Camila Cabello teased the deluxe “Magic City” edition of her album, C, XOXO just a week before its release, and as promised, it has arrived with a slew of new songs, including this notable number, “Godspeed.”
A stripped-down ballad, “Godspeed” finds Camila saying her goodbyes to a former flame as their fling fizzles — or, as she sings, “When the night is past its peak”
(most probably after a few rounds of breakup sex). The chorus consists of a refrain of the title, with some truly breathtaking vocal runs, and after the first go-around, the instrumental gets really warped, introducing glitchy effects and a haunting synth like a ghost echoing Cabello’s farewell.
The Magic City edition of C, XOXO finds Camila continuing the sonic experimentation of the original, on which she collaborated with mostly rappers like Drake, JT, Lil Nas X, Playboi Carti, and Yung Miami. There’s certainly more of a hyperpop influence on this version of the project, as “Godspeed” has some subtle industrial percussion, while “Baby Pink” tries some UK funky house, and other songs play around in more traditional pop-R&B sounds.
You can check out “Godspeed” above.
C, XOXO: Magic City is out now via Geffen/Interscope. Find more information here.
“I can’t keep my feet on the ground,” she sings on the chorus. “I think that I should try to kill my ego, ’cause if I don’t, my ego might kill me.”
The pop-rock vibes just scream “late ’90s” and while the song doesn’t yet have a music video, you can picture the singer cruising through the desert in a convertible like that Britney Spears movie, Crossroads. “Ego” continues to live up to Halsey’s admission that ” I thought it might be the last album I ever got the chance to make. So I tried to do whatever I’d been wanting to do.”
However, the rollout for the album hasn’t been as smooth as that imagined convertible ride. In July, Halsey called out some of her fans for “being hands down meaner to me than any other people on the planet.” It seems the mission of her new music is to remind people “I’m a person. Not a character in a music video.”
You can listen to “Ego” above.
The Great Impersonator is out 10/25 via Columbia Records. Find more information here.
September 14 marks the 25th anniversary of American Football’s debut album, American Football, and to celebrate, the band has been touring Europe, will tour the US, and has bought the house from the album’s cover photo. They’re also releasing a remastered version of the album, along with a covers edition featuring performances of their songs from Blondshell, Manchester Orchestra, and more.
One of the artists included is Ethel Cain, who previously paid homage to their first album with her 2022 video for “American Teenager.” Here, she sings a moody, atmospheric version of “For Sure,” which the band shared ahead of the cover album release. Cain also shot and edited the accompanying music video, which you can check out above.
In the press release, Cain said, “I knew I wanted to do ‘For Sure’ immediately. It’s always stood out to me every time I spin the record, and I knew exactly how I wanted to translate it into my sound. My favorite part of the entire track is the sound of the train going by the apartment I lived in back in Pennsylvania, stretched out like a synth at the beginning and end. American Football is one of those bands that really marked such a moment in time with their debut record, a mark with so much longevity that it found me the same way at 20 years old that I imagine it found everyone else the day it was first released: as an instant classic. Their sonic storytelling has inspired me in more ways than I can count over the years, so being asked to contribute to this covers edition was truly an honor. American Football forever.”
Today, he returned with “Moi,” a celebratory new single that compares his past tribulations to his current success. Soul chanteuse Raye joins him on the song’s intro, singing in French over a moody 2-step riddim before the song kicks over into full drill mode, although it stays upbeat and airy, as opposed to the usual heavy bass and dubstep wubs that usually define the genre. Cench reminisces on his sketchy past with tongue-in-cheek liknes like, “I used to sleep on a cheap sofa
‘019 we was kitchen whippin’ / If they had TikTok them times and a man asked me what I do for a livin’ / Then I would’ve started fibbin’.”
However, since then, he’s kept it real, saying, “Broke, I was sharin’ my bredrin’s clothes / Then I got rich and I kept them close / Talk about real, gotta mention moi.”
