FOOTBALL IS BACK!

Much to the delight of fans across the nation, the NFL Players Association and owners finally reached a 10-year collective bargaining agreement to end the lockout after an arduous five months of negotiations. With the preseason kicking off in a few short weeks, the agreement has unleashed NFL teams into a frenzied week of football activity: facility reopenings, trade negotiations, contract signings and practices - all in preparation for another chase at the Lombardi Trophy.

While NFL teams attend to their preseason activities, fans are busy making preparations of their own, securing the latest apparel, memorabilia, and gear to back their team all the way to February. In our three-part tailgating series we covered games, grills and coolers to get you to game-time. Here, we’ll cover great GAP fan gear to support your brand and keep the party going all the way to the final whistle.

Football Jersey - our top-of-the-line football jerseys are made of high-quality durasheen and mesh construction with embroidered logos. Customize your jersey with your team colors and endless branding locations. This is the go-to jersey on game day.

Foam Fingers – a classic fan staple, foam fingers are “number 1” when it comes to showing your support. 

Rally Towel – This author may be the only Steelers fan in the office and perhaps even in New England, but, when it comes to fan support, it’s hard to beat the Terrible Towel. Also handy for any spillage that may occur during your endzone dance.

Sunday Hoody – Football means fall, and fall means cool weather. Assuming your team gets through to the playoffs, you’re going to need some extra layers. That means you, tough guy.

Not a season ticket holder? Check back next week to discover great new products and recipes to make watching the game in your “man cave” better than sitting front row at Gillette!

Please cheer responsibly.

TAILGATING PART THREE: COOLING IT DOWN

In part one of our three-part tailgating blog series, we focused on games. Tossing a Frisbee at a beer can resting atop a ski pole, or hurling u-shaped pieces of metal at your friends make a tailgating experience so much more fun. At any given event, it is common to see more than 10 different games being played between the rows of parked cars, as you stroll towards the stadium to cheer for your favorite team.

In part two, we focused on the hotter side of tailgating. Tailgating and grilling go hand-in-hand, and whether you choose traditional fare or decide to be more creative, ample consideration must be given to the beverage side of the menu. Keeping your drinks icy cold is key and we would certainly be remiss if we didn’t address this important tailgating element.

Therefore, in the third and final part of our tailgating series, we focus on this crucial component: Keeping it cool. There is no greater feeling in the midst of a blistering hot parking lot than reaching into a cooler and pulling out an ice-cold beverage. There are many ways to keep your drinks cool while tailgating and GAP Promotions can assist you with all your temperature-reduction needs. From the small 6-pack day-tripper cooler to a 188-can touting behemoth, we’ve got your cans covered (literally).

Beer, cocktails, wine, soda, juice and even water have been spotted keeping tailgaters cool and refreshed during the hot summer months. Below is short list of drinks that make for great tailgating beverages.

Beer:

Coors Light: A tried and trusted tailgate classic. Plus, its “Super Cold.”

Miller Lite: Coors Light’s Midwest cousin that goes perfectly with baseball.

Red Stripe Jamaican Lager: Insert bobsled race tailgating joke here…

Guinness: With soccer gaining more and more interest on this side of the pond, no soccer hooligan tailgate is complete without it.

Spirits:

Captain Morgan: A tailgating favorite for years at sporting events and concerts alike. Let your pirate flag fly high!

Tanqueray Gin: Two letters G & T

Crown Royal: Even an event as classy as the Kentucky Derby demands its own tailgate. You too can keep it class while drinking with royalty.

Wine:

Rosenblum Cellars Zinfandels: Consider a Zinfandel or Zin blend from Rosenblum Cellars and consider submitting photos of your gathering on their Facebook Grilling Parties Page.

Hazlitt Red Cat: The wine that was meant to be drank at a tailgate. They even encourage you to drink it out of a Solo cup!

Please chill responsibly.

TAILGATING PART TWO: HEATING IT UP

In the second part of our three-part series, we’re heating things up with trendy fire pits, innovative grills, and recipes that bring tailgating to a new level. 

No matter where you’re from, hot dogs and hamburgers are summertime tailgate staples. But why stop there? Spice things up with less traditional items such as chicken sandwiches, sausages, or even pizza. Tossing a pizza on the grill is a novel and delicious option in outdoor cuisine. For a healthier alternative, try grilling fruit, such as pineapples, cantaloupes, or bananas. Consider adding the fruit to a grilled chicken kabob.

Warm up your night-time tailgating experience by gathering with friends and family around a flickering fire pit. Enhance the experience with the Contents Under Pressure cocktail recipe below, featuring Captain Morgan and Grand Marnier.  And, don’t forget your designated driver – see the recipe for the Alpine Carnival, sure to wake up and fully satisfy even the most demanding sweet tooth. 

