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I’ve mentioned it in this past, but in the U.S. alone there are over 9,000 breweries. That’s an awful lot of IPAs, stouts, fruited sours, wheat beers, pilsners, and myriad other styles being brewed around the nation. Even if you don’t live in an area littered with breweries — and so many cities are these days — there’s still a good chance you’ve got a handful in easy driving distance.

And if you know anything about these many, many craft breweries, it’s that they like to launch new beers. A lot.

The idea of trying all of the beers produced by American craft brewers each year isn’t even remotely possible. But being the responsible beer writer I am, I’ve done my best to sample as many new beers in 2021 as I could. My year was filled with countless sours, stouts, lagers, and scores of IPAs (West Coast, milkshake, hazy, and everything in between).

Throughout the year, I’ve kept copious notes and done my best to find the best possible beers to share with you as you await the dawn of a new year (and prep for the holidays). Below, you’ll find thirty of my favorite beers of 2021, ranked. Ranking them wasn’t a simple task, because different beer styles appeal to me at different times, depending on my mood, the food I’m eating, etc. Nevertheless, I persevered — keep scrolling to see which beer took home the top spot.

See also: The Top Five UPROXX Beer Posts of 2021

• Beer Judges, Writers, And Brewers Name The One Craft Beer They Always Return To
• Craft Beer Experts Name The Absolute Best Fall Beers On The Market
• Craft Beer Blind Taste Test: Which Hugely Popular IPA Reigns Supreme?
• The Ultimate Beer-Lover’s Gift Guide For The 2021 Holiday Shopping Season
• We Blind Taste Tested Hazy IPAs To Find The Best Of The Bunch

30) Urban South Throwback Vibes

ABV: 6%

Average Price: $10 for a six-pack

The Beer:

With a name like Throwback Vibes you should be pretty sure what you’re about to get into. Created to be a classic West Coast IPA, this beer from New Orleans’ Urban South Brewery was brewed with Citra, Galaxy, and Simcoe hops.

Tasting Notes:

This is a big, brash West Coast IPA from the get-go. The nose is filled with aromas of pine, citrus floral hops, and slight bready malts. The palate continues this trend with orange peel, wet grass, caramel malts, oats, and piney, supremely dank hops. The finish is floral, citrusy, and ends with a nice kick of hop bitterness.

Bottom Line:

This isn’t a beer for people who hate IPAs. It’s a hoppy, bold, bitter, piney, dank homage to the hop in all of its West Coast glory. That said, it might be a little abrasive for some drinkers.

29) Bell’s Tropical Oberon

ABV: 5.8%

Average Price: $10 for a four-pack

The Beer:

Wheat beer fans eagerly await the arrival of Bell’s Oberon every spring. But did you know the brand also makes limited edition variations on the beloved beer? This summer, the Michigan-based brewery dropped Tropical Oberon, a wheat beer brewed with passionfruit, mango, and guava.

Tasting Notes:

This beer is like summer in a bottle. Right away, you’ll find scents of sweet wheat, mango, pineapple, and slight caramel malts. The palate is fruit-forward with lime zest, passionfruit, guava, mango, and various other juicy tropical fruits taking center stage. The finish is slightly tangy, tart, and pleasing.

Bottom Line:

This beer was released in the summer and you’ll have trouble finding a bottle now. If you manage it, you will enjoy a juicy, fruity wheat beer that will make you forget about the winter. It’s for fans of fruity beers only. Others needs not apply.

28) Ebbs Lager No. 3

ABV: 5.6%

Average Price: Limited Availability

The Beer:

Sometimes, in a world filled with IPAs and bold, rich stouts, you just want something that tastes like classic beer. Ebbs Lager No. 3 is exactly that. Released this fall, Ebbs Lager No. 3 is a Munich-style Helles lager that’s extremely crisp, refreshing, and crushable.

Tasting Notes:

This beer smells exactly like the way you imagine beer to smell. There are aromas of sweet corn, cereal grains, crisp citrus, caramel malts, and slightly floral hops. The flavor is just like the nose and that’s a great thing. It’s malt-forward, refreshing, and has notable flavors of sweet cereal, lime zest, and not-at-all bitter, noble hops exploding on the last sip.

Bottom Line:

This beer is limited edition and might not even be available anymore. But the brewery makes other lagers and they’re all equally crisp and refreshing. This classic lager could have ended up at any spot on this list. It’s just a little simpler than some higher ranked choices.

27) Hi-Wire Gingerbread 10W-40

ABV: 8%

Average Price: $15 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans

The Beer:

Released in November (just in time for the holidays), this eight percent ABV imperial stout was brewed to taste just like Christmas with the addition of ginger, cinnamon, vanilla, and lactose. It completely lives up to the hype. It’s indulgent, spicy, and sweet, and surprisingly crushable.

Tasting Notes:

This beer is as close to gingerbread in beer form as you’re likely to find. The nose begins with aromas of ginger candy, cinnamon, vanilla, and toffee. The palate is loaded with notes of cinnamon sugar, toasted vanilla beans, buttercream frosting, milk chocolate, and gingerbread.

Bottom Line:

This beer is creamy, rich, and filled with holidays flavors. If you’re not into seasonal beers filled with peppermint, this is the holiday beer for you. It’s just a very specific beer for a specific taste.

26) Allagash Woven In Time

ABV: 5.7%

Average Price: Limited Availability

The Beer:

Maine’s Allagash is a big name in the beer world. Known for its award-winning brews (especially the always amazing Allagash White), it also releases limited-edition beers throughout the year. Woven in Time is one of these beers. Brewed in collaboration with DC’s Sankofa Beer, this dark ale was brewed with millet and smoked maple syrup.

Tasting Notes:

On the nose, you’ll find notes of maple candy, bready malts, brown sugar, and cocoa powder. The palate is a symphony of milk chocolate, toffee, raisins, dried cherries, caramel, and slight campfire smoke that weaves its way throughout.

Bottom Line:

If you get a chance to try this beer, do it. It’s smoky, sweet, and a truly unique beer that you won’t soon forget. It’s complex and doesn’t really seem to fit into simply one category.

25) Pure Only Yesterday

ABV: 4.8%

Average Price: $17 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans

The Beer:

If you’ve never tried a beer from San Diego’s Pure Brewing Project, you’re really missing out. I could have easily added one of their epic IPAs to this list. But I chose its sessionable Only Yesterday Pub Ale (which features Goldings and East Kent hops) because I enjoyed it that much.

