Epic and Google have apparently squashed their app store beef and have made it easier for you to get Fortnite on your mobile phone these days. The maker of Fortnite has officially put the massively popular battle royale game back into Google’s Play Store after a year-plus absence over in-game purchases.
Fortnite had always existed on Android devices, but getting it on your phone or tablet required a workaround because of a dispute between Fortnite maker Epic and Google. The game could be downloaded from outside the Play store — directly from Epic’s website — because the game maker didn’t want to give Google a cut of any in-game purchases.
Here’s the full statement from Epic about the decision to put the game back into the Play Store:
After 18 months of operating Fortnite on Android outside of the Google Play Store, we’ve come to a basic realization:
Google puts software downloadable outside of Google Play at a disadvantage, through technical and business measures such as scary, repetitive security pop-ups for downloaded and updated software, restrictive manufacturer and carrier agreements and dealings, Google public relations characterizing third party software sources as malware, and new efforts such as Google Play Protect to outright block software obtained outside the Google Play store.
Because of this, we’ve launched Fortnite for Android on the Google Play Store. We’ll continue to operate the Epic Games App and Fortnite outside of Google Play, too.
We hope that Google will revise its policies and business dealings in the near future, so that all developers are free to reach and engage in commerce with customers on Android and in the Play Store through open services, including payment services, that can compete on a level playing field.
It’s an interesting dispute from a business perspective: it’s much easier to get other apps and software on your Android phone than say, an Apple device that’s essentially locked down with the exception of things available in Apple’s app store. But in avoiding Google’s Play Store, while entirely possible to do, it’s making things much harder for gamers who want to play Fortnite on their Android device. and those that don’t know it’s possible to download it outside of the Play Store missed out altogether.
Well, problem solved now.
[via Polygon]
When Netflix chose a release date for its docuseries Tiger King, there’s no way the streaming giant could’ve known that the world would go into lockdown, and the show would become an instantaneous social media hit thanks to a captive audience. For a month straight, the strange adventures of Joe Exotic and his rival, Carole Baskin, have dominated headlines and even resulted in a quickly-produced bonus episode starring Joel McHale, so it’s no surprise that Netflix is now reporting huge numbers for the viral series. But as ubiquitous as Tiger King seems to be, the show just narrowly missed landing the top spot of most-watched series, according to Deadline:
In an investor letter released today for the Reed Hastings-run streamer’s Q1 earnings report in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic and widespread stay-at-home orders, the sordid saga of the now imprisoned Joe Exotic, big cats, betrayal and more was watched by 64 million households around the planet over its first month of release.
To give a further global context, that blockbuster number for Tiger King is slightly exceeded by the Season 4 launch of the suspenseful La Casa de Papel AKA Money Heist, which dropped on April 3. The latest eight-episode of the Álex Pina created Spanish language worldwide hit has had 65 million households, according to the investor letter Netflix put out after the closing bell today.
Of course, it’s important to note that these numbers are coming directly from Netflix, which has been notoriously secret about protecting its internal data from third party verification. On top of that, the streaming service recently revealed that it implemented a controversial change to its viewing metrics. Before, audiences had to watch at least 70% of an episode or movie for it to count as a “view.” Now, merely watching the first two minutes is enough to qualify for a view. This change resulted in some healthy skepticism around the actual success of Netflix’s The Witcher and 6 Underground, and it will presumably raise a few eyebrows in regards to the real viewership size for Tiger King.
(Via Deadline)
WWE’s Money in the Bank PPV is coming up in about two and a half weeks, on Sunday, May 10. Thanks to the Coronavirus pandemic, it’s been moved from the Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore. WWE hasn’t actually said where the regular matches will originate, but we know that the two Money in the Bank Ladder Matches are happening at WWE Headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. As WWE has explained, the matches will start on the ground floor, and competitors will have to make it all the way to the roof of the building, where the briefcase will be hanging.
Solo Wrestling on Twitter has photos of the entire rooftop setup in Stamford, including the men’s and women’s briefcases hanging above the ring.
