chopped
2 slices bacon, cut up
1/4 c. sugar

Stir all together and bake 1 hour at 350 degrees.

Pineapple Empanadas

6 c. flour
2 c. butter flavored Crisco
8 to 10 oz. Coke, at room temperature

FILLING
1 (16 oz.) jar pineapple preserves
4 to 5 tbsp. Cornstarch
1/2 c. sugar

Bring filling ingredients to boil. Mix flour and shortening together. Make sure shortening is well mixed. Add Coke, gradually mix well. Make dough into balls, according to the size of empanadas you want and press ball using a tortillera (tortilla press). Press around edges after filling has been added. Bake in ungreased cookie sheet at 350 degrees. Sugar the empanadas as soon as they are done. Yield: 4 dozen.

Main Courses

Brisket

1 package Lipton onion soup mix
1 jar chili sauce
1 can regular Coke
1 lg. untrimmed brisket
Put brisket in roasting pan, fatty side up. In bowl, mix soup mix, chili sauce and Coke. Pour over brisket. Cover roaster and bake in 300 degree oven for at least 5 hours. Remove brisket from gravy and slice diagonally. Skim fat off gravy and serve as sauce for the meat.

Crock Pot Spare Ribs

2 to 3 lbs. country style spareribs (pork), fresh or frozen
1 c. ketchup
1 c. coke

Combine ketchup and cola. Place ribs in crock pot. Pour mixture over ribs. Cook 2 hours on high and at least 2 hours on low. May cook for several hours on low. Baste occasionally if desired. Serve with a side dish of cauliflower in cheese sauce.


Barbeque Wieners

10 oz. Coke
2 tbsp. Horseradish
1 c. ketchup
2 tbsp. brown sugar
2 pkg. Wieners

Mix. Cut wieners in bite size pieces. Bring to boil, then simmer, cover until sauce thickens, about 25-30 minutes.


Dessert

Cola Frizz

1 can Eagle brand milk
1 (12 oz.) Coke

Mix both ingredients together. Put in an ice tray and freeze overnight. Cut in squares and eat with a spoon.

Applesauce Brownies

2 sticks margarine
3 squares chocolate
2 c. sugar
3 eggs
1 c. applesauce
2 c. flour

Melt margarine and chocolate; add remaining ingredients. Bake in greased and floured oblong pan at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

FROSTING
1 stick margarine
3 tbsp. Cocoa
6 tbsp. Coke

Melt margarine; add cocoa and coke. Bring to boil; remove from heat. Add 1 box powdered sugar. Stir until smooth, then pour while hot over cake.

Food & Beer Pairings

Wine and food pairing is very popular these days, and is a simple way to impress your guests at a party. However, what about all the beer drinkers? Have we been left out of the world of pairing? Most people don't even consider pairing their beer and food selections, however it is a great way to compliment your lunch or dinner menu. Check out our custom choices, and explore the options!



Appetizers

Fried Food with Pilsner, Pale or IPA

Soups

French Onion with Strong red or Brown ale
Cream soups with Pilsner
Beef Stew or hearty soup with Porter

Salads

Caesar with Pilsner
Leafy Green with Brown Ale
Fruit with Fruit or Wheat

Poultry

Chicken with brown gravy with Nut Brown Ale
Fried chicken with white gravy with Oktoberfest
Turkey with Bock

Beef & Lamb

Porterhouse Steak with Porter
Prime Rib with Brown Ale
Herbed Lamb with ESB

Seafood

Crab or Lobster with Stout
Shrimp with Wheat
Fish with Pilsner
Oysters with Stout

Dessert

Chocolate with Oatmeal Stout
Cheesecake with Chocolate Stout
Ice Cream with Fruit Beer

The Truth Behind Ed Hardy

Here at Trendsetters, we sell Ed Hardy products. Everything from flasks, to neon signs, and cell phone covers, and do you know why? We love Ed Hardy, but several people today have turned their back on this brand due to the new portrayed image. When looking for definitions of Ed Hardy, some may have stumbled upon these...

