Impulse Man

All About Home Bars!

By

Home Bars

Let the idea sink in for a moment. A bar in the convenience of your own home. Does the life of a hard-working man who doesn’t have time, or permission, to go to the local pub get any better? If you’ve heard that the trend to implement home bars is coming back then your sources are wrong, because it’s a bloody movement. It’s only a matter of time before a political party called “The Home Bar” chooses a leader and run for presidency. Before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s explore the benefits of getting your own piece of heaven.

Your Bar, Your Rules 
That’s right baby. You are the king of the castle, the man with the goods and the ruler of wonderland. Nobody gets in or out without your permission. Your ass-kissing co-workers who just happen to show up at your favorite bar when all you wanted to do is relax with your buds won’t be a problem anymore. Mind you, this benefit alone is worth all the effort.

No More Designated Drivers 
Now everyone can enjoy getting smashed without one poor soul sitting in the corner drinking flat coke, waiting to drive the taxi. Let’s face it; if you have pals over to enjoy your new bar then you won’t have a problem if they pass out on the couch. Many of them probably live only a few blocks away and they can walk home. If they live far away and the need for them to go home truly comes up then call the wife.

It’s a Natural Entertainment Centre 
With a nice television and Hi-Fi the home bar can quickly resemble a living space no man has to leave. You’ll be surprised at how the bar will attract the people who come over. If you have a choice to take a seat at the dining room table or at a cozy little bar where nice music is droning in the background then what will you choose? You can even get a karaoke machine, but the neighbors probably won’t appreciate a drunk rendition of “We are the Champions” at 2 in the morning.

It’s a Sanctuary 
Getting home after a hard day, opening a beer and sitting in front of a television switched to “Desperate Housewives” isn’t exactly a dream come true. With a home bar you can walk in, tap the custom made “Kiss My Ass Lounge” sign hanging on the wall while picturing your boss, throw yourself a scotch and switch the television to a good boxing match.

In reality there is no reason not to get a home bar. Nobody can chase you out and if you feel like sulking then it will always be there to support you. If nothing else it just looks good. Just be aware of the temptation to go out and by expensive toys to compliment your bar. The drinks might be a lot cheaper, but the money you save might not cover that special blender you ordered from some Russian company that promises to make any cocktail look like a manly drink.

Kegs, Parties and Problems

By

Nothing worse than having your boys over or even worse the ladies that love beer and your kegorator is dead set on spitting foam! Pour rest, pour rest, pour rest is what your life is turning into, and all of a sudden that old bottle of bud light is looking much more appealing!

Next, you check the pressure…same as before…you check the temperature – it’s good. What gives?? Who the hell knows, sometimes the beer gods just aren’t with you! All you can do is just make sure you have a backup plan in the form of beer in some other kind of container. Please never get caught with nothing! I don’t care if you have to keep a Heineken mini keg in the bottom of your fridge, you’ll be glad you did.

However, before you abandon ship, do your routine checks. You may need to just shut of the CO2 and let it chill for a min and try it again with a much lower pressure. You may get a slow pour out of your tap, but that may prove to be better than a crap load of foam which usually = wasting beer. Maybe try and cool the keg down a bit more with some ice or something if you suspect temperature may be the problem.

I also realize there’s a lot of DIYers out there and they may have constructed their own kegorator contraption of some sort and don’t really know if it’s setup right. A couple of things that help are to ensure you use tubing that’s 3/16 inside diameter which gives about 2psi per foot of pressure which is most ideal to prevent foaming.

If you’re having temperature problems make sure your cold plate or coils aren’t too iced up or anything because that actually acts like an insulator and your system is not working correctly or efficiently. Also if you are having cooling issues make sure everything is sealed properly. If needed put some kind of light inside of it and then inspect it in a dark room to see if there is light seeping out anywhere. If you do find gaps do what you can to seal them and see how it goes from there.

