Along with with being one half of the rap duo Run The Jewels, Killer Mike is a known political activist. The rapper has publicly supported Bernie Sanders‘ presidential campaign and spoken at press conferences in his state. Earlier this week, Mike met with Georgia’s conservative governor, Brian Kemp, to discuss policies he’s advocated for in the past. The meeting drew a number of criticisms from fans who said the rapper was being used as a “prop” for Kemp’s political gain. Trying to quell the backlash, Mike and Kemp further addressed their meeting on a local radio show.
Mike and Kemp gave an overview of the topics they covered in their meeting on 95.5 WSB’s Word On The Street. “It’s really kind of interesting that some people are upset about us having that conversation. Quite honestly, we need to have more of that in today’s world, in my opinion,” the Governor said.
Starting off the summary of their their meeting, Mike applauded Kemp’s character:
“More than anything, I’m a Southerner. I’m a Black man. I’ve been raised in a traditionally Democratic city. But my state is pretty conservative, always has been. So as a Southern man, I connected pretty much instantly with him. Politics and policy don’t matter to me as much as human decency and principles, and he seemed to be a principled human being when I talked to him. I’ve only met him once, I was glad to meet him. I hope we get a chance to congregate and talk more and move Georgia to a more progressive place.”
The rapper also explained the details of their conversation, saying they discussed human trafficking in the state, legislation that will help young Black Georgians learn trade skills, as well as programs that decrease the number of incarcerated individuals.
“I told the governor I believe he has a strong chance of being a two-term governor, and if that’s going to be the case, I’d like to see minority contracts rise from 2% to between 8-10%. I’d like to see a program created, as early as high school, pushes in particular working-class poor men and African-American young men into trades because over the next 20 years, Georgia’s going to be growing. Whether it’s the port down in Savannah, where my wife is from, or the city of Atlanta, or the agriculture of southern Georgia, I’d like to see us prepare our young men to fill those jobs because we need fathers, we need husbands, and we need stability, in particular.”
Closing out the conversation Kemp said he hopes to meet with more constituents of color: “The last thing I really wanted to do is to come down and see some of his barber shops and grab a haircut and really see and experience some of what’s going on in that community and in that neighborhood, and just keep trying to learn about what the issues are in all parts of our state.”
Listen to the full conversation on The Word On The Streethere.
After the attacks on 9/11, the U.S government has had little problem spending over $6.4 trillion on the War on Terror. For some perspective, the U.S. government’s total expenditures last year was $4.4 trillion.
Direct combat has killed over 800,000 people, including 350,000 civilians, and displaced over 37 million people.
The U.S, government has unflinchingly wasted all of this blood and treasure but has dragged its feet repeatedly to pay the healthcare bills for first-responders to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Tens of thousands of police, firemen, and rescue workers who sifted through the smoldering rubble on 9/11, while breathing in a toxic cloud of debris, have since come down with a host of health issues, including rhinosinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), asthma, sleep apnea, cancer, posttraumatic stress disorder, respiratory disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depression, and anxiety disorder.
My uncle was one of the brave men who answered the nations call in the days after 9/11.
He passed away in 2007 aft… https://t.co/6n0MKrRkF7
“We will never know the composition of that cloud, because the wind carried it away, but people were breathing and eating it,” Dr. Michael Crane, at the World Trade Center Health Program, told Newsweek in 2016. “What we do know is that it had all kinds of god-awful things in it. Burning jet fuel. Plastics, metal, fiberglass, asbestos. It was thick, terrible stuff.”
In America, even with insurance, chronic disease can leave a family in financial ruins.
Recent analysis has found that close to 10,000 first responders have been diagnosed with cancer and over 2,000 deaths have been attributed to illnesses caused by the attacks. It’s estimated that more people have died from toxic exposure than were killed in the actual attack.
Former “The Daily Show” host Jon Stewart has been a tireless advocate for the 9/11 first responders. Last year, when funds for the most recently-authorized bill to help pay for first responders’ healthcare, became depleted, Stewart gave a passionate speech to an empty Congress.
John Stewart just roasted Congress. Well done. https://t.co/EOfJUT09Jz
“It’s an embarrassment to the country,” Mr. Stewart said, criticizing members of Congress for skipping the hearing.