#WWE | Primeras imágenes de cómo ha quedado el stage para los combates #MITB en la azotea de la sede central de la empresa en Connecticut.
El evento: el proximo 10 de mayo pic.twitter.com/kHLC61PXOX
— Solowrestling (#QuedateEnCasa) (@Solo_Wrestling) April 21, 2020
It honestly looks a little treacherous up there. Hopefully it won’t be too windy.
Here’s the latest card for the event as far as we know at this point:
- The Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match currently has Asuka, Shayna Baszler, Nia Jax, and Dana Brooke, plus either Lacey Evans or Sasha Banks and a sixth unnamed competitor.
- The Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match so far has Daniel Bryan, Rey Mysterio, Aleister Black, Apollo Crews, and either Drew Gulak or King Corbin, plus a sixth competitor.
- Braun Strowman will defend his WWE Universal Championship against Bray Wyatt.
- Bayley will defend her WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship against Tamina.
- Drew McIntyre will defend his WWE Universal Championship against Seth Rollins.
With the COVID-19 pandemic still on the rise, the sports world remains on indefinite hiatus. Not only has it put the current seasons in jeopardy, it will have all sorts of future implications. For many up-and-coming players who were anticipating their college and NBA debuts next season, uncertainty abounds.
Amid all the craziness, we’re seeing some prospects take unorthodox routes to the next level. Top recruit, Jalen Green, for instance, announced last week that he was skipping college and entering the G-League. Green is expected to be one of the top picks in the 2021 Draft, and his choosing this route could pave the way for future top picks and have implications for the NCAA.
On Tuesday, Dwyane Wade’s son, Zaire, announced that he was also taking a somewhat unconventional path. Instead of committing to college, he’s decided to take a post-graduate year at Brewster Academy.
Wade finished his high school career at Sierra Canyon, where he played alongside Bronny James. The three-star prospect reportedly had scholarship offers from Toledo, DePaul, and Rhode Island, and his deferment will allow him to explore the possibility of a route through college basketball after next season.
Aside from the quarterbacks at the very top, there is no group with more buzz heading into the 2020 NFL Draft than the wide receiver class. There are a number that could find their way into the first round and the depth is rather incredible throughout the draft.
As such, there’s going to be ample opportunity for teams to find talent at receiver who fit whatever needs they may have. There are burners, shifty slot guys, and some serious physical specimens on the outside. Antonio Gandy-Golden from Liberty fits into that latter category. At 6’4, 223 pounds, he has terrific size, and during the Flames’ two seasons at the FBS level, Gandy-Golden recorded more than 2,400 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns.
He has big play ability, as evidenced by his 17.7 yards per reception, and was, by far, Liberty’s best offensive weapon. Entering the NFL Draft, Gandy-Golden figures to find himself taken in the mid-rounds given the depth of this year’s class, but he has the size and potential to be a steal for whatever team lands him. Ahead of the start of NFL Draft weekend, Gandy-Golden spoke with Uproxx Sports on behalf of Panini, as he is part of their “Road to Rated Rookie” video series that will follow Jerry Jeudy, D’Andre Swift, Jordan Love, Eno Benjamin, and Gandy-Golden through the draft process and into their NFL debuts.
Gandy-Golden discussed the somewhat strange draft process he’s gone through this year, how he’s been able to keep training, his love of puzzles, what teams have told him to work on the most in his game, and more.
This has obviously been a unique draft process for everybody. What has it been like for you the last couple months?
It’s been pretty normal, aside from everything being shut down. I’ve still been able to workout and things like that, so I can’t really get too deterred or thrown off my schedule as far as that goes. It’s definitely been weird having to find new places and just trying to work things out to where I can workout.
What have you found you’ve been able to do to keep training and keep trying to sharpen those skills as you get ready to go to the next level?
I’ve pretty much been able to do everything. I’m up at my school right now, so I can use our outdoor fields and some days our indoor fields. I have a few people that have been able to come throw with me so I can catch with and things like that, and I also have a small gym here I still have access to.
