Month: April 2024

When brewing an IPA, especially a West Coast IPA, there are endless hop varietals to choose from. The most common are Citra, Chinook, Cascade, Mosaic, Simcoe, Galaxy, El Dorado, Amarillo, and Centennial hops. While we could spend all day writing about the various aromas, flavors, and bitterness imparted by every one of the above-mentioned hops, today it’s Centennial’s turn.

Named for the Centennial anniversary of Washington State, this popular hop variety has been used by brewers from coast to coast since it was made available in 1990. It’s used for aroma, flavor, bittering, and dry-hopping. One of the most useful and versatile hop varieties, centennial is known to add a ton of citrus (big on grapefruit), floral, and dank pine to whatever beer it’s added to.

To help you find the best beers brewed with centennial hops, we selected eight of the best, most readily available options. Check our ranking out below!

8.) Melvin 2X4

ABV: 9.9%

Average Price: $13 for a six-pack

The Beer:

This award-winning, 9.9% ABV double IPA is brewed with Columbus, Citra, Simcoe, and Centennial hops. The result is a potent, bold. Flavorful IPA loaded with notes of citrus peels and dank, floral hops. While there are other hops included, this is a beer for Centennial fans.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is a mix of honeydew melons, citrus peels, ripe berries, and dank, piney hops. There’s more of the same when it comes to the palate. There are notes of caramelized pineapple, melon, fresh-cut grass, and spicy, floral, resinous hops. The finish is dank and pleasantly bitter.

Bottom Line:

If you’re a fan of flavorful, dank double IPAs, this Centennial-hopped is a can’t-miss beer. It has everything fans of hop love.

7.) Stone IPA

ABV: 6.9%

Average Price: $12 for a six-pack

The Beer:

When it comes to classic West Coast IPAs, there are few more well-known than Stone IPA. This award-winning, year-round favorite gets its hop flavor and aroma from the addition of Magnum, Chinook, Azacca, Calypso, Ella, Vic Secret, and of course Centennial hops. It’s known for its bright citrus, tropical fruit, and dank pine.

Tasting Notes:

Breathing in the nose before your first sip will give you aromas of cereal grains, lemon peels, caramelized pineapple, grapefruit, and pine needles. The palate is a mix of sweet malts, lemon peels, tangerines, pineapple, grapefruit, and resinous, sticky pine. The finish is sweet and perfectly bitter for the style.

Bottom Line:

This is a beloved West Coast IPA for a reason. It ticks all the IPA boxes. Light malt, citrus, tropical fruits, and dank, bitter pine.

6.) Hopworks Ace of Spades

ABV: 9.5%

Average Price: $8 for a 19.2-ounce can

The Beer:

If you’ve never tried Hopworks Ace of Spades, what are you waiting for? This 9.5% ABV double IPA is brewed with Cascade, Chinook, Centennial, Simcoe, Waimea, Cryo Idaho 7, El Dorado, and Amarillo hops. The result is a potent, complex IPA loaded with peach, pineapple, citrus fruits, and dank, bitter pine.

Tasting Notes:

A lot is going on with this beer’s nose. There are hints of caramel malts, candied orange peels, tropical fruits, and dank, resinous pine needles. Sipping it reveals notes of ripe peach, caramelized pineapple, cereal grains, juicy grapefruit, lemon, wet grass, and pine needles. The finish is a mix of citrus sweetness and resinous, bitter pine.

Bottom Line:

If you’re looking for balance, high alcohol content, and a veritable explosion of hops, this IPA is for you.

5.) Founders Centennial IPA

ABV: 7.2%

Average Price: $19 for a 15-pack

The Beer:

With a name like Founders Centennial IPA, you better believe this is a beer for the Centennial hop fans. This year-round favorite is brewed with Crystal malts, Munich malts, Golden Promise malts, and the aforementioned Centennial hops. It’s known for its malty, hoppy flavor profile with restrained bitterness.

Tasting Notes:

Before your first sip, you’ll be treated to aromas of orange blossoms, grapefruit, sweet malts, wildflowers, fresh bread, and dank pine. Taking a drink, brings up notes of bready malts, caramel, pineapple, tangerine, grapefruit, and a forest of pine trees. The finish is lightly bitter and memorable.

Bottom Line:

While some of the other beers feature Centennial, it’s the star of the show with this beer and it shines.

4.) Creature Comforts Tropicalia

ABV: 6.6%

Average Price: $12 for a six-pack

The Beer:

Located in Athens, Georgia, Creature Comforts is the kind of brewery where you feel like you can randomly pick a beer and you’ll like it. One of its most popular beers is its Tropicalia IPA. Brewed Galaxy, Citra, and Centennial hops, it’s well-known for its

Tasting Notes:

The nose is a mix of bready malts, tangerine, lemongrass, hay, honey, grapefruit, and sticky pine. The palate is loaded with bready malts, cereal grains, orange peels, lemon zest, grapefruit, mango, and resinous pine. The finish is a nice mix of fruit sweetness and bitter pine needles.

Bottom Line:

Tropicalia is a great name for this beer since it’s very fruit-centric. The tropical fruit and citrus flavor pair perfectly with the bitter, piney hops.

