Summertime is a fun time if you’re a bartender or restaurant owner in Buffalo or Rochester: you get to concoct beverages that you probably couldn’t serve at any other time of the year. From daiquiris, margaritas and mojitos to smoothies virgin and otherwise, this is the time to get creative with your frozen drinks.

Need some inspiration? Here are some recipes from our friends at Royale Brands – makers of fine frozen mixes for your bar or restaurant’s blender or jet spray beverage dispenser.*

Cheers!

Berries N’ Chocolate (16 oz.)
2oz. Royale Triple Berry Mix
1 Pump of Royale Chocolate Sauce
4oz. Water
1 Scoop Non-Dairy Smoothie Creme
Blend & Serve

Wild Peach Daiquiri
2 oz. Royale Premium Peach
1 oz. Royale Premium Raspberry
1 oz. Rum
2-3 oz. Water
14 oz. Ice
Blend & Serve!

Mama Bahama
1 oz. Royale Premium Banana
1 oz. Royale Premium Strawberry
1 oz. Royale Premium Peach
1 oz. Rum
2-3 oz. Water
14 oz. Ice
Blend & Serve!

Strawberry Colada
1 oz. Royale Premium Pina Colada
2 oz. Royale Premium Strawberry
1 oz. Rum
2-3 oz. Water
14 oz. Ice
Blend & Serve!

Cadillac Margarita
2 oz. Royale Viva Margarita Gold
1 oz. Tequila
2-3 oz. Water
14 oz. Ice
Blend & Serve!

You can fine more recipes on the Royale Brands website: www.royalebrands.com/recipes/

*Irish Carbonic sells, maintains, leases and rents complete beverage dispensing systems of just about any size, providing you with the exact equipment and expert technical support you need to deliver the beverages your customers want most –including frozen drink mixes from Royale Brands! Contact us today to learn more.

If you are looking to install a draft beer dispensing system in your Buffalo- or Rochester-area bar or restaurant, it’s easy enough to hire a professional to do the job (and we strongly recommend that you do just that).

But while you’re doing that, it’s also a good idea to study how your draft beer dispensing system actually works. To help you do that, here are basic descriptions of some of the key elements in a commercial draft beer dispensing system.

If you have any questions about beer dispensing set-ups, contact the Irish Carbonic Beer Division today.

Draft beer dispensing elements

Here are the parts of a typical beer dispensing system:

• CO2 or mixed gas tanks – Pressurized gas– either CO2 or a blend of CO2 and nitrogen – is what propels your beer from the keg to the faucet. When this pressurized gas is pushed into the keg through the coupler, it forces the beer out into the beer line until it reaches the tap.
• Primary regulator – Gas inside a storage tank is under great pressure, which must be controlled if your want to avoid a foamy pour; that’s what the primary regulator is for. This regulator usually has a high-pressure and a low-pressure gauge to make it easy to troubleshoot problems with your system.
• Air lines – Air lines help transport gas from the tank to the rest of your dispensing system. Typically, they attach directly to a nipple on the regulator with a clamp. Air lines are often colored red to distinguish them from the (usually orange) beer line.
• Gas blender – Different beer recipes call for different gases – either CO2, nitrogen, or a mix of the two. A gas blender allows you to easily dispense beers that use different gases by mixing their gas blends on demand.
• Secondary regulator – If you need to dispense multiple kegs from of a single gas tank, you will need a secondary regulator to control pressure for each keg.
• Keg coupler – A coupler attaches directly to the keg with an airtight seal. It has two nipples—one for the air line (to push gas into the keg) and one for the beer line (to push beer out of the keg). Keg couplers come in a range of shapes and sizes that correspond to those used by beer manufacturers. The most widely used coupler is the US Sankey (D System).
• Beer line – A beer line is a vinyl hose that transports beer from the keg coupler to the faucet. They are usually orange in color.
• Glycol trunk line and chiller – A glycol system allows you to draw beer across lines with distances of up to 500 feet (from a cooler to your draft beer tower, for example) at a steady, perfectly chilled temperature. A glycol chiller (or “power pack”) includes an air-cooled compressor, glycol bath, and a pump for glycol recirculation.
• Draft beer tower – A draft beer tower houses your beer lines and faucets. Towers can be configured to match any number of dispensing needs or décor.
• Draft beer faucets – Faucets are the levers you pull to pour beer. They range from simple to advanced designs that control texture of the beer, pour speed, and more.
• Dip tray – A dip tray controls spills under pours, making cleanup easier for your servers.

Ready to install or replace a new beer line system in your bar or restaurant? We can help! Contact us today for a FREE, no obligation estimate on a custom beer line installation for your Buffalo- or Rochester-area hot spot!

Beer making is an art – as many of our Irish Carbonic Beer Division customers can attest. The question is, where is the best gallery to compare those delectable creations?

