Smart Beer: New York State’s First Organic Brew

A refreshing and consciously made golden ale

Regardless of the merits of organic ingredients, if upstate New York’s Smart Beer didn’t taste good, it wouldn’t warrant coverage. The company’s debut product—an Organic Golden Ale—tastes refreshing and zesty. It’s lighter bodied but not too light, carries 5.5% alcohol, and delivers a well-balanced bite. Smart Beer is easy to drink but offers enough nuance (hailing from orange peel and licorice root) to hold up …

Askinosie Whiskey Dark Chocolate

Boisterous flavor wrapped in a cloth pouch

Former criminal defense lawyer Shawn Askinosie found his second career in chocolate. His family-run Askinosie Chocolate makes bean-to-bar deliciousness in Springfield, Missouri and they have consistently made some of our favorite treats (coLABoration bars and their bean-to-ball chocolate covered malt balls are just a few of them). Extremely transparent about their process, their website is worth a pitstop to learn how they direct trade with …

Colorado’s Woody Creek Distillers

Visiting the independently owned, award-winning distillery just outside of Aspen

Only last week a panel of expert judges convened for the annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition—arguably the most prestigious and analytical booze assembling in the States. While the complete results won’t be formally announced until 4 April, it’s already known that Colorado’s independently owned Woody Creek Distillers (located just a 20-minute drive from downtown Aspen) won double gold for one of their newer releases: …