Category: News

Jim Carrey won a Golden Globe for his performance in Man on the Moon, but it came at a cost — to everyone around him.

As chronicled in the documentary Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond, Carrey became Andy Kaufman for months, “like the ghost had possessed his body.” This “process” included the comedian’s alter-egos, slimy lounge singer Tony Clifton and a misogynistic wrestler. He essentially gave himself free rein to be a nightmare on set under the guise of method acting, which actor Martin Freeman spoke out against in a recent interview.

On the Off Menu podcast, the Sherlock star called Carrey’s behavior on the Man on the Moon set the “most self-aggrandizing, selfish, narcissistic f*cking bollocks I have ever seen… When younger, I think it’s quite common to think that completely losing yourself is the goal because it feels grown-up and it feels proper. But the older I’ve got, the more I don’t really look to that. To be honest, it’s quite a pain in the arse when someone ‘loses themselves.’ It is a massive pain in the arse because it’s no longer a craft and a job.”

Freeman thinks Carrey is probably a “lovely and smart person,” but he draws the line at his method acting. “The idea that anything in our culture would celebrate or support it is deranged, literally deranged,” he said. “You need to keep grounded in reality, and that’s not to say you don’t lose yourself in the time between ‘action’ and ‘cut,’ but I think the rest of it is absolute pretentious nonsense and highly amateurish. It is not professional.”

So… I’m guessing Freeman won’t be in Sonic the Hedgehog 2?

(Via the Telegraph)

When video game companies say that they want to create a game as a service that can continue to be profitable well after release there is one title that is the model: Grand Theft Auto V. Everyone knows the popularity of the Grand Theft Auto series, but it’s hard to believe even the most optimistic of developers knew that a game released in 2013 was going to continue to be relevant into 2021.

Yet, that is exactly what is going to be happening. We’ve already known that the game would be ported to next-gen consoles, but it would have been a safe assumption to guess that it would just be a port and nothing else. However, as we approach an intended November release it’s becoming clear that Rockstar plans to put some resources behind this port. Via VideoGamesChronicle.

On Tuesday, Rockstar said that this summer’s updates to GTA Online will include “special benefits” for players to take advantage of the expanded and enhanced versions when they drop.

Plus, in honor of the upcoming 20th anniversary of Grand Theft Auto III, “more fun surprises” are planned, including some specifically for GTA Online players.

…

“Grand Theft Auto V remains one of the most iconic titles ever released and it continues to exceed our expectations, having sold in over 140 million units,” Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said.

“In fact, in calendar 2020, more copies of Grand Theft Auto V were sold than in any other year except for 2013 when it first launched on PS3 and Xbox 360.”

GTA V is an anomaly. It’s already the most profitable piece of media in history, but how it got to that point is unlike other long-lasting titles. It’s not unheard of for a game to have a long lifespan, but that is typically the case with MMO’s like World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XIV, etc. However, these titles change frequently over that lifespan. Expansions are released, the worlds change, and the game itself will see massive updates. GTA V’s additions have been far more minor in comparison.

This isn’t to say that GTA V’s developers have done absolutely nothing to improve their game. They’ve worked tirelessly to add content to GTA Online since launch with new missions and events. The main game has received new features in ports, but traditional console games typically lose steam after a year or two even with this kind of support. That GTA V has managed to survive this long speaks volumes to how much the community surrounding that game enjoys GTA V, but for a game to become the most profitable of all time it needs more than just a diehard community.

Like many things in modern video games a lot of it can be traced back to Twitch. The online streaming service can keep games alive well past release, or in the case of something like an Among Us, it can vault it to popularity years after it initially came out. GTA V is a fun enough game on its own, but the secret to its long-sustained popularity can be traced back to Twitch.

GTA V is regularly a highly viewed game on Twitch. As of 10 a.m. ET on Tuesday, it has 130K viewers. So what exactly is everyone on Twitch doing? Role-playing! GTA as a franchise has always been at its most fun when the player took control of their own experience. The game releases you into a world and says “Go do whatever you want,” but how much fun that really depends on the imagination. Some players can only play within the constraints of the game, but others have always managed to go well beyond that and make their own experience.

When the developers added an online element to it, the players took off and ran with it to create their own universes. Easily the most popular type of way to play GTA V right now is to create a character and role-play it with others, and this isn’t just something nerds are doing in their basement. NBA stars like Anthony Davis are getting in on the fun as well.