“And you should be ashamed of yourselves,” he scolded.
After Stewart’s rebuke, the House Judiciary Committee unanimously voted to send the bill to the House floor for consideration. The Victim Compensation Fund was then been extended through 2092, funding health care for first responders for life.
Now Stewart, 9/11 activist John Feal, and FDNY hero, Ray Pfeifer, are the subject of a new documentary on their collective fight to ensure healthcare and compensation for the thousands of ailing first responders.
The film is called “No Responders Left Behind” and has yet to have a release date.
“John Feal and all the first responders have done so much for me, for the community, for the city, for the country. To be able to repay some of that debt that I feel I owe them personally, that we all owe them, is the best feeling,” Stewart said, according to Variety.
“Being a small part of this journey is the one thing I’m most proud of. I will follow John anywhere he wants to lead me next,” he added.
“For many, the last 18.5 years has been about passing legislation and fighting for justice for those affected by the aftermath of 9/11. I cannot say the same for me,” said Feal.
“It has never been about passing legislation, donating money or the accolades,” he continued. “It has always been about the journey from where we started to not knowing when it will end. It has been about the friendships and all the people I love and now call my family.”
The news of the documentary comes as reports show the Trump administration has siphoned off $4 million from the FDNY World Trade Center Health Program. The program treats FDNY firefighters and medics suffering from 9/11-related illnesses.
“Here we have sick World Trade Center-exposed firefighters and EMS workers, at a time when the city is having difficult financial circumstances due to COVID-19, and we’re not getting the money we need to be able to treat these heroes,” David Prezant, the FDNY’s Chief Medical Officer, said according to New York Daily News.
After years of complaining about the mysterious funding depletion, Prezant consulted Long Island Republican Representative Pete King and it was discovered it was due to a Medicare dispute with the state of New York.
King intends to confront Vice President Mike Pence over the issue.
“I gotta tell him,” King said. “Forget the politics. I don’t want to sound naive, but this is terrible, absolutely inexcusable.”
Welles Crowther’s senior quote in his high school yearbook was the simple adage, “There is no ‘I’ in team.” As a lacrosse and hockey player, he lived that motto through sports. As a volunteer firefighter, he lived that motto through service. As as equities trader working on the 104th floor of the south tower of the World Trade Center on 9/11, he lived that motto through selfless heroism that saved others’ lives and cost him his own.
Crowther was just 24 years old when the planes struck. From that tragic moment until the tower fell, survivors say he led others to safety, repeatedly returning to the 78th floor lobby where people were stranded and guiding them down the one working stairway to where firefighters could take the to a working elevator. He had the opportunity to save himself—if he had gone with the first group of people he rescued, he could have made it out of the building before it collapsed. But he kept going back to save more lives.
ESPN created a beautiful video highlighting Crowther’s heroism, told through the voices of his parents, teammates, colleagues, and even some whose lives he directly saved.
Beginning with the red bandana Crowther had kept with him from early childhood and ending with how that bandana ultimately helped uncover the unknown details of his final hours, the tribute is a moving tale of tragedy and courage, selflessness and sacrifice. While every loss on 9/11 should be remembered, Welles Crowther deserves to have his story shared far and wide as an inspiration for us all.
With many Americans spending more time at home and precious few live entertainment options to pass the time, sports ratings have climbed since games returned mid-summer. The NFL tends to always up the ante in terms of viewership, and NBC’s opening Thursday Night Football broadcast between the Texans and Chiefs blew away all its competition, peaking at 22 million viewers across linear and digital platforms.
The broadcast did, however, finish just below last year’s opener between the Packers and Bears.
From the NFL:
Despite the largest fourth-quarter deficit (24 points) in an NFL Kickoff Game in seven years, the Kansas City Chiefs’ 34-20 victory over the Houston Texans in the opening game of the NFL season last night averaged a preliminary* Total Audience Delivery of 20.3 million viewers across NBC TV, NBC Sports Digital, and NFL Digital platforms – making it the most-watched sporting event since Super Bowl LIV in February, according to Fast National data released today by Nielsen, and digital data from Adobe Analytics.