"A douchebag brand NOT worn by hipsters. Ed Hardy consists of ridiculously low quality garments at a hideously jacked up price. No, people aren't jealous of Ed Hardy wearing Douchebags, they actually have better taste.

The average person who wears Ed Hardy probably thinks he's "hardcore" and the girls who wear them are Trendwhores. If you have an Ed Hardy shirt, True Religion Jeans or Rock and Republic or Juicy Couture, guess what? You are a douche. Please log off earth."

Well then...it's a good thing that we don't sell shirts. However, we want you to get to know the real Ed Hardy, that nobody bothers to even understand. We want to show you the true designer behind the clothing...Don Ed Hardy.



Did you know that the clothing and so called "expensive" clothing you see were actually not put out there by Ed Hardy himself? Christian Audigier licensed the rights to produce the Ed Hardy clothing line, which is based on Hardy's imagery. Prior to the Ed Hardy clothing line, Audigier was the Head Designer at Von Dutch Originals, which marketed the imagery of Kenny Howard. In fact, today Ed Hardy is focusing on print work, and painting rather than tattoo designs. It is a shame that society has forgotten that Don Ed Hardy is known worldwide for his paintings and intricate designs, along with tattoo work. Several now bash the brand, due to the once celebrities that were drawn to Ed Hardy clothing, that now attract virtually anyone. It is no longer exclusive, and people miss that.

However, here at Trendsetters, we still honor Ed Hardy! We know when to value someone's work, and even though were up to date with trends, we believe Ed Hardy's true work lives on.

You may know the Ed Hardy designs that are ever so popular such as "Love Kills Slowly," and the Geisha, but we bet you have never seen the designs featured below:

Trend Report: Iron Man & Marvel Comics

Have you seen the new Iron Man yet? Do you remember reading Marvel comics? Are you surprised by the recent uproar? We want your thoughts, rants, raves, reviews, and feedback on the new movie! Looking for Marvel comics gear? Check out www.trendsettersthestore.com for all of our gear!

Captain Morgan Mixers and Shots!

Today be focusin' on th' Captain hisself! We be havin' tons o' recipes fer ye, which be all easy t' make an' be havin' Captain Morgan in them! By th' way, we be havin' all th' Captain Morgan merchandise yer wee heart desires. Got a wee Captain in ye? We sure do!

Cocktails

Captain wi' a skirt:

2 oz Captain Morgan rum
2 oz white wine
fill with Coca-Cola
1 slice lime
ice cubes

Mix Captain Morgan`s an' white wine in a glass. Add Coke an' ice. Garnish wi' a slice o' lime.


Sex wi' th' captain

1 1/2 oz Captain Morgan rum
1 oz amaretto almond liqueur
1 oz peach schnapps
fill with 1/2 cranberry juice
fill with 1/2 orange juice

Build drink in glass o'er ice. Garnish wi' a cherry


Cuban crime o' passion

1 part Captain Morgan rum
1 part Bacardi light rum
1 part Captain Morgan Parrot Bay coconut rum
1 part triple sec
1 part pineapple juice

Pour all th' ingredients into a mixer glass, shake violently, an' then pour th' mixture into a 12 oz. glass wi' ice.

Baby aspirine o' humbolt

3 oz Captain Morgan rum
5 oz orange juice
1 splash grenadine syrup
1 dash lime juice

Serve o'er ice in a chilled pint glass.


Captain Morgan`s Steamy Applecolada Dream recipe

4 oz apple cider
1/2 oz Captain Morgan rum
1/2 oz Captain Morgan Parrot Bay coconut rum
1/2 oz DeKuyper Sour Apple Pucker schnapps

Start wi' hot or steamed apple cider. Add equal parts apple pucker schnapps, spiced rum an' coconut rum(parrot bay). Stir


Shots


Three piece o' eight hooker

1 oz Bailey's Irish cream
1/2 oz Captain Morgan spiced rum
1/2 oz Rumple Minze peppermint liqueur

Stir ingredients in a cocktail shaker wi' ice. Strain into shot glasses.