It remains to be seen whether “Moi” will appear on a new full-length project from the Shepherd’s Bush prodigy, but a new album would certainly be appreciated.
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in music has been a hot topic for a while now, but so far, we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg of implications advanced algorithms can have for the recording industry. While artists speak out against the use of generative AI in the creation of songs and the Recording Academy grapples with its legitimacy for Grammy Awards, courts around the world are now being confronted with the use of AI in schemes aimed at defrauding streaming platforms with AI-generated songs and streams.
According to the Associated Press, one such case currently being litigated revolves around a North Carolina man who created hundreds of thousands of songs using AI, then streamed those songs billions of times to generate over $10 million in royalty payments for himself, cheating legitimate musicians and labels out of potential profits from streamers’ royalty pools. The man, 52-year-old Michael Smith, is charged with fraud and conspiracy, and could face around 60 years in prison if convicted.
By creating thousands of phony accounts on services such as Apple, Spotify, and Tidal, Smith streamed his AI-generated songs upwards of 600,000 times a day. In the federal indictment against him, Smith is quoted as boasting about his profits — over $1 million a year since 2018, when he allegedly launched the conspiracy alongside a music promoter and the chief executive of an AI music company — in an email. He even denied that what he was doing was fraud, when a music distributor questioned him about it.
Whether he genuinely did realize it was fraud or was just covering, it’s clear that the technology has upended the recording industry yet again, and that the potential posed by AI don’t only affect artists.
Today, the countdown completed, and fans found out what the band had in store at a live event, which also streamed online: A new lineup, which consisted of four of its original members and two new additions — including a new co-lead singer. The new singer is Emily Armstrong of the band Dead Sara, while Colin Brittain, a producer for G Flip, Illenium and One OK Rock, was added as drummer. Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Phoenix, and Joe Hahn all returned, while former Robert Bourdon did not.
In addition to the new lineup, the band announced a new album, From Zero, dropped the lead single, “The Emptiness Machine,” and announced an upcoming six-city arena tour to introduce the new lineup to live audiences. The album is due on November 15, while the tour will begin on September 11 in Los Angeles at the Forum and run through November 11 in Bogota, Columbia. Tickets will go on pre-sale September 6, with the general sale starting the next day, September 7. You can find more information here.
Check out the new single, “The Emptiness Machine,” below and the stream of the live event above. From Zero is out 11/15 via Warner Records.
The dominant storyline in the WNBA this season has been the Rookie of the Year race between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, and the record-setting production both have been putting up. Clark became the first rookie to put up a triple-double (and has done so twice), while Reese has set new WNBA records for rebounds in a season and consecutive double-doubles in her inaugural campaign.
Clark’s play since the Olympic break and Indiana’s run to clinch a playoff berth while the Sky have struggled to win games has likely put the ROY race to bed, but that hasn’t stopped the rookie conversation from dominating headlines. What’s been fascinating is how the arguments have raged on and the vitriol that fans have approached it, despite the two young stars not showing much of any off-court animosity towards the other.
On Thursday, Reese debuted her podcast, “The Angel Reese Show”, and naturally got the Caitlin Clark conversation out of the way early. The Sky star was quick to point out that the two have been playing each other since high school, and while there’s an on-court rivalry between them, there’s “no hate” and plenty of respect for the other’s game. The issue has come with the fans, who Reese doesn’t expect to cheer for her, but notes how there are numerous examples of fans crossing the line with racist comments, stalking, creating explicit AI photos, and death threats.