With 20.3 million viewers, the NFL Kickoff Game is only the second show since the Super Bowl Sunday to average at least 20 million viewers (Academy Awards, 23.6 million on Feb. 9). Last night’s game faced unprecedented sports competition, as both NBA and NHL playoff games were contested at the same time.
This came on an unprecedented night in which every major American sport as well as golf and soccer were being played as a result of the pandemic’s effect on the sports calendar. Not only did the NFL retain its spot at the top of the sports world, it generated more attention across all platforms than even a typical football game would.
The sparkling beverage market is absolutely booming right now. And whether you’re crushing La Croixs, White Claws, or Trulys, if your go-to drink sparkles, comes in a can, and hovers comfortably between 0 and 100 calories, you’re probably at least a little more health-conscious than the person smashing through a sixer of IPAS and Coca-Colas. Seltzers already generally have less sugar than their alcoholic and traditional soda counterparts, so how do we level up our favorite sparkling beverages even further to make them all the healthier? By adding some CBD into those babies for an extra boost of anti-inflammatory, anxiety-reducing, insomnia killing goodness.
Luckily for us, we’re living in an age where CBD-infused beverages aren’t just some health-conscious hippie pipe-dream. They’re a reality and there are a lot of them currently on the market. Maybe too many! To help you cut through the dense forest of CBD-infused hemp powered sparkling beverages, we’ve picked out some of our favorite brands from a market that seems to get more flooded with each passing month. We’ve spent the last few weeks of summer binging on CBD drinks looking for the brands that are truly worth the time and money (and also pair well with booze, screw health it’s been a hard year).
Let’s dive into the best sparking CBD Seltzer Waters of 2020!
Unlike La Croix, when you pop open a can of Sparkling CBD, you aren’t greeted with a blast of fragrant fruit essence and there isn’t an audibly pleasing fizz to be found, but also unlike La Croix, Sparkling CBD actually has some flavor. Sparkling CBD comes in Lemonade, Cola, Ginger Ale, Black Cherry, Root Beer, Hibiscus, and Citrus, we’ve only tried the latter two, but we loved them both.
The Citrus water is the most refreshing of the two, but if we had to choose one we’re going with the Hibiscus water every time. The Hibiscus water, while not fizzy or particularly fragrant, tasted like someone left a bunch of hibiscus flowers in a vat of sparkling water… and it turns out that’s exactly how it was made! Each batch of Sparkling CBD Hibiscus water utilizes 40 pounds of organic hibiscus flowers, and you can really taste them.
BOTTOM LINE: Pour it in a glass and enjoy the ruby red color with some ice — and then add some Tito’s Vodka or Espolòn Reposado Tequila with a twist of lime and let your stress melt away.
Recess comes in a minimalist moody-colored can that blends 10mg of broad-spectrum hemp extract with ginseng, l-theanine, lemon balm, and real fruit flavors, for a sparkling water that is as healthy as it is tasty (despite its mere 5g of sugar). Each can of Recess is just 25 calories, and while we would’ve loved a higher concentration of extract per can, its relatively affordable enough that you won’t feel bad for blowing through two cans in a single session.
Recess is available in six flavors that include coconut lime, peach ginger, blackberry chai, pomegranate hibiscus, black cherry, or blood orange.
BOTTOM LINE: Our picks are the pomegranate hibiscus and blood orange, both of which go great with an added shot of Gun Powder Irish Gin or Botanist.
Mad Tasty
Mad Tasty
CBD: 20mg Broad Spectrum Hemp Extract Price: Mixed Case 12-pack $60, Single Flavor 6-pack $30
Created by singer-songwriter Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic fame, Mad Tasty features 20mg of broad-spectrum hemp extract and packs a surprising amount of fizz and flavor, more than most of the seltzers on this list. The full line consists of three flavors which include Watermelon Kiwi, Grapefruit, and a mystery flavor dubbed Unicorn Tears.