You’re part of Panini’s “Road to Rated Rookie” series. What are folks going to learn about you as a person and a player in this series?
It’s been crazy…but from @LibertyFootball, to @seniorbowl, to the Combine, to the @NFLDraft, the pieces are starting to come together! Thank you @paniniamerica for helping me tell my story. #roadtotheratedrookie pic.twitter.com/EGaZvLLhOF
— Antonio Gandy-Golden (@gandygolden11) April 20, 2020
I feel like I’m more than just a football player. I have many other things I can do that I have interest in, and I feel like that will interest them in just seeing that aspect of it and it’s more than I just play football at the level that I do. I just am an overall fun guy. I’m not just a big stiff robot that plays football [laughs].
What are some of those things you like to do off the field, whether it’s to decompress or just non-football stuff you’re really into?
Yeah, I like puzzles and that’ll be a big thing people see most and find that interesting. I love anything that pretty much challenges me, so I have this think called the Kendama that I do. I like to draw, I like music and things like that, I like to dance on occasion. You know, just to have fun and lighten up the mood.
Part of the draft process is kind of selling yourself to teams and letting them know what they’d be getting if they take you. What are you telling teams that you talk to in meetings or calls about you as a football player and what they’d be getting as a guy in the locker room?
Yeah, yeah, so just as a football player, I do what I’m supposed to do on the field as well as off the field, but that I’m a guy they can trust and rely on to get things done. I feel like that’s a good thing for a team. I’m physical — a big, physical receiver — and I like to impose my will. They can look at my film and see that, but it’s always good to hear it when they talk to me. Off the field, I don’t get in trouble. So that’s another sort of security blanket type of thing they can have, just knowing that off the field issues will not be a worry.
On the other side, what are things teams have told you that they want to see you work on and improve on — as well as the things they like in your game — in terms of feedback of what they’ve seen on tape?
So they like my physicality and how I am on the field. They like how I run a route, like my head’s on fire, basically. We can agree on this too, that I need to polish up my releases and work on those, and just get that initial separation. But overall they say they like my game and anything else they say they can help me work on.
As you say, you’re a big, physical guy at 6’4, 220-230, who are the guys in the league that you look up to or model your game after or think you have some similarities to?
I love Julio Jones, Larry Fitzgerald. Those have always been my top two guys. Definitely as of recently, Michael Thomas just with how smooth he is and how efficient he is and gets things done and has become one of the top few guys in the league the past few years. Just those three guys mainly, Thomas fairly recently, but those top two guys for a long time.
How are you managing the stress and excitement as we get a few days away from draft weekend?
I’ve just been relaxing, taking my time just in my day. Enjoying this time I have right now, and working out of course. That’s always a good thing, just trying to set a pace and having everything ready to go so when my name is called I won’t have any hiccups.
When your name is called, what’s your setup going to be for watching the Draft?
I’m going to be at my school and hopefully I can get one of the facilities to have a nice place to watch it and have a few people with me. But, yeah, I’ll just be watching it with my family waiting for that day and waiting for that call.
When you do get drafted, Panini will get you on a card. Are you looking forward to that as a milestone and getting that first trading card?
Oh yeah, for sure. I’m definitely excited and I’m super glad we’ve been working together and everything they’ve been doing for me that we’ve been working together on, it’s been amazing, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us.
When Tom Brady chose to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they immediately became a hot destination for offensive free agents. They also became a potential fit for a certain recently retired tight end who has been in Florida with the WWE.
Reports of Rob Gronkowski’s interest in the Bucs began a few weeks back, but on Tuesday they picked up steam in the form of just about every mainstream reporter offering insight into trade discussions between New England and Tampa Bay. Not long after that smoke formed, we got word from ESPN’s Adam Schefter that a deal was, indeed, done, and the Bucs would acquire Gronk and a seventh round pick for their fourth round selection in this weekend’s draft.