Angel Reese on her relationship with Caitlin Clark
“Caitlin is an amazing player and I’ve always thought she was an amazing player. We’ve been playing each other since high school,” Reese said. “So I think it’s really just the fans. Her fans, the Iowa fans, now the Indiana fans, they ride for her. And I respect that, respectfully, but sometimes its very disrespectful. I think there’s a lot of racism when it comes to it, and I don’t think she stands on any of it. But when it comes to death threats, I’m talking about people coming down to my address, follow me home, like it’s come down tot hat. Multiple occasions people have made AI images of me naked. They have sent it to my family members, like uncles are sending it to me like, are you naked on Instagram? It sucks to see that and it’s really hard that I have to go through that and now seeing other players even having to go through that. But at the end of the day, it’s a game that we do both love, but there is no hate.”
Those are things that no one should have to go through, much less just for playing the game of basketball. Both Reese and Clark seem to enjoy the on-court rivalry and the chance to go back-and-forth with another highly competitive and talented player, but the extracurriculars that surround it need to get reined in. From the way some in the media discuss them to fans taking it way too far both on social media and real life, the conversation about these two young women has gotten out of control.
Are high-proof tequilas worth the higher price tag? That’s a question you might’ve asked yourself while scanning the tequila shelf wherever you pick up your alcohol. It’s a fair question, too — a vast majority of tequila on the market sits at 80 proof (40% ABV) so if you like tequila, it’s safe to assume you’re fine drinking 80 proof liquids. But still, when you find a brand that you love and then come across that high-proof version on the shelf, it can be pretty tempting.
High-proof tequilas have this depth and intensity of flavor that takes your palate on a journey. They hit you harder, dialing up the intensity of the nose, palate, and finish experience. Imagine your favorite tequila but with more of everything that makes you love it.
That’s what the best high-proof tequila tastes like. So, as you might’ve gathered, I do think the higher price tag is generally worth it — especially if you’re dealing with a bottle by a brand you already like. And to help you find the best of the best and get the most bang for your buck, we’re putting high-proof bottles to the blind taste test.
Methodology
Dane Rivera
For this blind taste test, I gathered every bottle of high-proof tequila I had on hand, and then had my girlfriend select eight of those bottles at random. So I’m going into this blind taste test without even knowing which brands I’ll be tasting. We call that double-blind in these parts! I tried a pour of each in an unmarked glass in random order and recorded my initial impressions. I was sufficiently tossed by the end of this blind taste test.
Here is our tasting class today, all of which are additive-free:
Alma Del Jaguar — Nocturna Blanco 101 Proof
Alto Canto — High Proof Blanco
Cazcanes — Blanco No. 9
Cayéya — Single Barrel Añejo
Don Fulano — Fuerte Blanco
Siempre — Supremo Blanco
Suerte — Blanco Still Strength
Tapatío — Blanco 110
Make no mistake, each bottle in this blind taste test is one we enjoy, but there is a definite and noticeable hierarchy. So if you’re only interested in the best, skip to our top three, but considering each bottle offers something interesting, it’s worth checking out the full list and the corresponding tasting notes. Let’s drink!
Taste 1:
Dane Rivera
Nose: Lots of nose-tickling sensations here, I’m getting a heavy cayenne pepper spice, some black pepper, and orange zest, with a touch of salt water.
Palate: A lot of spice and orange citrus hits your tastebuds first before leveling off with floral honey sweetness and a hint of agave.
Finish: A warm long finish with some minerality and a spicy aftertaste.
Taste 2:
Dane Rivera
Nose: A nice bouquet of caramelized roasted agave, fresh rosemary and thyme, a crack of pepper, and the slightest touch of mint.
Palate: Warm and citrusy with some spicy anise and cinnamon, and cooked agave. There is a baking spice quality to this that tastes very addicting. I instinctively went for another drink after my first sip.
Finish: A long kiss of spice on the back end with an oily mouthfeel. This one straight-up made my tongue numb in the best way.
Taste 3:
Dane Rivera
Nose: There is a light funkiness to the nose with some notes of herbaceous raw agave, wet grass, and a bit of jasmine flower.
Palate: Very mineral rich with a blend of rich chocolate and sweet vanilla balanced by some wet earth.
Finish: A long finish with a heat that slowly builds in intensity on the aftertaste.
