Leaf Restaurant Cigar Bar & Lounge... I Can't Be Leaf It

Oh man! This place is really out of place..... and thank god it is... If you like good food, Cigars, and Beer you'll love Leaf Restaurant Cigar Bar& Lounge: Located in and industrial park and connected to "The World Famous Smoke Shop" Leaf has got to be one of the best places for a relaxing night out in the  Valley. If your lucky you'll be there when "Tommy D" and the boys roll in for an impromptu piano sing-a-long. "Try to stump 'em I dare you!  -Shorty    P.S. Lots-o-beer to talk about when I find the time.

I Can't Be Leaf it's Not Butter! Spray!

It's not "The Fall Guy" This Sh*t is 100% MacGyver

The final product.

About a year ago I set out to install a tap system in my house. It's been a labor of love and with some fine tuning, it's finally finished. I could have went the traditional route and bought everything "legit" and spent a fortune but that's just not my style. With a little know how and a few freebies, I was off to the races.  The first thing I bought was a second-hand draft system which included a keg coupler, tap head, and Co2 tank for about $75. Big savings here,  as you can get everything brand new for about $150. I lucked out, the stuff this guy had was in really excellent shape. If you can spring for new equipment I suggest you do so. If your tank is out of date or the hoses are dirty, etc you could easily spend what you were initially going to save. Check out Micromatic.com they'll hook you up! Next, I picked up a fridge from a friend for free! A point of interest here, make sure you get one that has a flat bottom or you will only be able to tap sixtels and skinny quarter barrels. The real trick as it turns out, was going to be running the lines and keeping them cold all the way to the tap head in my dining room closet. "That's right draft beer in the closet." The pic to your upper left says it all. The total length of the run is about 9' and the refrigerator is in my basement just below the closet where the bar now exists. I first thought about air cooling the lines but it seemed like a big head-ache and an even bigger expense. The only other option I could figure was to install a glycol system. Also very costly, so I had a cold one and thought about it for a while. Then it hit me, like Richard Dean Anderson in the hit show MacGyver, why not make my own system? So, that's what I did and you can do it too. All you need is some 3" PCV, flexible tubing, spray foam insulation, a small pump, and a tub to

Gathering the lines.

Loosely zip tie them together.

hold your cooling liquid ( I used water with bleach and isopropyl alcohol).  The idea is simple; create a circuit of

continually pumping cold water that runs parallel to your beer line, insulate all three lines, run them through 3" PVC pipe seal it up and your done. "It may not be perfect but it works." Essentially you are creating your own trunk line traditionally used in commercial grade systems using glycol to refrigerate the lines. A glycol system is a closed system where none of your refrigerant evaporates. In my system, every few weeks or so you will need to add more water to your reservoir. Not a bad trade off considering the price of a glycol system.  After you gather and zip tie your lines wrap them in foil insulation and then in foam pipe insulation. You will then feed the entire thing through your 3" PVC. This will keep you lines cold and virtually eliminate any condensation from forming on the outside of the lines, which was a huge problem I had in an earlier version of this system. I fished the whole thing off with some custom concrete counter tops and a natural stone back splash. Check out the pick above for the full effect. I didn't use any duct tape but i'm sure MacGyver would have been proud! -Shorty aka (the Gnome)

"it's gettin hot in here"

Let's get  saucy!

Owner and chef Kelly Jo Deitz and I sit down and dig in!

Tuesday was a day of profound creation. I was able to use the kitchen at Black & Blue to develop some seriously delicious wing sauces. The owner Kelly Jo and I sat down to sample some of my tantalizing wing creations. Among the top of the list were a Hot and honey sauce made with Southampton Double White and a seriously hot Ghost chili inspired number. Notable mentions where a dry spiced Memphis BBQ (I really liked this one),  a Red Curry and Lime Sauce and an IPA number made from Lagunitas's Hop Stoopid.  Look for B&B to be featuring some of these amazing sauces on a monthly basis.

"In all their glory!"

"Crispy deliciousness!"

Loaded with a couple of bags of ingredients and a ton of excitement I headed to Black & Blue to see what I could do. I should mention that the kitchen is ungodly hot yet impressively big. Cooking there was a pleasure and I am looking forward to many more creative excursions into their humble abode.  To the left: the wings are crispy fried and ready for sauce. My mouth is watering profusely at this point and I can hardly contain myself. Once I introduce the wings to the five new concoctions it's almost to much to bear.

TERRIBLE SONG, BUT FITTING! -SHORTY

Abita Jockamo IPA

I picked up this IPA the other day.... I have had some stuff from Abita before, Turbodog and Purple Haze at the request of a friend from Louisiana and I have never been terribly impressed. I guess because I am a IPA guy at heart. So I was happy to find hoppy gem the other day. This beer boasts the citrus flavors you want in a IPA but is mild enough to be very drinkable. An ABV of 6.5% makes this a decent session or everyday brew but it does not rate high on our over all list. If your just getting into  hoppy libations this is a good way to ease yourself in. Enjoy! -Shorty
 
http://www.abita.com/brews/jockamo.php

Black & Blue

Just home from Black & Blue... Founders IPA and Double Simcoe on tap.... Awesome... and KJ decided to make it Bikini night for the staff in honor or this ridiculous weather we have been experiencing. This place is good. You should go there! -Shorty

Which Brew has reopened!

The once great drinking emporium in Easton, PA has now reopened under the name Black and Blue. Belly up and sample one of the 13 draft brews or their extensive bottle list. I'm sure they'll have something to tickle your fancy. Check them out.... Black & Blue is located at 683 Walnut St.  Easton, PA Regular hours are set for: Tuesday through Thursday, 4 to 11 p.m., Friday, 4 p.m. to midnight and Saturday, noon to midnight. Call before you go.... 610- 438-3604 as they are currently working under restricted hours.    -Shorty

"It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you" -Rakim

We have been on hiatus for over a year now but we are back on the trial of the Grail, reviewing beers, food and the establishments where we consume them. Hope all has been we'll see you on the trail.  -Shorty

The 80's were epic!

"Once I was lost..."

Once I was lost but, now I've been found..... the hop man is back in town. Not much postin' going on lately but, plenty of drinkin'. -Shorty