Category: Worldwide

Averie Swanson began her brewing career at renowned brewery Jester King in Austin, Texas. In 2018, she left to carve out her own place in the beer world, doing some consulting before opening Keeping Together in Chicago. This new label, which currently brews out of one of Chicago’s beloved Half Acre Beer Co., is focused on mixed-fermentation Saisons — beers that use a combination of yeasts (like brett), bacteria (like lactic bacteria), and microbes in the fermentation process.

As complicated as that sounds, Swanson’s approach is really very down-to-earth.

“My goal with Keeping Together is to make high-quality beers that are succinct and easy to be around,” she says. “The beers are thoughtful and interesting, but they’re meant to be shared with friends and ideally contribute to the social experience.”

In that same communal spirit, we followed up last month’s interview by asking Swanson to share her picks for the best beers to drink this winter. Check out her eight choices with tasting notes below. From stouts to Saisons, and barleywines, her picks will warm you inside and out from now until the first shoots of Spring emerge.

Keeping Together “We Are Not The Counter Culture” Saison Brun

Style: Saison

ABV: 6%

Average Price: $16 for a 750ml bottle

Swanson Says:

I might be biased because this is one of my own beers, but this stylistic anomaly has been my go-to so far this winter. It has the toasty malt complexity I like when it is cold out, but is quite dry and still presents with an interesting yeast profile.

Dovetail Czech Dark Lager

Style: Czech-style Dark Lager

ABV: 4.4%

Average Price: $10 for a 4-pack of 16 -ounce cans

Swanson Says:

Not many breweries in the states are exploring this traditional Czech style. But it is one of the best styles there is — chewy with incredible depth of malt character, and about as drinkable as they come.

Halfway Crooks If Barleywine is Life, I Choose Death

Style: Barleywine

ABV: 4.8%

Average Price: $14.75 for a 4-pack of 16-ounce cans

Swanson Says:

This dunkel offers complexity in malt flavor and is clean, dry, and drinkable by the liter. At 4.8% ABV, this beer stays firmly in cold-weather session beer territory.

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot

Style: Barleywine

ABV: 9.6%

Average Price: $13.99 for a six-pack

Swanson Says:

This is an absolute classic American Barleywine, and perfect for sipping by the fire. High ABV, incredible silky malt profile, and loads of American hop flavor. This beer will certainly keep you warm this winter.

TRVE Brewing Stout O)))

Style: Stout

ABV: 5.8%

Average Price: $12 for a six-pack

Swanson Says:

We all need a solid, straight-forward American Stout in our winter beer arsenal, and this beer fits that bill. Full-bodied, with loads of roast and bittersweet chocolate flavor.

Oxbow Sap House

Style: Smoked Lager

ABV: 7%

Average Price: $16 for a 4-pack of 16-ounce cans

Swanson Says:

Smoke and maple syrup? From one of the very best farmhouse breweries in the world? Say no more. This is the perfect winter beer.

Logsdon Power Hammer

Style: Baltic Porter

ABV: 8%

Average Price: $6.99 for a 16-ounce can

Swanson Says:

Logsdon Power Hammer big, silky, strong dark lager from an incredible Pacific Northwest brewery. The name says it all. This big, bold, hammer of a Baltic porter is perfect for winter.

Side Project Ambiente

Style: Imperial stout

ABV: 13%
Average Price: $299 for a 750ml bottle

Swanson Says:

This Imperial Stout comes loaded with cocoa, vanilla, cinnamon, and ancho chiles. It has layer upon layer of interesting flavors and will warm you from the inside out.

Up-and-coming LA songwriter Wallice has already made a name for herself after her debut single “Punching Bag” caught the attention of critics and playlist curators alike. Now following up on the acclaimed track, Wallice returns to offer a snapshot of her life with the playful song “23.”

Over noisy guitars, Wallice breaks up the monotony of life in quarantine by dreaming of her future. In her vision, she’s just one year older and already reached major milestones like owning a house and getting a dog.