Taste 4:
Dane Rivera
Nose: Interesting, we have something aged here! I’m getting a nice blend of oak, maple syrup, and caramel with just a hint of roasted agave.
Palate: Much lighter than the nose would expect. Those sweet tones are there, along with some vanilla, but I’m also tasting some fruitiness like cherry and baked pear.
Finish: Oak on the finish with a supple buttery mouthfeel.
Taste 5:
Dane Rivera
Nose: There is a lactic quality here. It’s very creamy, joined by notes of bitter cocoa and agave.
Palate: Soft, vegetal, and very agave forward. It doesn’t have that intense burn that Tastes 1-4 have had. I’m getting asparagus, green pepper, and green apple skin.
Finish: Smooth and buttery with notes of agave and a gentle heat.
Taste 6:
Dane Rivera
Nose: Lots of funk on the nose with some minerality, agave, and alcohol.
Palate: A bit flat compared to everything else I’ve tasted so far. I’m tasting some agave, some black pepper, and a whole lot of alcohol.
Finish: Vanilla on the finish with a subtle burn, but the sort of burn from alcohol, not spicy chili pepper notes like the other tastes. As of now, this is easily my least favorite.
Taste 7:
Dane Rivera
Nose: Lots of agave on the nose, both fresh and caramelized with some rich cocoa notes, sweet vanilla, and a hint of jasmine.
Palate: Vegetal and earthy. I’m getting a lot of fresh cracked pepper, roasted agave, and a subtle heat.
Finish: Bright, buttery, and a bit zesty. The way the liquid stays on the tongue is very pleasant. A definite candidate for sipping.
Taste 8:
Dane Rivera
Nose: Wet grass and freshly peeled oranges and a touch of roasted agave.
Palate: Vegetal and peppery with a slight bitterness to it.
Finish: More wet grass on the nose with some tobacco leaf and a strong long lasting burn.
While I stand by what I said — every bottle in the lineup is worth exploring, I have to give the bottom spot to one of these bottles, and in today’s taste test that’s Siempre’s Supremo Blanco. It earns the bottom spot for tasting a bit flat in comparison to the other brands, with a strong alcohol flavor that drowned out some of the more interesting and subtle flavor notes.
This tequila is produced at NOM 1137, La Cofradia, made from agave hearts and tails that are cooked in stone ovens, tahona crushed, and fermented in open-air stainless steel tanks with wild yeast.
The bottle is certified additive-free by Tequila Matchmaker.
The Bottom Line:
Vanilla forward with a strong burn that hits the back of the throat and lingers on the palate.
The only aged tequila in today’s tasting, Cayéya’s Single Barrel Añejo offers a nice mellow vibe and a lot of oak-forward character. The tequila is produced at NOM 1424, Blue Agave Distiller, using agave cooked in brick ovens, roller mill extracted, and mixed with well water. The tequila is fermented in stainless steel tanks and twice distilled through a stainless pot with a copper coil.
To reach it’s añejo state, the liquid is rested in American White Oak casks for 15 and a half months and finally finished in French Oak barrels for an additional 2 and a half months.
The Bottom Line:
Warm, mellow, and oak-forward. A pleasure to sip with lots of shifting flavors worthy of exploring. But it lacks that spicy burn we’re looking for from a high-proof bottle.
6. Alma Del Jaguar — Nocturna Blanco 101 Proof (Taste 1)
I was first introduced to Alma Del Jaguar’s portfolio this year and while I’ve liked every bottle so far, this is easily my favorite of the entire collection. Nocturna is produced from single-estate agave distilled at NOM 1414, Feliciano Vivanco, and is made from agave slow-cooked in stone ovens, roller mill extracted, and made with local well water that is fermented with wild yeast in open-air stainless steel tanks.
It is certified additive-free by Tequila Matchmaker.