3.) Green Flash West Coast IPA

ABV: 7%

Average Price: $13 for a six-pack

The Beer:

The folks at San Diego’s Green Flash knew they didn’t need a humorous name to get people to try their West Coast. The beer would speak for itself. That’s why it’s called West Coast IPA. It gets its citrus, dank, piney, bitter flavor from the liberal use of Simcoe, Columbus, Citra, Cascade, and Centennial hops.

Tasting Notes:

Complex scents of sweet malts, fresh bread, tangerines, grapefruit, pineapple, passionfruit, mango, and floral, piney hops dance around your nose before your first taste. On the palate, you’ll find notes of caramel malts, fresh bread, candied orange peels, grapefruit juice, ripe berries, mango, and dank pine. The finish is fairly hoppy and bitter but has a nice kick of citrus sweetness.

Bottom Line:

You might assume a beer simply called “West Coast IPA” was all hops and bitterness and nothing else. Well, this beer is perfectly balanced between malts, tropical fruit sweetness, and piney hop bitterness.

2.) Bell’s Two Hearted

ABV: 7%

Average Price: $11 for a six-pack

The Beer:

Consistently one of the highest-rated IPAs you can find almost anywhere, Bell’s Two Hearted is kettle-brewed and dry-hopped with only Centennial hops. This 7%, year-round banger is known for its mix of sweet malts, citrus flavors, and resinous pine.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a surprising amount of toffee sweetness on the nose that moves into candied orange peels, other citrus flavors, and a ton of resinous, sticky pine. A very welcoming start. The palate is classic IPA with a lot of grapefruit and orange peels, but there is a nice hint of caramel sweetness here as well. There’s also black pepper and dank pine. The finish is bitter, and prickly, and leaves you craving more immediately.

Bottom Line:

There’s a reason Bell’s Two Hearted is consistently one of the highest-rated IPAs. While it’s prickly, sticky, and bitter, it’s surprisingly well-balanced.

1.) Firestone Walker Union Jack

ABV: 7%

Average Price: $12 for a six-pack

The Beer:

Firestone Walker’s flagship IPA is named for its British-born co-founder. Brewed with 2-row, Munich, and Crystal Light malts, it’s brewed with CTZ, Cascade, and Centennial hops in the kettle and dry-hopped with Cascade, Simcoe, Amarillo, Citra, Chinook, and Centennial hops.

Tasting Notes:

Take a moment to breathe in the complex fragrances on the nose. If you do, you’ll be treated to aromas of tangerine, grapefruit, lemon, ripe pineapple, and a ton of pine. There’s more of the same on the palate but with a sweet, caramel-like malt backbone. It then moves into more grapefruit, candied orange peel, lemon, fresh grass, and a hoppy, floral, dank pine. The finish is pleasantly bitter and memorable.

Bottom Line:

If you only try one Centennial-hopped beer on this list, make it Union Jack. We get that it’s cheating because there are so many other hops included. But still — this beer is a can’t-miss.

We’ve all been there. You go out for one drink for happy hour with your co-workers and end up staying out and continuing drinking a mad mixture of beer, shots, and cocktails until the bartender turns on the lights and starts blasting Semisonic’s classic “Closing Time.” You stagger to an Uber and head home only to wake up the next morning with an epic headache and you already used up all your “sick” days to fly to Vegas to see Phish at the Sphere.

What do you do?

If you drink at all and you’re older than 25, there’s a decent chance you’ll end up with some type of hangover this spring, even if it’s just a slightly rumbly stomach. The only real way to avoid the dreaded hangover is to not drink alcohol at all. But, if that’s just not an option for you, there are ways to make your head and your gut feel slightly (if not a lot) better so you can have a reasonably productive day after $2 mai tai night.

We asked a handful of well-known bartenders to tell us their hangover cures. Keep scrolling to see them all. Some of them might even work.

Pickle Juice

Kyle Bobkowski, beverage manager at Crossroads Hotel in Kansas City

“A long hot shower, followed by a short burst of cold water, usually gets me on the right track after a long, fun night. But my favorite thing to do is finish a night or start a rough morning is the brine in bread & butter pickles and I do swear by that. Regular pickle brine will do the same thing, but I love the flavor of bread & butter pickles and the vinegar, sugar, and salt are a quick dose of the electrolytes your body craves.”

The Bartender’s AlkaSeltzer

Martin Gutierrez, bar manager at Joia Beach’s Bar in Miami

“Today if I’m hungover I just get some carbs and a lot of water. If I have nausea, a big glass of sparkling water with Angostura, lemon juice, and salt works perfectly. This has a name in the bar world, ‘the bartender’s AlkaSeltzer’. Also to prevent a hangover, before you go to sleep, a big glass of water with two ibuprofen is great. This helps you to feel better when you wake up.”