Speaking about the inspiration behind the honest single, Wallice says:

“It’s hard not to compare your own professional success to that of your similarly aged peers. I dropped out of university in New York after studying Jazz Voice for a year, and my dad was VERY disappointed to say the least, so it was hard not to feel like a loser in that sense. When I was younger my best friend and I would always talk about the cute apartment we would get after high school, but I found myself at 22 still living with my mom and wanting to move out but not able to quite yet. The specific age 23 doesn’t have any milestones associated with it, but it’s more the idea of just looking forward to the future. Much like how people ‘reset’ every new year, it’s comparable to be ‘older and wiser’ with each birthday, but instead of constantly looking to the future, it is important to be happy with where you are.”

Watch Wallice’s “23” video above.

Right-wing radio personality Rush Limbaugh passed away on February 17, sparking an outpouring of reactions from true sorrow to celebration from political enemies. While folks on the conservative side of the aisle reminisce on how “funny” they think he was or use his death to whine about the results of long-decided elections, others are remembering how damaging much of his commentary could be.

Rap pioneer Ice-T, on the other hand, made his opinion known a long time ago and chose instead to remind fans of his old tweet telling them exactly what he thought of Rush Limbaugh. Quote-tweeting his own post from July of 2012, Ice-T recalled a backhanded slight he once received from Rush and what he believed it said about the outspoken host. “Rush Limbaugh said he was impressed I knew the word ‘tyranny,’” reads the old tweet. “He’s a racist piece of sh*t.” Judging by the fact that he exhumed this five-year-old tweet just days after the man’s death, it’s probably safe to assume Ice’s opinion hasn’t changed much since.

Ice-T has found something of a third life (after his second one as the perpetually befuddled sergeant Fin Tutuola on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit) thanks to his witty political commentary on Twitter. Recently, his comments about Trump’s second impeachment trial amused fans while his empathetic response to his father-in-law contracting COVID-19 suggests he’d be a more than respectable replacement for the departed Rush, should he ever decide to pursue punditry full time.

The White House is America’s house and it feels a lot more like home these days after the arrival of Champ and Major, President Biden’s German Shepherds. There’s something about the presence of pets at the White House that gives it a sense of warmth. It also makes the residents of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue seem a lot more human.

Dogs have a special way of connecting us to nature and reminding us what’s really important in life, a nice walk, a cuddle, and a rub on the belly.

The White House missed that sense of normalcy in the Trump era. According to an article published by The Atlantic, Trump thinks owning a pet is “low class,” so the White House was dogless for four years.

Champ has been with the Biden family for more than a decade after being purchased from a breeder. Major joined the Biden clan in 2018 after they fostered him from the Delaware Humane Association.

via Delaware Humane Association

Major is the second rescue dog to live in the White House. President Biden says a reason why they adopted him was to have a younger dog around the aging Champ to keep him spry. Lyndon Johnson’s dog Yuki was a mixed-breed pup abandoned by his owner. Johnson found the dog on the side of a Texas road and gave him a forever home.

President Biden celebrated the two new First Pooches by posing with them for a photoshoot. In the photos posted to Instagram and Flickr Monday, Champ and Major sit regally in the Oval Office while the president smiles at his new desk.

The White House Flickr account recently shared a shot of Champ watching over the proceedings as Biden met with senior advisers on Feb. 9.

via The White House / Flickr

The photos of the dogs in the Oval Office may be a bit of shade directed at Newsmax. Last Friday, the conservative news outlet aired a segment where host Greg Kelly took aim at Biden’s dog Champ, making fun of his appearance.

The segment was an embarrassing example of the lengths partisan media will go to criticize the other side. It was also an indication of how well Biden is doing as president. If all you can do is make fun of his dog, he must be doing pretty well.

“Did you see the dog?” Kelly asked, referring to Champ. “Doesn’t he look a little, uh, a little rough? I love dogs, but this dog needs a bath and a comb and all kinds of love and care. I’ve never seen a dog in the White House like this.”

Kelly then compared Champ to Buddy, former President Clinton’s Labrador retriever, and Millie, former President George H.W. Bush’s English springer spaniel.

“I remember Buddy. I remember Millie. I remember lots of dogs but not a dog who seems — I don’t know. I don’t know how much love and care he is getting,” Kelly said.