Bottom Line:
Warm and citrusy with a pleasing spicy finish and a nice addictive burn.
One of our favorite tequilas of 2023, Suerte’s Blanco Still Strength is a fantastic introduction to high-proof tequila. This tequila is produced at NOM 1520, Tequilero Simbolo, where it is the only brand in production.
The agave, harvested from the Los Valles region of Jalisco, is cooked low and slow in stone ovens for 52 hours, tahona extracted, and fermented in open-air stainless steel tanks before being twice distilled through a stainless pot with a copper coil.
The Bottom Line:
Big bold flavors. Grassy and vegetal forward, with a strong agave character.
Don Fulano is produced at NOM 1146, Tequileña, one of the finest distilleries out there right now so I’m not surprised how well this bottle performed in this blind taste test.
While I loved what I tasted, its general mellowness is keeping me from ranking it any higher. However, if you like sipping your high-proof liquors this might be a great option for you.
The agave here is cooked for 28-32 hours before being screw mill extracted, mixed with volcanic spring water, and fermented in open-air tanks for 72 to 96 hours.
The Bottom Line:
A nice candidate for those who love high-minerality liquids and value slow sip-worthy mellowness.
Cazcanes’ Blanco No. 9 popped up in our last blind taste test, and again, this bottle ranked excellently. That comes down to its highly vegetal flavor and nice supple finish. This is a great bottle and something you absolutely need to experience.
This additive-free tequila is produced at NOM 1614, Tequilera Tap, from agave cooked in a low-pressure autoclave, roller mill extracted, and mixed with natural spring water, which gives it a palpable minerality. The liquid is fermented in stainless steel tanks and twice distilled through a stainless pot with a copper coil.
The Bottom Line:
Vegetal, agave forward, mineral-rich, and mouthwateringly buttery. Cazcanes’ Blanco No. 9 is a great experience from nose, to palate, to finish and ideal for sipping and mixing into an elevated cocktail.
This is my very first taste of Alto Canto and I have to say, I’m thoroughly impressed. This high-proof blanco is a bit tamer than the rest of the bottles in this blind taste test at just 48% ABV, but the flavor offers a lot to latch onto.
The tequila is produced at NOM 1636, Tequila El Rocio, where it is the only brand in production. The agave is cooked in stone ovens, tahona extracted, mixed with natural spring water, fermented in wood tanks, and twice distilled via a copper pot. It is then bottled at the still.
Like every other brand in this ranking, it is certified additive-free by Tequila Matchmaker.
The Bottom Line:
Smooth and buttery with a gentle heat. There is a delicate vibe here that other high-proof bottles fail to achieve. A true pleasure to sip.
We’re big fans of Tapatío’s various expressions and the Blanco 110 is no different. The brand routinely places near the top of our rankings but this is the first time we’ve ever given the brand the top spot. We’re also happy to say it’s one of the cheapest bottles in the line-up, so bonus points there! That didn’t weigh in on our decision to give it to top spot, but we love to see that.
The tequila is produced at NOM 1139, Tapatio (the brand’s namesake!), and is made from agave slow-cooked in stone ovens, roller mill extracted, and mixed with deep well water. It has a wonderful blend of spicy sensations and an agave forward profile that makes it ideal for mixing but even as a slow sipper, this one was truly a pleasure to experience.
The Bottom Line:
A nice blend of cinnamon and chili spices with an agave-forward character and a rich buttery mouthfeel.
Early September isn’t usually the time for basketball beef, but when it does happen, it’s usually over something very dumb. That’s the case with Shaq and Rudy Gobert right now, as the Hall of Famer couldn’t resist taking another shot at the French big man when he was asked by his son Myles who is the WOAT (worst of all time) NBA player.
