For many of us, autumn means getting equal parts excited and infuriated by pumpkin spice lattes and back-to-school specials. For beer lovers, it means Oktoberfests. Oktoberfestbier, or festbier, is another term for Märzen lager, a German style that was historically brewed in March, to be enjoyed during the fall harvest. The beer style is characteristically […]
With an array of custom mixers available for home and professional bars, even the simplest cocktails entail choices. The Moscow Mule, created by Smirnoff in 1941, has just three ingredients: vodka, ginger beer, and fresh lime juice. Although vodka is generally perceived as tasteless, we discovered months back that different spirits brands absolutely affect the taste […]
Wheat beers get a bad rap. For light lager devotees, wheat ales, witbiers, and “whites” are hazy, fragrant mysteries. For IPA lovers, they’re banished as boring. In reality, the best American wheat ales are as nuanced, tasty, and refreshing.
The Gin & Tonic is a global success story. Old-school but fashionable and infinitely customizable, the cocktail’s popularity continues to soar worldwide, aided by a growing number of artisanal gins and craft tonics. After compiling an extensive list of craft and mass-market tonic waters — seriously, if money can buy it, we tasted it — we set […]
Gose occupies a strange place in the beer market. Beer that’s salty and sour is not exactly ordinary for those of us raised on pilsners and lagers. But for those who seek out sour beers, or are curious to expand their horizons, this ancient style is an obvious choice for summer refreshment.
Canned wines are on the march. According to a January 2018 Nielsen report, category growth outpaced any other form of wine packaging in the U.S. last year. As more brands continue to debut canned offerings, sales of the summer sippers promise to be similarly abundant. Last summer, VinePair sampled the market-leading canned wine options and, […]
Golden ales, also known as blonde ales, are making a splash this summer. As more craft beer drinkers turn toward simpler pleasures, golden ales new and old are finding life everywhere from dive bars to boutique brewpubs. These sunny-hued brews are light, easy-drinking alternatives to hoppy IPAs and everyday lagers, landing somewhere in the middle […]
The idea of drinking red wine when it’s hot outside can seem counterintuitive. Who on earth would want to pop open a red when the grill is going? A glass of white or rosé seems so much more refreshing. The problem is, red wines go so much better with what’s on your grill than the […]
Cocktail revolution, meet can revolution. As mixologists come up with myriad ways to please our palates, and canned beverages go from last resort to first choice, canned cocktails are booming. Historically, many canned cocktails had muted flavors and lower ABVs than their freshly made equivalents. Now, thankfully, creative companies are perfecting the RTD format. Some […]