Trade, pending physical: Patriots are trading TE Rob Gronkowski and a seventh-round pick to the Buccaneers for a fourth-round pick, source tells ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 21, 2020
#Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski has taken his physical already, sources say. So the trade should happen: Gronk and a 7th for a 4th rounder.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 21, 2020
It reunites Gronk with Brady, the only quarterback he’s ever been willing to play with — he famously vetoed a trade to Detroit a few years back ahead of the Draft by threatening to retire. It also make O.J. Howard expendable for the Bucs, who could move him this week to make up even more draft capital as they look to make themselves into a contender immediately. The fourth round pick for Gronk is actually a pretty good return for New England, considering he has no trade value for anyone else since he is retired, but the Bucs are here to make Brady happy and giving him his greatest security blanket of all time is a good way to do that.
How this impacts Gronk’s run as WWE 24/7 Champion remains to be seen, however, there are a few possibilities.
1. Gronk must drop the 24/7 Belt
2. Gronk defends the belt on off days, Rodman style
3. The 24/7 belt gets passed around the NFL based on who tackles and (as such) pins whoever holds the belt.
Let’s hope for the third option.
This year’s NFL Draft class is headlined by quarterbacks and wide receivers, the two glamour positions of football in 2020. A great passing attack is vital to success in 2020, and teams will have ample opportunity to improve that part of their offense thanks to the strength at the top (and, with receivers, throughout the draft) at those spots.
However, a passing attack can’t reach its potential without a strong offensive line, and luckily for teams, this year’s offensive line group is very solid, with four players at the top that all have top-10 potential at tackle. Tackle has long been a coveted position, as they are tasked with keeping the $100 million quarterbacks upright, and this year there are some serious freaks available. We’re going to look at the various tiers of linemen available in this year’s class, with sure-fire first rounders, a pair of strong interior lineman, Day 2 options, and some Wild Cards that could sneak up boards and maybe hear their names called on Thursday night.
Tier 1
Tristan Wirfs: The hyper-athletic Wirfs figures to be the latest long-time NFL starting tackle to come out of Iowa. At 6’5, 320 with 34 inch arms and 10.25 inch hands, he has prototypical size, and he blew the Combine out of the water with a jaw-dropping performance. His tape is strong, and he can do it all from the tackle spot. He uses his long arms to disrupt pass rushers, has the quickness to kick out to speed rushers and the balance and strength to deal with inside moves. He’s strong in the run game as well, and can be an anchor for years to come for some team in the top 10.
Mekhi Becton: Becton may have the funniest film of any offensive lineman in this class. A mammoth of a human, Becton uses all of his 6’7, 364 pound frame to overwhelm opponents with ease. But unlike most gargantuan tackles, Becton mixes size with athleticism — his 5.10-second 40 at the combine turned heads, while he is not clumsy by any stretch of the imagination, even if he can certainly stand to polish his technique at the pro level. That’s not to say he is a gigantic work in progress, he just has room to improve. With his unreal strength and impressive athleticism, that’s a horrifying proposition.
Jedrick Wills: Another top-10 caliber prospect, Wills was dominant for Alabama from his right tackle position. He’s not quite as big as Wirfs (and certainly smaller than Becton), but he’s an elite technician, which should be no surprise given Alabama’s pedigree. Wills has elite-level footwork and has the quick hands to match. He’s a great puncher and rarely gets out of position or off balance. Another guy that’s talented in pass pro and moving downhill, who could hear his name called very early.
Andrew Thomas: Teams that want to run the football but need offensive line help should may be wise to have the former Georgia standout No. 1 on the board. Don’t get fooled by his 21 bench press reps at the combine, Thomas’ power is special. His punch and ability to blend scary upper and lower body strength are a dangerous blend, while he plays with a mean streak that few can match. We’ll see what his best position is — i.e. whether or not he can handle quick pass rushers well enough to play left tackle (he certainly has the talent to do this) — but he is as safe of an offensive line prospect as you will find.