As it happens, Buffalo NY is the perfect place to ogle and imbibe the best brews, thanks to The New York State Brewers Association and the Buffalo Brewers Festival.

Up to 60 New York State breweries from Buffalo and beyond will be pouring at Canalside on Saturday June 22nd. The sudsy event will showcase breweries and beer from every other region of the state while raising money to benefit both organizations.

Brewers, owners, and brewery reps will pour at this festival, not volunteers – so come hang out with the people making the beer you love!

Learn more about the event below, or visit the New York State Brewers Association website for further details.

Festival Details

• 2:00-6:00PM (VIP admission) at 2pm, General Admission at 3pm)
• 3:00-6:00PM (General admission)
• Canalside is located at 44 Prime St, Buffalo, NY 14202

Ticket Prices

• Advance General Admission Ticket: $35 | Event Day (if available): $45
• Advance VIP Ticket: $55 | VIP Admission Event Day  (if available): $65
• Designated Drivers: $15

Tickets include:

• Event admission
• A 7-ounce souvenir tasting glass
• Freedom to enjoy unlimited 3-ounce beer samples
• Food available from local food trucks
• The opportunity to meet the brewers making your favorite beers
• DD tickets include free bottles of water

A limited number of VIP Tickets are also available, which include exclusive beer tastings, early entry, and brewer meet & greets. Visit the New York State Brewers Association website for more information.

Want your Buffalo brewery to make it to the big time? Do it with quality bulk beverage grade CO2 and beer equipment installations from Irish Carbonic. Contact us today to learn more.

You may not yet feature nitro coffee at your Buffalo- or Rochester-area bar or restaurant – but considering how much it’s trending these days, it might be a great option to offer your customers.

If you’re not familiar with nitro coffee, here are five questions and answers about the emerging brew.

1. What is nitro coffee? First concocted in or around 2013 (depending on who you ask), nitro coffee (a.k.a. “Nitro Cold Brew Coffee” or NCB) is cold brewed coffee infused with nitrogen gas (nitrogen is regularly added to certain types of beers, particularly stouts).
2. What does nitrogen coffee taste like? Nitrogen infused coffee is extremely smooth and low in acidity, with a silky mouth feel (bubbles in a nitrogen infused beverage are much smaller than bubbles in soda, which are produced by carbon dioxide). Most fans of the nitro-brew drink it black with or without ice; although it can be served with sweet cream or syrup, the bubbles give the impression of sweetness, so most people skip the unhealthy add-ins.
3. What should nitrogen coffee look like? Imagine the creamy texture of a Guinness and you have an idea of what a nitro coffee should look like. Much like a properly poured stout, nitrogen coffee gets it signature look from its stream of cascading bubbles.
4. Is nitro coffee healthier than traditional coffee? Although it is the same basic material as your typical morning coffee, the nitrogenation process imparts a sweet, creamy texture to your coffee, which makes the drink seem sweet without the need for sugar. Nitrogen coffee also has a higher caffeine content (since it contains less water), which makes it a great pre-workout drink, and it’s also lower in acid than conventional coffee — good news for people with sensitive stomachs.
5. What do I need to install in my bar or restaurant to serve nitrogen coffee? To produce nitro coffee, you need a source of nitrogen gas (from a replaceable cylinder or onsite bulk loaded set-up) and a properly pressurized and maintained serving system. As with nitro beers, proper set up of your equipment is the key to consistent, excellent pours.

Thinking about offering nitro coffee in your restaurant or bar? We can help you set up and maintain a serving system that gives you perfect pours every time! Contact our experts today to learn more.

In the bar and restaurant business, you rarely get a second chance to make a first impression – one flat or skunky beer or soda pour or and you’re not likely to win that customer back for round 2.

One of the most important ways to avoid bad pours and keep the taste, aroma, and mouth feel that your customers are looking for in their carbonated beverages is to use the best inputs – including top-quality beverage-grade CO2 that gives your adult (and kiddie) beverages their characteristic taste and bite.

How you incorporate that CO2 into your workflow is also important: although many restauranteurs and bar managers choose to get their carbon dioxide refills from high-pressure cylinders, there is a more convenient option: bulk CO2 delivery. By providing a continuous and reliable supply of beverage grade carbon dioxide, a bulk CO2 system takes the guesswork out of deciding when to order more carbon dioxide.

Five benefits of using Bulk CO2 in your restaurant or bar

Why choose bulk CO2 over CO2 tank refills? Here are five key reasons.