There is nothing more powerful in video games than player choice. When players are given the opportunity to go off and make something on their own they can take a game well beyond its own limitations. GTA V on its own is an award winning game that was considered one of the best on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

GTA V in 2021 is an immersive experience where players can be whatever they want to be. That is how even now it is still the most profitable video game ever made.

Olivia Rodrigo is gearing up for the release of her highly-anticipated debut album Sour. A fair amount of buzz has been created around Rodrigo’s songwriting career after her No. 1 debut single “Drivers License” broke several chart records. The track was originally written as a heartbreak anthem, but Rodrigo now says her opinion on the song has changed since its massive success.

Rodrigo recently sat down for an interview with Nylon about her burgeoning songwriting career. Describing how her feelings about “Drivers License” are different now, Rodrigo said:

“One thing that did change a lot is the pride and how empowered I feel when I listen to ‘Drivers license.’ Before, it was like, ‘Ah, it’s a sad song that I wrote to manifest what I was going through,’ and now, after seeing the reaction that it had, I feel like that vulnerability is really, really powerful. It makes me happy, and not depressed.”

Elsewhere in the conversation, Rodrigo said the love triangle drama that exploded after the single’s release didn’t faze her. However, she did go back and revise some song lyrics on the album to make them more vague. “Broad storytelling just isn’t fun in any art medium,” she said. “So yeah, there have been some songs where I’ve gone back and made revisions to make it a little less specific because sometimes, I think, the drama takes away from the songwriting. I completely understand people’s curiosity. I get so curious about my favorite songwriters and the meaning behind their songs. But songwriting and singer-songwriter music in particular is so special because you can be as specific as you want, but there’s still [space to] fill in the blanks. And lots of the time, people will fill in the blanks with details from their own life. If they don’t want to, they can fill it in with details of my life and if that’s what makes it impactful to them, that’s fine. As long as the song means something to you, it’s all good.”

Sour is out 5/21 via Interscope. Pre-order it here.

The Boston Celtics, despite their myriad of injury and COVID-related struggles this season, are headed to the NBA playoffs. The team earned the 7-seed in the Eastern Conference on Tuesday night by taking down the Washington Wizards, 118-100, behind a monster outing from Jayson Tatum and a really nice night from Kemba Walker.

Now, things get exponentially harder than a one-off against Washington. Getting the 7-seed means that Boston has a first-round matchup with the Brooklyn Nets, which are healthy, boast all three of their All-Star players, and beat the Celtics all three times they squared off this season. It’s a tall task for Boston, even if the team was fully healthy, and as a result, Brad Stevens had a surprisingly candid response to the upcoming matchup.

On one hand, it is a bit strange that Stevens said something like this, as it looks like a coach is throwing up a white flag before the games are even played, even if he admits that there’s a path forward that involves everything clicking for the Celtics. On the other, there is something refreshing about not getting the usual coachspeak and instead saying the extremely obvious thing — it is, indeed, hard to see Boston beating Brooklyn! — about the upcoming matchup.

Game 1 of Celtics-Nets will tip off at 8 p.m. EST on Saturday, May 22.

With the war between Israel and Palestine becoming increasingly violent, some progressive Democrats are throwing their political weight behind legislation that seeks to stop the U.S. flow of arms to the Middle East, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is one of them.

The Congresswoman is one of three House members who have drafted a resolution that would halt the United States planned $735 million sale of bombs to Israel, according to Jewish Currents. The resolution is intended to prevent the U.S. from supplying Israel with munitions, made by Boeing, that come equipped with special guidance systems for more precise targeting. These are Small Diameter Bombs that the country is currently using to attack media outlets, apartment buildings, and other civilian-populated areas in Gaza.

“At a time when so many, including our President, support a ceasefire, we should not be sending ‘direct attack’ weaponry to Prime Minister Netanyahu to prolong this violence,” AOC wrote in an email. “It is long past time to end the US policy of unconditional military arms sales, particularly to governments that have violated human rights.”

AOC isn’t alone in her condemnation of Biden’s response to the conflict in the Middle East. Though the president’s current position is that Israel, a longtime ally of the United States, has a “right to defend herself,” plenty of progressive members of his party see what’s happening in Gaza as a one-sided fight. Though Hamas targeted Israel first, the country’s advanced defense system ensured that there were few casualties, which is a stark contrast to what’s happening in Palestine as dozens of women and children have been killed by bombs supplied to Israel by the U.S. government.

AOC took to Twitter to clarify her position in the ongoing debate on Capitol Hill that has members within the Democratic party arguing over human rights issues and who deserves American aid during this crisis.