Buried booty number two

1 oz Captain Morgan Original spiced rum
1 oz Goldschlager cinnamon schnapps

Pour th' rum an' Goldschlager into a shot glass an' serve. Also works best when screamin' "Arrrr!" immediately after consumption.


Sea dog has somethin' up his butt

1/2 oz Captain Morgan spiced rum
1/2 oz DeKuyper Buttershots liqueur

Shake ingredients in a cocktail shaker wi' ice. Strain into glass.


The Davy Jones' Locker

1 splash Bailey's Irish cream
1/2 oz Captain Morgan spiced rum
1/2 oz sake rice wine

Pour th' Sake an' th' rum. Top off wi' th' Baileys. Let Bailey`s settle t' th' bottom.


Walk th' plank

1/3 oz Captain Morgan spiced rum
1/3 oz Blue Curacao liqueur
1/3 oz Captain Morgan Parrot Bay coconut rum
1 splash pineapple juice

Mix Equal parts Captain Morgan`s, Blue Curacao, an' Parrot Bay wi' a splash o' Pineapple Juice in a shaker wi' ice.




We hope ye enjoy these tasty shipmate, Captain Morgan recipes! Swashbucklers always be havin' th' most fun.

Top Ten Microbreweries in the US

We all love microbrews, so were setting you up for a challenge, and quite possibly a great road trip idea too! These ten microbreweries are arguably the best in the states! Some I have been too and can most definitely vouch for their success. Others, we will just have to trust word of mouth! If you can, get out there and explore!


Top 5 in the West

1. Full Sail Brewing Company: Hood River, Oregon



Try any of their top brews, including their Amber, IPA, Winter Ale, and Brewmaster Reserve...plus several others! Sit down, and sip on the flavor while overlooking Hood River, and the Columbia valley.

2. Breckenridge Brewery: Breckenridge, Colorado



This brewery was founded by a ski bum himself, who wanted to ski all day and drink beer all night. Keeping that in mind, he opened the brewery deep in the rocky mountains in Breckenridge. If you love bold flavors, you gotta go here! I personally love the Oatmeal Stout, and the Avalanche Ale.

3. Aspen Brewing Company: Aspen, Colorado




This of course is my favorite in the west, however I'll let you decide! Come take a tour here, and not only will you be meeting with the locals, but you may even rub elbows with fame! All these beers are brewed in house, and distributed by the two owners, and thats it. The beers are delicious! From the Brown Bear Ale, to the Conundrum Red Ale, you will find your favorite in their wide selection.

4. Moab Brewery: Moab, Utah




Moab is home to Canyonlands and Arches National Parks and is unique in the world for its mountain biking scene. When visiting the Moab Brewery, check out the Dead Horse (named after the famous Canyonlands vista point) and Deraillieur Ales. Or go with a Scorpian Ale. With six different hop additions, you'll be sure to taste the sting!

5. Russian River Brewing Company: Santa Rosa, California



Can you imagine a beer with 10% content? You can find it here! This brewing company has a number of beers from Belgian style ales, to limited release brews! Brewmaster uses Lactobacillius, Pediococcus and Brettanomyces which are all bacteria, along with yeast in his brewing process.



Top 5 in the East

1. Lancaster Brewing Company: Lancaster, Pennsylvania



You may have thought to only head here to visit the Amish Land, however nestled deep in the middle of nowhere, Pennsylvania you can find Lancaster Brewing Company. My favorites are the Milk Stout, and the Strawberry Wheat. You can find some very interesting flavors here, along with a great lunch and dinner menu to pair.

2. Clipper City Brewing Company: Baltimore, Maryland




When you head here, go straight for the Mutiny Fleet beer selection. These are the most intense, aged flavors of beer. The double IPA is a triple hop, while the pumpkin ale is aged in bourbon barrels! However, a must have here is the Siren Noire or to you non-pirate folk: Imperial chocolate stout. Named for the Sirens who lured seafarers off course and ultimately to their demise...