I wanted to hate Unicorn Tears. Badly. But it’s f*cking good. I found myself blasting through a can of this stuff quickly, as I kept reaching for more trying to discover what the mystery flavor actually is, which played out in my head like this: Grapefruit, wait no, Mad Tasty already makes a Grapefruit flavor, maybe there is a hint of strawberry in there? Definitely… but something else. Wait a minute, is it Grapefruit, Strawberry, and Watermelon Kiwi? Can’t be.It’s kind of like a White Mystery Airhead. Wait, wasn’t White Mystery Airhead just a random pre-existing Airhead wrapped in a different wrapper? Oh look, I’m all out of Unicorn Tears.
BOTTOM LINE: Thanks a lot Mad Tasty, for making a CBD drink that actually stressed me out more. I killed that stress with a second can with some Boulevardier for a mythical whiskey soda.
The only sparkling seltzer water on this list to use Full Spectrum extract, there is something unmistakably different about Fountain in comparison to the other cans on this list — the calming effects of the CBD not only occurred faster, but lasted longer. Produced, canned, and labeled in a New York Brewery — where the brand also makes Hard Seltzers — the 20mg of Full-Spectrum CBD comes from hemp grown and processed in New York state and releases in three flavors which include Cucumber, Grapefruit, and Lime.
Our top pick is the Cucumber, as it offers a flavor other brands tend to ignore, which we can’t figure out because and the bitter and refreshing flavors of cucumber pair nicely with the dull flavors of hemp — they’re a match made in heaven!
A match that’s made even better when you pour it over ice with an added a splash of Monkey 47, and a sprig of mint.
Bimble is so damn tasty that if it didn’t cost $39.99 per 6-pack, we’d consider keeping a 6-pack of this stuff stocked in our fridge at all times, whether we were looking for a dose of CBD or merely quenching our thirst with a hearty meal. Each bottle of Bimble is made with sustainability sourced Vermont honey and infused with bright citrus, berries, and herbs that work to tamp down the overly grassy properties of the hemp, resulting in a flavorful and refreshing sparkling beverage with a nice 25mg of broad-spectrum hemp extract. To make things worse, both flavors of Bimble, the Blueberry Lemon Ginger, and the Grapefruit Basil Mint are so good that choosing between the two will have you reaching for the mixed flavor 12-pack which is an absurdly high $74.99.
BOTTOM LINE: Put this one on a Christmas wish-list or drink sparingly when you’re really needing that dosage of CBD. I never mixed this one with any alcohol because I loved the way it tasted so much on its own, but I imagine it would pair nicely with a mildly botanic gin.
The United States’ suicide rate was at its highest since World War II before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Lawmakers and health experts worry that the intense economic and social pressures that have resulted from the pandemic will exacerbate this problem even further.
One of the most effective ways that people suffering from suicidal ideation and psychological distress can get immediate help is by calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255). This call center provides free, confidential emotional support form trained experts and volunteers.
It’s an easy way to get help without having to wait. Ninety-seven percent of all calls are picked up within 75 seconds of the initial phone greeting.
Every year, the lifeline helps over a million people, 25% of whom are in suicidal distress. Author Joel L. Daniels is one of the lifeline’s many success stories. His experience saved his life, so he’s created a video to let people know how it can save theirs, too.
Instead Of Killing Myself, I Called A Suicide Hotline
“I don’t use that phrase like it saved my life, um gingerly, but I mean that suicide hotline phone call, it saved my life,” Daniels says in the video.
Daniels was riding the bus in New York City when he began to feel “crazy.” He was in a panic, wanted to take his clothes off, jump off the bus, and was seriously considering harming himself.
He reached out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and immediately felt “affirmed” by his counselor.
“I just felt overwhelmed and busy between work, between life, between fatherhood, between not really knowing what I was doing and in that moment it felt like it was going to be easier to not be here,” he says.
The counselor listened to Daniels without judgment and told him he was going to be okay.
via Unsplash
“Listening without judgement, without bias, without prejudice,” he continued. “That suicide hotline phone calls saved my life and I wish I could remember the sister’s name, who I spoke to because she was so warm. She was so loving. She was so comforting. She sounded like a black auntie.”
The counselor allowed Daniels space to vent which was exactly what he needed.
“It was less questions and more affirming,” he continued. “It was just something I needed and I don’t know if anybody else does because there’s that level of shame you feel essentially when you’re trying to tell a person that you care about that I essentially want to harm myself because then it’s very easy, unfortunately, for people who do know you to start blaming themselves.”