“The United States should not be rubber-stamping weapons sales to the Israeli government as they deploy our resources to target international media outlets, schools, hospitals, humanitarian missions, and civilian sites for bombing,” she posted before encouraging her followers to contact their representatives. “We have a responsibility to protect human rights.”

Though the resolution sponsored by AOC, Wisconsin Congressman Mark Pocan, and Michigan Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib probably won’t influence this current arms sale, it does signal a change when it comes to relations between the U.S. and Israel, which is currently run by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“The harsh truth is that these weapons are being sold by the United States to Israel with the clear understanding that the vast majority of them will be used to bomb Gaza,” Tlaib said in a statement. “You cannot claim to support human rights and peace on Earth and continue to back the extremist Netanyahu regime, it’s that simple.”

(Via Jewish Currents)

If you aren’t an avid gin drinker, you may not realize that there are subtle flavor differences between literally every bottle of gin on the market. Because although gin has a juniper base, the rest of the herbs and botanicals are completely up to the distiller. As are the levels of those botanicals and much of the production process itself. A great example is the addition of rose and cucumber to Hendrick’s Gin. This gives the expression a more floral, sweeter flavor than many of its counterparts — helping it to shine in a gin gimlet.

To show just how nuanced and wildly different gins can be, we decided to blindly taste eight well-known gins that all clock at around $30-$40. As always, the blind taste test construct removes all preconceived notions and leaves the taste-testing completely up to our senses — without a push in any direction due to packaging or brand notoriety.

If our test inspries you to try a bottle of gin, these can all be found at your local liquor store. Or click the prices to order online.

Part 1: The Taste

I selected eight gins for this blind tasting. While they aren’t the most expensive bottles on the market, they’re also not bottom shelf swill. All are near in that $30-$40 price range and just as well-suited for sipping as they are for mixing.

• Hendrick’s Gin

• Sipsmith London Dry Gin

• Tanqueray No. Ten

• Barr Hill Gin

• Plymouth Gin

• Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin

• The Botanist Islay Dry Gin

• Koval Dry Gin

Let’s get started!

Taste 1:

Tasting Notes:

A lot is going on in this gin. Right away, I noticed scents reminiscent of a field of wildflowers, vibrant lemon zest, fresh oranges, and a nice hit of herbs fill my nostrils. Taking a sip brought up more floral hints as well as lemons, oranges, and grapefruits, but there’s also a lot more left to find. The finish is dry and ends with more floral and citrus notes.

All in all, a very exciting gin.

Taste 2:

Tasting Notes:

When I took a moment to nose this gin, I found aromas similar to a field of flowers, that ever-present juniper, resinous pine, and a nice herbal backbone. There isn’t much new going on with the palate — more juniper, fresh grass, fir tips, and a slight, unexpected, honeyed sweetness.

In all honesty, the honey notes make this gin a little sweet than I’d prefer.

Taste 3:

Tasting Notes:

On the nose, I discovered a very citrus-forward spirit. There are orange peels, lemon zest, a good deal of juniper, all alongside an herbal backbone. Sipping it revealed more citrus zest, herbal tea, juniper berries, and pine trees. The ending is subtly spicy and sweet.

All in all, this is an in-your-face citrus gin that won’t appeal to all drinkers.

Taste 4:

Tasting Notes:

Before taking a sip, I paused to draw in the aromas of bold juniper berries, lemon zest, subtle cooking spices, subtle pepper, and fresh herbs. The palate held notes of coriander spices, juniper berries, orange peels, and more spicy pepper. But it didn’t seem like there was much more in the flavor department after that. The last few sips were spicy and lingering.

All in all a “typical” gin, but nothing to write home about.

Taste 5:

Tasting Notes:

Immediately I was excited by the complexity of this gin. The nose is filled with fragrances of grapefruit, orange peels, juniper, and a has a pleasing spicy backbone. On the sip, I got hints of spicy cinnamon, vanilla beans, juniper, herbal notes, and cracked black pepper. The ending was bright, warming, and finished with a nice mix of floral sweetness and spice.

This is definitely a gin I would like to return to for future samplings.

Taste 6:

Tasting Notes:

From the first nosing, you can tell that this is a classic London dry gin. That’s because starts with aromas of juniper, lemon zest, orange peels, and herbal, root scents gin drinkers expect. Once I had a drink, I started to pick up more juniper berries, bright grapefruit, lemons, licorice, and subtly spicy pepper. There’s more juniper and citrus at the finish.

This gin, while staightforward, ticked all the boxes I’m looking for.