Tasting Notes:

Nosing this beer reminds a drinker of stepping into a classic English pub. There are aromas of biscuity malts, wet grass, crisp apples, and light, floral hops. The flavor is all caramel malts, shortbread, herbal tea, and stone fruits. The finish is crisp and perfectly bitter.

Bottom Line:

If you enjoy a nice, classic pub ale and you want to try something besides Boddington’s, make it a surprisingly well-crafted example from San Diego’s Pure Brewing Project. It’s just that, a simple, elegant pub ale.

24) Firestone Walker Cinnamon Dolce Nitro Stout

ABV: 6%

Average Price: $10 for a six-pack

The Beer:

While California’s Firestone Walker is well-known for its IPA prowess, the brewery has been launching flavored stouts in the last few years. The most recent is its Cinnamon Dolce Nitro Stout. This limited-edition six percent ABV nitro milk stout was conditioned with vanilla beans from Madagascar and cinnamon sticks.

Tasting Notes:

Decadent aromas of fudge, freshly brewed coffee, vanilla beans, and spicy cinnamon are prevalent on the nose. Taking a sip reveals flavors of crème brulee, cinnamon sugar, toasted vanilla beams, and sweet milk chocolate. The ABV is surprisingly low for how dessert-like this beer is.

Bottom Line:

If you want to enjoy an indulgent stout without the knock-you-on-your-butt alcohol content, this cinnamon and vanilla-forward stout is for you. It’s a little strong on the cinnamon for some palates. Otherwise it would be ranked higher.

23) Equilibrium Sea Science

ABV: 8.5%

Average Price: $10 for a 16-ounce can

The Beer:

This 8.5 percent double IPA is a collaboration with Vitamin Sea Brewing. It’s brewed with wheat, oats, and Idaho 7 and Citra Whirlpool hops before being dry-hopped with Rakau, Galaxy, Wakatu, and Nelson hops. It’s hazy, juicy, and fruity.

Tasting Notes:

Complex aromas of lemon curd, lime zest, orange peel, and slight, floral, tangy hops meet your nose. The palate is filled with notes of guava, mango, pineapple, bolder citrus flavor, and just a hint of bitter hops at the end. But not enough to take away from the overall juiciness.

Bottom Line:

If you’re a fan of bold citrus and tropical fruit flavors and you enjoy hazy, juicy beers, definitely seek out this monster of a brew. A truly memorable beer.

22) Hop Butcher IPA Your Way

ABV: 7%

Average Price: $15 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans

The Beer:

Released in September, Hop Butcher IPA Your Way was made in collaboration with Half Acre. Brewed with Citra, Simcoe, Amarillo, and Phantasm hops, it’s a hop-lovers dream beer. It’s hazy, juicy, and loaded with citrus and tropical fruit notes.

Tasting Notes:

Then nose is highlighted by grapefruit juice, citrus peel, and dank, piney hops. Take a sip and you’ll be greeted with floral, ripe hops, tangerine, pineapple, mango, and a gentle, bitter resin at the end that rounds everything together nicely.

Bottom Line:

Whenever I see a collaboration between two breweries that I enjoy, I usually try to grab a few cans. This hazy, citrusy IPA from Hop Butcher and Half Acre didn’t disappoint. It could have been ranked anywhere on this list.

21) Our Mutual Friend Stacked Universe

ABV: 7.5%

Average Price: Limited Availability

The Beer:

Sometimes you find a beer that just tastes exactly like you’d hope it would when you crack it open. This is the case with Our Mutual Friend’s Stacked Universe. This 7.5 percent West Coast IPA was brewed with malts from Colorado (where the brewery is located) as well as Idaho 7, Citra, Mosaic, and El Dorado hops.

Tasting Notes:

Nosing this beer reveals scents of orange peel, lemon curd, lime zest, dank pine, and slight tropical fruitiness. The palate is classic West Coast IPA with hops taking center stage. It’s highlighted by tangerine, grapefruit, pineapple, dry hay, and a nice wallop of bitter, piney, dank hops.

Bottom Line:

This is a beer for classic West Coast IPA fans. The kind of drinkers who aren’t afraid to embrace the spicy, piney, dank side of beer. The bitterness doesn’t appeal to all drinkers, though.

20) Boulevard Magic Drip

ABV: 13.5%

Average Price: $14 for a four-pack

The Beer:

This is a really complicated beer. In the simplest terms, it’s a barrel-aged wheated imperial stout that’s brewed with pale, dark, and crystal malts, Magnum hops, and dark roast Colombian coffee. But it’s so much more than that. It’s also matured between eight and 18 months in a variety of bourbon barrels.

Tasting Notes:

This beer smells like bourbon straight up. The other aromas are vanilla, caramel, and freshly brewed coffee. Taking a sip reveals more sweet bourbon flavor along with milk chocolate, espresso, toasted vanilla beans, and rich, woody oak.

Bottom Line:

If you’re a fan of some of the other barrel-aged stouts on the market, you’ll want to try this epic, flavorful, rich stout. In a crowded marketplace, this is a great, new gem.

19) New Belgium Four Roses Oakspire 2021

ABV: 9%

Average Price: $15 for a six-pack

The Beer:

New Belgium is well-known for its beloved Fat Tire Amber Ale. But there’s a lot more to this Colorado-based brewery. Its yearly Oakspire release is worth waiting for. This nine percent ABV bourbon barrel ale was brewed with Pale, Munich, and Caramel 80 malts, as well as rye, roasted barley, and Nugget and Sabro hops. It’s infused with charred oak and bourbon-soaked spirals from Four Roses.

Tasting Notes:

Vanilla beans, toffee, bourbon, and caramel malts greet your nose before your first sip. On the palate, you’ll find shaved coconut, stone fruits, raisins, candied orange peels, sticky toffee, and toasted vanilla beans. The finish is malty, sweet, and warming.

Bottom Line:

When bourbon and beer come together, the beer is usually stout. This malty ale is a nice change of pace from the usual bourbon-barrel stouts and porters. That said, fans of traditional barrel-aged beers might not be able to wrap their heads around this one.

18) Creature Comforts Mind Matter

ABV: 4.7%

Average Price: Limited Availability

The Beer:

Athens, Georgia’s Creature Comforts make some of my favorite beers including Tritonia and Cosmik Debris. It also makes plenty of limited-release beers that are just as exceptional. Recently, it launched Mind Matter, a hazy, sessionable IPA brewed with Idaho 7, Strata, and Azacca hops.

Tasting Notes:

This hazy beer smells just like you’d hope it would. There are aromas of ripe cantaloupe, tangerine, lime zest, and floral hops. Drinking it brings forth dank pine, orange peel, pineapple, other tropical flavors, and light lemongrass. The finish is crisp and a nice combination of fruity sweetness and bitter, floral hops.