Poached Eggs With Hot Sauce

Tyler Chauvin, assistant general manager of food & beverage at Swingers in New York City

“I’m from New Orleans, so I can confidently say I’ve spent most of my adult life enjoying imbibing and chasing that perfect hangover cure. And the only thing that ever came close to working other than coconut water was from my grandma. She would fix the perfect hangover cure every Sunday: poached eggs drenched in Crystal hot sauce with smothered liver and onions on the side. The family would pile around the table, bleary-eyed and exhausted, scarf down that greasy, protein-rich meal, and then instantly knock out on the couch. An hour later, you would feel like a human again.”

Mountain Dew and Wendy’s

Jose Gil, senior bar manager at American Social in Miami

“My go-to hangover cure is Mountain Dew, a Wendy’s Jr Bacon Cheeseburger, three ibuprofen, and a nap. It works every time, and I’d rather not question it. I don’t know why it works. The combination of sugary soda, meat, cheese, and headache medicine just works.”

Hot, Spicy Soup

Kelvin Thairu, head bartender at Hero Bar in Nairobi, Kenya

“The most effective way I use to cure my hangover is by eating hot spicy soup in the morning and staying hydrated throughout the day by drinking water or juices. The soup can be either seafood, chicken, or any red meat soup.”

Water

Nick Jackson, head bartender at The Rum House in New York City

“Nothing works better than water to cure a hangover. While drinking or before bed the night before a hangover. I’ve had many mornings waking up to a full glass of water on the nightstand, the inebriated intentions were there the night before but the follow-through was not. Of course, I drink that water when I wake up. In the case of a killer hangover, I usually drink as much water as possible (you are dehydrated), pop a pain reliever, and look for a replenishing smoothie to get some much-needed nutrients.”

Cold Shower

Simon Sebbah, beverage director at Grand Tour Hospitality in New York City

“I am not a massive drinker, which means my hangovers are very rare. Taking a cold shower, brushing my teeth, and having a nice cup of coffee usually does the trick for me. But, if you only do one, the cold show is a shock to your system that should help you alleviate your hangover symptoms. Avoiding food until alcohol is out of your system is the best advice I can give, and it has been working for me so far.”

Pedialyte

Petr Balcarovsky, lead bartender of The Apparatus Room at Detroit Foundation Hotel in Detroit

“Say goodbye to those dreadful hangover symptoms with a secret weapon that’s been right under your nose since childhood: Pedialyte. Yes, that’s right – the same sugary elixir your mom used to give you when you were feeling under the weather can work wonders on your adult self too. I saw this once in a movie and thought ‘Hey, that makes sense!’ And sure enough, after doing my research I used it right and it worked. It’s a game-changer for adults who need a quick and effective hangover remedy. But here’s the kicker: the key to getting the most out of Pedialyte is to drink it as soon as you walk through the door, rather than waiting until the next morning when the damage is already done. It’s all about the electrolytes and glucose in the formula, which supercharge the absorption of water in your body, helping to restore your fluid balance and get you back on your feet in no time.”

THC Gummy

Christine Wiseman, global beverage director for Bar Lab Hospitality in Miami

“This is a fail-proof cure: a low-dose THC gummy, Mexican Coca-Cola, 3 Excedrin, and a hot shower. Sometimes, I take more than just one (any of the above). I don’t know which one does the trick. Science says it’s the THC gummy or the Excedrin.”

Grease

Justin Lawrence, head bartender at Vasili’s in Naperville, Illinois

“I like to kill my hangovers with large amounts of grease. It’s not good for me in the long run but it typically helps me recover pretty fast. I’ve recently been fighting off my hangovers with a Portillo’s Big beef combo (Italian beef and sausage) or a Portillo’s Double bacon cheeseburger. I think at this point it’s kind of an unspoken rule at work. We go out drinking the night before and next shift we Door Dash Portillo’s before the shift. But I do think whether I drink or not I’d probably find an excuse to get in my Portillo’s fix.”

Coconut Water

Waél Deek, beverage director at One More Hospitality Group in New York City

“My choice for hangovers is coconut water. It’s rich in electrolytes and hydrating properties, helping to replenish fluids lost during alcohol consumption. Plus, it’s easy on the stomach, making it a soothing choice for relieving hangover symptoms.”

As a travel writer and influencer who’s spent nearly a decade visiting 59 of the current 63 major US national parks solo, I would never advocate for anyone not to visit a national park. That being said, with park visitation only increasing year over year and the busy spring and summer months coming in hot (literally, figuratively), they aren’t always the best choice if your outdoor goals are to find some solitude and a parking space.

If that’s your angle, National Forests and Recreation Areas are the play. Managed by the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, or the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, hundreds of options exist outside the designated “National Parks”. And while I claim some expertise on National Parks, it would be very presumptuous for me – or almost anyone – to say which are “the best” when there are so many stunning natural landscapes and outdoor opportunities.

Still, in my experience some of these wild spaces stand above the others. Transparently, some will still be crowded at certain times of the year or on specific trails, but overall, the vibe should be slightly more chill than your favorite big-name parks. Here are my suggestions:

Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest – Colorado

[And Indian Peaks Wilderness – Colorado]

Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest is one of the most visited national forests in the country, but with over 1.5 million acres across five districts, it shouldn’t feel cramped. My personal favorite spot – Indian Peak Wilderness Area – is located primarily within the forest, with 73,391 acres, over 50 lakes, and 28 trails covering 133 miles; although there are some popular spots here, it’s still not too hard to find solitude.