Taste 7:

Tasting Notes:

I first noticed that the nose was very floral. Almost too much flowery scent. There’s a good deal of rose water, juniper berries, orange peels, and sweet tropical fruits. You don’t usually expect that many scents for one gin. Sipping this gin revealed the expected juniper, coriander, lemon zest, as well as just a hint of cracked black pepper. My last sip was floral, with a lot of juniper.

The sweetness and floral flavors were a little intense for my palate.

Taste 8:

Tasting Notes:

On the nose, I got scents of bright juniper berries, flowers, freshly cut grass, lemon peels, and subtle spices. The palate revealed more juniper, cardamom bite, vanilla beans, and spicy pepper. It’s pleasingly warming, dry, and ended with a nice combination of citrus zest and subtle spices.

This was by far my favorite gin. It felt like there were always more flavors waiting to be discovered.

Part 2: The Ranking

You never know how a blind taste test will go. There were definitely some surprises with this one. Based on the final rankings, you can tell my palate is centered around floral gins.

8) Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin (Taste 3)

ABV: 43%
Average Price: $39

The Story:

Ireland isn’t commonly known for its gin prowess. But that could change if Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin keeps racking up awards. Produced by The Shed Distillery, this gin is a combination of classic, eastern botanicals, and locally sourced Irish plants and herbs.

Bottom Line:

With a name like “Gunpowder” you might assume this was a high-proof, over-the-top, harsh gin. You’d be wrong. In all honesty, this name might turn people off to the spirit inside — which is fairly accessible. It just didn’t have enough going on in the flavor department to take a higher spot on this list.

7) Hendrick’s Gin (Taste 7)

ABV: 44%
Average Price: $30

The Story:

One of the most popular gins in the world, Scotland’s Hendrick’s is made using eleven herbs and botanicals. What starts as a juniper-centric spirit gets a boost with the infusion of rose and cucumber. These additions are why this is a go-to brand for bartenders and cocktail fans alike.

Bottom Line:

Hendrick’s has only been produced since 1999. In that time, it’s become one of the most popular gins in the world. It’s easy to understand why. The flavors are well-suited for a classic gin and tonic. I was, however, surprised at how low on the list this popular gin landed.

Without the eye-popping bottle, I found it to be surprisingly bland.

6) Plymouth Gin (Taste 4)

ABV: 41.2%
Average Price: $33

The Story:

One of the most well-known gin brands in the world, this English gin has been produced since 1793. This classic, simple gin is made using only seven ingredients (juniper, coriander, orange peels, lemon peels, angelica root, cardamom, and orris root). It’s beloved for its earthy, fresh, subtly sweet flavors.

Bottom Line:

At one point, Plymouth was more than simply a brand, it was a style of gin. It could only be produced in Plymouth, England. Sadly, Plymouth is the only brand left making this style.

While still a well-made product, its simple ingredients didn’t make much of an impact on my palate.

5) Barr Hill Gin (Taste 2)

ABV: 45%
Average Price: $39

The Story:

Barr Hill Gin touts itself as the “America’s most awarded gin.” This expression from Vermont’s Caledonia Spirits was Made to pay tribute to the state’s bees. It starts with gin distilled using the brand’s proprietary botanical extraction still. Like most gins, it starts with fragrant juniper berries. But, on top of other botanicals, it gets an added kick for the addition of raw honey.

Bottom Line:

This is an interesting gin. While many classic gins rely solely on juniper and botanicals, this expression gets its unique flavor from the addition of sweet honey. I thought I would enjoy the honey more, but I would have preferred it to be a little muted.

4) Koval Dry Gin (Taste 8)

ABV: 47%
Average Price: $35

The Story:

When you think of Koval, you probably envision its highly awarded whiskeys. But its Dry Gin is one of the best craft gins on the market. The distillery doesn’t list the ingredients, but it does say it’s made using “woodland spices.” It’s juniper-forward and highly floral.

Bottom Line:

This is a unique, flavorful gin. We like to keep this on hand at all times because its subtly spicy, floral flavor works well as a complement to the citrus flavors in a gin gimlet.

This gin landed right where I thought it would — it is and will continue to be one of my go-to gins.

3) Tanqueray No. Ten (Taste 5)

ABV: 47.3%
Average Price: $38

The Story:

If you’re a fan of Tanqueray and you want to take a step up in the flavor department, grab a bottle of Tanqueray No. Ten. First released in 2000, this expression gets its name from the copper pot-still named “Tiny Ten” that it’s distilled in. On top of the usual botanicals, this expression also includes chamomile, grapefruit, and various other citrus fruits.

