Every month, we're tasting a huge amount of beer, whiskey and other beverages. In some cases, we're taste-testing the industry's best new products, and in others, we're coming across hidden gems in the wild. Our favorites from the last four weeks are gathered here, in the best things we drank this month.
Ardbeg BizarreBQ
I can't think of a perfectly named spirit that Ardbeg's BizarreBQ. This Scotch is indeed bizarre ... bizarre because it literally tastes like BBQ. Dreamed up by Ardbeg’s director of whisky creation Dr. Bill Lumsden and grilling expert DJ BBQ, AKA Christian Stevenson, this limited-edition single malt was aged in a trio of casks: double-charred oak casks, Pedro Ximénez sherry casks and "BBQ casks" that were extra-charred on an old-fashioned brazier.
To describe the resultant liquor merely as "smoky" would be a massive understatement. Yes, it's smoky — very smoky — but this isn't your normal peat smoke. This both smells and tastes like you're standing next to a charcoal grill that's cooking some slathered slab of meat. If you told me there was BBQ sauce in the mashbill I would 100 percent believe you. This whisky is sweet, spicy and smoky in equal measures, not unlike expertly-grilled chicken. It's dynamite stuff and one of the weirdest whiskies I've had the pleasure of trying, but I can't think of a better drink complement to my next backyard cookout.
Jeng
If you're looking for a genuine canned cocktail without the downsides of alcohol that'll still give you a little bit of a buzz, Jeng has you covered with its alcohol-free, low-THC, CBD-infused offerings. I got to try all four of their flavors (Moscow Mule, Paloma, Rhubarb Cucumber Spritz and the adorably named Jeng & Tonic) and I can say that each one of them was quite delicious, balancing the ingredients to offer refreshment without the sugary, syrupy taste common among some other canned cocktails (alcoholic or otherwise).
For a warm summer day, these are sessionable and — at just 3mg of THC, tops — not too overpowering so you can actually sip on them all day long, should you so desire. — Sean Tirman, Commerce Writer
Firestone Walker Pale 31 California Pale Ale
If you’re a Trader Joe’s stalwart like me, you probably have seen (and enjoyed) the beer Mission St. Pale Ale. That beer was contract brewed by Firestone Walker for years until the contract was not renewed in the early 2010s. It was essentially FW’s Pale 31, which fell out of regular production in 2018. The California brewery has brought this legendary beer back (in a limited fashion) with the classical Centennial hop and also added in newer varieties El Dorado and Mosaic for a more tropical complexity. It checks in at 4.9% ABV and was a pleasant sipper for hot summer evenings. You should realize, though, that this beer is currently only available to Firestone Walker Brewmaster Collective members. There has not been any mention of it becoming available again to the wider public, but let’s all hope that’s the case sometime down the road. — Ryan Brower, Senior Commerce Editor
Bosco del Merlo Prosecco Rosé
Living in a place with upwards of 200 sunny days a year, I often have a craving for crisp, cold, refreshing rosés and white wines — especially in the summer months. My go-to recently has been Bosco del Merlo’s Prosecco Rosé, a Brut from the Veneto region in Italy. It’s a fresh wine with strawberry on the nose and palate alongside hints of pear and lychee. The small bubbles and light pink color from pinot noir grapes make this a perfect wine for a hot summer afternoon. It also pairs well with poolside patios, a page-turning book, grilled veggies or sashimi. Bonus points to this winemaker for donating a percentage of proceeds to the fight against breast cancer. — Leila Barber, Production Designer
Brēz
This summer, I’ve reached for seltzers more often than beer or wine when hanging out with friends. I’m not sober, but for a handful of reasons, drinking alcohol isn’t as appealing as it was in my 20s. So when I heard about Brēz, a fizzy drink made with a low amount of THC, CBD and Lion’s Mane mushroom (2.5mg, 5mg and 1600mg, respectively), I was curious.
I had a few cans over just as many weeks, and what stood out to me most wasn’t how strong the drink was but how variable the experience seemed to be. Sometimes the effects were pronounced, and sometimes, it felt more ambient. The brand has some explanation on how its inclusion of Lion’s Mane and its micronization does something or other to avoid the all-too-familiar anxiety spiral edibles can produce. But the main takeaway from my experience, at least, is that despite some variability, you’ll get a little buzz and you’ll be fine.
What I was most impressed with, however, was the taste. The drink has an initially dry, lemony flavor with a bit of bitterness but leaves a wild, almost cotton-candy-like aftertaste on the palate. I’ll probably buy these again (though not often — they go for $40 for a six-pack), but in some ways, I wish I could just buy a non-THC version. — J.D. DiGiovanni, Managing Editor
Kings & Daughters Brewery Queens & Sons Soft IPA
I’m no beer tastemaker but over the past year, I’ve grown a friendship with the steward of my local choice beer market. Rather than spending my time looking at countless flashy cans as my eyes glaze over, my friend recommends something new. Freshly stocked this month was a soft India pale ale called Queens & Sons from Kings & Daughters Brewery — which my friend says is one of the most innovative new breweries in Oregon. Slightly hazy and refreshingly hoppy, this soft IPA was the perfect way to enjoy the shade on a hot July afternoon. — Mitch Kwitek, SEO Manager
