Maurice Malone

If you know denim...

African American denim designer and fashion brands owner Maurice Malone speaking to students in denim class at Parson School of Design
A 16-oz can of Blueberry Crunchee Imperial Blueberry Granola Berliner Weisse by Other Half Brewing on a white background.

Best Blueberry Beer I’ve Had: Blueberry Crunchee from Other Half Brewery

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My can of Other Half Blueberry Crunchee Imperial Blueberry Granola Berliner Weisse poured into the glass, thick like a smoothie. I’ll admit, it had been sitting in my fridge for at least four months, waiting to be reviewed. Naturally, I wondered if the age had affected it, so I checked the brewery’s website to see if I had waited too long to crack it open.

The Other Half Brewing described the beer as “a parfait in a can with a huge dose of blueberries, our hand-mixed granola blend, and some milk sugar.” What do you know? That’s exactly what I got.

Thick, sweet, and delicious. The beer tastes and looks just as they described it. If I were handed this in a blind taste test, I wouldn’t have guessed it was a beer. Maybe some kind of fruit-heavy, odd, thick cocktail. But not beer. The good thing is that it is a beer.

Having sampled my share of blueberry beers, I’ve never been moved enough by any to write a review. Blueberry is a fruit flavor that’s always had promise, but I just hadn’t tasted one that lived up to its full potential—until I cracked open a can of Blueberry Crunchee. Needless to say, it’s the best blueberry beer I’ve ever tasted, even with its weird thickness.

Tasty and bold at 7.5% ABV, a mild buzz kicks in just before finishing the glass. I can see in the glass residue why this beer is so thick and juicy. It’s just that: thick and juicy, stuffed with everything advertised, a parfait in a can with a huge dose of blueberries, a hand-mixed granola blend, and some milk sugar.

I’d definitely go for more Blueberry Crunchee beers if I didn’t have to watch my blood sugar levels. For those who don’t, go out and find a six-pack. You won’t be disappointed.

  • Style: Berliner Weisse
  • ABV: 7.4 %
  • IBUs: N/A
  • Tasting Notes: Heavy almond, dry coconut, vanilla, and lots of blueberry. Sweet with a quick drop to a very mild pucker.
  • Brewer: Other Half Brewing Company, Brooklyn, New York-based craft brewery

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Denim designer Maurice Malone, owner of Williamsburg Garment Company, sewing a pair of jeans with a Union Special 35800 industrial sewing machin in the tapering alterations process.
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How to taper jeans video by denim designer Maurice Malone

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This video is a classic. Back in 2018, before we moved into our current location at 67 West Street in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, while working out of the back room inside Brooklyn Denim Co. in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, our intern Emoni Sheldon and I recorded this video to explain how to taper jeans professionally. With the plethora of DIY hack videos out there, I thought it was crucial to show the proper method. It’s been a hit ever since.

We’ve promised an updated, more detailed version is coming, but we’re always under time pressure to get customers’ jeans in and out the door quickly, so we rarely find time for social media posts or other instructional videos—though we’re looking to change that. This video demonstrates our process for tapering jeans with flat-felled inseams. There’s also a faster, simpler process for tapering jeans with overlocked inseam construction, and we promise to record it soon.

Since we recorded this video, we’ve perfected our process, tapering thousands of jeans from a multitude of brands, and we’ve learned what makes each brand different along with their trademark details and construction.

For now, this is still the best video out there if you want to see how it should be done correctly. Everything else is a workaround hack for doing it yourself on sewing machines that are not built for the task.

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A can of Reizendbier by Alementary Brewing Company with a colorful design featuring a vintage van, poppies, and a rainbow on a white background.

Reizendbier by Alementary Brewing Company: A Hefeweizen to Remember

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I’ll admit, I picked up Reizendbier by Alementary Brewing Company mainly because I was on the hunt for a new craft Hefeweizen, and the can’s artwork caught my eye. I thought I had struck gold with this one. It was smooth and flavorful, free from any small brewer’s bitterness. It was a joy to drink. My only regret at the time? For the review, I only bought one can.

Reizendbier poured a cloudy, light golden color with a nice white head. While it didn’t have a strong aroma, that didn’t detract from its appeal. The real magic happened in the taste—this is where Reizendbier truly shone. It was perfect for a hot day—light enough to be fully refreshing yet packed with enough flavor to keep you interested.

Reizendbier was brewed with a balanced mix of 50% Pilsner malt and 50% wheat, complemented by European aroma hops, and fermented with a world-famous yeast. Alementary Brewing Company believed that sometimes style didn’t need creative input; it just needed to be made well. And brewed well, this beer certainly was.

Unfortunately, not all good things last. Alementary Brewing Company announced on January 29, 2024, that they were closing their business due to a contract business that fell through and a not-so-great fourth quarter in 2023. They closed their doors in April 2024, leaving a void in the craft beer community. Even outstanding beers can meet an untimely end, but Reizendbier remains a testament to their brewing excellence.

If you are lucky enough to find a can of Reizendbier on a shelf somewhere, don’t hesitate to buy it. It’s a delicious investment and a fitting tribute to a truly exceptional beer. Rest in peace, Reizendbier. You will be missed, but never forgotten.