Of course, no fire is complete without a snack. Most everyone knows how to make s’mores, but have you tried a banana boat? Here’s how it’s done: Peel a banana down one side, cut the banana in half and fill it with marshmallows and chocolate chips. Then, pull the peel back up the banana, wrap it in foil and cook it in the fire for a few minutes and you have the perfect snack for all ages. Check out this great custom pit - sure to warm you up. 

GAP Promotions has a wide range of unique, customizable tailgating items, many of which have been tested, firsthand, by our very own team members.  Let us help you make your tailgating experiences truly stand out. 

Contents Under Pressure

1-1/2 parts Smirnoff Vodka

1/2 part Galliano

1/2 part Grand Marnier

1/2 part Captain Morgan

Lemon Twist Garnish

Combine liquid ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice

Strain into highball glass over fresh ice or a margarita glass without ice

Garnish with lemon twist 

(eculinary.info)

Alpine Carnival 

2 tb Instant coffee

1 tsp Vanilla

2 tb Brown sugar

1 ts Water

1 1/2 cup Boiling water

1/2 cup Whipping cream, whipped

Divide instant coffee and vanilla evenly between two Spanish coffee glasses

In a small heavy saucepan, dissolve sugar in the teaspoon of water

Over medium heat, stir dissolved sugar until it reaches a full boil

 Immediately remove from heat and stir in boiling water

Divide sugar mixture between coffee glasses and top with a dollop of whipped cream

Makes 2 x 6 oz servings
(intoxicologist.net)

TRY THIS AT HOME!

Beer connoisseurs, worldwide, travel to their favorite breweries for a chance to tour the facilities and pay homage to their favorite beers. Many who make the trek are awestruck by the massive machinery, the noise from the bottling line, and the sheer size and complexity of the overall operations.  

Though the brewing process may appear daunting, it is simple enough to be done at home. In fact, home brewing has emerged as a very popular hobby among beer lovers everywhere.

Home brewing allows one to be creative and to fully enjoy the art of beer. Single batches (5 gallons) of beer are typically created within 4-6 week timeframes. Brand new flavors can be created by using special mixtures of ingredients. The home brewing process can be broken down into the following steps:

1.     Brewing (2 hours)

2.     Fermentation (2 weeks)

3.     Bottling (1 hour)

4.     Carbonation (2-4 weeks)

5.     Tasting!

The process is fun and rewarding and it’s easy to break into the hobby as a novice. After the initial investment of a beer kit ($150-$300, depending on your budget) and a set of ingredients ($15-$40, depending on desired style of beer), you are ready to brew your first batch! Kits are nearly 100% reusable, so batch after batch can be brewed; new flavors can be tested and favorites can be perfected. Nearly all microbrews and brewpubs were started as a home brew hobby.  Who knows - maybe one day we will be signing up to take a tour of your brewery. Good luck with your new brewing venture!

Please drink (and brew) responsibly. 

Cheers ­­!

For information on MillerCoors and Yuengling Brewery tours, check out our clients websites:

Coors Brewery 

Miller Brewery

Yuengling Breweries

BATTER UP!

What comes to mind when you hear the word “baseball”?  Maybe that it’s America’s favorite pastime, the phrase “Play Ball,” or quite possibly you begin reminiscing about your own glory days as the All-Star Pitcher in Junior High. For many of you, the first thought may very well be ‘BEER’!  Whether cheering for the Red Sox in New England, the Giants of San Francisco, or your 5-year old T-ball player, we all look forward to the warm weather and the gathering of family and friends that the baseball season brings. And, of course, our clients’ refreshing beverages help make those experiences complete.

It’s safe to say that the GAP team has its fair share of sports fans – some might even call them ‘fanatics.’  We believe that this love of the game shines through in our many sports-themed items. So, while we look forward to spending some serious time at the ballpark, the baseball season also provides us with opportunities to showcase our items that truly reflect America’s love of baseball.

Our client’s also show deep support for the game. For example, MillerCoors has a long-standing relationship with Major League Baseball. The most commonly known sponsorships include the Milwaukee Brewers’ “Miller Park” and the Colorado Rockies’ “Coors Field”. This season, GAP teamed up with MillerCoors once again to have our very own Coors Light pub tables stationed in the Angels stadium this season! 

This year, GAP is also showcasing its custom baseball-shaped Adirondack chair and custom baseball giveaways.  The baseball kit we created for Yuengling includes baseball essentials, which can bring the life to any party! From large mass displays featuring home plate to the branded banners hanging from high, GAP Promotions represents the very best of the summer baseball season. 

We wish you all the best this baseball season. Go Team!