3. Long Trail Brewing Company: Bridgewater Corners, Vermont



This brewery is full of ales, year-round, seasonal and brewmaster & limited edition. A must try here is the "Blackbeary" wheat. Full of flavor, and available year round you really can't go wrong! Warning: do not pair this with sweets!

4. Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales: Dexter, Michigan




One of the younger and smaller breweries on this list, Jolly Pumpkin ages all their beers in wine barrels to lovely effect and know their way around farmhouse ales and winter brews as well as any American brewer. They have set the standard for their beers as "French."

5. New Glarus Brewing Company: New Glarus, Wisconsin



This brewery was founded by a woman...so we know that the beer is going to be stellar! The raspberry tart is a must have! There is an extremely large amount of brews here, so be sure to have at least a day for a tour and tasting session!

Add a Little Flare to Your Party: Add a SHOTSKI!

Legend of Shotski

Skis were made to be in snow right? Wrong...in the early 1800's, a man by the name of Sir Edmund Swisherwasher (an evil king in Switzerland) wanted an easier way to kill off the criminals, gypsies, and theives in his land. Sir Edmund came up with the brillant idea to poison more than one person at a time, and so the Shotski came about. He decided to make a wooden plank, and place five small glasses on top. He would fill the cups with poison and make all the criminals drink at once. We have long evolved from those days, from killer plank, to skis, and now the SHOTSKI which is currently being used to indoxicate several people at a time, while celebrating a long time tradition.

Is this the true legend of the Shotski? No way...we just made it up, but believe what you want!




Shotski: One ski with five glued shot glasses on it. The glasses must be filled with a ridiculous amount of liquor, and then five drunks take the shot at the same time...they usually lift the ski at one moment, and yell "SHOTSKI" before they take the shot. Indoxicated results of this method can almost be seen immediately.

How to make a Shotski:

Step 1: Buy ski. (you can find nifty old vintage ones at your local Thrift Shop.) Lay ski down and space out shot glasses equally along the whole ski, once you have decided where you would like to glue them make a small mark for reference.

Step 2: Get glue out and apply to bottom of shot glasses individually, place and hold firmly where you marked on the ski.

Step 3: Once all 5 glasses on placed on ski let dry on counter top adequate time so securely placed onto ski.

Step 4: Now that Shotski is done have five lucky individuals hold ski with both hands and fill shot glasses with shot of preference. Count to 3, yell SHOTSKI, and let the good times roll!


For fun and interesting shot glasses, check out http://www.trendsettersthestore.com/

Party Foul: What is it, How to Avoid Them, and What Not to do

Today, were talking all about party fouls, which can come in many different shapes and sizes! This is the party blog, and we want you to make the most out of it, so please listen to our advice and try to avoid these party fouls! If you see someone else doing them, feel free to yell as loud as possible...PARTY FOUL!!!!!

A party foul is simply when something stupid, embarrassing, or simply unacceptable is done at a party. (See example below.) Sometimes they are done on purpose, and sometimes out of plain stupidity. Even if it was an accident, everyone at your party should stop what they are doing and break out laughing. We compiled the following list of what we believe are party fouls. Feel free to add to the list in a comment! Oh, and to make sure your party is on top of things foul-free, check out www.trendsettersthestore.com



Top 15 Party Fouls

1. Spilling your beer or cocktail: Simply not right to waste!
2. Falling alseep on the couch while everyone else is partying and doing shots.
3. Stealing someone else's beer or drink: C'mon! Not only does this spread diseases, but stealing is NOT cool!
4. Vomit on the carpet: Unless you plan on paying for a full steam treatment to get your puke off the floor, try to make it to the bathroom.
6. Cut someone in line for the bathroom: WAIT YOUR TURN!
7. Face-plant into a fire pit at the beach, or a hard peice of furniture: This just makes you look like a complete ideot, but will make everyone else burst out in laughter.
8. Ask someone about their major: Were glad your concerned about their education, but save it for a day where someone actually cares.
9. Getting thrown in jail: Enough said.
10. Talking about work when you're supposed to be drinking
11. Changing the song in the middle of Take Me Home Tonight
12. Leaving the party with the ugliest gal, or dude!
13. Leaving with another guy's gal, or another chic's man: Not right at all. Grow up and find your own romancer.
14. Throwing a punch, or starting a fight: (Exempt this rule if you live at the Jersey Shore.
15. Wearing sneakers in Vegas: Or at any fancy party. Suits with sneakers don't exactly pair up, unless your Steve Urkel!

