5 Uniquely Japanese Beers You Can Actually Buy in the U.S.
5 Uniquely Japanese Beers You Can Actually Buy in the U.S.

AS PUBLISHED BY THE DAILY MEAL

In Japan, unique ingredients define many of the country’s best beers. And thanks to America’s unquenchable thirst, more and more of these beers are being exported to the United States. I’ve traveled from northern Iwate all the way down to Ishikawa in search of beers made with special ingredients native to the Pacific island nation, and rounded up the best of those that can also be found in the United States. Seek out the following five delicious, intriguing brews to enjoy a taste of Nippon from the other side of the world.

Read More
BeerEthan FixellJapan, The Daily Meal, Beer Recs
We Had Maynard James Keenan Judge Two Master Sommeliers' Pairings of His Wines
We Had Maynard James Keenan Judge Two Master Sommeliers' Pairings of His Wines

AS PUBLISHED BY VICE

I’ve taken Maynard James Keenan to New York’s downtown restaurant Manhatta, where two Master Sommeliers have built a musical meal around his wines. To help us all get a better understanding of Keenan’s work, Chef Jason Pfeifer and John Ragan—Wine Director for Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group in New York City—have paired unique dishes with five of Caduceus Cellars’ cuvees. Meanwhile, Andy Myers—Wine Director for José Andrés’ ThinkFoodGroup in Washington DC, and a well-versed metalhead and musician himself—has curated a soundtrack for each course. Best of all, Keenan will have the chance to play critic for once in his over-scrutinized life, giving feedback on every pairing.

Read More
Wine, MusicEthan FixellMunchies, Tool, Maynard James Keenan
10 Ways To Pair Metallica's Blackened Whiskey With Each of Their Albums
10 Ways To Pair Metallica's Blackened Whiskey With Each of Their Albums

AS PUBLISHED BY KERRANG!

Metallica’s new whiskey is crafted by spirits legend Dave Pickerell (former master distiller for both Makers Mark and Whistle Pig who, sadly, only very recently passed away), and blasted with “black noise” via Metallica’s music while aging in black brandy barrels. The obvious musical accompaniment to drinking such a dram is, of course, a Metallica album – but which one?

Storied spirits journalist Ethan Fixell and tipsy Metallica fanboy Chris Krovatin sat down together and created a comprehensive pairing of Blackened drinks and Metallica albums.

Read More
SpiritsEthan FixellWhiskey, Heavy Metal, Metallica
4 Must-Visit Winemakers of Barolo and Barbaresco
4 Must-Visit Winemakers of Barolo and Barbaresco

AS PUBLISHED BY FOOD & WINE

Fickle Nebbiolo is perfect for expressing subtle differences in terroir—especially in the Langhe subregion of Piedmont, where soils and microclimates can differ greatly within a few footsteps. In fact, as in Burgundy, a single Langhe plot might be divided up amongst multiple vineyards. Thus, growing the grape in Barbaresco or Barolo will produce very different wines—even though the two famous DOCGs are only fifteen miles apart.

These four wineries not only represent some of the best Piedmont has to offer—they also help illustrate the greatest differences between Barolo and Barbaresco, and the range of unique qualities one can find within each.

Read More
WineEthan FixellFood & Wine, Barolo, Barbaresco, Italy
Five Wine Regions Producing America’s Finest Ciders
Five Wine Regions Producing America’s Finest Ciders

AS PUBLISHED BY WINE ENTHUSIAST

As it happens, some of the most noteworthy cider in the United States comes from its greatest wine regions.

“Not every plot of land in a famous wine-growing appellation is perfectly suited to grapes,” says Dustin Wilson, master sommelier and co-founder of Verve Wine. “Often, you’ll see other types of plants in areas that might not be as well-suited for quality grape growing.”

Here are five cider makers from the nation’s greatest wine regions.

Read More
Cider, WineEthan FixellCider, Wine Enthusiast
Everything You Need To Know About Fancy Cider
Everything You Need To Know About Fancy Cider

AS PUBLISHED BY THRILLIST

Cider is seemingly everywhere these days, going well beyond its antiquated status as a tap option for the gluten-averse or people who say they don't like beer. Still, most people don’t think to order cider when out for a nice dinner, and that's a shame. Good ol’ fermented apple juice can be as complex (and expensive) as any craft beer or fine wine. The best stuff -- often “heritage cider,” made with cider-specific heirloom apple varieties and produced with traditional winemaking techniques -- is incredibly nuanced, with plenty of regional differences and unique flavors to go around.