Where to hike:

The Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest has hundreds of miles of hiking trails, ranging from easy to challenging. I love the popular Lake Isabelle Trail, Blue Lakes via Mitchell Lake Trails in Indian Peaks Wilderness/Brainard Lake Recreation Area, and Herman Gulch Trail, and St. Mary’s Glacier in the National Forest.

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area — Georgia

The West is, of course, full of outdoor recreation opportunities, but don’t sleep on the East or South when making your spring and summer travel plans. During my last trip to Atlanta, I was pleasantly surprised by the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area in Georgia – a series of sites along a 48-mile stretch of the river. The Chattahoochee River is one of Georgia’s premier trout streams, with fishing, boating, and rafting opportunities. The area is also popular for hiking, picnicking, and wildlife viewing over its 7,000 acres of land and river.

Where to hike:

With 66 miles of hiking trails, the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area is a great option to escape the city. Try East Palisades Tail and Bamboo Forest, Gold Branch Trail, or Bowman’s Island Trail.

Coconino National Forest – Arizona

Coconino National Forest in Northern Arizona is one of the most stunning and diverse areas I’ve ever visited. At 1.85 million acres, it is one of the most extensive national forests in the lower 48 states. It includes areas around Flagstaff, including Humphreys Peak, Arizona’s highest point at 12,633 feet, and the iconic red rocks of Sedona.

Where to hike:

For hikes in Sedona, don’t miss Fay Canyon, Little Horse Trail, and Cathedral Rock Trail. Near Flagstaff, check out Fatmans Loop Trail and Old Caves Crater Trail.

Gauley River National Recreation Area – West Virginia

If you want to get off the trails and experience a different kind of adventure, head to southern West Virginia and the Gauley River National Recreation Area. This paradise for whitewater rafting enthusiasts protects a 25-mile stretch of the Gauley River, renowned for its challenging rapids. Unlike many parks and recreation areas, most of the Gauley is—not unsurprisingly—unable to be accessed by road, but if you visit, you’ll want to get out on the water anyway.

Where to raft:

You’ll need a guide for these sometimes dangerous rapids – they’re legendary for a reason, but there are many outfitters in the area — I used River Expeditions. Adrenaline junkies will want to visit during “Gauley Season,” the six-weekend fall period when controlled water releases from the Summersville Dam upstream creates some of the best whitewater in the country. Summer is a great time for beginners when the river’s water level is lower.

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area – Utah & Arizona

Whether you knew you did or not, you’ve undoubtedly seen Glen Canyon National Recreation Area photos on social media or framed at your dentist’s office. The vast area of Utah and Arizona encompasses over 1.25 million acres, including the famed Horseshoe Bend and Lake Powell, the second-largest man-made lake in the United States. Popular for hiking, boating, fishing, swimming, and water sports, there is an adventure for everyone here.

Where to hike:

The hike to Horseshoe Bend is short, at just 1.5 miles round trip, but you’ll want to see it for yourself. After that, hike Cathedral Wash Trail, The New Wave Trail, and Lee’s Ferry and Spencer Trail Lookout.

Golden Gate National Recreation Area – California

Golden Gate National Recreation Area is one of the system’s most famous national park sites, home of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. But the recreation area is more than just the area around the bridge – and one of my absolute favorite places to explore. The massive and diverse park claims over 82,000 acres across California’s San Francisco Bay Area — not just one continuous area but a collection of sites protecting everything from dramatic coastlines to historical landmarks. Explore Muir Woods, Marin Headlands, Stinson Beach, and even Alcatraz on your visit – they are all within the recreation area.

Where to hike:

Lands End Trail is a classic, but I also love getting in some miles on Mori Point and Sweeney Ridge Loop Trail, Pirates Cove, and Tennessee Valley Golden Gate Loop.

Pisgah National Forest – North Carolina

North Carolina is an underrated gem for outdoor recreation – I especially love Pisgah National Forest. The forest encompasses over 500,000 acres of mountains, forests, and waterfalls in the southern Appalachian Mountains, including some of the highest mountains in the eastern United States, like Black Balsam Knob, at 6,214 feet. The diverse landscape is perfect for hiking, camping, fishing, biking, rock climbing, horseback riding, and there are even opportunities for whitewater rafting on the French Broad River. Famous for its waterfalls – 250 at last count – the most fun is Sliding Rock, a popular summer spot where visitors can take a thrilling ride down the natural rock waterslide.

Where to hike:

Looking Glass Rock Trail is a popular choice for hiking, and be sure to also head out onto Graveyard Upper Falls Trail, Black Balsam Knob via Art Loeb Trail, and Max Patch Loop.

Shoshone National Forest — Wyoming

The Shoshone National Forest in Wyoming was established in 1891, making it the first federally protected national forest in the United States. The landscape is vast and rugged, with nearly 2.5 million acres of protected land, including the 13,804-foot summit of Gannett Peak, the highest point in Wyoming. With lush forests, towering mountains, sparkling alpine lakes, vast meadows, and over 1,300 miles of trails, this is an excellent option for outdoor enthusiasts to get out of the Grand Teton and Yellowstone crowds and into some remote solitude.