Bottom Line:

While I was surprised that this mass-produced gin landed at such a high position, I probably shouldn’t be. If you’re the type of person who drinks gin neat or on the rocks, this is a good choice. The heavy citrus flavor also works perfectly in a classic gin and tonic.

2) Sipsmith London Dry (Taste 6)

ABV: 41.6%
Average Price: $32

The Story:

Sipsmith has only been around since 2009 but has gained a loyal following in the past decade. This classic, British-made London dry gin is produced using ten botanicals including juniper, coriander, licorice, angelica, orris, almond, cinnamon, cassia, as well as orange and lemon peels.

Bottom Line:

Sipsmith might not have a long history, but it’s already perfected the London Dry gin style. This complex, well-balanced gin is awesome for mixing or drinking neat. It deserves its high ranking. It’s flavorful, filled with fresh botanicals, and works well in a gin and tonic.

1) The Botanist Islay Dry Gin (Taste 1)

ABV: 46%
Average Price: $36

The Story:

If you didn’t know it already, The Botanist Islay Dry Gin not only comes from the whisky-centric Scottish Island, it’s also produced by Bruichladdich. Made to transport drinkers to the sheep and Scotch-filled island, this award-winning gin is made using nine classic gin botanicals as well as 22 more that were foraged from the island itself.

Bottom Line:

Wow, a gin made by a Scotch distillery took the top spot? If you’re a gin cocktail drinker, you can’t do much better (for the price) than The Botanist Islay Dry Gin. It’s loaded with flavors that somehow manage to work together in perfect unity. The best aspect is that pretty much every time you sip it, you’ll find something new and exciting to test the limits of your palate.

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As a Drizly affiliate, Uproxx may receive a commission pursuant to certain items on this list.

Lucy Dacus’ new album cycle seems to be based at least partially on nostalgia. The forthcoming album is called Home Video and her latest single, “VBS,” was written about Dacus’ first boyfriend and her days in Bible school.

Dacus says of the midtempo song:

“VBS means vacation bible school, and I went to tons of them. It’s where Christian parents send their kids over the winter, spring, or summer breaks from school to get closer to God, maybe learn some outdoor skills, and bring home useless crafts and totems like fruit of the spirit sand art and purity rings.

I wrote the song in the van on the way to Nashville to record Home Video after seeing one of those readerboards outside a church advertising a wholesome church camp for kids. I thought about my first boyfriend, who I met at VBS, the resident bad boy who loved Slayer and weed more than Jesus. I took it upon myself to save him, and make him stop doing drugs (with an exception for snorting nutmeg). God, I was so lame.”

She also previously said of Home Video, “I can’t hide behind generalizations or fiction anymore. […] I don’t necessarily think that I’m supposed to understand the songs just because I made them. I feel like there’s this person who has been in me my whole life and I’m doing my best to represent them.”

Watch the “VBS” video above.

Home Video is out 6/25 via Matador. Pre-order it here.

Two-time Grammy Award-winning singer and former Disney star Demi Lovato, 28, has come out as non-binary in the first episode of her new podcast “4D.” They came out to their guest Alok Vaid-Menon, a gender non-conforming writer and performer.

“Over the past year-and-a-half, I’ve been doing some healing and self-reflective work. And through this work, I’ve had the revelation that I identify as non-binary. With that said, I’ll be officially changing my pronouns to they/them,” Lovato said.

“I feel that this best represents the fluidity I feel in my gender expression and allows me to feel most authentic and true to the person I both know I am, and am still discovering,” they continued.

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Identifying as non-binary and using pronouns outside of those used by cisgender men and women, is a fairly new thing for most people, so Lovato knows it’ll take some time for everyone to get it right.

“I think it’s important because I want to use these pronouns that feel right to me,” they said. “I also just don’t want people to be so afraid of messing up that they don’t try to use them.”

Demi came out as #nonbinary & now uses they/them pronouns. When people w/ a platform come out, it can have a huge i… https://t.co/bhJZQsFsuO

— Fox Fisher (@theFoxFisher)
1621447252.0

Non-binary people do not identify as a man or woman. That could mean they reject any gender identity, identify as both a man and a woman, or fall somewhere in between.

“Nonbinary can also be used as an umbrella term encompassing identities such as agender, bigender, genderqueer or gender-fluid,” the Human Rights Campaign said.

Non-binary people can also be transgender, as in the case of Elliot Page.

The news comes after Lovato came out as being pansexual on a March episode of the “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast.

“I’m so fluid now, and a part of the reason why I am so fluid is because I was super closeted off,” they said. “I heard someone call the LGBTQIA+ community the alphabet mafia. I’m part of the alphabet mafia and proud.”

