If 2019 was the summer of White Claw, then 2024 is shaping up to be the summer of Modelo Especial. Hard seltzer is struggling, craft beer is flat, Bud Light is listing. Mexican imports, on the other hand, are absolutely rolling, and Constellation Brands, Modelo’s parent company in the United States, is sitting pretty. Call it a runaway train, a rocket ship, a ridiculous heater — whatever you call it, Modelo et al. is on one. Constellation just posted its full-year results for 2023, and its beer division — of which Modelo is the undisputed vanguard, standing on the shoulders of groundbreaking ..read more

Ireland is world-famous for its lively pub scene, which has given rise to pub snugs and Irish-inspired bars around the globe. With such a vibrant reputation, it’s easy to assume that the small country has more pubs per resident than any other nation. And yet, according to new research from Ireland’s Health Research Board, the Emerald Isle only ranks third among the countries with the most pubs per capita. The No. 1 title of most pubs per capita actually goes to Slovakia, with Hungary taking the runner-up slot. If bars, nightclubs, and beer gardens are brought into the fold, Ireland drops down ..read more

If you were a somewhat rebellious teenager and happened to replace some of your parents’ vodka with water from time to time, you may have discovered that alcohol and water freeze at different temperatures. Alternatively, if you were a late-19th-century German brewmaster, you might have observed this phenomenon and seen opportunity. Enter the eisbock, the big, bold, booze-adjacent beer that is almost unheard of in American breweries. What is an eisbock? Simply put, an eisbock (pronounced ice-bock, which is its literal translation) is a doppelbock that has been freeze-distilled. To make it, the ..read more

Some craft beer drinkers may turn their noses up at bargain brews, but brewers can see the beauty in a well-made and affordably priced thirst-quencher. That’s why you may see the people who know beer best reaching for something reliable at half the price of their craft counterparts. That may be because these beers are deceptively delicious or hold nostalgic weight, but sometimes, the price is just right. To find the best affordable beer options, we ask 11 brewers which cheap beer is their go-to. The brewers we spoke with all had different reasons for why their picks hold space in their hearts ..read more

Most of the time, if you’re reaching for a red wine — whether it be Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, or Pinot Noir — it will fall under the “dry” category. Even if a wine is fruit-forward in character like Gamay or Grenache, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s sweet. But there are several styles of red wine that are specifically made to be sweet for when that dessert craving strikes. And though the world’s most prestigious dessert bottlings are typically white wines, including Bordeaux’s Sauternes and Hungary’s Tokaji Aszú, we’re here to tell you you’re missing out by overlooking their red counterp ..read more

When Burgundy transformed into the Burgundian state under the Dukes, Charles the Rash expanded the state all the way up into Flanders. The action was one that angered the French king, and the state of Burgundy was, once again, taken over by French royalty. However, by this point, the French Renaissance was well under way, and the churches, monks, and monasteries faded away in importance. As the nobility rose, many of the vineyards once owned by these religious groups were sold off to the upper classes of Dijon. Then comes Louis XIV, and he falls in love with the white wines of Mâcon, leading ..read more

Boxed wine has been embraced by the drinking public, but canned wine has been a slower burn. In spite of that, according to Grand View Research, the global market for canned wine is expected to rise to $571.8 million in revenue by 2028 — a massive increase from the reported $235.7 million from 2021. One major issue, though, has persisted for the canned wine industry: the pervasive “rotten egg” smell that can eventually develop within wine cans. But now, a multi-year project conducted by the New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is shedding some light on how producers can res ..read more

U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal has dismissed Clase Azul’s trademark infringement case against Casa Azul, Forbes reported Tuesday. The ruling from the Southern District of Texas allows both tequilas to continue operating under their respective names, no matter how confusing it might be. Clase Azul, widely recognized for its iconic bottle shape, first filed the trademark infringement action against Casa Azul in September 2022. According to Forbes, Clase Azul submitted evidence suggesting that there have been several significant mix-ups between the brands. But ultimately, the judge determined ..read more

At this point, it’s common knowledge that sugar-reduced sodas aren’t necessarily better for you than their alternatives. But PepsiCo was recently forced to recall thousands of cans of Schweppes Zero Sugar Ginger Ale because they were found to be, well, chock-full of sugar. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the beverage conglomerate voluntarily issued a recall on March 9 after an international investigation discovered that the product in question contained just as much sugar as regular Schweppes. The recall included 230 cases (roughly 5,600 cans) of “sugar-free” Schwepp ..read more

In 2024, it’s not news that Pinot Noir is a popular grape. The thin-skinned variety, originally from France’s esteemed Burgundy region, captivated winemakers with its elegance and freshness and has taken off over the past two decades. Now, despite its fickleness, it’s planted across the globe and is one of the most common wines seen in shops and on by-the-glass lists. But in such a crowded market, how can consumers find the best Pinot Noirs? After tasting hundreds of wines from all over the world, it’s clear to us that some regions have Pinot’s balance on lock. In the U.S., cooler climate sit ..read more