Where to hike:

Popo Agie Falls Trail is a classic and accessible hike that is just 3.3 miles roundtrip. I’d also recommend Jade Lakes and Bridal Veil Falls.

White Mountain National Forest – New Hampshire & Maine

One of the most stunning spots I’ve found in the United States is White Mountain National Forest, within the White Mountains of New Hampshire and a small part of western Maine. Sprawling over 750,000 acres, it is the easternmost national forest in the US with some of the highest peaks in the area – like Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Northeast at 6,288 feet. Visitors can hike, backpack along the famed Appalachian Trail, or take a scenic drive along the Kancamagus Highway. Fall is the high season here, so if you want more solitude, visit in Spring.

Where to hike:

The White Mountains are known for hiking, with some of the best trails being Mount Willard, Mount Lafayette and Franconia Ridge Trail Loop, and Welch-Dickey Loop Trail.

White River National Forest – Colorado

If you’ve ever taken a ski trip to Colorado, you were likely in White River National Forest, where twelve world-renowned ski resorts – Vail, Aspen, Breckenridge included – are within its boundaries. Located in the iconic Rocky Mountain Range, the over 2.3 million-acre National Forest is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and those who appreciate the majesty of the Rockies. One of the largest and most visited national forests in the United States, the forest is home to ten 14ers – peaks exceeding 14,000 feet in elevation – including the highest peak in Colorado, Mount Elbert. But with over a third of the forest’s acreage designated as wilderness, there are still plenty of opportunities for solitude here.

Where to hike:

There are nearly endless options for stunning hikes in White River National Forest. Some of my favorites are McCullough Gulch Waterfall Trail, Cathedral Lake Trail, and Hanging Lake Trail, which is always popular — and crowded — so you’ll need a permit.

Britney Spears isn’t the only member of her family singing gimme more. The “Mind Your Business” singer’s heated legal battle with her father, Jamie Spears, has reportedly come to an end.

According to TMZ, yesterday (April 26) Britney and Jamie reached a settlement in their dispute over misappropriation of funds during Spears’ 13-year conservatorship.

In the outlet’s report, sources revealed that Jamie will not be required to pay Britney anything. Instead, Britney is now allegedly responsible for covering her father’s attorney fees, which reportedly amount to over $2 million.

The same close affiliate alleges that Britney is “furious” over the results. After allegedly being “reassured” by her lawyer Mathew Rosengart, Britney believed that she could recoup her financial loss from that time in her life. Rosengart’s success in helping to end the entertainer’s conservatorship (with the public’s support via the #FreeBritney movement) supposedly led Britney to feel confident in her chances in court.

In Britney’s memoir, The Woman In Me, the singer alleged that her father controlled all aspects of her finances, including control over where she spent her allotted allowance. Back in November 2022, Britney took to Instagram with an emotional message after regaining control over her accounts.

“A year ago was my first time buying something with my own two hands,” she wrote. “My legs and hands were shaking for 15 minutes after I bought something.”

Without a doubt, fast food has gotten expensive. Maybe it’s inflation, maybe it’s corporate greed, maybe we’ve always been underpaying for quick and cheap food made at a mass scale… Okay, it’s probably a mix of all of those things.

Regardless, it’s clear that fast food is becoming prohibitively expensive and people are looking for other or cheaper options. We get it, we love a Five Guys cheeseburger as much as the next person, but paying nearly $15 for a single item of food is just too much for people trying to spend their money sensibly. Which got us thinking — there has to be some delicious and far less expensive alternatives out there right?

As much as we like the high-end cheeseburgers, there are still decently priced options out there. Yes, some of them aren’t quite as good as the flagship products you know and love (compare the Wendy’s Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger to the mighty Baconator) but some capture some of the magic of the bigger burgers, just in a smaller form factor. To guide you to the very best budget cheeseburgers, we’ve rounded up urgers that sit comfortably under $5 after tax, tasted them, and ranked them.

Since fast food prices fluctuate based on location, I’ve defaulted to the prices found in Los Angeles County (tax included), where I live, which generally tends to be on the pricier side. If you don’t live in LA, these burgers are probably even cheaper. Here are the best affordable cheeseburgers, ranked!

8. Jack in the Box — Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger

Price: $3.74

Thoughts & Tasting Notes:

Jack in the Box burgers have always left something to be desired (except the excellent Smashed Jack) — this is a chain where the best food is items like the tacos, curly fries, and stuffed jalapeños. Soooooo… sorry to JiB fans, but this burger gets the bottom spot. Luckily, there isn’t a lot of difference in flavor between the Jr. and full-sized burgers here, all that seems to change is the size of the burger.

The Jr. Bacon features a thin beef patty, bacon, American cheese, ketchup and mayo. There isn’t a whole lot of flavor in the beef, it’s mostly meaty texture, with some gentle smokey notes from the bacon. Because the meat patty is so thin, the ratio of bread to meat is noticeably skewed. That leaves the ketchup and mayo to bring most of the flavor. Because of that, we’re ranking this one dead last.