People who are pansexual have a sexual, romantic, or emotional attraction to people regardless of their sex or gender identity.

During the podcast, Vaid-Menon explained that there have always been people that existed outside the traditional gender binary and it has nothing to do with being confused.

“We are people who have existed for thousands of years who actually experience ourselves outside of the idea of man or woman,” they said. “But what I want you to understand is that it comes from a place of deep joy and healing, not from a place of doubt.”

Lovato’s brave decision to come out as non-binary has to be freeing. Now, she can be her true self without having to live up to the gender expectations placed on her by society. The announcement will also give many of her fans the confidence to be their true selves as well.

Japanese Breakfast, the project of musician and author Michelle Zauner, is a few weeks way from releasing her album Jubilee. Now offering a prequel to her “Posed In Bondage” visual, which saw her walking around a dystopian super market covered in blood, Zauner shares a video to her song “Savage Good Boy.”

The new visual depicts her alongside The Sopranos actor Michael Imperioli. Zauner is trapped in a bunker with Imperioli and eventually takes matters into her own hands. Speaking about the visual’s concept, Zauner said she was inspired by an article about rich people purchasing bunkers to prepare for an apocalyptic world:

“‘Savage Good Boy’ came from a headline I read about billionaires buying bunkers. I was interested in examining that specific type of villainy, and I found myself adopting the perspective of a rich man coaxing a young woman to come live with him underground, attempting to rationalize his almost impossible share of greed and miserliness. I knew I wanted the music video to be a pretty literal interpretation of that idea. I wanted to juxtapose images of this post-apocalyptic, industrial bunker with the lightness and extravagance of rococo fashion and set design. Aiming for that balance, my cinematographer, Adam Kolodny, and I were really inspired by Chan Wook Park’s The Handmaiden, Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon and Sally Potter’s Orlando.”

Ahead of the visual’s release, Zauner spoke to Apple Music’s Zane Lowe about the new direction her music is taking on Jubilee, saying, “I think because my first two records were so rooted in grief and loss and losing my mom, and then I wrote an entire book about that experience, I felt really ready to start a new chapter of my life and fling myself to the other end of the spectrum and write about this whole other part of the human experience, which is joy. And I also thought it was a real challenge for a sad indie girl to take on joy as a theme. And so Jubilee to me is about a year of release, a trumpet blast of victory. And so I wanted to write a record about embracing feelings.”

Listen to “Savage Good Boy” above and find Japanese Breakfast’s 2021-2022 North American tour dates below.

06/04/2021 — Nashville, TN @ OUTLOUD Festival
07/21/2021 — Silver Spring, MD @ The Filmore ^
07/22/2021 — Richmond, VA @ The National ^
07/23/2021 — Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel ^
07/24/2021 — Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade ^
07/25/2021 — Birmingham, AL @ Saturn ^
07/26/2021 — Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle ^
07/28/2021 — Asbury Park, NJ @ Asbury Lanes ^
07/29/2021 — Hamden, CT @ College Street Music Hall ^
07/30/2021 — Jersey City, NJ @ White Eagle Hall ^
08/02/2021 — Holyoke, MA @ Gateway City Arts ^
08/03/2021 — Rochester, NY @ Anthology ^
08/04/2021 — Detroit, MI @ Saint Andrew’s Hall ^
08/05/2021 — Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theatre ^
08/06/2021 — Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer ^
08/07/2021 — Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer ^
08/08/2021 — Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer ^
08/28/2021 — Lexington, KY @ Railbird Festival
09/10/2021 — Boston, MA @ Royale *
09/11/2021 — Asbury Park, NJ @ Stone Pony Summer Stage
09/12/2021 — Harrisburg, PA @ Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center *
09/14/2021 — Columbus, OH @ The Athenaeum Theatre *
09/15/2021 — Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall *
09/16/2021 — Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall *
09/17/2021 — Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall *
09/18/2021 — Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre *
09/19/2021 — Minneapolis, MN @ First Ave *
09/21/2021 — Ogden, UT @ Ogden Twilight *
09/23/2021 — Boise, ID @ Treefort Festival
09/24/2021 — Eugene, OR @ WOW Hall *
09/25/2021 — Seattle, WA @ Neptune *
09/26/2021 — Seattle, WA @ Neptune *
09/27/2021 — Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre *
09/28/2021 — Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom *
09/30/2021 — San Francisco, CA @ Regency Ballroom *
10/01/2021 — San Francisco, CA @ Regency Ballroom
10/02/2021 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Regent
10/03/2021 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Regent
10/04/2021 — San Diego, CA @ Observatory North Park *
10/05/2021 — Las Vegas, NV @ Brooklyn Bowl *
10/07/2021 — Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf *
10/08/2021 — Denver, CO @ Ogden Theater *
10/09/2021 — Lawrence, KC @ Granada Theater *
10/10/2021 — St Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall *
10/11/2021 — Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall *
10/12/2021 — Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall *
10/15/2021 — Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel *
10/16/2021 — Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel *
03/25/2022 — Bristol @ SXW
03/26/2022 — Manchester @ Academy 2
03/27/2022 — Glasgow @ St. Luke’s
03/28/2022 — Leeds @ Brudenell Community Room
03/30/2022 — London @ Kentish Town Forum