He says he was able to make it through the episode because he was given the opportunity to speak his mind without worring about bias, fear, or judgment. The “the suicide hotline did that for me for sure,” he says.
Daniels is grateful that he was given the space to clear his mind during a traumatic episode and hopes that others in the same situation will take advantage of the opportunity the lifeline provides as well.
“I feel like it’s kind of my duty to kind of share that with other people,” he concludes the video.
If you are experiencing a suicidal crisis or emotional distress, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7 free and confidential emotional support at 1-800-273-8255 (Veterans, press 1).
Lovecraft Country (Sunday, HBO 9:00 p.m.) — If you’re feeling this 1950s-set dark fantasy series at all (and why wouldn’t you?), you don’t want to miss this week’s payoff. There’s a devil’s bargain, a betrayal that sends Atticus into a rage (with Leti bearing witness) and the continuation of whatever the hell’s going on between Ruby and William.
The Boys: Season 2 (Amazon Prime series) — This season’s gone weekly from here on out while diving deeper, and Episode 4 takes the vigilantes on a road trip to track down a mysterious Supe called Liberty. There’s candy-bar and serial-killer lore afoot as well.
Coastal Elites (HBO special) — Dan Levy, Sarah Paulson, Bette Midler, Issa Rae, and Kaitlyn Dever star in a satirical take on our culture during these quarantine times. Each of them has a virtual session with Paulson’s new-age therapist, which sounds juicy.
The Duchess (Netflix series) — A fashionably messy single mom in London decides that she’d like to have another child with her greatest enemy, who happens to be the father of her first child.
The Killing of Breonna Taylor (Hulu series) — The New York Times investigates the life of Bronna Taylor and her police killing (following a no-knock warrant) on March 13 while the case still unfolds.
Unpregnant (HBO Max film) — A 17-year-old Type A student, Veronica (Haley Lu Richardson), deals with a never-taken-lightly decision by taking a 1000-mile road trip with her former BFF, Bailey (Barbie Ferreira), and it’s a wild ride that neither of them suspected was afoot. The value of renewed friendships with a dash of both Thelma And Louise and Fast And Furious make this an unexpectedly funny film with costars including Alex MacNicoll, Breckin Meyer, and Giancarlo Esposito, and Betty Who.
Black Boys (Peacock film) — While intersecting the realms of education, criminal justice and sports, this movie celebrates the experience of Black men and boys in America. It does so through intimate conversations and stories with NFL champions including Greg Scruggs, Malcolm Jenkins, Cris Carter, and Chris Long, along with rapper Vic Mensa, the NBA’s Carmelo Anthony, and former U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. John King.
The Babysitter: Killer Queen (Netflix film) — Get into the Halloween mood now with a not-quite-as-fun sequel to the original, but it’ll do just fine. Starring Bella Thorne, the action picks up two years after Cole defeats the satanic cult, but old (and new) enemies are back for more.
Woke (Hulu series) — This show is the comedy series that Lamorne Morris (and the rest of us) deserves with a little bit of everything. It’s surreal, it’s funny, it’s serious, it’s got talking toast and trashcans, and it’s in good hands with director Maurice “Mo” Marable. The quest to “keep it light” never felt so real as Keef (based upon the life and work of artist Keith Knight) experiences a rude awakening and transformation to follow.
Family Business: Season 2 (Netflix series) — A kosher butcher’s son launches a weed business inside the, uh, family butcher shop. He calls the place a… “potcher.”
Mulan (Disney+ film) — After multiple setbacks, Disney+ is rolling the dice with a $30 premier-access price point for this live-action reboot. There are no musical numbers to be found, nor is there an animated, beloved dragon onboard, but the story is updated for the young-adult-and-above crowd. As our own Mike Ryan writes, the action scenes are impressive enough to climb onboard, since $30 is a bargain compared to what you’d spend for a family at the multiplex.
Here’s the rest of this weekend’s notable programming:
Room 104 (Friday, HBO 10:00 p.m.) — The fourth season of the Duplass Brothers’ bizarre playground continues with a game show host who meets his biggest fan, who has nefarious plans for him.