Ben Roethlisberger n'at

First off, we want to say that we are very ashamed at Ben as most of you can imagine. Being born, and raised in Pittsburgh I am especially disapointed at the accusations and acts made on his part. It makes the Steelers look horrible, and many Pittsburgh-ers are going to fall off of Steeler Nation because of this...

To make things worse, Ben was recently featured in a Sports Illustrated magazine. As we were reading this article, we stumbled upon a picture of Ben's carport...and what did we see? OUR PIMP SIGN! Thats right...Ben Roethlisberger had our sign hanging in his car port!





You know, anybody else in the world could pull of this sign...we LOVE this sign. Its funny, entertaining, and a good gift! However, this sign in Ben Roethlisberger's carport is not a very good notion on his part. After all of his acusations, seeing this sign in his car port does not make him look any better! Actually, we think it is kind of funny how worse he made things for himself, and it just so happens our sign helped envoke those feelings on former-fans.

So, in honor of Ben's screw up, were offering 25% off on all of our Pimp signs. C'mon! Be a "team player!" Hurry up, because this offer won't last long. Purchase one of our fabulous Pimp signs...however PLEASE, whatever you do, do not think that since you have the same sign as Ben, you can act the same as him!

The Best & Worst Party Themes of All Time!

With all the themes out there for your next party, how do you know which will bring results, and which ones your guests will simply not RSVP to? We have the answers for the best and worst themed parties, and a bit of reasoning behind that. Let us know what you think, and feel free to add suggestions!

Top Themes

BBQ Bash

Having a bbq bash is one of our favorites for many reasons. First, you can't go wrong with a bbq! Everybody loves free tasty grill features, and on top of that nobody feels pressured into dressing up, or wearing something nice. Your guests can feel at eaze and simply relax. So what if you don't have a big enough back yard? Simple solution: go to your closest neighborhood park that allows grilling. Also, if you have a vegetarian, try grilling veggies! Zucchini and other sqaush make great grill choices, and taste good too!

Ugly Sweater Party



Even people who hate wearing sweaters will love this theme...you know why? They get to make fun of the ugliest one they have, that they swore they would never wear again. This is also a very cheap theme party! If your low on cash, but want to have a get together, have an ugly sweater party! The ugliest sweaters of all exists in the deep, dark corners in the sweater region of thrift stores, and can usually be purchased for under $1.00. This party makes for great pictures!

Wine Tasting Party



We love this one! To avoid purchasing all the wine and turning this into an extremely expensive party, ask all of your guests to bring a bottle of wine, and be specific! When you send out your invite, ask some of your guests to bring a red wine, some to bring white, and some to bring a blush or desert wine! Soon the tasting can begin, and your guests will be feeling quite fine.

Worst Themes

Lobster Boil



Your probably wondering why a lobster boil is a bad idea, but we have our reasoning. First off, lobster is expensive, unless you ask all of your guests to bring a live lobster...but that would be weird to say the least. Second, what do you plan on doing while your lobsters scream and shreek in the boiling pot? We don't think your guests want to sit around and hear death cries from the food they are about to eat. This is a horrible idea unless you buy the lobster cooked...but then it wouldn't be a lobster boil now would it!


Masquerade Party



Yeah, yeah your also probably wondering why this is not a smart theme as well. One reason...strangers in a mask is not very attractive. There are horror stories out there about women who thought their "masked prince" was a stud, and times where the men thought their women in costume were hotties. They were wrong. If you want to have a costume party, be sure the costumes don't involve masks...the outcomes arn't pretty.