Shaq immediately responded Gobert, before being reminded of his similar disdain for Ben Simmons (calling him “another bum”). His explanation for having those two at the top is their production compared to their compensation. While not many call him the worst player in history, Shaq is far from alone in criticizing Gobert for how much he gets paid when considering his impact on the offensive end. It’s been the constant complaint about Gobert being on a max deal, and while he’s elite on the defensive end, his impact diminishing in the postseason has only further put a target on him.
Even so, calling him the WOAT is a wild statement, and Gobert unsurprisingly responded after the clip went viral on Thursday. Gobert quote tweeted the video and said he finds it “sad” that Shaq says things like this.
“It is sad to see someone that has accomplished as much as you did @SHAQ both in sport and business still be triggered by another man’s finances and accomplishments. I get the entertainment part but unlike other folks, you don’t need that stuff to stay relevant.”
I think it’s fair to say that Shaq (and plenty of other former players who now have joined the pundit class) certainly have a bit of jealousy with regards to the money guys make now, and that can color the way they talk about them. Shaq insisted he’s not hating, but it definitely can come off that way when your main point revolves around the money they make. As Gobert notes, Shaq in particular should be able to ignore that given he still makes a ton of money off endorsement deals, his TV gig, and various business ventures — it’s a frustration Kevin Durant has had with Shaq in the past for other comments about Gobert. It was pretty clear during the Western Conference Finals that there would not be any de-escalation of the beef between Shaq and Gobert (or Draymond Green and Gobert), and that’s further evidenced by this week’s addition to their history.
September is a unique month in the beer world. We turn more than the calendar between August and September, we end the month in a new season as well. This means that while summer is ending, the fall beer season is just beginning. While we’re still enjoying IPAs, pilsners, and lighter beers, the maltier and darker beers like Oktoberfest-style, pumpkin ales, amber ales, and even stouts are beginning to hit shelves.
With this influx of beer choices, September is a unique month for beer fans of all styles. There’s something available to suit every palate. But the mixing of end-of-summer and beginning-of-fall beers means this month, more so than most others, might seem a bit overwhelming. How can you possibly enjoy all that this epic month has to offer?
Lucky for you, we’re here to help. You don’t have to navigate the gateway to autumn all by yourself. We found the best Oktoberfest-style beers, IPAs, lagers, ales, pumpkin beers, and even stouts to enjoy this month. Keep scrolling to see them all and stock up for tailgate season, the holidays, and beyond. As a bonus, we even ranked them for you on overall flavor and seasonal appeal.
This seasonal beer is an elevated version of the classic Oktoberfest-style beer. This 5.2% ABV lager is Weyermann Pils, Vienna, Munich, Cara Hell, and Cara Red malt. It’s more than just a malty lager though, it gets earthy, floral aromas and flavors from the use of Tradition and Spalter Select hops. To add to that, this lager is matured in French oak to give it a unique flavor profile you’ll look forward to every year.
Tasting Notes:
On the nose, you’ll be greeted with fragrant biscuit-like malts, sweet caramel, honey, and floral, herbal hops. The palate continues this trend with toast barley, toffee, honey, floral, earthy hops, and a nice hint of oaky wood that swirls throughout. The finish is a nice mix of caramel sweetness and floral hop bitterness.
Bottom Line:
If you’re looking for a complex, unique, yet easy-drinking version of an Oktoberfest-style beer, look no further than Firestone Walker Oaktoberfest.
9. Von Ebert Fresh Hop Volatile Substance IPA
Von Ebert
ABV: 6.9%
Average Price: Limited Availability
The Beer:
If you’re an IPA drinker, you’ve probably already tried Von Ebert Volatile Substance. This award-winning IPA is a must-try for hop fans. This month, the brewery is releasing its seasonal Fresh Hop version. This elevated version of its popular Northwest IPA features Simcoe and Mosaic hops from Coleman Agriculture in St. Paul, Oregon.