Champ and Major will be sharing the spotlight with another pet in the coming weeks. Last November, after winning the election, the Bidens announced they would be adding a cat to the first family.

There’s no word yet on how the folks at Newsmax plan to take down the First Feline.

For obvious reasons, today is a great day for Bobby Shmurda: After being behind bars for six years, the rapper was released from prison this morning. He actually has even more than that to celebrate right now: Today, the Recording Industry Association Of America (RIAA) has given him four new certifications, including a pair of Platinum ones.

His breakout single “Hot N****” (sometimes also known as “Hot Boy”) is now certified 5-times Platinum, indicating sales of at least 5 million units. It was previously certified Gold and then Platinum in 2014. His only other officially released single as a lead artist, “Bobby B*tch,” also earned itself a Platinum certification today. Meanwhile, Rowdy Rebel’s “Computers,” on which Shmurda features, earned a Gold certification today, as did Shmurda’s EP Shmurda She Wrote.

So far, Shmurda has had a big day since his release. Quavo made good on his word to pick Shmurda up from prison and did so with a private jet, sharing a video of them landing on Instagram. He also had a video call with his mother and had 50 pounds of oxtail cooked by her, per his request. After all this celebration, the rapper’s plan is apparently to focus his efforts on his music, as his mother has said.

Ted Cruz simply cannot move away from showing off perpetually bad looks after jetting away for an ill-advised Cancun vacation while millions of Texans froze during a catastrophic, mega-power outage. The last we heard from Cruz (after his morphing excuses, none of which could justify leaving even his dog, Snowflake, in the cold), he was hopping mad. He podcasted his anger about those “a**holes” who leaked his wife’s texts about the Mexico getaway, and so, what’s Ted Cruz doing while back at work?

He’s been sitting in the Senate chamber and staring at his phone. Cruz did so while apparently not-listening to former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund during his opening testimony about the MAGA insurrection on the U.S. Capitol that Cruz helped (along with Josh Hawley and Donald Trump) to incite. Here’s Sund talking about how intelligence didn’t warn of the magnitude of the violence that transpired in the January 6 riot, which left at least five people dead, including Officer Brian Sicknick (and two other officers committed suicide after the attack). And here is Ted Cruz, playing on his phone.

Via CNN, Sund also called the riot “the worst attack on law enforcement” that he saw during his 30-year career. He described the MAGA insurrectionists as “criminals” who “came prepared for war” and attacked with “fists, pipes, sticks, bats, metal barricades, and flag poles.” Sund added, “I’m sickened by what I witnessed that day.” As for Cruz, he did not appear to be sickened while listening to the testimony. People definitely noticed his behavior and let him have it. Yes, there were Cancun travel jokes, but people were also disgusted at Cruz not seeming to care much at all (except maybe an Expedia deal).

Also, he’s being roasted as the “Last Responder” after his water-dropoff photo op over the weekend. His reputation has never been great, but it’s really in the can these days.

Cardi B and Mariah Carey may soon have some new music featuring both on the way, according to their recent conversation in Interview Magazine. In the midst of a discussion about the differences between being a civilian and a celebrity, prejudice in the music industry, and the sexual awakening in pop culture since Carey’s heyday, the two made plans to collaborate on a song together — and on a bra line, after Cardi admits that she couldn’t find one that gave her the right mix of coverage and exposure.

After Carey asks Cardi “Do you have a favorite bra?” Cardi replies, “I don’t know because I’m not really a bra person. These titties be hanging. Even when I wear a certain bra, I have really big nipples, so I need a bra that shows my cleavage but could really tuck my nipples in. There ain’t none yet.” That prompts Mariah to suggest, “We need to do a bra line. We need that specialty line.”

The two then briefly discuss the music industry’s inherent prejudice against Black women, which is something Carey believes she and Cardi can fix. “We’re going to do that,” she vows. “We’re going to do our bra line, and one of these days, can we do a song together?” Cardi agrees, “I would love that. I would love to do a record that touches souls. You had me heartbroken when I was 11 years old and I didn’t even have a boyfriend.”

During the interview, Cardi also acknowledges her past job as a stripper, saying it made her feel “on top of the world.”