The Bottom Line:

A bit breadier than your typical Jack in the Box burger, which isn’t a show stopper to begin with.

7. Rally’s — All American Cheeseburger

Price: $4.06

Thoughts & Tasting Notes:

The beef leans very salty here, which, when combined with the American cheese, is almost to the point of being overwhelming. The pickles add some briney earthy contrast to the flavor palette and the mix of ketchup and mustard creates a sharp, sweet, and slightly bitter tang to the aftertaste which is quite distinct when compared to the other burgers in this ranking.

Unfortunately, that difference isn’t quite enough to make it rank much higher than this in our book. But hey, at least it’s not last place.

The Bottom Line:

A very salty cheeseburger that is good, but not great.

6. Burger King — Bacon Cheeseburger

Price: $3.99

Thoughts & Tasting Notes:

Burger King’s burgers are huge so if you’re all about big burgers and aren’t into the smaller form factor of junior cheeseburgers, this is the restaurant for you. I’m surprised that a burger this big is only $3.99. Unfortunately, size isn’t everything.

Where this burger suffers is the flavor and texture of the meat. It’s dry, grainy, and charred to the point of tasting burnt. A thin layer of bacon adds a sense of smokiness and some extra crunch, while thick pickles bring in some earthy tones. The build is incredibly similar to Rally’s All-American Cheeseburger, but the individual ingredients all taste just a bit better and more elevated.

The Bottom Line:

Burger King’s Bacon Cheeseburger is big, meaty, and full of flavor, but it leans a bit too dry and bready to really shine.

5. Del Taco — Del Cheeseburger

Price: $3.99

Thoughts & Tasting Notes:

It might come as a shock that Del Taco, a Mexican-inspired fast food chain that has more in common with Taco Bell than McDonald’s, has a cheeseburger in the first place. What’s more surprising is just how good it tastes.

Del Taco’s cheeseburgers are grilled to order (a thing not every fast food chain can claim) and topped with American cheese, tomato, burger sauce, shredded lettuce, and diced onions on a sesame seed bun. The beef patty is meaty and juicy, albeit a bit light on the seasoning, and the produce is crispy and fresh. The real secret weapon is that burger sauce though, it’s slightly sweet, tangy, and ups the savory quality of this burger.

The Bottom Line:

Way better than you’d expect a cheeseburger from a taco chain would taste.

4. McDonald’s — Double Cheeseburger

Price: $3.72

Thoughts & Tasting Notes:

For many people, this classic affordable double cheeseburger is the best of the best at McDonald’s. For me, a person who eats fast food constantly for the various rankings we conduct, I think those people are wrong. The best McDonald’s Cheeseburger is the Quarter Pounder. Having said that, the Double is a close second.

This burger goes light on the toppings, the build is simple, you’ve got two meat patties, gently caramelized onions, those weird wet distinctly McDonald’s pickles, mustard, and ketchup on a soft and squishy bun. The meat is pretty light on flavor, it’s salty, but not very beefy. The caramelized onions are a nice touch, but there aren’t nearly enough here to make a difference.

Altogether, it’s a good burger, but isn’t satisfying the way a quarter pounder is, despite its double dose of meat.

The Bottom Line:

Not quite as good as a Quarter Pounder, but it’s cheap, salty, and gets the job done.

3. Wendy’s — JR. Bacon Cheeseburger

Price: $4.87

Thoughts & Tasting Notes:

As a hardcore Wendy’s fan, I have to admit that this one landing in third in this ranking hurts. But I have to call it like I taste it and Wendy’s junior line of cheeseburgers isn’t nearly as good as its premium line of burgers. While the meat is still fresh and non-frozen because it’s substantially smaller than the usual quarter-pound patty, it lacks that sumptuous beefy goodness that I expect from Wendy’s.

This burger just doesn’t quite hit the way a Wendy’s burger should. The barely there beef flavor is joined by some delicious smokey crispy bacon, a single leaf of Romain lettuce, tomatoes, and mayo. It’s good don’t get me wrong, but it doesn’t have that indulgent beefy flavor of the original, and it’s not nearly half as good as the Baconator.

The Bottom Line:

If you’re a Wendy’s fan, you’re going to taste the corners being cut here. Fortunately, it’s still fresh beef being grilled to order and the bacon is delicious — that’s something.

2. Sonic — Quarter Pounder Double Cheeseburger

Price: $4.87

Thoughts & Tasting Notes:

Generally, I treat Sonic like Jack in the Box, it’s the sort of fast food restaurant I value more for its snacks than main courses, but I was pleasantly surprised by how delicious Sonic’s affordable Quarter Pounder Double Cheeseburger is.

The meat patties are thin, but you get two of them here, and they’re juicy, beefy, and nicely charred. Double meat means double cheese, which adds a nice salty savoriness to the mix. The pickles are on the wet side, but they have a nice tang, which is sandwiched between a layer of sweet bright ketchup and bitter yellow mustard.

