Sure, you could celebrate the holidays with a traditional advent calendar filled with chocolates. Maybe if you want to indulge, you can splurge on one from Godiva (yes, they have one).
But what if you want the ultimate advent calendar experience? After all, who needs tradition when you can have luxury.
As it turns out, several high-end brands are offering this option, including an $825 first-time edition Chanel No. 5 advent calendar. Shaped like a giant perfume bottle, it does give off an exuberant air of class and sophistication.
Elise Harmon (@eliseharmon) excitedly purchased her premium calendar in store. Though Chanel’s website shares what waits inside, Harmon had no idea what to expect.
Impressed by the initial impression of the product’s “10 out of 10” packaging, Harmon decided to document her unboxing on TikTok. That video soon went viral, mostly for Harmon’s hilarious underwhelm. But also roasting Chanel’s questionable quality control.
For one thing, it didn’t even have a full calendar.
“It starts on day number five…I guess for Chanel No. 5…” Harmon says. Red flag number one.
But hey, all in the name of marketing, right? Remaining optimistic, Harmon opened up day number nine, which had, drumroll please … stickers.
“This has to be a joke, this is a joke. Stickers?! Stickers?!” she says in shock.
On a positive note, she did seem happy about the tiny hand cream that followed.
Plus the video was teeming with hilarious comments:
“Those stickers better keep my life together.”
“It’s giving me white elephant gift exchange when u finally get the biggest present but inside it’s just a toilet plunger.”
“Say Chanel is going broke without saying they’re going broke.”
Sure, Harmon might have received some nice lipstick and a tree ornament (yay!), but she also now has to figure out what to do with an empty dust bag, a magnet, some temporary tattoos and a flipbook.
Oh and let’s not forget the keychain.
“I’m really not sure how I’m supposed to live-laugh-love under these conditions,” Harmon jokes, which I might steal as my new catchphrase.
The real controversy happened after Diet Prada shared Harmon’s story on their company Instagram, revealing that some items were previously given away for free with other purchases.
Still, Harmon remains in good spirits about it, sharing her misfortune with a sense of humor.
Though the whole debacle was hilariously documented, and yes, points to some flawed logic we have about expectation versus reality, it also sheds light on a new cultural shift as well.
Chanel is not the only company to offer these holiday items at exorbitant prices. You can get one from Neiman Marcus ($300), Acqua di Parma ($600) or even Tiffany’s ($150,000). And even if those other brands didn’t include something as egregious as a flipbook, odds are at least some of those items aren’t exactly worth the overall price.
Why? Because now more than ever, luxury needs to elicit a genuine feeling through quality experience. Simply pasting a logo onto a piece of plastic isn’t going to do it.
What’s more, Harmon has unboxed a whole new level of responsibility and accountability belonging to high-end companies. Simply put, if companies slack, the betrayal consumers experience will be made public. And virally followed.
Since then, Harmon has become something of an advent calendar influencer, as several companies sent her samples, which have gotten positive reviews. So there’s no need to “bah humbug” all the advent calendars out there.
And it goes without saying, but quality experiences don’t have to be bought. Even during the most overspending inducing season of the year.
Following Dr. Fauci‘s call for Fox News to fire Jesse Watters after the conservative commentary encouraged people to take a “kill shot” at the infectious disease specialist, the network has, predictably, come to Watters’ defense. During a speech at the Turning Point USA summit over the weekend, Watters used violent rhetoric while discussing Fauci, who has very publicly spoken about the threats to him and his family since the very beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. According to Fox News, Watters was speaking “metaphorically” and was simply talking about reporters asking Fauci tough questions that he can’t answer. As if that’s ever happened.
“Based on watching the full clip and reading the entire transcript, it’s more than clear that Jesse Watters was using a metaphor for asking hard-hitting questions to Dr. Fauci about gain-of-function research and his words have been twisted completely out of context,” Fox News said, in its statement.
Watters also used the term “ambush” — you starting to see the problem here? — which he also didn’t mean literally. It was a reference to guerilla-style reporting like James O’Keefe and his Project Veritas. The same Project Veritas that’s currently under federal investigation for allegedly using Ashley Biden’s stolen diary to blackmail Joe Biden into an on-camera interview. So, again, really great stuff all around.
In Fauci’s defense, Watters was talking to the same crowd that supports the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol building and is very big on gun ownership, so it’s hard not to see the problem with Watters’ purposeful rhetoric. Especially considering, again, that Fauci has had a security team since the start of the pandemic thanks to right-wing figures smearing him with conspiracy theories when they’re not comparing him to Nazi doctors.
Old Forester/Buffalo Trace/Jim Beam/Willett/istock/Uproxx
If you’ve ever sipped whiskey while standing in a parking lot before a December football game in the frigid north, you know all about the warming feeling a nice swallow of Wild Turkey or Jim Beam can give you. While we all understand that this feeling doesn’t actually stave off hypothermia (that’s what heavy coats, hats, and gloves are for), it doesn’t take away from the appeal of the famous “Kentucky hug.”
To find the best “warming bourbons” — often expressions that run a little “hot” either because of a high proof or a warm finish — we asked a handful of well-known bartenders to tell us their favorite bottles that drink this winter. Keep scrolling to see all of their picks.
Garrison Brothers Balmorhea limited release bourbon is my pick. It’s a warm whiskey and makes you think of visiting the legendary Balmorhea State Park for a swim in the summer.