Love Fraud (Sunday, Showtime 9:00 p.m.) — This critically acclaimed Sundance Film Festival limited series feels like the lovechild of Dirty John and Tiger King, as one prolific con-man leaves a decades-long trail of destruction, which now places him in Tennessee.
The Vow (Sunday, HBO 10:00 p.m.) — NXIVM organization members strategize how to get one of their daughters out of the DOS branch, despite her never wanting to leave.
We Hunt Together (Sunday, Showtime 10:00 p.m.) — The murderous duo (a former child soldier named Baba and Freddie) finds themselves trapped in a remote cabin.
The XXLFreshman Cypher is often the most exciting part of the process for fans, and not just because of the opportunity to see the next generation of hip-hop superstars trade bars in a long-respected format. Often, the Cypher becomes the proving ground showcasing evidence that counters old head arguments that “nobody can rap anymore” or the jumping off point for a new wave of memes based on each artists’ performances — or their reactions to each others’ raps.
That’s what’s happening now with the 2020 Class, as Mulatto‘s Cypher verse has her name trending thanks to both a barrage of deft rhymes that impressed skeptics and one line in particular that’s set digital tongues wagging at the water cooler that is Twitter. Incorporating her co-star Fivio Foreign into her verse, she spits, “I ain’t even f*cked a rap n**** yet but if Fivio want to I ain’t going pass on it.” Of course, the line by itself is eyebrow-raising, but what’s really got fans amused is the camera angle, which catches Fivio’s reaction in the background as he hears the line. Let’s just say that he seems amiable to the proposition in question.
Naturally, Twitter launched into another session of humorous observations and sight gags playing off of Fivio’s delighted expression. Meanwhile, many fans took the opportunity to shoot down early attempts to pit Mulatto against last year’s standout, Megan Thee Stallion, rejecting the comparisons of one user who missed the memo that there’s now room for more than one female rapper in the limelight.
Mulatto & Chika having the best XXL Cyphers is incredible. 2019 & 2020 were ruled by women in terms of the Cypher performances.
Female rappers are only gonna keep coming stronger and it’s getting scarier how fast they can dominate the game. I’m extremely happy for them. pic.twitter.com/HnE4jvUNX9
The world of “craft beer” has come to dominate the beer conversation for a good long while now. But before there was great craft beer, there were more than a few great beers (all well crafted) from around the world (with Belgium and Germany often dominating that convo). Some of those top beers from around the world are made by big-time brewers while others were made in tiny Trappist monasteries most of us have likely never heard of.
The point is, there’s been a lot of great beer around for a long time. So we’re not going to pretend that any single list of ten beers is going to be correct, much less comprehensive. This list is just a look at what people like to drink around the world. And while a lot of these lists pulled from the masses tend to be very populist and Americo-centric, this one hits on some seriously good international beers.
Ranker asked the world what the world’s best beers are and 205,000 votes later a clear top ten emerged. At the end of the day, that’s pretty hard to argue with. Let’s dive in!
Style: Blonde Ale ABV: 6.6% Brewery: Stella Artois (AB InBev)
The Beer:
This is probably the beer that leaves me the coldest on this list. It’s fine. I’ve drunk a lot of it. But that was before I really go “into” Belgian beers. Or maybe my tastes just changed. Anyway, this Blonde is a solid example of the style and serves as a great entry-point beer for Belgium’s many beer styles.
Tasting Notes:
There’s a mild sense of wheat that manifests in what was once cloves and banana. The fizziness is cut with spice while the beer tends to stay full-bodied and refreshing. The sip carries a bit of the stainless steel vat and corn adjunct within it which makes you wonder what it was like when it was still made in an abbey.
9. Chimay Première (Red)
Chimay
Style: Dubbel ABV: 7% Brewery: Bières de Chimay
The Beer:
This was the first modern-day beer that was brewed at the Notre-Dame de Scourmont Abbey, hence the name. The beer is a Belgian Dubbel that amps up the flavors while adding depth to the beer that’s very enticing and welcoming.
Tasting Notes:
Sweet apricots, dark spices, malty bread, and brown sugar greet you. The sip leans into the fruit and clove-forward spice with a small nutty edge and velvety texture. A faint hoppy bitterness arrives late on the dry yet full end.