1. Perfect carbonation every time – Because CO2 is constantly running through a bulk system, you will always get the right amount of carbonation in your drink.
2. Easier deliveries and less downtime – With a bulk CO2 system, you will never have to change out bulky cylinders. That saves you time, money and effort, since cylinder swaps require you to shut down and depressurize your entire system. With a bulk CO2 system, we fill your bulk tank from the outside of the building, so we do not need to interrupt you during business hours.
3. Lower cost – By buying your carbon dioxide in bulk, the cost per unit of CO2 drops. You’ll also avoid wasting any residual CO2 that’s left at the bottom of returned cylinders.
4. Automatic delivery and 24/7 service – With bulk CO2 delivery, you can say goodbye to scheduling carbon dioxide deliveries and looking at tank levels – all your deliveries are made automatically based on a schedule that works for you. If you have a problem with your system that needs to be handled in the off hours, we can help you there, too, with 24/7 emergency service.
5. Less waste – With bulk CO2 delivery, you’ll not only eliminate product waste by having a system that operates more efficiently, you’ll also keep hundreds of CO2 cylinders out of the landfill.

As you can see, a bulk CO2 system is a convenient, efficient, and cost-effective solution for restaurants and bars that serve carbonated beverages. Contact us today to see if a bulk CO2 deliveries are right for your Buffalo- or Rochester area night spot!

Now that winter is behind us (mostly) here in Rochester and Buffalo, NY, it’s time to start getting your outdoor patio space ready for the warm weather months ahead.

What does that mean for you as a restaurant or bar owner?

Well, besides getting your rockin’ hot spot ready (with a little help from propane patio heaters to take the edge off the cooler days and evenings), it means keeping your beer taps up, running, and healthy so your servers can deliver perfect pours shift after shift, night after night.

That’s where the pros at Irish Carbonic come in.

When you become an Irish Carbonic customer, help is always a phone call away from a local, family-owned business that specializes in round-the-clock service for your bar or restaurant – including a full line of beer line services that range from installations and cleanings to beverage grade bulk CO2 and blended gas cylinder delivery.

And because we know how important it is for you to talk to a real person when you’re under the gun with an emergency at your bar or restaurant, you’ll always get one when you contact us – 24/7/365.

Get peace of mind with there whenever you need us service from Irish Carbonic. Operators are standing by 24/7/365 for your bulk CO2 refills, beer line service and more. Contact us today to learn more.

Did you know that Irish Carbonic is a Certified Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE)? Now you do! Contact us today to learn more about our services, or to speak with our pros about what partnering with a WBE can do for you. Or better yet, visit one of our convenient locations and talk with us in person.

You can find us at:
IRISH CARBONIC
1444 Clinton Street | Buffalo, NY 14206
(716) 827-2727 | Map & Directions »

IRISH CARBONIC AND PROPANE
535 Buffalo Road | Rochester, NY 14611
(585) 254-6844 | Map & Directions »

Easter (April 21) just might be the most colorful holiday of the year – definitely a day to let your springtime spirit out and celebrate the festive renewal of the season. When it comes to decorating for festive renewal, nothing does the job better than helium balloons.

Rent a helium tank from Irish Carbonic this Easter and you can bring a riot of color to your holiday celebration! Whether you choose to decorate your space with brightly colored balloon arches and giant balloon bunnies (who doesn’t love a giant balloon bunny?) or use balloons to bring delight to your younger easter egg hunters, you’ll make a instant impression with dozens or even hundreds of those floating pink, blue and yellow floating globes.

Filling balloons from your own helium tank will always cost less than buying pre-filled balloons. In fact, if you are into celebrations, you consider buying your own tank and simply refilling it with us.

Our helium rental tanks come in several sizes (see below) and are easy to operate and transport. Helium is perfectly safe, too, since it’s a non-toxic and inert gas that will never explode. Just follow a few simple instructions and you’ll be good to go!

How big a helium tank will I need?

Ready to pour on the lighter-than-air color? Here’s what you will need to make your balloon fantasy a reality:

Tank Size	Number of balloons
	9″	10″	11″	12″	14″
50 cu. ft.	170	150	100	85	50
80 cu. ft.	280	150	130	95	80
120 cu. ft.	390	370	240	225	120
195cu. ft.	721	650	390	375	195
213cu. ft.	788	710	426	409	213
242cu. ft.	895	806	484	465	242
285cu. ft.	1,054	995	570	548	285

We rent helium tank accessories, too

Need more than just a helium tank? No problem! We also rent mylar balloon regulators, helium tank protective covers, and other helium tank accessories. Contact us for details.

Celebrate Easter with helium balloons, filled from a tank you rent from Irish Carbonic! Contact us today for anything you need in helium tank rental within our Buffalo or Rochester service areas.

Spring has officially arrived here in Buffalo and Rochester – time to break out your propane grill and start thinking about all the warm weather activities you have patiently waited for during our winter hibernation period.

But spring can also bring some wicked weather and power outages our way – outages that can easily spoil several hundred dollars worth of food if we’re not properly prepared.