The only thing I don’t love about this burger is the bun, which is a bit too thick and bready. Lucky the meat to bread ratio is better here than some of the single burgers on this list, which probably bumped this burger up a rank or two.

The Bottom Line:

Meaty, with a great charred flavor and a whole lot of cheese .

In-N-Out — Cheeseburger

Price: $4.52

Thoughts & Tasting Notes:

Yeah, yeah, yeah, “In-N-Out is overrated.” Trust me, I’ve heard it all before but you’re out of your mind if you can’t recognize that for under $5, this is the best cheeseburger in fast food, and it’s not even close. Every element of this cheeseburger is better than every other burger on this list.

The bread is spongey, yet perfectly toasted. The tomato and lettuce are crisp, ripe, and plentiful. The sauce is the perfect blend of sweet, tang, and savory. The cheese is hands down the best American cheese in all of fast food, and melts amazingly. And the beef is juicy, freshly grilled, and salty, joined by perfectly grilled onions that elevate the food to savory heights.

It’s a cheeseburger that isn’t lacking in any way, shape, or form. Is it as satisfying as the famous Double-Double? No, and we’d argue that spending just over $5 for that experience is well worth it, but by the parameters of this ranking, this is the burger we’re going with, and we feel damn good about that choice.

The Bottom Line:

Easily the best burger under $5. It’s juicy, satisfying, and an absolute steal at this price.

Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks moved into the driver’s seat of their first round series against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday. Behind 22 points in a near triple-double from Doncic and a 21-point outing from Kyrie Irving, Dallas defended its homecourt and picked up a 101-90 win to move ahead in the series, 2-1.

J.J. Redick was part of the ESPN crew on the call of the game, and before things tipped off, Doncic decided to bust his chops in the aftermath of a recent report by Shams Charania of The Athletic. Charania reported that Redick is on the list of candidates for the Charlotte Hornets’ head coaching vacancy, and is in line to receive an interview for the position. As such, before the game, Doncic and Mavs player development coach God Shammgod went up to Redick before the game tipped off and screamed “CHARLOTTE HORNETS!” at him.

Redick and Doncic were actually teammates at the very end of the former’s playing career — while he wasn’t especially happy about the circumstances under which it happened, Redick was traded to the Mavs during the 2020-21 campaign and spent the final 13 games of his career with the team. It sure seems like he still has a good relationship with Doncic and Shammgod, although if he has to play them a few times a year as the head coach of the Hornets, maybe that’ll change.

No matter how Justified diehards felt about Justified: City Primeval as a whole, the final few moments of the first season were universally adored. Boyd Crowder surfaced and escaped prison to flee with his warden girlfriend, and everything might have fallen apart for Raylan Givens’ plans for a relaxing retirement.

Is that the end of Justified? Surely, it cannot be. Fanfiction will be written if FX doesn’t renew, and let’s casually mull over what we know about a reprisal and whether Timothy Olyphant and Walton Goggins are down for more.

Plot

The suggestion in the first season finale was that Raylan both wanted to answer that phone and dreaded the possibility of doing so. Should he choose to do so, daughter Willa would be awfully bummed out, but can Raylan resist? He is not a man of leisure. I think we can all envision Willa tossing the phone into the ocean, but assuming that didn’t happen, the dude almost certainly threw on his favorite hat and got the ball rolling to find Boyd.

Let’s also look at Exhibit A:

Walton Goggins submitted proof that he and “Raylan Givens” met up while they were both in Thailand to shoot different series. Goggins was onboard for HBO’s third season of The White Lotus, and Olyphant’s hair was preparing to dodge FX’s Xenomorphs for Noah Hawley’s upcoming Alien series. Surely, they bid each other hello due to being friends, but you know they had to discuss the second-season thing. That subject could not be avoided.

“Look at this beautiful Thailand surprise… got to meet up with Raylan Givens for lunch today,” Goggins wrote on Instagram. “Talk about comforts from home…Just what I needed. What a good man. The road we’ve walked.”

Yup.

And now for Exhibit B:

Walton Goggins also had too much fun dropping hints to my colleague, Jason Tabrys, about how important it was to watch the first City Primeval season “all the way to the bitter end.” Does that mean anything? Not in a concrete way, but let’s pretend that it does.

Goggins has since admitted that everyone involved with Justified: City Primeval wants to do more, and it’s a matter of lining up timing, and co-showrunner Michael Dinner agreed while stressing that the decision is in the hands of FX. Keep your fingers crossed.

With that said, Harlan County seems too — for lack of a better term — fraught with memories to take Raylan and Boyd back to that setting without getting the whole gang together. Additionally, Ava (Joelle Carter) has been (unbeknownst to Boyd) in the wind, and surely she would prefer to stay that way. There probably isn’t any chance of Boyd ever going legit enough to achieve his Dairy Queen dream, and let’s get real. He left the U.S. as soon as possible, and Raylan will need to follow him. Maybe they go to Aruba. What matters most is that they end up in the same room again, but we’ll have to hang tight for confirmation of more.