Foam Party

This is undoubtedly the most unsanitary of them all! Not only will you have to endure being groped, but it will be by a slimy wet hand. On top of that, who do you plan on hiring to do all the cleanup? Do you even have a venue suitable to hold gallons of foam, and enclosed so the neighbors don't question your insanity? We didn't think so...

Seasonal Drinks: Recipes for Your Party at Any Time of the Year!

Its fun to have seasonal parties, and seasonal drinks to match! Check out our ideas for Spring, Summer, Winter and Fall. Were sure you'll find a tasty, scrumptious new beverage!

Spring

Trendsetter's Lemonade

1.5 parts your choice of Gin
2.5 parts your favorite Lemonade

Fill one of our highball glasses with ice, add gin and top with lemonade. Garnish with a lime wheel and two mint leaves. A fabulous choice for your spring party!


Acai Trendy Cosmo

1.5 parts Absolut Acai
.75 parts Triple Sec
1 part cranberry juice
.25 parts lime juice

Place all ingredients in one of our fabulous cocktail shakers. Shake and strain into a cocktail glass. Top with an orange slice.

Jellybelly shot

.5 parts Blackberry brandy
.5 parts Sambuca
.5 parts Southern Comfort

Pour the brandy into a shot glass, followed by a layer of Sambuca, and finally a layer of Southern Comfort.


Summer

Watermellon Daiquiri

4 cups peeled, seeded, cubed watermelon
.5 parts light rum
.25 parts fresh lime juice
.25 parts orange liqueur
Ice cubes

Place all ingredients in a blender, until smooth. Pour into your favorite Trendsetters glass, and enjoy!

Pom Pom-Tini

2 parts vodka
2 parts orange liqueur
2 parts pomegranate juice
1 cup crushed ice
1 twist lemon zest

Pour all ingredients into one of our shakers, shake your heart away, and strain into any of our martini glasses.

Kool Aid shot

1 part Amaretto
1 part Midori
1 part Cranberry Juice

Pour Midori and Amaretto into a shot glass, and fill with Cranberry Juice.


Fall


Black Magic

2 parts Blavod black vodka
.5 parts grenadine
lemon-lime soda
maraschino cherry for garnish

Fill one of our Collin's glasses with vodka and grenadine, and fill with soda. Top with cherry! Be sure to get the black vodka, for a spooky touch on this cocktail.

Maple Syrup Meltdown

1 part 42 Below Honey Vodka
.5 parts maple syrup
.75 parts lemon juice
dash of bitters
lemon zest and orange peel for garnish

Add all ingredients into a shaker, and shake! Pour into a wide selection of our martini glasses, and garnish with the lemon and orange peel.

Into the Grave shot

.5 parts Tia Maria
rum cream
.5 parts overproof (150 proof) rum

You need to layer this one. Pour the Tia Maria into one of our shot glasses first, next layer rum cream, and float the 150 proof rum on top!


Winter

Trendsetters White Out

2 parts white crème de menthe
hot chocolate
.5 parts green crème de menthe
whipped cream

Pour white crème de menthe into the hot chocolate. Top with whipped cream, and drizzle green crème de menthe on top.

Northern Lights

2 parts Yukon Jack Canadian Whiskey
dash of peach schnapps
orange juice
cranberry juice

Pour Yukon Jack and peach schnapps into one of our Old Fashioned Glasses. Fill with ice. Top with a mixture of cranberry and orange juice.

Wild Sleigh Ride shot

.75 parts Wild Turkey Bourbon
.75 parts peppermint schnapps

No layering necessary. Pour bourbon and schnapps into a shaker, and strain into shot glass!



Well, we hoped some of these recipes helped! No matter what season you are entering, we imagine that you found a drink your dying to try! Don't forget, we have all the glasswear you need, whether you plan on making a cocktail or a shooter!