Bottom Line:

Hazy, juicy, and well-balanced. This is a beer for hazy IPA fans who like a mix of citrus and tropical fruit flavors. This one ticks all the boxes.

17) Modern Times Cosmic Rays

ABV: 6.5%

Average Price: $13 for a four-pack

The Beer:

Modern Times Cosmic Rays was one of my favorite beers I tried this year. Brewed with Simcoe, Citra, Sabro, and Ekuenot hops along with 2-row malts, oats, and white wheat, it’s a complex, fruity well-made beer.

Tasting Notes:

For a beer touted as a juicy, hazy brew, the nose is surprisingly malt forward. There are notable aromas of caramel, bready malts, citrus zest, and dank, slightly herbal smelling hops. The flavor follows suit with notes of pineapple, mango, grapefruit, and a nice, very dank, resinous hoppy finish.

Bottom Line:

This beer is herbal, juicy, and totally dank. It’s a tremendous example of just how good a New England IPA can be. It’s a littler more piney and bitter than some hazy IPA fans enjoy.

16) Almanac Ugly Sweater LOVE Hazy IPA

ABV: 6.1%

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

The Beer:

This limited-edition hazy, juicy 6.1 percent IPA was brewed with Sabro, Mosaic, and Citra hops. For the holidays, it’s sold in a can adorned with a classic, cheesy ugly sweeter. For some reason, this makes this citrus and tropical fruit-centric beer taste even better.

Tasting Notes:

This winter IPA has a nose that works for cooler weather. A nice break from maltier seasonal beers, it’s loaded with scents of fresh melon, tangerine, lemon zest, and slightly floral hops. The palate is juicy, sweet, and filled with shaved coconut, watermelon, mango, grapefruit, and more spicy hops.

Bottom Line:

Grab an ugly sweater and crack open this juicy, hazy, hoppy, tropical fruit and citrus-driven beer. You’ll be happy you did. Who says you can’t drink IPAs during the holidays?

15) Weldwerks Mango Lassi Berliner

ABV: 4.7%

Average Price: Limited Availability

The Beer:

Everyone once in a while you sip a beer that makes you rethink your whole idea of what a beer can be. This is what happened with Weldwerks Mango Lassi Berliner. This Berlin-style sour beer is brewed with green cardamon, milk sugar, and mango. It’s unique, tart, and memorable.

Tasting Notes:

This is a very fruity beer. The nose is dominated by guava, mango, apricot, and slight lemongrass at the back end. The flavor is heavy on the mango, but there are also notes of ripe pineapple, dried apricot, guava, and slight yeasty sweetness. The finish is creamy, tangy, slightly tart, and really fruity,

Bottom Line:

This is an amazing fruited sour. It’s not overly tart and the mango and other tropical fruit flavors shine through. It’s definitely unique and needs to be tasted to really understand just how special it is. It only lands here on the rankings because not everyone loves fruited sour beers.

14) Slo Brew Holidaze IPA

ABV: 7%

Average Price: $11 for a four-pack

The Beer:

This seven percent West Coast IPA wasn’t created to be imbibed in the midst of the summer heat. Instead, it was created for hops fans who refuse to stop drinking IPAs during the holidays. Brewed with Citra hops and fresh spruce tips, and orange peel, it’s juicy, fruity, and filled with citrus and pine goodness.

Tasting Notes:

This beer smells like Christmas. The aroma is really pine-centric with notes of candied orange peel, and ripe grapefruit. Drinking it reveals more spicy spruce, dank pine, orange peel, citrus zest, and just the right amount of hop bitterness to hold everything together nicely.

Bottom Line:

If you’re looking for a Christmas-like IPA to drink before the New Year, look no further than Slo Brew Holidaze IPA. Wintry IPAS are trending and this one is a great example of the style.

13) Revolution Shop Talk

ABV: 7%

Average Price: Limited Availability

The Beer:

Brewed in collaboration with 18th Street Brewery for the Barrel & Flow Festival, this seven percent ABV American IPA was brewed with Chinook, Amarillo, Centennial, and Cryo-Simcoe hops. All proceeds went to a local charity called My Block, My Hood, My City.

Tasting Notes:

This is a complex beer, and the nose shows it off well. There are notable aromas of fresh flowers, ripe grapefruit, orange zest, caramel malts, and a forest of pine trees. On the palate, you’ll find notes of bready malts, pine tar, fruit esters, and resinous, herbal hops to complete this memorable flavor profile.

Bottom Line:

This limited-edition beer is something special. It’s hoppy, piney, and has a strong caramel malty backbone that ties everything together. Bonus points for being made for a good cause.

12) Elysian Skålrok

ABV: 4.9%

Average Price: $10 for a six-pack

The Beer:

Seattle’s Elysian Brewing is well-known for its mix of classic and over-the-top brews. But Skålrok is taking this to a whole new level. Brewed with Cashmere, Sabro, and Chinook hops, 2-Row and Honey malts as well as flaked rice, and golden naked oats, the main event is the Kveik yeast.

Tasting Notes:

The nose is a classic pale ale. There are aromas of pine, orange zest, grapefruit, and floral hops, The flavor is similar to a classic American pale ale, but with grassier and grapefruit-forward along with tangerine, pine needles, and a slightly bitter, crisp finish that leaves you wanting more.

Bottom Line:

While this beer was released this month, it’s the kind of citrus-fueled pale ale that would be just as well-suited for mid-summer drinking. It’s unique and interesting and deserves a try.

11) Monday Night Benevolent Overlord

ABV: 12.2%

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

The Beer:

With a name like Monday Night Benevolent Overlord, you know you’re in for an in-your-face, bold beer. This beer doesn’t fit that bill. This 12.2 percent imperial stout gets added flavor from the addition of coffee and hazelnuts and deserves your respect for it.

Tasting Notes:

Nosing this beer, you’ll be greeted with aromas of vanilla beans, fudge, caramel, coffee beans, and a gentle, nutty sweetness. Sipping it reveals flavors of milk chocolate, vanilla cookies, freshly brewed coffee, roasted hazelnuts, and caramel malts.

Bottom Line:

This epic imperial stout is equal parts nutty, chocolatey, and coffee-centric. It’s a bold, full-flavored beer that needs to be imbibed to be believed.

10) Prairie Sundae Service

ABV: 13%

Average Price: $19 for a 12-ounce bottle

The Beer:

This imperial stout from Oklahoma’s Prairie Artisan Ales was created to literally taste like a classic ice cream sundae in a pint glass. They did this by brewing an imperial stout with fudge, chocolate, sprinkles, vanilla, peanuts, and even cherries before barrel aging it.