Lastly, just do your best to maintain everything properly and keep your lines and taps clean. Make sure you do some kind of routine checks if you’re not using it regularly and for the love of god make sure you know how its working at least a day or so before any big parties your planning. Last thing you want to be doing is screwing with your kegorator and struggling to pour a beer while the parties going on around you!

With a little bit of common sense, preventative maintenance and routine checks you will hopefully not end up being that guy or gal with a crappy keg…leave that to the amateurs!!

The Speaker Dilema

By

OK, so as you probably realize, at any bar whether it’s public or your home bar, music is usually one of the main staples of entertainment besides drinks and people. One question that I hear come up a lot when people are in the planning stages of their home bar or even after the fact sometimes, is where is the best place to put my speakers and what kind should I get?? Well unfortunately there’s not one answer for everybody because, no person, home and bar combination are ever going to be exactly the same.

So you will have to evaluate what’s important to you and what kind of entertaining you plan to be doing. For example, if you picture that you’re likely going to be watching a lot of movies or sporting events where good surround sound is key or cranking up the music and getting down with your bad self, then you probably want to use find a receiver with some decent surround sound capabilities in the form of floor standing or bookshelf speakers etc. to strategically place them in your bar or entertainment area.

This may sound obvious, but a lot of people seem to want to get these built in speakers above the bar in the ceiling or in the walls etc, but the problem is that it’s more work, you often have to pay someone to install those, and once they’re in, they are a pain to deal with if they aren’t living up to your standards. In addition, they usually get placed in a place that is less than optimum for watching sports or dancing and people’s conversations start getting drowned out. Not to mention, I’ve heard from many people that once they are cranked up, they often sound like crap up in the ceiling for some reason.

I agree it’s cool to have built in sound, I’m not saying it’s not, but you just have to make sure you understand it’s limitations and better purpose. I think if you just want to have some lower level music playing in the background or just a bit of extra sound for watching sports at your bar, then it may be a perfect solution. Especially if space is a concern! You could also go with some kind of floor standing or bookshelf speakers in the front and then have the rear speakers in the ceiling. But still the ceiling speakers unless somewhat high end are likely to not perform as well.

So with all that being said, all I can really offer is the obvious…make sure you think through what you want and analyze your situation to the fullest, don’t be one of those people that just go with what you think is cool without really knowing how it will work!

How to Shop for a Home Bar

By

how-to-shop-for-a-home-bar-150x150Shopping for a home bar can be a lot of fun. There are thousands of stores selling affordable bars with a unique design. And don’t worry — a quality home bar doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg. Think of it as an investment. If you have your own bar, you’ll spend more time at home and go out less often. This means that you’re going to spend less on drinks, gas, and public transportation. A night out on the town is expensive. Additionally, you can prepare exotic cocktails and fancy drinks at a fraction of the price.

Start your research on the Internet. Look for special deals and promotions. If you find an online store that sells quality home bars, try to get a discount. Consider using coupons. Check the sales section. Some furniture stores offer personalized items. If you want a themed home bar with distinctive accents and unusual shapes, just ask for one. Most manufacturers are willing to build custom furniture. However, it may cost you more.

If you’re on a tight budget, you can set up a small home bar without breaking the bank. Many local stores sell quality bars at $200 – $300 depending on your preferences. A basic home bar will naturally cost less than a sophisticated one. Standards bar height is 42 inches. Most types of bar stools are designed for that height. The bar top should be at least 16 inches wide. The foot rail should be about nine inches. Choose a home bar with a lower counter. This allows you to set bottles, slice fruits, or install a sink with ease.

Wooden home bars have a timeless design and can add a touch of style to your living space. However, they are quite difficult to maintain and cost more than other models. Steel bars are durable and maintenance-free, and don’t require finishing or painting. Some people have paid less than one dollar per square feet. A steel home bar is convenient and can be easily installed.

Before you go shopping, decide what type of bar suits your needs. Find the perfect location to stash your stuff and then choose a theme for your home bar. Most models feature built-in racks for your bar accessories and stemware, as well as wine racks and handy shelves for bottles. Determine what exactly you want in a home bar and then pick a model that fits your budget.