Cast

Not much else counts as long as Timothy Olyphant and Walton Goggins return as Raylan and Boyd to antagonize and begrudgingly respect each other. I wouldn’t be mad if fellow Deputy U.S. Marshals Rachel Brooks (Erica Tazel) and/or Tim Gutterson (Jacob Pitts) surfaced, but if this show goes international in setting, that seems unlikely.

Release Date

2025? That seems possible if a call is made soon. And I wouldn’t be surprised if the leading duo kept a confirmation a secret until the last possible moment, simply because they are squirrelly like that.

Trailer

Silly rabbit, no trailer exists yet. However, this old clip of a fight in the U.S. Marshal’s office is always worth another watch.

The Minnesota Timberwolves took care of business on Friday night with a 126-109 win over the Suns in Phoenix. As a result, Minnesota moved one win away from advancing in the postseason for the first time in two decades, as the team now holds a commanding 3-0 series lead over Phoenix.

Perhaps more importantly, the vibes are just in completely opposite places right now, as evidenced by a sequence that occurred late in the game. Suns guard Josh Okogie — who provided some much-needed energy in the fourth quarter — committed a hard foul on Rudy Gobert, and after a review, he got hit with a Flagrant 2 and an automatic ejection.

Amid all of this happening, the cameras caught Anthony Edwards, who had the time of his life by doing a D-Generation X crotch chop over and over with the biggest smile he’s ever had on his face. Seriously, this is the look of a man who is having a remarkably good time right now while someone else in his immediate vicinity is having an extremely bad time.

With this, Edwards joins Joel Embiid as the players who we have seen bust out the crotch chop during an NBA game this season. Now, we’ll have to wait and see if Edwards gets the two things that usually come for Embiid after he does this: a fine, and some love from Triple H.

As for the game, Edwards was nothing short of magnificent in the Wolves’ Game 3 win, going for 36 points on 12-for-23 shooting with nine rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Edwards and the Wolves will look to finish their sweep on Sunday night on TNT in a game that is scheduled to tip off at 9:30 p.m. EST.

Watching Rudy Gobert play defense is legitimately one of the most incredible things in the NBA. Gobert is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, is probably about to win the award for the fourth time, and is almost guaranteed to give your team an elite unit on that end of the floor just because of his presence and how his ability to protect the rim frees up the other four guys to fly around on the perimeter.

And then, there’s Gobert’s offense, which is also incredible to watch for a completely different reason. While he’s an outstanding lob threat, Gobert isn’t always the most elegant player with the ball in his hands, especially when he has to put it on a deck. As such, when he got the ball in the open floor during Friday night’s game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Phoenix Suns, this happened.

That is about as clear of a travel as you will see, and watching the Suns bench understandably melt down over the lack of a call is completely understandable. But the best part of the clip is Richard Jefferson on commentary, who completely loses it over Gobert getting away with this one. Although I will push back on calling this a Eurostep, because with how much ground he covered, I don’t think Europe is big enough.

For the second game in a row, the Dallas Mavericks have taken down the Los Angeles Clippers. The two teams squared off on Friday night in Game 3 of their first round series, and in what can be classified as a slugfest, Dallas was able to defend its homecourt en route to a 101-90 win and a 2-1 series lead.

The first half was defined by two things: A dominant performance from Luka Doncic, and a total no-show by two of the Clippers’ biggest stars. Dallas was able to take a 54-41 lead into the locker room at halftime thanks to Doncic completely tearing up the Los Angeles defense, as the Slovenian star had 14 points, six rebounds, six assists, and a pair of steals.

Dereck Lively II especially benefitted from Doncic’s half, as the rookie gave the team 13 points off the bench.

And then, there’s whatever was going on with Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. While James Harden showed up in the game’s opening 24 minutes with 14 points, the Clippers’ other stars struggled to get going — George had five points on 2-for-5 shooting, while Leonard had only three points on 1-for-2 shooting.

The third quarter was the start of the Kyrie Irving show. While the Clippers were able to slowly chip away at the Mavericks lead and got it down to six, Irving scored eight straight points for Dallas over the final 78 seconds to keep them afloat. And at the start of the fourth quarter, the team was able to carry that momentum over and go on an 8-0 run at the very beginning of the frame to start to make the result look inevitable.

They weren’t just getting it done on the offensive floor as their lead ballooned up to as many as 21 points, as the highlight of the game very well might have been Daniel Gafford meeting George at the summit and turning him away.

While things were tense between the two teams — Russell Westbrook and P.J. Washington were both ejected in the fourth quarter for some pushing and shoving — things never seemed to get out of the home team’s control in the game’s final frame. And by the time the buzzer sounded, both teams had already emptied their benches.

Doncic led the way with a near triple-double, going for 22 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists, and two steals. Irving, meanwhile, had 21 points with six dimes, four boards, and a pair of steals. While the Clippers got good scoring contributions from Harden (21 points), Norman Powell (21 points), and Ivica Zubac (19 points), Leonard and George combining for 16 points on 7-for-18 shooting is just not going to get it done for a team that relies on its stars.

Game 4 between the Mavericks and the Clippers will take place in Dallas on Sunday afternoon. The game is scheduled to tip off at 3:30 p.m. EST on ABC.