The good news is that if you act quickly, you can keep your food fresh for as long as possible. Here are 10 pointers courtesy of Food Safety News that will help you keep your food safe to eat during a springtime power outage:

1. Keep thermometers in both the refrigerator and the freezer to ensure that temperatures remain food safe during a power outage (40 degrees F or lower in the refrigerator, 0 degrees F or lower in the freezer).
2. Freeze water in one-quart plastic storage bags or small containers prior to a storm. Use them to fit in around the food in the refrigerator and freezer to help keep food cold.
3. Freeze leftovers, milk and fresh meat and poultry that you may not need immediately — this helps keep them at a safe temperature longer.
4. Purchase dry ice – at -109 degrees F, dry ice can temporarily replace the cooling power of a refrigerator or freezer. During a power outage, place dry ice on the top shelf of the freezer and the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. Fifty pounds of dry ice should keep a fully stocked 18-cubic-feet freezer cold for two days. Always follow dry ice safe handling practices!
5. Have coolers on hand to keep refrigerated food cold if the power will be out for more than four hours (dry ice can be used here, too – just keep in mind that your food will remain frozen).
6. Group foods together in the freezer to help the food stay cold longer.
7. Avoid putting food outside in ice or snow; it will attract animals and pests.
8. Keep ready-to-eat foods on hand that do not require cooking or cooling.
9. Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. A refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours if the door is kept closed. A full freezer will hold its temperature for about 48 hours (24 hours if half-full).
10. Place meat and poultry to one side of the freezer or on a tray to prevent cross-contamination of thawing juices.

To learn more about emergency food safety, visit the United States Department of Agriculture website.

Be prepared for a spring power outage with dry ice from Irish Carbonic – available as blocks, rice, or pellets. We have plenty on hand to keep your food fresh for days – contact us today to learn more.

If you’re a bar or restaurant owner, you know how busy March can get, with March Madness, St. Patrick’s Day, and the start of spring all contributing to a breakout month on the bar scene.

The problem is you could be pouring a significant portion of your March profits down the drain if you use a conventional tap system. Over-pours, spillage, theft, and giveaways combine to cost you about half an ounce of beer or liquor for every liter your servers dispense – which doesn’t sound like a lot until you consider the thousands of pours they make during the course of a year.

The good news is you can eliminate most of that waste and get perfect pours and mixes every time with every server when you install state-of-the-art Berg Liquor Control System.

Choose a Berg Liquor Control System and you will enjoy these benefits and more:

• More profitability – When it comes to dispensing liquor, less (waste) is more (profitable).
• Better portion control – Consistent pours mean increased customer satisfaction and repeat customers.
• Greater access control – in a Berg system, liquor is secured in a locked room, and all beer is dispensed through a controlled faucet attached to a locked cooler.
• More accountability – With a Berg system, every poured drink is recorded, which eliminates giveaways and prevents unauthorized pouring.

Irish Carbonic: Your source for expert Berg Liquor Control System installations

Irish Carbonic features, installs, and maintains the full line of Berg Liquor Control Systems, including:

• Berg All-Bottle Brand ID
• Berg All-Bottle ID Cocktailing
• Berg Dispenser Network™ and Berg Dispenser Manager™ Software
• Berg Laser Touch
• Merlin Wireless

If you’re ready for a 21st century tap upgrade for your bar or restaurant, Berg’s the way to go.

Want to make informed inventory decisions, control costs, and improve profitability at your Rochester- or Buffalo-area restaurant or bar this spring? Install a Berg Liquor Control System. Call the pros at Irish Carbonic to get a FREE, no obligation estimate on one today!

March is a big month for beer drinkers – and bar owners. Are your beer lines and taps up to the challenge of pumping out consistently crisp cold ones through the Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight, Final Four, and championship game – or for the long day and night of St. Patty’s Day celebrations (be ready: it’s on a Friday this year!)?

Make sure they are with expert beer line cleaning from Irish Carbonic.

Our 10-point beer line cleaning system will virtually eliminate microorganism buildup and mineral deposits. The result? Clean, crisp, delicious tap pours every time, with just the right amount of CO2 fizz.

Our Beer Division Experts will:

• Flush your beer lines with biodegradable cleaning solution
• Rinse your beer lines with fresh water
• Clean each tap faucet and its surrounding area
• Check all connections and fittings
• Check your walk-in cooler temperature
• Check your glycol temperature and level
• Check all pressure settings
• Clean your glycol chiller condensers
• Ensure that your beer is pouring correctly
• Provide 24/7/365 service and assistance

Blended gas also available

Stouts are huge on St. Patricks’ Day – and you will need the perfect blend of CO2 and nitrogen to get the perfect pour (don’t worry, we’ll make it happen for you). If you serve nitro beers, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered there, too, with mixed gas cylinders and onsite gas blending solutions for your beverage-serving business.

Keep the crowds cheering with perfect pours from clean beer lines – courtesy of the beer line pros at Irish Carbonic. Contact us today for details.