Tasting Notes:

There might not be any more aptly named beer ever. Taking a moment to nose it and you’re immediately met with scents of fudge, vanilla beans, toffee, and slight, spicy cinnamon and other spices. The palate is more of the same with Funfetti, yellow cake, milk chocolate, toasted marshmallows, toffee, with slight wintry spices coming through at the end.

Bottom Line:

This is a sublimely indulgent beer. When craving a loaded ice cream sundae, you could simply drink this beer instead and you’ll be satisfied and maybe won’t end up with a stomach ache.

9) Half Acre Tend

ABV: 6.8%

Average Price: $17.50 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans

The Beer:

Available in late October, this 6.8 percent ABV winter IPA was brewed with specialty malts as well as Mosaic and Simcoe hops. It was crafted to be enjoyed around a roaring fire on a chilly or cold winter day as long as you enjoy hoppy IPAs as opposed to malty, dark stouts.

Tasting Notes:

Nosing this beer brings forth aromas of ripe berries, lemon zest, freshly baked bread, caramel, and dank, resinous pine. The flavor is littered with notes of caramel malts, tangerine, juicy grapefruit, resin, ripe stone fruits, and floral, dank, slightly bitter hops.

Bottom Line:

Winter IPAs are the best. While you can’t go wrong with a barrel-aged stout as the weather cools down, we always look forward to winter IPAs like Half Acre Tend. This is one of the best.

8) Ommegang Super Kriek

ABV: 7%

Average Price: $16 for a 750ml bottle

The Beer:

We all know the song “Super Freak” by the late Rick James, but did you know Brewery Ommegang made a beer called Super Kriek? Well, you should because this Oud Bruin ale (that was aged for years in oak barrels at Liefmans Brewery in Belgium) mixed with a Belgian-style kriek with cherries is something special.

Tasting Notes:

Bold aromas of tart cherries, oak, fruit esters, and a bit of funky yeast are notable on the nose. The flavors on the palate are those of tart, sour cherries, Belgian yeast, sweet malts, woody oak, and wine-like tannins. The finish is slightly sour and filled with tart black cherries.

Bottom Line:

This blend of American and Belgian beers is seamless, tart, and extremely noteworthy. Grab a bottle and drink it instead of champagne on New Year’s Eve. You’ll be glad you did.

7) Pipeworks Phantom Unicorn

ABV: 14.3%

Average Price: Limited Availability

The Beer:

This is a special beer that needs to be imbibed to be believed. This 14.3 percent American imperial stout is aged in ex-bourbon barrels with vanilla beans, cacao nibs, and lactose. The result is a dessert-like chocolate bomb of a beer.

Tasting Notes:

There’s a lot of chocolate on this beer’s nose. On top of that are toasted vanilla beans, sweet bourbons, and oaky wood. The palate swirls with notes of candied almonds, milk chocolate, vanilla essence, and slight wintry spices. It’s boozy and loaded with chocolate and vanilla.

Bottom Line:

This is a beer for fans of bold chocolate flavors. While the vanilla is there, the hot cocoa flavor of the chocolate is much more dominant.

6) Stone 25th Anniversary Triple IPA

ABV: 12.5%

Average Price: $10 for a 22-ounce bottle

The Beer:

Few breweries are more well-known for their IPAs than California’s Stone Brewing. That’s why it was no surprise that they celebrated their 25th anniversary with a 12.5 percent ABV triple IPA brewed with Centennial, Citra, Chinook, Cascade, Belma, Simcoe, Amarillo, and Sabro hops.

Tasting Notes:

This triple IPA’s nose is very fruit-forward with aromas of ripe pineapple, fresh peaches, mango, tangerine, grapefruit, and dank pine. Drinking it reveals flavors of lemongrass, orange zest, caramelized pineapple, stone fruits, and a gut-punch of resinous, dank, bitter hops to finish everything off.

Bottom Line:

What more could we ask for from Stone Brewing than this hoppy monster of an IPA. There’s no better way to celebrate one of the true IPA innovators than to drink this beer. One of the best IPAs of the year.

5) Oskar Blues BA21 Vol. 5

ABV: 13.3%

Average Price: $20 for a four-pack

The Beer:

This 13.3 percent barrel-aged imperial stout is aged with a blend of hand-selected coffee beans and vanilla beans. It’s robust, rich, and on par with drinking a vanilla mocha coffee except instead of simply getting caffeine, you also get to enjoy warming booze.

Tasting Notes:

Complex aromas of pipe tobacco, chocolate, caramel malts, vanilla beans, and freshly brewed coffee are prevalent on the nose. Take a sip and you’ll find hints of bourbon sweetness, toasted vanilla beans, rich oaky wood, and a ton of sweet milk chocolate.

Bottom Line:

Many bigger-name barrel-aged beers seem to get a lot of press, but you shouldn’t sleep on Oskar Blues. This is a well-made, memorable, complex barrel-aged stout that deserves your attention.

4) Hopworks Grizzly Snacks

ABV: 6%

Average Price: $6 for a 16-ounce can

The Beer:

We’re not exactly sure what a grizzly snack is, but we do know this flavorful sour ale is brewed with Lemondrop hops, 2-row, Pale High Color, Dark Munich, C60, and Dextra Pils malts as well as blackberries, raspberries, and marionberries.

Tasting Notes:

Ripe berry notes are unsurprisingly prevalent on the nose. There are also fruit esters, woody tannins, and stone fruits. The palate is loaded with blackberries, marionberries, and raspberries all working in unison to create a beer that starts tangy and sour and works its way into sweet and dry.

Bottom Line:

Sometimes sour beers can be just that: sour. This beer does a great job of being sour at times but also having enough fruity flavor to make it multi-dimensional. It’s the kind of beer you’d want to give your fruited sour-hating friends.

3) Paperback Bunny With a Chainsaw

ABV: 8.2%

Average Price: $7 for a 16-ounce can

The Beer:

If you’re walking through the beer aisle and you see a beer called Bunny With a Chainsaw with an image of a literal bunny carrying a chainsaw, pick it up. This 8.2 percent double IPA is hazy, juicy, and brewed with Mosaic, Idaho 7, and Cascade Hops.

Tasting Notes:

This beer’s nose is a nice mix of wet grass, tangerine, lime zest, orange peels, and herbal, floral hops. The palate is fruitier with notes of mango, guava, pineapple, lemon curd, cereal grains, and nice, gentle tart, bitter hops at the finish.

Bottom Line:

This is a well-rounded, evenly balanced New England IPA that lives up to its bold, over-the-top name. Plus the artwork is pretty awesome.