^ with Mannequin Pussy
* with Luna Li

Jubilee is out 6/4 via Dead Oceans. Pre-order it here.

The pale ale isn’t a new style. In fact, it’s been brewed since the 1700s. The American pale ale is new. Or… new in the grand scheme of time and space. The Americanized version, featuring North American hops, first arrived in the early 1980s. While the classic English version of a Pale Ale is known for its milder, sweeter flavors, the American pale ale is bolder with bright citrus, vibrant floral, and resinous pine notes.

The crisp, floral, thirst-quenching, subtly bitter flavors of the American pale ale make it well-suited for warm weather drinking. As a bonus, it pairs really well with grilled meats and veggies. Since our goal is to help you expand your beer palate while savoring spring, we’re highlighting eight of our favorite American pale ales to drink this time of year.

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

ABV: 5.6%
Average Price: $9.99 for a six-pack

The Beer:

No American pale ale list is complete without the OG. Way back in 1980, when there were only a handful of craft breweries in the county, Sierra Nevada made a pale ale using floral, crisp Cascade hops. At the time, few brewers were using this hop variety — which is now a staple of West Coast brewing.

Tasting Notes:

On the nose, you’ll immediately be met with aromas of grapefruit, lime zest, sweet malts, and subtle pine. The palate is filled with caramel malts, pineapple, lemon peels, grapefruit, and just a hint of bitter hops. It all ends with a nice mix of tropical fruits, citrus, and bitter hops.

Bottom Line:

The chances that you already know Sierra Nevada Pale Ale are high. The brewery pretty much invented the style and it’s even better today than it was over forty years ago.

Pipeworks Lizard King

ABV: 6%
Average Price: $10.99 for a 4-pack of 16-ounce cans

The Beer:

Chicago’s Pipeworks is known for its tongue-in-cheek sense of humor with epic beers like Ninja Vs Unicorn IPA. With tongues firmly in their cheeks, the brewery claims that the Lizard King is going to finally end this historic blood feud. Whether Robert California is behind the recipe or not, this pale ale is crisp, hoppy, and extremely flavorful.

Tasting Notes:

Take a moment to breathe in the aromas of citrus zest, sweet malts, and subtle resinous hops. The flavor is loaded with tropical fruits, ripe, juicy grapefruit, caramel sweetness, and a nice hit of bitter hops presence. The close is a one two punch of nutty sweetness and subtle spice.

Bottom Line:

Many American pale ales rely on piney hops and citrus flavors to lead the way. Lizard King has a more complex, sweet, caramel flavor that’s a nice change of pace.

3 Floyds Zombie Dust

ABV: 6.5%
Average Price: $14.99 for a six-pack

The Beer:

Besides its annual releases that are almost impossible to find, Zombie Dust is arguably 3 Floyd’s most popular beer. Formerly known as Cenotaph, this pale ale is single-hopped using a massive amount of Citra hops. The result is a thirst-quenching, full-flavored citrus bomb.

Tasting Notes:

One of the most highly-regarded pale ales ever produced, Zombie Dust begins with a proverbial cornucopia of fruity aromas. It starts with notes of ripe, caramelized pineapple, fresh guava, sweet peaches, that work its way into tart raspberries, fresh flowers, and pleasing pine resin. The palate swirls with more citrus than is reasonable. It’s crisp, bright, and filled with grapefruit, tangerine, and seemingly a whole field of pine trees. The finish is dry and pairs sweet fruits and bitter hops nicely.

Bottom Line:

If you only purchase one pale al on this list, make it Zombie Dust. If you like ripe, bright citrus flavors, you can’t get better than this.

Lagunitas Born Yesterday

ABV: 72%
Average Price: $12.99 for a six-pack

The Beer:

You might think that referring to a beer as “Born Yesterday” would mean that there’s not a lot going on in the flavor department. Well, you’d be completely wrong. One of Lagunitas’ “One Hitter Series” beers, Born Yesterday begins as a Dogtown Pale that’s fresh hopped with Simcoe, Citra, Mosaic, and Sabro hops.