Old Elk Bourbon is my go-to winter warmer. The rich round flavors and spiced finish is a nice touch for a winter night. Sipped neat, on the rocks, or as the base of your favorite cocktail, you can’t go wrong with Old Elk.
Buffalo Trace
Buffalo Trace
Josh Curtis, bar director at the Malibu Beach Inn in Malibu, California
Buffalo Trace is the perfect winter sipper. It has a smooth complexity with notes of cedar and mint that never let me down. It’s warming, mellow, and always reasonably priced for its quality.
Evan Williams Bottled-In-Bond
Evan Williams
Mark Phelan, beverage director at 16″ On Center in Chicago
When I need to put on the liquid coat, I’m reaching for Evan Williams Bonded. It’s aged five years, so it has the depth to balance the higher proof and remains one of the best value bourbons on the market.
Four Roses Small Batch
Four Roses
Jamie Shaw, beverage manager at Stella of New Hope in New Hope, Pennsylvania
I’m a really big fan of the Four Roses Small Batch. It gives the flavors of a select single-barrel experience. The mouthfeel is really nice and creamy with some vanilla and oak spice. It’s definitely a unique and warming sipping bourbon.
My choice would be Woodinville Straight Bourbon Port Finished. The reason is that the aging in ruby port casks gives this liquid a sweet gentle and rounded finish, perfect for a winter chocolate pairing. It’s warming, sweet, perfect.
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
Woodford Reserve
Lee Noble, lead mixologist at Art in the Age in Philadelphia
Woodford Double Oaked is a high-rye bourbon that brings a lot to the table. The extended maturation from the additional barrel treatment and spice notes from the rye gives it a deeper flavor that I like on a cold winter night.
If you’re looking for bourbon to warm you up, nearly any of them will work with their “Kentucky hug.” But one that really stands out is Booker’s. This whiskey is a ton of fun because each release has its unique notes and proof. For the most part, it’s over 120 proof. So there is some heat to this spirit. The flavors of vanilla, nuts, and oak will warm anyone up on a cold winter night.
I’m a huge Wild Turkey fan and their Russell’s Reserve whiskeys are outstanding. The 13-year-old that was released this year could quite possibly go down as the best bourbon release of 2021. That being said, the 10-year is my daily drinker. It has huge vanilla and caramel notes that make it a great winter sipper with just enough oak and leather to brink everything together.
I had the chance to visit Willet distillery and was fascinated with their Noah’s Mill. It has the characteristics of a great peated scotch but with the full punch of an oaked bourbon. There’s toffee, caramel, vanilla, and it’s effortlessly warming.
Maker’s 46 Cask Strength
Maker
Samantha Montgomery, beverage specialist and national brand ambassador Bardstown Bourbon Company in Bardstown, Kentucky
There’s something about Maker’s 46’s finishing method that creates this remarkably pleasant aromatic experience. The extra oomph the cask strength provides just warms your belly on the first sip without too much burn on the palate.
I love Smooth Ambler Old Scout Single Barrel bourbon from West Virginia. It is definitely one to sip on with warm spice up-front and lingering notes of cocoa and caramel. If I had a fireplace, I would have a glass of this in front of it.
Knob Creek 9 is my favorite bourbon to warm me up because it’s very smoky and oaky. It reminds me of a log cabin. What could be more warming than sitting in front of a fire, sipping a glass of 100 proof Knob Creek?
Woodford Reserve
Woodford Reserve
My Nguyen, general manager at I|O Rooftop in Los Angeles
My favorite bourbon is Woodford Reserve. I love the toffee and caramel flavors. Its classic Kentucky Straight Bourbon is a high-quality, highly sippable, warming whiskey in a crowded bourbon market.
I personally go with Stagg Jr. to warm me up on a cold winter night. Just one sip instantly sends warmth throughout your whole body. I recommend enjoying Stagg Jr. over a large sphere of ice, this will help open up the rich, sweet, chocolate, and brown sugar notes that balance so well with the bold smoky finish.
Beyonce may be one of the most powerful women of the year according to Forbes, but she is also surrounded by some strong women in her life, namely her mother. Tina Knowles Lawson recently appeared on the screen as a guest on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, but she now has a show of her own — and she got some help from her daughter when it came to the show’s theme song.
Lawson is the star of her upcoming Facebook show, Talks With Mama Tina, where she invites various musicians and celebrities to join her in her home for some good food and great conversation. Lawson shared a short preview of the new talk show on social media today, which featured a soaring theme song with recognizable vocals by Beyonce. Lawson’s grandchildren also helped out with the song, lending their voices for the intro.
The preview shows that Lawson’s guests will include Chloe x Halle, Ciara, Zendaya, Kevin Hart, and more. “I’m so excited to announce the launch of my new @wetheculture @Facebookwatch show “Talks With Mama Tina” where I’ve invited some of my favorite people over to my home and have a talk with me,” Lawson wrote. “I loved filming this show and sitting down with so many amazing people because we got to have such honest heartfelt conversations and I got to make them my famous GUMBO!”
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.
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.
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
Ebbs
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.
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
Allagash
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Our Mutual Friend
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.
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.
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
Creature Comforts
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.
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.
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
Weldwerks
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.
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
Revolution
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Pipeworks
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Clown Shoes
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.
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.
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.
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).
The NBA told Christmas Day teams to be prepared for game times to shift as late as Dec. 24 with a priority on filling the ABC windows of 2:30 PM ET, 5 PM and 8 PM, according to memo shared with the 10 teams playing on Saturday.
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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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.”
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