Tasting Notes:
A lot is going on with this beer’s nose. There are scents of pineapple, citrus peels, mango, and floral, dank pine. The palate continues this trend with a ton of papaya, caramelized pineapple, tangerine, mango, passionfruit, grapefruit, and dank, resinous, sticky pine needles. It’s fresh, hoppy, and deserves to be enjoyed as you enjoy the last fleeting days of summer.
Bottom Line:
You might not immediately think about IPAs when you imagine fall or end-of-summer beers. But you absolutely should. Especially one as fresh, hoppy, and memorable as this one.
There’s a reason this beer is referred to as “Copper Legend”. Available from August through October, Jack’s Abby’s annual take on the classic Oktoberfest-style beer belongs on your fall must-try list. Brewed with a “marriage of caramel, sweet toasty malts”, this is a smooth, malty, balanced beer perfect for the fall weather ahead.
Tasting Notes:
The nose is welcoming yet mild. There are notes of toasted grain, caramel candy, bready malts, and lightly floral, herbal hops. The palate ramps up the flavor a little more with hints of bready malts, sweet caramel, honey, and floral, earthy, lightly piney hops at the end. The finish is sweet, gently bitter, and leaves you craving more.
Bottom Line:
This is an easy-drinking, subtle beer. It’s not lacking in flavor though as everything is working in perfect unison. It’s truly an outstanding take on the Oktoberfest style.
With a name like “Haunted House”, you might assume that this beer is more gimmick than substance, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. This 6.66% ABV hoppy dark ale is brewed with Allagash 2-Row malted barley blend, Victory, Carapils, and Blackprinz malt as well as raw wheat and roasted barley. It’s hopped with a combination of Nugget, Cascade, and Northern Brewer hops.
Tasting Notes:
Nosing this beer, you’ll be met with surprising aromas of roasted barley, freshly brewed coffee, chocolate, and a nice hit of dank pine needles. The palate continues this unique, but pleasant trend. There are flavors of roasted barley, espresso, dark chocolate, light citrus peels, and a ton of floral, resinous pine. The finish is a mix of roasted malts and lightly bitter pine.
Bottom Line:
This is a very interesting beer. It’s dark, malty, and has a ton of roasted barley aroma and flavor. But it’s also masterfully hopped. It has to be tasted to be believed.
There are no seasonal beers more divisive than pumpkin beer. Either you hate it or love it. If you’re in the latter camp, one of the best choices is Southern Tier Pumpking. This big, bold, 8.6% ABV imperial pumpkin ale is brewed with 2-row pale, Munich, and C60 malts as well as CTZ hops. It’s fermented with ale yeast as well as pumpkins and various seasonal spices.
Tasting Notes:
Available from August through October, this beer is well-known for its nose of pie crust vanilla beans, ripe pumpkins, cinnamon, and clove. The palate continues this trend with biscuit-like malts, cinnamon sugar, cloves, allspices, vanilla, and pumpkin. The finish is a nice mix of spicy sweetness and gentle bitterness.
Bottom Line:
This beer has been described as a “pumpkin pie in a glass” and that couldn’t be more accurate. If that’s your jam, this is the fall beer for you.
If you’re a fan of Troegs’ popular Perpetual IPA, you’ll love its recently released Double Perpetual IPA. This 9.5% ABV double IPA is brewed with Cascade, Citra, Cashmere, Chinook, Bravo, and Nugget hops as well as Crystal, Munich, and Pilsner malts. The result is a tropical fruit, citrus, and dank pine-centric beer.
Tasting Notes:
Take a moment to breathe in this beer’s nose and you’ll be greeted with toasted malt, caramel, citrus peels, and dank, earthy, herbal pine needles. Sipping it reveals notes of caramel malt, toasted grains, grapefruit, pineapple, tangerine, honey, and resinous, prickly pine. The finish is dank, piney, and pleasantly bitter.
Bottom Line:
If you’re a fan of double IPAs (or IPAs in general), this is a beer you will want to add to your September rotation. The folks at Troegs have crafted another memorable beer.