Tasting Notes:

It’s important to give a beer this brew a nice nosing. There you’ll find scents of ripe grapefruit, sweet tangerines, spruce tips, and a lot of resinous hops aroma. Take a sip and you’ll be met with subtly tart flavors of juicy mango, pineapple, lemon zest, and flavorful, bitter, piney hops. The finish is brings together tart, sweet, and bitter in equal measures.

Bottom Line:

While this pale ale is loaded with citrusy, resinous hops, it’s not so overly hoppy that it would turn away non-IPA drinkers. It’s ripe, refreshing, and has just the right amount of citrus and hops presence.

Deschutes Mirror Pond

ABV: 5%
Average Price: $9.99 for a six-pack

The Beer:

One of the most popular American pale ale on the market, Deschutes Mirror Pond is extremely well balanced. It’s made with a combination of 2-Row, Crystal, Carapils, and Munich malts, and Cascade hops. Quite simply, this thirst-quenching, sessionable beer is one of the most well-rounded on the market.

Tasting Notes:

On the nose, you’ll find scents of clover honey, candied orange peels, sweet peaches, and just a hint of resinous pine. On the palate, you’ll be greeted with flavors of grapefruit, pineapples, crisp green apples, a sweet, malty, caramel backbone, and a final kick of citrus and slightly bitter hops at the very end.

Bottom Line:

One of the most well-balanced American pale ales on this list, Mirror Pond ticks all the flavor boxes with caramel, sweet malts, and citrus, bitter hops.

Maine Beer MO

ABV: 6%
Average Price: $9.99 for a 22-ounce bottle

The Beer:

Maine Beer is one of those brands where you honestly can’t go wrong with any of its beer. You can grab a bottle of Lunch, Dinner, Post Ride Snack, or its pale ale MO. Made with 2-Row, Carapils, Caramel, 40L, Red Wheat malts, as well as Simcoe and Falconer’s Flight hops, this brew is fruity, sweet, and filled with bright citrus flavors.

Tasting Notes:

Bask in the scents of grapefruit, pineapple, guava, subtle honey, and resin before taking your first sip. The palate dances with juicy orange, lemon peels, ripe peaches, and sweet malts. But there’s also a nice kick of slightly bitter, piney hops. The finish is filled with tropical fruits, citrus peels, and a veritable forest of pines.

Bottom Line:

This is an extremely complex pale ale. It’s filled with sweet malts, tropic, juicy flavors, and bright citrus notes.

Oskar Blue Dale’s Pale Ale

ABV: 6.5%
Average Price: $18.99 for a 12-pack

The Beer:

One of the most well-known pale ales on the market, Dale’s Pale Ale is Oskar Blues’ flagship beer. One of the first craft beers to ever be canned, it’s loaded with notes of sweet malts, floral hops, citrus zest, and a wallop of subtly bitter hops. It’s easy to drink and highly crushable on a hot day.

Tasting Notes:

On the nose, you’ll find aromas of fresh flowers, recently cut grass, citrus zest, and pleasing, piney hops. The sip reveals a cacophony of citrus fruits like tangerine, grapefruit, and lime. This evolves into hints of nutty malts and fruity, spicy hops. The finish is sweet, bitter, and highly refreshing.

Bottom Line:

The ultimate lawn mowing beer, Dale’s Pale Ale is sweet, hoppy, refreshing, and pleasingly bitter. It’s hard to beat that combination on a hot day.

Half Acre Daisy Cutter

ABV: 5.2%
Average Price: $9.99 for a 4-pack of 16-ounce cans

The Beer:

One of the first beers ever brewed by Chicago’s Half Acre, Daisy Cutter was first launched back in 2009. It started as a limited release, but the fruity, citrus-filled, highly resinous flavor appealed to drinkers so much that it became a year-round offering. It’s remained one of the brewery’s most popular beers in the years since.

Tasting Notes:

Before your first sip, take a few moments to enjoy the fragrances of tropical fruits, citrus zest, caramel malts, and bright pine. The flavor is filled with sweet malts, fresh peaches, pineapples, grapefruits, limes, and a nice kick of resinous, bitter hops. The finish pulls together fruity sweetness, nutty notes, and pine.

Bottom Line:

There’s a reason this previously limited-edition beer became a full-time offering. It’s supremely balanced with sweet, biscuit-like malts, citrus, and bitter, dank pine.

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