  • Style: Hefeweizen-Style Wheat Beer
  • ABV: 5.25 %
  • IBUs: 10
  • Season: Year-round
  • Brewer: Alementary Brewing Company, Hackensack, New Jersey-based, craft microbrewery

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A 12 ounce can of Greenport Harbor Brewing Beehave Summer Ale with a blue and white design on a white background.

Greenport Harbor Summer Ale Review: A Refreshing Taste of Summer in a Glass

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Greenport Harbor’s seasonal Summer Ale hits the mark as an easy-drinking brew, perfect for unwinding on warm days or balmy nights. This golden ale pours a brilliant, sunlit hue, enticing the senses with its subtle wheat notes and a delicate floral aroma imparted by a touch of orange blossom honey. On the palate, it’s incredibly smooth and refreshing, with a balanced malt profile that provides a gentle sweetness, expertly countered by a crisp, clean finish. The beer boasts a moderate hop presence, adding a whisper of bitterness that lingers just enough to cleanse the palate and beckon another sip. This seasonal gem is a true embodiment of summer in a glass, offering a delightful and refreshing escape with every sip.

  • Style: Golden Ale
  • ABV: 5.3 %
  • IBUs: N/A
  • Seasonal: Summer
  • Tasting Notes: Moderate hops, brewed with a hint of orange blossom honey, offering a light, slightly sweet, and floral finish.
  • Brewer: Greenport Harbor Brewing Company, Greenport, New York-based craft brewery

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Close-up of a poorly chain-stitched hem on a pair of Levi's denim jeans, showing misalignment and puckering.
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Vet Your Jeans Expert: All Denim Tailors Are Not Equal

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At Williamsburg Garment Company, we often receive jeans with requests to correct the work of other tailors or so-called denim specialists. Just because a tailor labels themselves as a denim specialist doesn’t mean they have the necessary expertise or use the right equipment. Moreover, owning a chain stitching machine is not synonymous with knowing how to use it correctly or understanding its intricacies.

Take these jeans as an example. Upon inspection, we discovered numerous issues with the chain stitching. Firstly, the thread tension was excessively high. Secondly, the sewing alignment was significantly off.

It’s possible they saw our article on how the roping effect is created by the seams not being aligned and overcomplicated the misalignment. Alternatively, it could just be a case of very sloppy sewing, resulting in the alignment being too far off and compounded by poor tension.

A close-up of bad chain stitching on the hem of a pair of Levi's denim jeans shows misalignment to create a roping effect, but instead causes a bad case of puckering.

To further exaggerate the twisting, they likely didn’t press the hem. After washing, the fabric turned and puckered into this exaggerated form. Lastly, while the thread size might not directly cause the issue, its thinness and incompatibility with the original thread size only serve to highlight the problem.

We took these jeans and undid the previous poor hemming. Our team applied new chain-stitch hemming with precise alignment and appropriate thread tension, ensuring a smooth and professional finish. The corrected hem not only restored the jeans’ appearance but also maintained the integrity of the original design, as shown in the photo below.

Close-up of a poorly chain-stitched hem on a pair of Levi's denim jeans, showing misalignment and puckering.

When searching for a denim expert to work on your treasured jeans, the closest option may not be the best option. Check reviews, and most importantly, look at photos or examples of their work before deciding. Remember, just because someone has a chain stitching machine doesn’t mean they know how to use it properly.

The transformation from the poorly sewn hem to the expertly corrected one is a testament to our commitment to quality and precision. We understand the intricacies of denim and the importance of every stitch, ensuring that your jeans receive the care and expertise they deserve.

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A can of Rupee Mango Wheat Ale with a green and gold design on a white background.

Rupee Mango Wheat Ale Review: One of the Best Mango Beers

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I’m a fan! My first thoughts on the Rupee Mango Wheat Ale: This is a damn good beer. It’s bursting with flavor, like biting into a ripe mango and chasing it with a refreshing beer. This might be one of the best fruit beers I’ve ever had. The balance is perfect. The mango dances on the tongue, perfectly integrated with the beer, making every sip a delightful experience. The aroma of mango excites the senses with each tip of the glass, enhancing the overall enjoyment.

Crafted by a world-renowned master beer brewer and an award-winning Indian chef, Rupee Mango Wheat Ale is designed to complement Indian, spicy, and global cuisines. The ingredients, including mango, wheat, malted barley, and natural flavors, create a harmonious blend that pairs beautifully with various dishes. Whether you’re enjoying Indian, Thai, Asian, Mexican, Caribbean, BBQ, Middle Eastern, African, or Latin cuisine, this beer is a perfect match, including other spicy foods like one of my favorites, good-ole American buffalo wings.

The multi-award-winning Rupee Mango Wheat Ale follows a traditional Indian recipe with lower levels of carbonation, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable drinking experience, especially with spicy foods. If you’re a fan of fruity beers, this mango wheat beer is a surefire bet. It’s a worthy buy. If this blog had a rating system, it would be at its peak. Without a doubt, it stands out as one of the best mango beers on the market.

  • Style: Wheat Ale
  • ABV: 4 %
  • IBUs: 8
  • Brewer: Rupee Beer Company, Massachusetts-brewed, emerging craft brewery

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