8. Rochefort 8
Bevmo
Style: Strong Ale ABV: 9.2% Brewery: Brasserie de Rochefort
The Beer:
This classic Trappist ale is a great example of the style. The water comes from within the monastery’s walls and is mixed with malts and hops from Germany.
Tasting Notes:
Dried stone fruits, nuts, spice, and brown sugar verging on molasses give this brew a very Christmas cake feel. The taste carries on all of those notes with a clear alcohol edge that reminds you to take it slow. The spice and sweet linger the longest on the bold end.
7. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Style: Pale Ale ABV: 5.6% Brewery: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
The Beer:
This almost feels like a record-scratch moment after those three big Belgian beers. Still, Sierra Nevada’s Pale Ale is an American craft classic and deserves a spot on any best beers list. This beer from Chico, California is still one of the easiest drinking craft ales on the market to this day.
Tasting Notes:
Those resin-laden Cascade hops shine through without overpowering the sourdough malt and light citrus notes. The sip leans in the malt with a well-balanced bitterness from the subtly dank hops as a little bit of savory fruit cuts in. The end is short, hoppy, malty, and just the right amount of dry.
6. Hoegaarden Witbier
Hoegaarden
Style: Wheat Beer ABV: 4.9% Brewery: Brouwerij van Hoegaarden (AB InBev)
The Beer:
The original Hoegaarden used to be spiked with coriander and orange peels during the brewing process, creating a unique wheat beer (or witbier). That history is why the beer is still often served with a sad orange wedge at bars in the U.S. to this day.
Regardless, this is a very popular wheat beer that goes down without asking too much of the drinker.
Tasting Notes:
There’s a bit of clove and banana up top but it’s slightly artificial. Notes of citrus and pear mingle with almost peppery wheat and a hint of grassiness. The dry end is slightly honeyed and pulls back to the fruit.
5. Chimay Grande Réserve (Blue)
Chimay
Style: Strong Ale ABV: 9% Brewery: Bières de Chimay
The Beer:
This Chimay has been aged in French and American oak. It truly feels like the progenitor of the barrel-aged beers that dominate the craft beer world today. It’s amazingly well-crafted at Scourmont Abbey and brings a real sense of place in every sip.
Tasting Notes:
Christmas spices, dried stone fruits, sweet figs, and a hint of vanilla open this one up. The sip carries on in that vein with a flourish of vinous notes that lean towards Cognac, but it’s really all that fruit and spice that marries the oak that lets this creamy brew shine to the last drop.
4. Rochefort 10
Bevmo
Style: Quadrupel ABV: 11.3% Brewery: Brasserie de Rochefort
The Beer:
This Quad is all about amping up ABVS and dialing in the flavors while emboldening the overall experience of the beer. It’ll also get you fall-down drunk if you’re not careful. Those Trappist monks are tricky that way.
Tasting Notes:
This is the perfect holiday season sipper. The Christmas cake spices, nuts, dried berries, and maltiness is accented by a molasses rum essence, dark cacao, and a very distant hint of bananas foster. The sip doesn’t shy away from any of those notes on the palate and adds a bit of creamy, almost burnt toffee to the mix. The end is reminiscent of drunken nights around Christmas.
3. St. Bernardus Abt 12
St. Bernardus
Style: Quadrupel ABV: 10% Brewery: Brouwerij St. Bernardus
The Beer:
Speaking of drunk holiday nights, St. Bernardus is an abbey ale (that means it’s not made by Trappist monks) that will also knock you on your ass if you’re not careful. The ultra-strong ale is designed to carry a punch in both flavor and ABVs, and it doesn’t disappoint on either front.
Tasting Notes:
This one leans more into the toffee sweetness on the nose with minor hints of all those Christmas cake elements. The taste is fruitier, brings more vanilla, and keeps the sweetness closer to sugar cane to the point that it might slightly remind you of cream soda. There’s a nice lightness to the end that can be very deceptive given the alcohol in this one.
One of the best selling international beers of all time at number two? Yeah. That makes sense. The dark stuff is a classic for a reason. It’s also arguably the most quaffable beer on the list with the most flavor in the actual pint — thanks to the deeply roasted malts involved in the red stout.
