New Riff is relaunching its award-winning Balboa Rye

When you think about the flavor of beer, what do you imagine? To me, it’s a crisp, refreshing, no-frills lager. The type of beer you’d just as likely crack open on an unseasonably warm spring day while grilling as you would after an afternoon of mowing the lawn on a hot, hazy, humid summer day. It’s light, refreshing, and tastes like beer.

That’s not to say that there isn’t a place for chocolate- and coffee-centric porters or boozy, barrel-aged stouts, or even tart, lip-smacking sour beers. There is a time and place for those and many other styles. It’s just that sometimes I want to crack open a beer and not taste an explosion of tropical fruit juices or get bashed in the head with malts or oaky wood. I want a beer that tastes the way I imagine it should. Specifically, I’m thinking about a balanced, thirst-quenching lager.

SimplyGoodCoffee, a brand known for its innovative plastic-free coffee brewers, just dropped the next generation of plastic-free drip brewers. Pairing an exceptional cup of coffee with the one feature the original brewer was missing, the new SimplyGoodCoffee plastic-free programmable brewer lets coffee lovers wake up to a freshly brewed pot without sending hot or cold water through any aluminum or plastic.

As coffee drinkers become increasingly aware of what’s really going into their cup, this new launch includes a series of thoughtful upgrades from the original model. Beyond the programmability feature, the stainless-steel internal water pipe has been replaced with glass, the reservoir cover is now silicone, and the carafe and lid have been redesigned for an easier fit and greater durability. It also features an automatic drip-stop, a more efficient heater, improved water-level sensing, and programming that stays saved for up to three days during a power outage. The result? A smarter morning coffee routine upgrade for anyone looking to reduce plastic exposure without sacrificing a stellar cup of coffee.

If you’ve been lucky enough to hit the Bourbon Trail, you’ve more than likely visited Basil Hayden at the James B. Beam Distilling Co. in Claremont, Kentucky. It’s undoubtedly a rite of passage when you’re there for the best bourbon in the world. This week, Basil Hayden ventured into an area no one expected but wants to try: Basil Hayden has just released a limited-edition cognac expression that stays true to the signature Basil Hayden profile bourbon lovers have come to love.

The renowned bourbon company is introducing the Basil Hayden Cognac Cask Reserve, the brand’s first new liquid in years. Basil Hayden Cognac Cask Reserve is a refined new expression that explores the influence of French cognac casks to create an unexpected, beautifully balanced flavor experience. According to Basil Hayden, the Cognac Cask Reserve takes the brand’s signature high-rye, 80-proof bourbon and finishes it in specially selected French Cognac casks. The process brings rich layers of dried fruit, caramel, vanilla, subtle spice, and oak to Basil Hayden’s profile.