History Lesson 101: Das Boot

Ever wonder the history of Das Boot, or where it came from? Take one guess...(if you answered the movie Beer Fest, your wrong!) So, consider this your history 101 lesson for the week...

First off, the term Das Boot was indeed coined during the 2006 film Beer Fest, however it is not the first time it was heard of! Das Boot was also a movie in the 80's about WWII, men at war, and German submarines.

In Germany, beer boots are called Bierstiefel, and they have claimed that they invented the glass boot (that we now feature on our website!) Besides that, there are a number of legends of where the boot came from, and were not sure which to believe, so we'll let you decide.

One tradition states that during World War I, German soldiers had nothing else to drink from. That being said, before battle, they would pass around a leather boot to drink their brew from! They would flick the boot before drinking, and again after drinking to ensure good luck on the battlefield. Kind of gross...ehh?

Tradition two says that a Prussian general swore to his troops that he would drink beer from his boot dependent on the successful outcome in a coming battle. When victorious, the general ordered a glass fashioned in the shape of a boot to fulfill his promise without "having to taste his own feet". YUCK!

The movie Beerfest popularized the theory that "the secret" to drinking out of a beer boot is to point the toe sideways. Has anyone actually tried this? Does it work? Were not sure, but go ahead and buy your Das Boot (many styles and sizes) at Trendsettersthestore.com, and then try out our game! Now you know a bit about the history, and you can have a bit of fun.



Trendsetter's in Das Haus, Beer Boot Game

1. The beer boot is passed around a group with individuals taking a sip and passing to the left
2. Once the boot is first picked up, it cannot touch the table or be set down until empty.
3. Each player must flick the beer boot prior to and after taking a sip.
4. If you get splashed in the face, you drink again
5. The beer boot's toe is to remain pointed upward and no turning of the beer boot is allowed
6. If you finish the beer boot, the person before you buys the next fill or is required to fill the next "Das Boot".

Looking for a New Project? How to Create Your Own Basement Bar for Under $500.00. (Alcohol Excluded)

So your an entertainer right? You probably throw your own parties, and most of the time your guests sit around the kitchen table, in the living room, or outside on the deck. If your an entertainer, your most likely creative...so we've got a project for you! For under $500 dollars, we will show you how to turn your creepy, moldy smelling basement into a thriving private bar for all of your friends and family to enjoy. Of course, stocking the bar would cost a few hundread more, so were going to leave the alcohol up to you!

First and foremost, your going to need two things we can't provide...space, and the ACTUAL bar. (I would try finding some plywood to start with, or a stone finish if you wan't to get all fancy...) FOCUS were here to accessorize!

Next, every bar has bar stools. These are practically an essential to having a cool basement bar. We have everything from beer brand designs to famous sports teams. All ranging from $49.99 to around $55.00. We suggest buying four to start with.



total for unique bar stools: 199.96 to around 220.00

So now you have the bar and the stool, but you need pizzaz! Luckily, we have Neon wall signs to compliment any basement bar. Check out this Margaritaville sign for only $168.00! Check out all the designs at www.trendsettersthestore.com




Now were up to $367.00, and a long ways to go!

Essentials to any bars are shot glasses. However, we have over 150 different varieties, and we know you value your time. Why don't you try our random assortment! For only $5.50, you will recieve five random shot glasses. Your opening day is going out with a bang, so we suggest starting with fifteen shot glasses.

total: $16.50

Not only a mandatory item for a bar, but any room for that matter is a clock! However, why not have a cool neon clock for your bar? Priced right at only $33.00, you can have a crucial piece, at a price you can actually afford. We have all different types of styles, including your favorite sports teams!



Grand total so far: $416.00

Next, we think you need some metal signs to accompany your bar! Browse through pages of different beer brands, liquor brands, and car brands such as Ford and Chevy. We suggest trying to different styles of Captain Morgan. Both for only $19.50.


At this point, we only have $64.50 left in your budget, and we know exactly what to do with it!