Tier 2
Cesar Ruiz: Cesar Ruiz is perhaps the top interior lineman available in 2020, and the three-year Michigan starter has a lot to offer. Though he isn’t blessed with overwhelming measurements, Ruiz has strong pedigree as a former top-50 recruit and he played to that level in Ann Arbor. It would be fair to note that he wasn’t dominant early in his final college season as a junior, but Ruiz improved steadily during the campaign. When taking into account the fact that Ruiz is quite young, it is easy to see his upside, even at a position that is often overlooked. He might not be a first rounder, but, if a contending team is in need of a strengthening presence up the middle, Ruiz would make a lot of sense as a player that can help immediately and progress from there.
Lloyd Cushenberry III: The man in the middle at LSU is the other top interior lineman in this year’s class, who could hear his name called late on Thursday or early on Friday. LSU’s offensive line is probably underrated given what they did to allow Joe Burrow and that offense to shine last season, and Cushenberry was in the middle, handling line calls and making sure he kept a clean pocket for Burrow to step up into. He’s not a behemoth, but he’s got ample size and his football IQ from dealing with that Joe Brady offense is a major asset to come in and be an impact player early in the NFL from the center or guard position.
Tier 3
Josh Jones: The boom or bust prospect in this offensive line class. Jones looks the part of a franchise left tackle — he comes in at 6’5, 319 pounds — and the times where he blends that size with some impressive athleticism are breathtaking. On the other side of the coin, there are times where it looks like he’s never been coached up, and he absolutely needs some time to refine his technique. A redshirt year would be in his best interest, especially as he makes the jump from a Group of 5 school where he wasn’t exactly going against the nation’s scariest pass rushers every week.
Lucas Niang: The big question on Niang is how his medicals looked after suffering a hip injury that ended his senior season early, but if teams are convinced that’s OK, this is a strong right tackle with excellent athletic ability. Another TCU guy that could hear his name called in the first two days of the draft, Niang’s biggest obstacle might be the inability during this process for teams to bring him in for workouts and medicals.
Prince Tega Wanogho: Get ready for the “he started as a basketball player and only took up football to stay in shape” stories on draft day, but it’s part of what makes him intriguing. He’s still a pretty raw talent, with excellent athletic abilities who an OL coach might see as someone they can shape into their vision. Starting 20 games in the SEC while still learning the finer points of playing left tackle tells you a lot about the talent here, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see someone take him Day 2 with the idea that he can continue to tap into that athletic potential.
Jonah Jackson (G): An interesting prospect, who finished his career with one season starting at guard for Ohio State after a career at Rutgers, and that’s noticeable in his build. He’s not as polished a physical product as you’d expect from an Ohio State prospect, but that could offer even further room for growth if a team likes the skillset he has now as an All-Big Ten performer. Better in pass pro than going downhill, but more time in elite weight rooms might turn this kid into a beast.
Tier 4
Saahdiq Charles: It’s amazing we’ve gotten to the point where the 6’4, 321 pound guy has questions about whether he’s big and strong enough, but that’s the NFL. Charles was the left tackle at LSU last year and, as mentioned with Cushenberry, that group didn’t get enough credit for keeping Burrow clean all year. There are the strength questions with him and he missed six games for disciplinary reasons, which surely came up in interviews, but he’s got excellent feet and has positional versatility having played both tackle spots and pinched in at guard some as a freshman.
Matt Hennessy (G): Pour yourself a snifter, it’s Hennessy time. The Temple product is a smart, technically sound football player who is quite good at putting himself in positions to win battles against opposing defensive linemen. His frame — 6’4, 307 pounds and without a condor-like wingspan — screams interior offensive lineman, and while there are concerns about whether he has the strength to ever overpower opposing defensive tackles, he can usually make up for that by knowing exactly what he needs to do. Older brother, Thomas, is a long-snapper for the Jets.
Wild Cards
Austin Jackson: There is first round buzz about the USC tackle as he’s got a prototypical frame and raw abilities that at times pop on film. Like just about every USC prospect, the question is about consistency in technique, but there’s a chance he gets his name called on Thursday due to the measurables and athletic gifts.