2) Clown Shoes Luchadore at Sunrise

ABV: 10.5%

Average Price: Limited Availability

The Beer:

Clown Shoes is known for its boundary-pushing beers. But that’s not such a bad thing when it completely works out. Its Luchadore at Sunrise is a great example of this. This 10.5 percent imperial stout is aged in ex-bourbon barrels along with vanilla, cinnamon, and a spicy kick from ancho and chipotle chilis.

Tasting Notes:

Complex aromas of sweet bourbon, spicy cinnamon, chocolate, and a spicy backbone greet your nostrils. When you drink it, you find hints of vanilla cake, cinnamon sugar, toffee, dark chocolate, and spicy hot pepper heat throughout.

Bottom Line:

This is an interesting beer. While it has to bourbon, chocolate, and vanilla sweetness drinkers expect from a classic barrel-aged stout, it has an added kick from the hot peppers that adds a gentle warming nature to the beer. The best stout I drank this year.

1) Toppling Goliath Soul Hunter

ABV: 7.8%

Average Price: $8 for a 16-ounce can

The Beer:

Toppling Goliath is the kind of brewery that puts out a new beer and people just go crazy trying to get their hands on it. Toppling Goliath Soul Hunter is worthy of this level of excitement. Brewed with Simcoe, Cryo, and Riwaka hops, it’s juicy, hazy, and highly memorable.

Tasting Notes:

A lot is going on with this beer’s nose. It starts with complimentary aromas of wet grass, pineapple, mango, tangerine, citrus peel, and bright pine. The taste is dominated by fruity flavors like juicy pineapple, ripe grapefruit, lemongrass, dank pine, and caramel malts. It all ends with a mellow mixture of fruity sweetness and light hop bitterness.

Bottom Line:

This beer is the equivalent of a tropical party in a beer can. It’s filled with juicy tropical fruit and citrus flavors that are complemented by just the right amount of bitter hops. It’s the tastiest beer overall I drank all year.

This week in pop music saw several upbeat jams from today’s top stars. FKA Twigs kicked off a new era with a collaboration with The Weeknd, Jhene Aiko shared her version of a holiday jingle, and Joe Jonas fired off some inspiration in the form of a new single.

Each week, Uproxx rounds up the best new pop releases. Listen up.

FKA Twigs, The Weeknd — “Tears In The Club”

FKA Twigs officially kicked off a new era of music this week with the empowering breakup anthem “Tears In The Club” with The Weeknd. The new single is her version of a revved-up club banger. Over a thunderous beat, Twigs sings of trying to rid herself of a toxic relationship by dancing at a club — but still ending up in tears anyway. “I’m always pushing to level up to MY best self, and I’ve pushed so hard to find my capri sun,” Twigs said alongside the new track, “I’m so proud of this music.”

Jhene Aiko — “Wrap Me Up”

Jhene Aiko offered her fans a gift for the holidays in the form of the loved-up single “Wrap Me Up.” The sparkling tune isn’t quite the traditional holiday jingle, rather it’s a sultry ballad about missing her boo during the holiday season. But it still features classic elements of a Christmas song, like airy bells and light piano keys.

Joe Jonas — “Go It Alone”

Joe Jonas penned the upbeat anthem “Go It Alone” for the soundtrack to the upcoming animated film Rumble. The movie is set in a world where gentle monsters regularly participate in sports, including wrestling. Combining electric guitars and shining melodies, the song speaks to the importance of giving your dreams your all.

Rebecca Black, Slayyyter — “Read My Mind”

This week, hyperpop icons Rebecca Black and Slayyyter teamed up for the wildly energetic single “Read My Mind.” The collaboration flexes the strength of both singers, combining hard-edged electric guitars with soaring melodies to craft a song that expertly combines elements of rock and pop alike. “Slayyyter has been one of my favorite artists over the past few years and I loved every second of making this song with her,” Black said. “After perfecting this song over the course of a year, its magic, it’s fantastical and everything I’d hoped for to kick off this new era.”

Camilo — “Pesadilla”

Not only is Colombian singer Camilo known for his epic mustache, but he’s also known for crafting traditional love songs with a modern twist. His latest, “Pesadilla,” is no different. The song starts slow, as Camilo serenades listeners with a similar acoustic guitar. But soon after, a fun and funky beat drops, turning the song up a notch and taking it to new and unexpected heights.

Steve Aoki, Global Dan — “Stars Don’t Shine”

Award-winning EDM artist Steve Aoki teamed up with east coast melodic rapper Global Dan for the infectious new single “Stars Don’t Shine.” The dance-ready track puts Global Dan’s auto-tuned flow at the forefront of the track while Aoki’s resonating beat drops and quick-tempoed synths craft a song that will definitely get anyone in a pumped-up mood.

Pia Mia — “Whole Thing”

One lucky fan got early access to Pia Mia’s new track “Whole Thing” by purchasing her historic NFT earlier this week, but the song is now live on all streaming platforms. The new song adds another hit to the songwriter’s catalog, mixing sultry beats and catchy refrains with lyrics about wanting it all and never holding back.

Naomi Sharon — “Hills”

Dutch-Caribbean singer Naomi Sharon dropped the awe-inspiring track “Hills” this week, flexing her vocals that sound like an impressive combination of Adele’s vocal range and the raspy tones of Amy Winehouse’s recognizable harmonies. “‘Hills’ is a song about a relationship that has gone toxic, and is not in a healthy state anymore,” Sharon said about the track. “While it’s quite difficult to distance yourself from someone you love, sometimes it might be the best thing to do.”

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

Just when we thought Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore was the most cursed movie of 2022, here comes Death on the Nile.

The sequel to 2017’s decently fun Murder on the Orient Express stars Gal Gadot (received backlash for her comments on the situation in Israel and Palestine), Armie Hammer (accused of rape and cannibalistic fantasies), Russell Brand (right-wing conspiracy theorist), and Letitia Wright (alleged anti-vaxxer).

On the bright side, Kenneth Branagh’s mustache still looks great.

The Disney-owned 20th Century Studios released the first trailer for Death on the Nile back in August 2020; that one featured a lot more Hammer, who only has one speaking line in the new trailer. He still appears in the film because his “role is significant to the point of being the film’s male lead… Reshoots, after all, could cost tens of millions and would be nearly impossible to pull off given the packed schedules of the ensemble.” At least Fantastic Beasts 3 had time to replace Johnny Depp with Mads Mikkelsen.

Here’s the official plot synopsis.

Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot’s Egyptian vacation aboard a glamorous river steamer turns into a terrifying search for a murderer when a picture-perfect couple’s idyllic honeymoon is tragically cut short. Set against an epic landscape of sweeping desert vistas and the majestic Giza pyramids, this dramatic tale of love gone wrong features a cosmopolitan group of impeccably dressed travelers and enough wicked twists and turns to leave audiences guessing until the final, shocking denouement.

Death on the Nile, which also stars Annette Bening, Ali Fazal, Dawn French, Rose Leslie, Emma Mackey, Sophie Okonedo, and Jennifer Saunders, opens on February 11, 2022.

The NBA continues to see a number of players go into COVID protocols every day, and while pausing the season (as the NHL has) doesn’t appear to be on the table, the league has recognized the need to postpone games for teams that do see an outbreak.

The reality of the pandemic for everyone is that the virus does not care about timing or plans, and as the NBA heads towards its biggest day of the regular season with its five-game slate on Christmas Day, there is a real chance that they will need to postpone one or more of those games if some teams continue to trend in the wrong direction — for example, the Nets have had two straight games postponed with 10 players in protocols, but the hope is that some, like James Harden, can return before Saturday’s action.

On Tuesday, the league reportedly sent a memo to those teams playing on Christmas Day noting that it’s possible for games to be moved around as late as December 24 in order to fill the three ABC windows — 2:30 p.m., 5:00 p.m., and 8:00 pm. ET — if there are postponements (meaning the ESPN windows of 12:00 and 10:30 could be vacated if a game must be called off).

It’s not a surprise that the league would make that its contingency plan, as they will hope to be able to contest at least three of the scheduled five games on Christmas Day. A number of stars are potentially out for Christmas, and the Hawks appear to be at the beginning of a team outbreak, with Danilo Gallinari and Clint Capela joining Trae Young in protocols on Tuesday, which could lead their game with the Knicks to be pushed back if more positives begin to mount.

Welcome to Flavor Creators, a new series from Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Apple and Uproxx that will offer you cocktail recipes, ingenious tips, and a look at a bold dinner party where two chefs create food + drink pairings based on their guest’s personalities. First up, our guide to throwing a great dinner party. Check out our Flavor Creators hub for more recipes and for the next chapter in the series.

Our backyards aren’t quite as sunny these days. The leaves are turning. Rain is likely coming down and might well turn into snow. That means house party season is upon us. The first (relatively) full-on house party season since early 2020.

As the weather cools and the holiday season arrives, inviting friends to eat, drink, and be merry is sure to be a common denominator in many of our lives. But while inviting your crew to hang is one thing, actually executing a proper party is quite another. Not that it has to be an over-whelming endeavor. With a little patience, foresight, and prep, you can throw a gathering with awesome food, fun games, and remarkable cocktails that are sure to be a hit.

While it’d be easy to say “buy this wine, that bottle of whiskey, and these oysters,” that’d also be a little disingenuous. We don’t know your budget, theme, vibe, or palate. So we’re going to give some broad strokes that’ll help you throw a dope party and leave the hard details to you. Ready?

Let’s Dive In

Get what you can get done ahead of time. I know. You’ve probably heard this before but it’s so crucial that it bears repeating again and again.

– Do your cocktail shopping well before the party. Take that extra minute in the liquor store or your favorite online delivery service to find the syrups you need (they’ll all be there) and the aisle with Jack Apple in it. Then, make batch cocktails the night before and let them rest in the fridge to really emulsify. After that, all that you have to do is serve on the night of.

– Do all your mise en place (dicing, etc.) as early as possible. You never, ever want to be in the weeds in the kitchen when people are ready to eat and drink. If you’re making a demi-glace for a braised short rib, get that done the day before. It’ll be much better after settling in the fridge overnight anyway.

– Count your plates, cutlery, and glasses before too. No one wants to be left with a lone paper plate or a plastic fork when everyone else has real plates and cutlery. That’s just bad form.

– Make that playlist! That being said, don’t be unmovable about it. Keep it loose and go with the flow as the night wears on when it comes to music.

– This may be obvious, but, you know, clean your place. We’ll just leave it at that.

Getting Started

Okay, you’ve done your prep. Your amuse-bouche is ready. Your batch cocktail is ready. The lights are low. The vinyl is spinning. There’s that light trickle of energy in the air as you wait for the door buzzer to ring out.

Whether you’re serving a cold or hot welcome drink, serve each guest their own drink as they arrive. No one wants to grab a lukewarm cocktail from a tray on a kitchen counter. It’s a nice personal touch to put something like a Jack Apple Spritz made with Jack Apple in someone’s hand when you say hello. It gives you that extra second to catch up before the door buzzes again and you greet your next guest. Naturally, you should always have a non-alcoholic option at the ready.

When it comes to those early snacks, keep them in a central location so guests can graze while sipping your welcome drink. As for what to serve, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Crostini with a little fresh avocado, salt, chili flakes, and olive oil always puts smiles on faces. Cheese puffs warmed in your oven never fail. Keep it small, accessible, and executable in a way that doesn’t interfere with the main course.

Dinner

Serve a meal that’s braised! You want to cook low and slow during the day that you largely have to just plate up while your guests are in your home. While you can make some easy sides (all prepped ahead of time, of course), you really want to be entertaining and not stuck in the kitchen.

Let’s say you made a short rib. If you’ve done your prep, you should only have to sear and then plate in a serving dish with that rich demi-glace you already made ahead of time. Add a little herb garnish for color contrast and you’re good.

One key is to keep all your serving plates warm in the oven so that when you plate up, you have some time to serve the next round of drinks before people dive in. While a buffet service situation might sound the easiest, gathering around a table, family-style, is always the most intimate way to keep the conversation going while people salivate over what you’ve made.

Dessert

This is the big finale. Tie the end-of-meal cocktail to the dessert without overthinking it. Are you serving an apple cobbler? Serve a sparkling apple cider with a Jack Apple base and a dash of bitters. That’s something you can build in a pre chilled glass in 20 seconds.

Let everyone serve their own cake or pie, while you make those simple, build-in-the-glass cocktails. We like going the champagne flute route. Fill that flute with a base+sweetener+bitters and then top with something sparkling — it’s easy, fast, and is almost impossible to screw up. After everyone is full and about to hit a sugar buzz, it’s time to start game night!

Game Night

This is where things can go in a couple of directions. To keep the fun going, it might be a good play to bust out a deck of cards or even your crew’s favorite board game. Our advice is to play a game that’s both engaging for everyone and has a pretty quick end. A “first-winner takes all” game is ideal, so that other guests don’t have to wait around.