IT'S BARBECUE SEASON!

It’s that time of year again. The birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming, and the sea breeze is blowing through our open windows. It’s spring! With winter behind us and summer just around the corner, we’re looking forward to spending time outside doing the things we love most: drinking refreshing beverages and grilling up mouth-watering food. Our clients offer a wide range of beverage options to enhance any outdoor activity and GAP Promotions has some amazing items to set the stage for the perfect cookout.

Memorial Day is coming up, which is a great excuse to get the family together, grab a few beers, and fire up the grill. Hamburgers, hot dogs, and potato salad are cookout staples, but for those of you looking for some variety, try the grilled salmon recipe listed at the bottom of the page.

And of course, no cookout is complete without beverages to complement your culinary creations. Jeremiah Weed’s new Premium Malt Beverages are the perfect companion to any summer feast. Or, you could kick back with the ever-popular Jose Cuervo Margarita. If beer is your beverage of choice, snag a Red Stripe or Red Stripe Light to accompany that savory burger.

Check out some the custom items that GAP offers to take your outdoor experiences to the next level.  And remember, always drink (and grill) responsibly.

Jose Cuervo Chill’n Grill

Hand-crafted wooden cooler and grill combo that conveniently keeps your drinks nearby while cooking.

Yuengling Surfboard-Shaped Adirondack Chair

Wooden Adirondack chair with cup holders and leg rest that folds for easy storage.

 


Ready to Serve Cooler

Wooden stand cooler with easy-access lid. 

Grilled Salmon Recipe

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds salmon fillets

lemon pepper to taste

garlic powder to taste

salt to taste

1/3 cup soy sauce

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup beer (you can drink the rest)

1/4 cup vegetable oil

Directions

1. Season salmon fillets with lemon pepper, garlic powder, and salt.

2. In a small bowl, stir together soy sauce, brown sugar, beer, and vegetable oil until sugar is dissolved. Place fish in a large resealable plastic bag with the soy sauce mixture, seal, and turn to coat. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

3. Preheat grill for medium heat.

4. Lightly oil grill grate. Place salmon on the preheated grill, and discard marinade. Cook salmon for 6 to 8 minutes per side, or until the fish flakes easily with a fork.

Yields 6 servings.

(via: allrecipes.com) 

GAP’s clients are increasingly asking for “green” products and we are truly excited by the prospect of providing products that leave less of a footprint on the planet while also greening our own internal operations.  We believe that by embracing the “going green” movement, along with our clients and suppliers, we can all make a difference and help sustain our planet.

Many of GAPs clients and vendors have instituted sustainable development plans within their organizations. One vendor has formed a Green Team whose members meet monthly to “discuss and brainstorm new and useful ideas to help reuse, reduce and recycle.” The company offers employees incentives to carpool or take alternative transportation. Since printing is a large part of their business, since 2009, all materials have been produced with 10% recycled paper and using FSC certified printers.

One of GAP’s primary accounts set the tone for a commitment to corporate citizenship, a legacy built upon a foundation of more than 288 years in the beer brewing business. The company’s commitment to sustainable development starts with the grain vital to their product, includes the glass that holds the final product, and is also reflected in the manner in which the product is delivered to its final destination.

Many wine companies are becoming certified organic. One such company has partnered with its regional power facility to incorporate green power options and has invested in tree planting to offset its fuel usage. This company is leveraging a range of options to create a carbon neutral operation.

At GAP, we are seeking out more factories that incorporate sustainable practices and corporate responsibility into their missions. In a recent sweepstakes program, we included an outdoor furniture table and chair set utilizing 100% FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified wood products. FSC is an independent, non-governmental organization promoting the responsible management of the world’s forests. FSC certification allows for more informed purchasing decisions, benefiting individuals, the environment, and corporate performance.

A number of the companies from which we regularly source promotional products have introduced Eco-Friendly products, and the list continues to grow. For example, one of our current catalog offerings, a Lip Balm Tin, is produced using only all-natural, environmentally-safe ingredients. Additionally, in response to the backlash over plastic products, other alternatives for packaging have been introduced including corn-based and recycled paper.

Awareness of how we use energy on a daily basis, both personally and in business, will create not only a cleaner planet but a place that sustains a healthier life for years to come. As Amory Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute put it: “Mainstream America’s concerns of “hot showers, cold beer and lit rooms” can be achieved with renewable energies and energy conservation.”  The bottom line is we can all contribute in small ways.

As we source items for 2012, we increasingly look towards environmentally-friendly options and we will continue to seek out ways to make our operations more energy efficient and environmentally responsible. We look forward to working with our valued clients and suppliers to find even more ways to lighten our footprint and protect Mother Earth.

Drink Beer, Save Water


FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)