Isaiah Wilson: There is no functional difference between Wilson stonewalling someone and getting hit by a train. He is a monster, coming in at 6’6 and 350 pounds, and has the kind of raw power that will take your breath away. The issue is he is mostly raw power right now — his technique isn’t particularly stellar, while he doesn’t have the skillset to be much of a left tackle and keep a QB upright in passing situations. The raw power is something, though, and with time and proper coaching, a run-heavy team could get quite the return on investment at right tackle.
Ben Bartch: The St. John’s (Minn) product has a story many heard at the Combine, as he’s the guy that drinks the disgusting smoothies to gain weight. The former tight end packed on the pounds to become a tackle and still has some room on his 6’6 frame for more. He’s got tons of athletic ability, and despite coming from a small school he’s someone you could see a team falling in love with during the process — although he might be one of those hurt most by the lack of in person workouts this year.
If nothing below suits your sensibilities, check out our guide to What You Should Watch On Streaming Right Now.
Middleditch & Schwartz (Netflix series) — The streaming giant’s continuing with this year’s stellar lineup of Tuesday-released comedy specials, and there’s a super-sized batch landing today. Thomas Middleditch and Ben Schwartz’s two-man comedy show will feature in three new completely improvised Netflix comedy specials, including Dream Job, Law School Magic, and Parking Lot Wedding. Get ready for tales of an existential crisis, a robbery-gone-wrong, and a bit of magic.
Cooked with Cannabis (Netflix series) — Technically, this show dropped on 4/20, but considering how this year is going, it’s gotta still be 4/20 somewhere, right? Move your cannabis game past pot brownies and marijuana cookies while watching top chefs compete to get “baked” in more elaborate ways.
Empire (FOX, 9:00 p.m.) — The Bossyfest launch is upon us, with Cookie reflecting upon how far she’s come and Lucious unable to resist his attraction to Cookie.
For Life (ABC, 10:00 p.m.) — Aaron’s doing the social crusade thing while moving towards becoming an attorney and flashing back to his nine-year incarceration.
The Last O.G. (TBS, 10:30 p.m.) — Josh wants to be the cool dad, so he’s naturally jealous of Tray taking Shahzad to his first basketball game with courtside seats.
The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon — Halle Berry, Russell Westbrook, Meghan Trainor
The Late Late Show With James Corden — Ray Romano, Melanie C
The Daily Show With Trevor Noah — Noah’s reporting live from his couch, and naturally, the subject of the night will be the ongoing pandemic and social distancing.
These are trying times for everyone. Especially true for… gah, just about everyone who isn’t rich, at this point. The hospitality industry has been flat-out decimated. Try as these businesses might to stay afloat, without the communal aspect intact, things are freaking rough. While many of our favorite independent bars and restaurants remain open for pickup or delivery, they’re struggling to make up the revenue they’d normally get with customers filing in.
Local breweries and taprooms are no exception. According to the Brewer’s Association, breweries are doing so poorly that a recent poll of 455 breweries in 49 states found that 46% of those polled said they’d be forced to close their doors for good within the next three months unless the shutdown ends. This is why it’s extremely important to support your local breweries to whatever degree you can afford. Stop in, grab a six-pack (or three), buy some swag and gift cards for future use. Literally anything helps.
Many of our favorite bartenders are struggling as well, but that hasn’t stopped them from supporting their local breweries. We gave them a chance to shout out their friends, favorite brewers, and neighborhood spots.
Santa Monica Brew Works
Piero Procida, bartender at The London West Hollywood in Los Angeles
Santa Monica Brew Works is a favorite of mine. I believe you can immediately taste the difference in quality when something is local and crafty, versus a large-scale mass-produced beer claiming they are still craft. Santa Monica Brew Works is popular out here and quickly gaining notoriety but still small enough that they focus on quality of product. All their different beers are amazing. I don’t think there is one I don’t like. I support them because when locals are out here, they want to try something that represents them and where they are from. It’s a pride thing. I think when people taste this beer and discover how easy it is to drink, they truly garner a great appreciation for it. People are overwhelmed with the many types of beers out there now so even though they may not have tasted it, it still draws a certain comfort in knowing the beer is from where they are from.