Read More
CiderEthan FixellCider, Thrillist
This Is the Delicious, Super-Cheap Wine You Need This Summer
This Is the Delicious, Super-Cheap Wine You Need This Summer

AS PUBLISHED BY THRILLIST

Can we be honest with each other? Is this a safe space? We know that you like your off-dry Yellowtail Riesling or sweet Barefoot Moscato — but what you really like is spending $8 or less for a bottle of easy-drinking white wine. Did you know that for just a few bucks more, you can upgrade your experience twentyfold? Meet Torrontés: the aromatic Argentinian grape variety capable of producing the ultimate summer sipping wine.

Read More
WineEthan FixellThrillist, Torrontes, Cheap Wine, Argentina
Five of the Best Summer Wines for Less than £20
Five of the Best Summer Wines for Less than £20

AS PUBLISHED BY MR. PORTER

My propensity for wine snobbery is normally high. But when it comes to summer drinking, we should be looking for two things: drinkability and value. Summer wine ought to be easy. It should be refreshing, ready to drink and, most of all, affordable. Here are five of the best inexpensive yet individual wines that will deliver the most quality for the least amount of money this summer.

Read More
WineEthan FixellSummer, Wine, Mr. Porter, Argentina, Italy, Spain
The United States of Metal
The United States of Metal

As Published By Kerrang!

This our definitive, objective, indisputable list of the single best heavy metal band from every U.S. state, complete with a playlist at the bottom of the page, too. (Though, if you do have any issues with our picks, you can take it up with our man in the United States, Ethan Fixell. Just know that he lost six pounds and four nights of sleep putting this list together – so be gentle.)

Read More
MusicEthan FixellMetal, Heavy Metal, Kerrang
Whiskey Lovers, Here's Why You Should Be Drinking Cognac Instead
Whiskey Lovers, Here's Why You Should Be Drinking Cognac Instead

As published by Food & Wine

I fell in love with Cognac not only for its similarities to barrel-aged whiskey, but also for the importance its provenance contributes to its identity. It’s a craft product that can be imitated, but not replicated anywhere else in the world. If you’re as intrigued as I was, check out the following tips – and product suggestions – for enjoying your Cognac like a well-informed pro.

Read More
SpiritsEthan FixellCognac, Brandy, Whiskey, Food & Wine
Selling “BDX” Now
Selling “BDX” Now

As Published By Beverage Media

Burdened by its reputation as a polarized region—one producing nothing but unaffordable Classified Growths or cheap, generic blends—Bordeaux has seen better centuries. But the tides are undeniably shifting. Thanks to a wave of younger, globally conscious winemakers, the rise of smaller appellations, and expanding consumer tastes, Bordeaux has more to offer Americans today than ever before.

Read More
WineEthan FixellBordeaux, BDX, Beverage Media
A Cheap Person's Guide to Fancy French Wine
A Cheap Person's Guide to Fancy French Wine

As published by Food & Wine

We all want to drink like we’ve got Zuckerberg money. But the truth is, expensive wine doesn’t even taste as good as we think it does. According to science, we should be paying less attention to the price of each bottle, and more attention to what’s on the label. Fortunately, your friendly neighborhood Master Sommelier not only knows how to read a wine label—he or she can tell the difference between good stuff and total plonk. And as the guy or gal buying wine for your favorite restaurant or retail store, an M.S. also knows a thing or two about value. So I’ve asked four well-respected Master Somms from around the country to target some of the best wine steals in the seven most prestigious wine regions of France.

Read More
WineEthan FixellFrance, Food & Wine, Buyer's Guide
The Hidden (Affordable!) Gems of Burgundy
The Hidden (Affordable!) Gems of Burgundy

As published by Food & Wine

While Burgundy gets most of its notoriety—both in price and quality—from its Premier Cru and Grand Cru classified wines, these bottles only make up a combined total of less than 20 percent of the region’s output. The real value can be found in Village wine (about 36 percent of all production), which is less refined than cru wine made from grapes grown on specifically designated plots of land, but generally more complex than regional Bourgogne (about half of all production). Of course, you can’t just pick any old village at random, as some present a very inconsistent range of quality. But a few appellations in particular reliably offer excellent wines that won’t require you to declare bankruptcy on your way home from shopping. Here's what you need to seek out, from north to south.

Read More
WineEthan FixellBurgundy, Food & Wine, France
The World's Coolest Beer Labels
The World's Coolest Beer Labels

As published by Mr. Porter

To stand out from the crowd, today’s breweries are going the extra mile with incredible bottle and can artwork. In the US, where there are about 6,000 breweries, brands such as Montauk Brewing Co. and House Beer owe much of their success to their suave labels. And as beer quality continues to improve, aesthetics is becoming more important in setting the phenomenal apart from the merely great. So which breweries’ containers are most worthy of placement on your mantelpiece after you’ve drained them of their sweet nectar? We’ve rounded up the five best examples of label art from around the world, so that you can drink in style wherever you are.

Read More
BeerEthan FixellBeer Labels, Mr. Porter, Marketing