Tasting Notes:
Those roasted malts come through with a little hint of coffee bitterness and a distant note of grassy hops. The roasted malts continue to be the star of the sip as the bitterness sweetens from coffee to dark chocolate and very, very subtle sourness arrives. A bit of toffee sweetness arrives and helps usher in a full-velvet end with a return hit from the coffee bitterness.
1. Stella Artois
Stella Artois
Style: Lager ABV: 5% Brewery: Stella Artois (AB InBev)
The Beer:
With all the lagers available in the world, Stella continues to dominate. Just last year, Stella won the World’s Beer Award distinction as the world’s best international lager. And that’s because Stella does what it says it will. It’s easy-drinking, refreshing, and affordable.
Tasting Notes:
There is a note of floral hops when you pop this open. The malts feel there while the bitterness from the hops balances out the beer. It’s light, dry, and tastes like a solid lager that neither offends or wows.
Sometimes the best new R&B can be hard to find, but there are plenty of great rhythm and blues tunes to get into if you have the time to sift through the hundreds of newly released songs every week. So that R&B heads can focus on listening to what they really love in its true form, we’ll be offering a digest of the best new R&B songs that fans of the genre should hear every Friday.
This week, Usher delivered a music video for his latest single “Bad Habits,” Ari Lennox and Anthony Ramos put on for small business with their collaborative track “If You Want Me To Stay” and Janelle Monae got introspective with her inspiring cut “Turntables.”
Usher – “Bad Habits”
The time is prime for Usher to start releasing new music and visuals as he readies for his Las Vegas residency next summer. This week, the celebrated R&B singer shared the Chris Robinson-directed music video for his song “Bad Habits” which features him serenading a woman with his classic dance moves.
Ari Lennox & Anthony Ramos – “If You Want Me To Stay”
Ari Lennox and Anthony Ramos linked up with Crown Royal to recreate Sly And The Family Stone 1970 classic “If You Want Me To Stay” in an effort to help save small businesses, such as live music venues, all over the country. One dollar will be donated towards the cause for every stream, up to $500,000. The vocal energy between Ari and Anthony make this one a worthy play, plus it’s for a good cause.
Janelle Monae – “Turntables”
Janelle Monae‘s “Turntables” is the uplifting number the world needs right now. “This song is to keep us motivated,” Janelle said of the song in a recent interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music. “This song is to lift up and keep us galvanized when we’re fatigued. And this song is really for the people”.
Eric Bellinger — “Solo’n”
Grammy-award winning R&B singer Eric Bellinger is planning to release his Optimal Music release with Eric B for President: Term 3 on October 30 and this week he’s sharing a pick from the project titled “Solo’n.” Produced by Smash David and Lowky, the visual also stars Bellinger’s wife La’Myia Good as his muse. “‘Solo’n’’ is definitely one of my personal favorites on the album,” Bellinger said in a statement. “Nursery rhyme melody vibes on the hook make sure you know the words by the time the 2nd chorus comes around, and it’s stuck in your head after the song is done playing.”
MarMar Oso — “Ruthless (Remix)” Feat. G-Eazy and Quando Rondo
MarMar Oso revamped his already viral hit song “Ruthless” with a music video for the remix featuring G-Eazy and Quando Rondo. While maintaining the pop-R&B vibe the original, G-Eazy and Quando add their perspective on love and heartbreak.
June3rd — “Wait 4 It”
Two years after the release of his fan favorite “Thirsty,” Florida’s own June3rd has dropped off his new single “Wait 4 It.” The track is set to live on his forthcoming debut project Jemeni.
Alex Mali — “Good Good”
In lieu of West Indian Day Parade in NYC this year (because of the pandemic), Brooklyn native Alex Mali is sharing her music video for “Good Good” to celebrate her Trinidadian and Jamaican heritage. “It’s such a downer that many of us, including myself, will not be attending the Labor Day Carnival or any Carnival this year,” she said in a statement. “I truly hope everyone has as much fun at home as we did on set and that it encourages those who haven’t to attend when the world is back in service.”
Check out this week’s R&B picks, plus more on Uproxx’s Spotify playlist below.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
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