Likewise, there are plenty of party games you can play without boards or cards. Sit in a circle (with post-dinner cocktails) and have each person reveal their favorite concert or dream dining destination. It’s probably best to stay away from discussions about film and TV to avoid spoilers.

If your guests really have some time to hang, watch a really good bad movie that you can all talk over, joke about, and passively watch if some guests want to just hang out. Sometimes nothing finishes a night stronger than living out the best bad movie ever with your friends.

Good Night

At some point, you’re going to have to say “good night” to your guests. It’s a feeling that’s almost the opposite of that early energy that was buzzing around the room while you were waiting for that doorbell to ring.

While it’d be smart (time-wise) to ask your guests to help you clean up, don’t. Even if they offer, do that yourself after everyone’s left. After all, if it’s just you, then you can do the bulk of the clean-up in the morning after the kind of well-earned sleep that comes from pulling off the perfect party.

Three days after The Hollywood Reporter published an article in which two women told alarmingly similar stories of being sexually assaulted by Chris Noth nearly a decade apart from each other, the actor’s longtime Sex and the City co-stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, and Kristin Davis issued a statement on the allegations, which THR also shared.

Davis tweeted the statement, which was attributed to all three women, in which they seemed to be standing in solidarity with Noth’s accusers:

“We are deeply saddened to hear the allegations against Chris Noth. We support the women who have come forward and shared their painful experiences. We know it must be a very difficult thing to do and we commend them for it.”

Noth made his first appearance as Mr. Big in the pilot episode of Sex and the City. He played the on-again, off-again love interest of Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw character (whom he once described as “a whore”), who eventually becomes his third wife. In the very first episode of And Just Like That…, HBO Max’s new SATC sequel, Noth’s character died of a heart attack after an apparently too strenuous Peloton workout. While Peloton cheekily resurrected the character in a subsequent commercial, with help from Ryan Reynolds, after the company’s stock tanked because of the episode. Both Peloton and Reynolds have since deleted the ad following the allegations against Noth. Noth has also been dropped by his agent, fired from his current series The Equalizer, and lost a $12 million deal to sell his tequila brand.

Yet the 67-year-old actor has denied all of the allegations made against him by the two women THR spoke with, and additional women who have alleged inappropriate behavior by the actor, including actor/director Zoe Lister Jones, who worked at a club Noth used to own in New York City and appeared on an episode of Law & Order with him.

“The accusations against me made by individuals I met years, even decades, ago are categorically false,” Noth said in a statement on December 16th. “These stories could’ve been from 30 years ago or 30 days ago—no always means no—that is a line I did not cross. The encounters were consensual. It’s difficult not to question the timing of these stories coming out. I don’t know for certain why they are surfacing now, but I do know this: I did not assault these women.”

(Via The Hollywood Reporter)

What’s better than escaping the cold winter temperatures with a much-needed vacation? Escaping winter with an epic electronic music festival in the Mojave Desert.

On December 10th and December 11th, 2021, thousands of lively EDM-lovers gathered to soak in the heavy beats and sunshine of Palm Springs for the debut of Desert Air, presented by Splash House and Goldenvoice. Hosted at the Palm Springs Air Museum, an iconic location in one of California’s hottest destinations, festival-goers were able to dance, party, and check out live music by globally recognized DJs alongside industrial hangars and historic aircrafts. The scenic San Jacinto Mountains and desert landscape didn’t make a bad backdrop for the event, either. Eye-catching sunsets and LED laser shows went hand-in-hand at Desert Air.

Featuring artists including Peggy Gou, DJ Koze, Dixon, The Martinez Brothers, Moodymann, Channel Tres, and Mason Collective (among others), and it’s safe to say the feel-good environment of Desert Air made for an unforgettable winter getaway. If you’ve been cooped up at home all winter and are in need of some jubilant energy and inspiration, check out the photos from Desert Air’s debut event below. They’re sure to make you want to get up and dance (or book a trip to California once Omnicron feels sorted).

Billie Eilish and Finneas are fresh off performing on Saturday Night Live, but that’s not their final performance of the year: Today, they dropped a video for an acoustic performance of Happier Than Ever highlight “Billie Bossa Nova.” This rendition isn’t too far removed from the original recording, which is relatively sparse itself save for percussion and some sonic embellishments.

The video was “directed by Philip Andelman for Gucci,” as the description notes, which could mean it’s part of the partnership Eilish and the brand forged with the Gucci vinyl edition of Happier Than Ever that was released earlier this month.

Eilish previously told Spotify of the track, “‘Billie Bossa Nova’ is a little bit of a fancy, I don’t know what. We actually called this song ‘Billie Bossa Nova’ because in, I want to say, spring of 2019, my brother sent me a beat he had made. He called it ‘Billie Bossa Nova’ ‘cause it was just a bossa nova-type beat and I was like ‘that’s amazing,’ and then nothing happened for a year and a half. Then we listened to it again and kinda wrote this fantasy, romanticized, glorified, dream.”

Finneas also previously told Rolling Stone of the tune, “We have to do a lot of goofy bullsh*t when we go on tour, where we enter through freight elevators in hotels and stuff, so that paparazzi doesn’t follow us to our room. And so we acted as if there was also a secret love affair going on in there of Billie being like, ‘Nobody saw me in the lobby / Nobody saw me in your arms,’ as if there was a mystery person in her life during all of that.”

Watch Eilish and Finneas perform “Billie Bossa Nova” above.

It’s hard to imagine what modern fashion would look like without the influence of streetwear and, by proxy, hip-hop. These days, sneakers, hoodies, sweatsuits, and graphic t-shirts are must-have wardrobe essentials, whether you’re shopping in the casual or luxury markets. Hip-hop’s influence on modern culture (fashion and beyond) cannot be understated.

And yet… if you take a cursory scan of the big fashion houses of Europe leaning into streetwear or the fast-fashion brands most often associated with the style, you’ll find that they are overwhelmingly white-owned. A discouraging sign for a fashion world leaning so heavily into hip-hop culture.

Point being, a shift in ownership in streetwear is long overdue and the best way to support that change is with your wallet. So the next time you move to stock your wardrobe with some fresh looks, make sure to also support some Black-owned streetwear brands. With that aim, here are 15 companies we love, with styles that are sure to level up your whole vibe.

10 Deep

Founded by Scott Sasso in 1995, 10 Deep is a brand that has been around for a minute, but they’ve never lost their edge. The brand cut its teeth alongside legends like Futura2000, Russ Karabalin, Rick Klotz, Camila Elhke, and the PNB Crew and served as a chief architect of early ‘90s streetwear.

Many of these brands wouldn’t exist without the influence of 10 Deep.