Read the full interview here.

Cardi B is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Travis Barker has been very busy in the past year. After coming off of his Blink-182 tour with Lil Wayne, Barker began collaborating with rappers like Rick Ross and Trippie Redd. Now, he’s pivoting to focus on a different endeavor: Barker is officially breaking into the CBD market.

Barker Wellness, the name of the musician’s brand, differs from other CBD companies as it focuses on lesser-known cannabinoids like CBG, CBN, and CBC. The three main areas Barker wants to target with his products are fighting insomnia, aiding recovery, and general “maintenance.”

Speaking about Barker Wellness in an interview with Rolling Stone, Barker explained the reason why he first started using CBD products:

“As a symptom of being in the music space and just touring, I would always do a CBD bath or an epsom salt bath or take a ton of CBD after shows and I started to notice that recovery was an issue, especially touring for months [and] doing five to six shows a week. And the process became like, ‘How do I feel with recovery?’ I tried everything from cryotherapy to massage therapy, but CBD was like the best kind of result that I got. […] I used to have trouble with sleep and I would take a ton of melatonin, valerian tea, Tylenol PM, or Nyquil. And before that it was actually Ambien. I was addicted to that at one point.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Barker laid out his vision for his new products. “In a perfect world for me, I want the product to be everywhere, from places like Erewhon to Sephora to CVS,” he said. “This isn’t a Band-Aid, one-time project,” he adds. “I really want this to help people.”

Check out Barker Wellness’ products here.

While many view Black History Month as a time to celebrate the accomplishments of Black Americans, JID wants to call a little attention to America’s history of institutional abuse of its Black citizens. His new single, “Skegee,” is named for the city of Tuskegee, Alabama, a city central to both Black achievement and where the US conducted the infamous Tuskegee Syphilis Study from 1932-1972.

In the first verse, JID addresses the conflicting choices with which many Black Americans are faced: “You peep all the karma that come with makin’ the cream,” he rhymes, posing the dichotomy before pulling back the curtain to reveal the game behind the game. “Get your eyes cleaned for something you have never not, not seen.” An interview with former mayor of Tuskegee, Ronald D. Williams, also reveals insight into the city’s history.

In the second verse, he shows how these forced choices are the results of policy, not just tough situations that cropped up out of nowhere. Although JID says he was recruited to Tuskegee University, a prestigious historically Black institution, the name only calls to mind the 40-year experiment in which Black citizens of Tuskegee were involuntarily studied for the effects of untreated syphilis and denied treatment (or even information about the existence of treatment once it had been developed). While JID’s recollection isn’t entirely accurate (there’s no evidence that the unethical study deliberately infected its subjects), his song may very well be many fans’ first-ever introduction to the existence of such a study — and why it remains important to this day.

With so many Americans currently refusing COVID-19 vaccination, it’s important to understand why some of them might mistrust the government, knowing this history, as well as acknowledging how much work is left to be done to repair that broken trust if true progress is to be made.

Meanwhile, JID fans continue to eagerly anticipate his follow-up to 2018’s breakout DiCaprio 2. In the meantime, he’s had several standout moments on compilation albums such as Revenge Of The Dreamers III, the Judas And The Black Messiah soundtrack, and as part of Spillage Village’s fourth studio album and major-label debut, Spilligion.

Watch JID’s “Skeegee” video above.

Indie music has grown to include so much. It’s not just music that is released on independent labels, but speaks to an aesthetic that deviates from the norm and follows its own weirdo heart. It can come in the form of rock music, pop, or folk. In a sense, it says as much about the people that are drawn to it as it does about the people that make it.

Every week, Uproxx is rounding up the best new indie music from the past seven days. This week we got new albums from The Hold Steady, Another Michael, and Wild Pink, as well as new tracks from Manchester Orchestra, Matt Berninger, and more. Check out the rest of the best new indie music below.

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The Hold Steady – Open Door Policy

The Hold Steady have been more or less prolific since their 2004 debut, and Open Door Policy is their second album in two years — as well of one of their best in recent memory. The album marks what feels like a new beginning for the veteran rockers, with Steven Hyden calling it “their most mature record and one of their darkest, but it also evinces the genuine joy that’s enabled them to endure.”