4. Weldwerks Sweet Disposition
Weldwerks
ABV: 13.8%
Average Price: Limited Availability
The Beer:
It might feel warm and sunny in most of the country, but the evenings are growing ever colder as we move into September. This means there is room for a stout or two. Colorado’s Weldwerks recently re-released its popular Weldwerks Sweet Disposition. This collaboration with Mikerphone Brewing is an imperial stout that was matured in Weller 12-year-old bourbon casks for more than 30 months. After aging, the brewers add pure Vermont maple syrup and Madagascar vanilla beans.
Tasting Notes:
This beer has a very inviting, interesting nose. There are scents of chocolate, coffee, vanilla beans, maple syrup, and a boozy, bourbon kick. Drinking it only adds to the experience. Warming and boozy, there are flavors of sweet bourbon, toasted vanilla beans, dark chocolate, maple candy, roasted malts, and oaky wood. The finish is warming, sweet, and leaves you craving more. What else would you want to sip on an unseasonably cool night?
Bottom Line:
If you’re anything like us, you’re more than ready to dive head-first into barrel-aged stout season. Weldwerks Sweet disposition, with its borderline dessert-like flavors, is an epic start.
We all eagerly await Oktoberfest season as there are a handful of notable craft options we look forward to every year. One of our favorites is Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest. This isn’t your average American version of the popular German beer style though. Every year, this California-based brewery collaborates with a German brewery to make its beer. This year, it’s Brauerei Gutmann.
Tasting Notes:
On the nose, you’ll be treated to fresh-baked bread, caramel malts, honey, and a nice hint of floral, Noble hops. Drinking it brings forth notes of biscuit and bready malts, sweet caramel, honey, and floral, flavorful Noble hops. The finish is earthy, herbal, and lightly bitter. All in all, this is a very well-balanced take on the classic German style.
Bottom Line:
This is truly an old-world meets new-world beer. Even if you usually prefer to stick to authentic German Oktoberfest beers, give this collaboration a try. You’ll be glad you did.
2. Tailgate Tropic Wizard Juicy IPA
Tailgate
ABV: 6%
Average Price: Limited Availability
The Beer:
There’s still time for hazy, juicy IPAs this month, right? Who are we kidding? We drink hazy IPAs all year long. If you’re like us, seek out Tailgate Tropic Wizard Juicy IPA. This cloudy, unfiltered IPA was launched at the end of August and features a palate of citrus peels, tropical fruits, and sticky pine.
Tasting Notes:
The nose is a classic hazy IPA with a ton of grapefruit, caramelized pineapple, tangerine, lime peel, and various other tropical fruit flavors. There’s a little more balance with the palate. You’ll find a nice caramel malt backbone followed by hints of pineapple, orange peel, mango, guava, and dank pine. The finish is a mix of tropical fruit sweetness and lightly prickly pine.
Bottom Line:
If you spent all summer drinking New England-style IPAs, why not make room for one more before the weather turns cold? This is definitely a juicy, fruity, balanced IPA to stave off the fall chill as long as possible.
Left Hand Sawtooth might not be a new release, but it’s absolutely a beer well-suited for bridging the gap between summer and fall. Brewed with 2-row base malt, Crystal, Munich, Black malt, and wheat, this 5.3% ABV amber ale gets hoppy aroma and flavor from the addition of CTZ, US Goldings, Cascade, and Willamette hops.
Tasting Notes:
This award-winning beer begins with a nose of toasted malts, candied nuts, dried fruit, and floral, herbal hops. The palate is a mix of toasted malts, caramel, dried fruits, honey, orange peels, and floral hops. The finish is a mix of malt sweetness and hop bitterness. It’s a very well-balanced beer that ends with a crisp dryness that leaves you wanting another.
Bottom Line:
If you’re looking for a beer to bridge the gap between summer and fall, this is it. It has the malt backbone needed for colder weather and the hop aroma and flavor that’s suited for summer weather.
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