Grimm Ales
Jordan David Smith, spirits director and head bartender at HALL in New York City
I’ve been a big fan of Grimm (Brooklyn, NY) since I first moved to New York, what feels like a lifetime ago (it’s been eight years – New York will do that to you). It’s a husband and wife team who started as homebrewers, then brewed nomadically, and were able to open a brewery and taproom in the eastern end of Williamsburg, and they’re some of the nicest and most talented yet down-to-earth people you’ll ever meet. They brew everything from adjunct-laden hyper-rich imperial stouts that I drink year-round like the crotchety old man I am to ethereally delicate softly floral sours. They also often host local artists in their taproom and frequently collaborate with other businesses and causes in the greater community.
Nightshift Brewery
James Arensault, director of food & beverage at Harbor View Hotel on Martha’s Vineyard
Nightshift Brewery, known for doing events and promotions for charities and causes (specifically for women). I’m also supporting Trillium brewery, one of the fastest-growing breweries in the New England area. Another pick is Notch Brewery, not a great reason just a fan of the staff and their sessions. Devils Purse, summer selection is awesome (it’s a kolsch). I guess I’m supporting a few during these strange times.
Tola Brewery
Everson Rawlings, mixologist at Scrub Island Resort Spa and Marina in the British Virgin Islands
Our local brewery Tola Brewery has recently opened, and we have not had the opportunity to do a proper sampling. However, this will be one of my first stops after our 24-hour lockdown is lifted. We always try to support local brands as their products are fresh, accessible and we can form face to face relationships with the brand owners/managers.
Legion Brewing
Scott Daniel, bartender at The Ballantyne in Charlotte, North Carolina
We always look to feature local beer on the majority of our taps in our Gallery, Ryal and Outdoor Pool bars, and appreciate the prominence of Charlotte’s brewing culture. Our Gallery Beer Dinner series has been a big hit with our patrons, as our chefs have collaborated with the likes of Legion Brewing, Wicked Weed and Olde Mecklenburg Brewery to produce wonderful pairing experiences.
Remedy Brewing
Zac Johnson, general manager with JJ’s Wine, Spirits, and Cigars in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
I try to support them all because Sioux falls is a tight-knit community and we all know each other. We do have some really good relationships with Remedy and WoodGrain, having done several barrel-aged collaborations with them, but we try to keep at least one beer from everyone in town on tap at all times.
Service Brewing
Brandon Carter, Chef at FARM in Bluffton, South Carolina
What local breweries am I supporting during these strange times? Service and River Dog are our favorites. Great people and great beers. It’s important to support your local breweries. They need it now more than ever.
New Belgium Brewing
Sebastien Derbomez, brand advocacy manager of William Grant & Sons
I moved to Denver more than a year ago and there are so many options out there! Right now, I support New Belgium Brewing, Avery Brewing and Hogshead Brewing purveyor of cask-conditioned ales — mostly because I simply enjoy their beer selection but I’m always up to try something new. And I often add a back of Tullamore D.E.W. to pair with my beer selection to make the perfect boilermaker.
Tank Brewing Company
Hayden Miller, head bartender at Bodega Taqueria y Tequila in South Beach, Florida
The Tank Brewing Co is on our handle at Bodega and I think they are putting out great stylistic representations across the board. Their La Playita Pils is a refreshing, crisp beer that hits the spot for me no matter what. If you want to pair with a heavier food, Farito IPA has what it takes.
Wynwood Brewing
Nicole Quist, beverage director at Bartaco in Aventura, Florida
Our beer menu is small + we’re proud to say almost entirely local. Love Wynwood Brewing and Veza Sur. It’s really important to us at Bartaco to support our local communities and we are proud to partner with these two at Aventura, with their own strong ties to Miami. I could crush a Wynwood La Rubia Blonde Ale or Veza Sur Spanglish Lager with a baja fish taco right now.