A-Cold-Wall

Founded in 2015 by British designer Samuel Ross, A-Cold-Wall first started as an art project before evolving into a fully-fledged men’s apparel brand. The aesthetic here leans on the luxury end of things and takes a significant influence from modern architecture and industrial design.

Scanning the brand’s Instagram will reveal an almost fine-art-like approach to streetwear. This year the brand launched some exciting sneaker collaborations with Dr. Martens that combined A-Cold-Wall’s minimalist design with classic silhouettes.

ALLCAPS Studio

Started by Philadelphian designer Saeed Ferguson, ALLCAPS Studio, perhaps unsurprisingly, plays with a lot of different font styles and typography in their designs. Generally, the text appears over simple solid color streetwear basics, allowing the kerning on its unisex stylings to be enjoyed in all their wavy glory.

Art Comes First

This London-based label is the brainchild of Sam Lambert and Shaka Maidoh and prioritizes artistic expression and cultural craftsmanship for what the brand describes as a “redefined global style.” Ultimately, the brand sees itself as an arts collective with several different enterprises.

The fashion aesthetic of the brand lands somewhere between punk rock fashion and vibrant bespoke tailoring.

Bricks & Wood

Founded and operating in Los Angeles’ South Central, Bricks & Woods prides itself in being a brand that delivers fits that are equal parts functional and high quality. Primarily, the brand focuses on streetwear staples and basics in unisex sizing.

If you’re all about cozy fits that still have you looking like the best dressed in the room, Bricks & Wood is the move.

The Brooklyn Circus

Prep style might be the antithesis of streetwear, but The Brooklyn Circus attempts to fuse the two looks and they do so to exceptional results. The brand has a special skill for taking the iconic silhouettes of iconic college-inspired silhouettes and infusing them with the modern sensibilities and eternal cool of streetwear.

Come Back as a Flower

From the mind of Esper Knows, Come Back As A Flower is a Los Angeles-based fashion label that puts ethical production and sustainability at the forefront, utilizing recycled cotton on 100% of the brand’s offerings. The drops that come out of Come Back As A Flower might be few and far between, but each one features hand-dyed production and attention to detail and craft that is able to instill a sense of pride in you just for owning a piece.

The aesthetic here leans on the heavily psychedelic side, so if you like a little tie-dye with your streetwear, you can’t go wrong with this brand.

Denim Tears

Denim Tears specializes in… well, denim, but it goes much deeper than that. Started by former Kanye West consultant Tremaine Emory, Denim Tears is both a denim brand and a company that tasks itself with highlighting cotton as a symbol forever intertwined with America’s history of slavery.

The clothing is as thought-provoking as it is fresh. Since the brand’s inception, they’ve moved past simple denim pieces, offering a growing list of dope streetwear basics and essentials.

Fear of God

If you follow streetwear closely you’re probably already aware of Jerry Lorenzo’s massively popular Los Angeles-based label Fear of God, but on the off-chance you don’t, you need this brand on your radar ASAP.

Fear of God has an undeniable futuristic and luxurious quality to it. They’re the only brand that can make sweats look like something fit for royalty. Whether it’s the brand’s luxury apparel or their high-profile sneaker collaborations, no wardrobe is complete without at least one Fear of God branded piece.

Heron Preston

Heron Preston comes from the mind of the designer of the same name. A Parsons School of Design alumnus, Preston’s brand borrows the look and color palette of modern workwear and gives it a luxury-brand style presentation.

From functional puffer jackets and faded denim staples to psychedelic high-fashion prints and sheer fabrics, Heron Preston is a brand that seems to get more exciting with each new drop.

Mami Wata

Officially launched in 2017 by Selema Masekela, Peet Pienaar, Nick Dutton, and Andy Davis, Mami Wata is a celebration of all things Black surf culture. The brand is heavily inspired by the vibrant surf scene of South Africa, and delivers beach-friendly essentials like board shorts, tees, hoodies, and button-ups that look equal parts fly and comfortable.

Nicholas Daley

If Jimi Hendrix was a young musician in his prime today, he would without a doubt be dressed head to toe in Nicholas Daley. The designer combines tie-dye and heavily saturated color palettes with streetwear staples that will have you looking like you just walked off the set of a new Erykah Badu music video.

RenownedLA

Founded back in 2011 by the young designer John Dean III, Renowned first began as a creative outlet for Dean’s projects when he was a high school student in Akron Ohio. The brand tasks itself with designing streetwear that speaks to and for the past, present, and future of Black designers by paying tribute to the sportswear stylings of early hip hop, retranslated through a modern lens.

Telfar

Founded in 2005 by Telfar Clemens, Telfar has gone on to become one of the most sought-after brands in all of streetwear. The label primarily focuses on unisex stylings, with its key piece being a variety of Telfar branded bags, which routinely sell out minutes after being restocked. Walk down the streetwear rocking a Telfar and you’ll easily be the most stylish on the block.

Union

Owned by Chris Gibbs and Beth Birkett, Union is a favorite amongst hardcore streetwear aficionados. The brand routinely drops some of the best sneaker collaborations of all time, whether we’re talking Nike, Jordan, or Adidas collaborations as well as streetwear essentials like cozy and colorful outerwear, graphic t-shirts, and more.

If you’re all about streetwear, it rarely gets better than Union.

While in lockdown, Elton John found himself with ample time on his hands. Rather than picking up crocheting as a hobby or buying a Peloton bike like so many others did at the time, John decided to get to know some of today’s chart-topping musicians the best way he could — by collaborating over Zoom. Thus, his album The Lockdown Sessions was born, a 16-track genre-spanning project featuring today’s top artists.

To ring in the holidays and celebrate the success of The Lockdown Sessions, which landed at No. 1 in the UK, John once again opened up Zoom and gathered all his collaborators in once place for the “Ultimate Zoom” call. John began the call and soon after, artists like Dua Lipa, Nicki Minaj, Miley Cyrus, Lil Nas X, Rina Sawayama, Eddie Vedder, SG Lewis, Charlie Puth, Brandie Carlile, Damon Albarn, Stevie Wonder, Stevie Nicks, and Young Thug all joined.

The 4-minute video was both a celebration of the album and a reminder of all the little frustrations of virtual calls like WiFi issues or distracting noises in the background. According to press materials, the video is meant as a “celebration of the way that Zoom has enabled people to continue to work, interact and create music in the most challenging of circumstances.”

Watch Elton John, Dua Lipa, Lil Nas X, Miley Cyrus, and more on the “Ultimate Zoom” call above.

The Lockdown Sessions is out now via EMI Records. Get it here.

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