Another Michael – New Music & Big Pop

After their debut album was delayed significantly by the pandemic, the three members of Another Michael had time to re-contextualize the record and discover a whole new appreciation for it. Despite the delay, New Music And Big Pop is still an overwhelming achievement, imbued with what I called in a recent feature, “a sense of liberation and raw talent that feels rare in 2021, a breath of fresh air that creates a unique lane and a promising future for a new band like Another Michael.”

Wild Pink – A Billion Little Lights

One of indie’s best and most underrated bands is back with another new album. Spanning just ten tracks, A Billion Little Lights is full of of gorgeous Americana flourishes and synth-rock soundscapes. In a recent feature for Uproxx, Steven Hyden called the album John Ross’s “most ambitious and overall best work, infused with deep lyrical craft and impeccable melodies that set Wild Pink apart from the indie-dude pack.”

Katy Kirby – Cool Dry Place

Katy Kirby is a force to be reckoned with on her debut album Cool Dry Place, which showcases the Nashville-based songwriter’s full range of skill. Across the album, you can hear the influence of Kirby’s musical upbringing as a singer in church, channeled through a unique indie rock lens.

Cassandra Jenkins – An Overview on Phenomenal Nature

Cassandra Jenkins’ sophomore album is a lean affair, spanning just seven tracks. But the album’s shorter tracklist allows Jenkins to keep the songwriting focused and polished, often incorporating aspects of character study to examine grief, helplessness, and fortitude in the wake of tragedy.

Manchester Orchestra – “Bed Head”

Almost four years removed from 2017’s A Black Mile To The Surface, Manchester Orchestra are finally back for more. Their sixth studio album, The Million Masks Of God, is prefaced by “Bed Head,” an upbeat rocker that Andy Hull described in a statement as “two old friends existing in two separate realities. It’s a conversation about the lives they lived, the consequences of life’s decisions, and finding purpose in trying to be better.”

Serpentwithfeet – “Same Size Shoe”

After gaining traction with his 2018 debut, Soil, Los Angeles songwriter Serpentwithfeet is gearing up for his sophomore LP Deacon. “Same Size Shoe” is the latest preview of the album, a swooning single that “explores both the tender and passionate sides to love,” writes Carolyn Droke for Uproxx. “Over a fluttering beat, Serpentwithfeet gently delivers heartfelt lyrics about finding passion with someone who fits into his life in more ways than one.”

Matt Berninger – “Let It Be”

Matt Berninger’s excellent solo debut Serpentine Prison was released late last year, but there were a few tracks that were left on the cutting room floor during Berninger’s early sessions with producer Booker T. Jones. Now, some of those tracks are set to see the light of day on a deluxe version of the album due out next month, starting with “Let It Be.” The track is what Caitlin White calls for Uproxx “a harmonica-laden affair that is decidedly not a Beatles cover.”

Ian Sweet – “Sing Till I Cry”

Ian Sweet’s forthcoming album, Show Me How You Disappear, was written in the wake of time spent at an intensive outpatient psychiatric care program. “Sing Till I Cry” is a reflection on the aftermath of trauma and an exploration of finding meaning in the little things, culminating in what Carolyn Droke calls for Uproxx a “euphoric and resonating” track.

Man On Man – “1983”

With their new collaborative project Man On Man, Joey Holman (HOLMAN) and Roddy Bottum (Faith No More, Imperial Teen) refuse to be limited by the classification of genre or even time period. “1983” incorporates modern indie rock fuzz to it, with an electronic drum track reminiscent of the new wave era. In addition to releasing new music, Man On Man have launched Chosen Family, a project to connect the LGBTQIA+ community in meaningful ways, starting with a worldwide pen-pal project and newsletter.

stillhungry – “Best Costume Wins/”Paper Lanterns”

Stillhungry originally began as an exercise in songwriting, but has since evolved into a full-fledged project. The double a-side single, comprised of “Best Costume Wins” and “Paper Lanterns,” is the first glimpses at the group’s unique combination of the best of alt-country and infectious indie pop that is sure to make waves around their Tri-State area homeland.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.