Accessorize with barware! Grab some pitchers at only $4.50, for the beer. Next, grab a set of Corona coasters for $10.00. Throw in a Martini shaker and glasses for $25.00, and finally grab six more pint glasses for your friends.



Grand total: $500.00 (don't forget about our free shipping!)

This may be the cheapest home renovation of them all, and even better...your friends will probably want to help you finish it, since they will be the ones spending the most time in your new bar!

Our Stimulus Plan: Great Gifts Under $10.00!

We all know that in this economy, nobody can afford to be spending outrageous amounts of money. That's why we have created our $10.00 and under page at Trendsettersthestore.com. Maybe you'll find something for yourself, or what about your friend who's birthday is next week? You could try pulling off the cheesy "I was going to give you $100 dollars, but I got you this awesome card instead!" gig, but they would probably not consider you their friend in the future. Instead of all the drama, check out all of our gifts at a price you can actually afford.

Gifts for her:

Ed Hardy crystal phone decals: For just under $10.00, you can purchase one of these crystal decals for your phone, designed by the intricate and talented Ed Hardy. We have all the popular designs. The Koi fish, geisha, pin up girl, and all the sayings, like "love kills slowly." A grey phone is a lame phone, so jazz it up! Ed Hardy for under $10.00? Now thats a stimulus package.

Branded beads for sports games: Your probably wondering why we put this under gifts for her...sports and women usually don't get along. However, if she is going to have to be dragged to the game, you might as well get her some beads for your favorite team! Beads get any girl excited. Check out Pennstate, Ohio State, and even the Pirates! With fun colors, and big logos, she will love these! Layer them, or wear them alone, and all for under $6.00.


Gifts for him:

Beer Belt Buckles: We all love stuff that doubles up when it comes to functioning. With these unique beer branded belt buckles, you or your man can be fashionable and practicable! How convenient! These belt buckles actually have a beer bottle opener in them. Now you can be a trendsetter too. We bet all your friends will love these. How many times have you found yourself looking for a bottle opener, then landed up hurting yourself trying to open a bottle without the opener? Exactly...

Wallets, and money clips: Remember your friend's birthday next week? They actually will be getting money from their real friends...but you can gain back their friendship by getting them a wallet or a money clip to hold all of that cash! Several designs are available from chrome playboy money cips, to biker style Rocky wallets. These are completely classy, and will make a great gift for practically anybody.


Gifts for the kids:


Character Lanyards: Maybe we should even have an under $5.00 page, because the kids are getting lucky with gifts under five dollars! These lanyards are perfect for children, or even the adult who still acts like one. With characters like Dora the Explorer, and Tinkerbell, kids will love to wear them around their necks. Now you can send your kids to school, with the house keys close by...

High School Musical Nightlights: Again, for under $5.00, these nightlights make a great addition to any child's bedroom who loves High School Musical. Bad dreams go away in an instant, and a sense of comfort can be brought to your child. We have different night lights that feature the whole entire High School Musical gang, so you can be sure we have your little one's favorite!


So go ahead and go guilt-free shopping! We even have free shipping over $99.00, so you can have a bigger sense of saving.

Corona Beach Bash Ideas

Now that summer is here, isn't it about time that you started planning your Corona beach bash? Trendsetters has everything imaginable to get your party started! So what if your not at the beach? Our products will enable you to feel like your in the tropics, without leaving your backyard.

Of course, when going to the beach, you need a towel! You can choose from several designs of Corona beach towels, where you can bath in the sun and achieve the perfect tan! So what happens when the sun starts to set? When your at the beach, the party continues into the night, and you can make that possible at your Corona bash by using our Corona bottle string lights. All through the day and night, you'll need bottle openers and glassware to accompany your crispy cool Coronas, so dont' worry, we have all the accessories to match your beer! Who knows! Maybe you could even add a bright, neon light...now that's one accessory that will really make you feel as if you were in a beachside bar.

The options are endless, so feel free to let your imagination run wild! With prices like ours, and products nobody can beat, you can't go wrong!