Courtney Iseman

Courtney Iseman is a Brooklyn-based writer who has covered everything from punk icons to haunted historic landmarks, but primarily focuses on drinks. Her work has appeared in outlets including Food & Wine, Wine Enthusiast, Craft Beer & Brewing, CraftBeer.com, PUNCH, Thrillist, VinePair, Good Beer Hunting, HuffPost, Delish, Fodor's, Grub Street, i-D, and more. For InsideHook, she has written on whether craft beer is actually kind of cringe in 2024, how Gen Z is engaging with absinthe, why smoked beer is hot, whether garnishing our cocktails is contributing to climate change, what's special about fresh hop season, and more. She also writes a free newsletter on drinks culture, Hugging the Bar, and penned metal magazine Decibel's beer column for several years. When not writing, she's traveling, rating the martini she's drinking, or hanging out with her pug.

All Articles From Courtney Iseman
Craft beer cringe

Is Craft Beer Cringe Right Now?

Years ago, loving an IPA meant you were hip. What happened?

Smoked beers

For Lovers and Haters Alike, Smoked Beer’s Flames Burn Strong

Everything you need to know about the polarizing style that's gaining prominence

Clockwise from top left: Lesser Key Martini, Le Fanfare's Italian Espresso Martini, Matcharita

How Cafe Culture Has Influenced Cocktails Beyond the Espresso Martini

Coffee and tea have made appearances in cocktails forever. Here’s why bartenders love them as ingredients.

"At the Cafe, Says Absinthe" by Jean Beraud

There’s a New Generation Embracing Absinthe in America

Make 2024 the year of absinthe cocktails

a beer on a wood table under a chandelier

Trace Brewing Keeps It Local and Invites Everyone to the Craft Beer Table

The Pittsburgh brewery's vocational programs are building the future of the industry

Close-up of an unrecognizable black bartender pouring a cocktail and decorating it with garnish

Should We Really Stop Garnishing Our Cocktails?

Those little bits of fruits and herbs are driving a sustainability debate, but they’re also an integral part of many mixed drinks

Fresh hop beer

It’s Fresh Hop Beer Season. Here’s What the Fuss Is About.

Everything you need to know about this important moment on the beer calendar

Anchor beer

Anchor Brewing’s Demise Is a Sad Sign of the Times for Craft Beer

If a 127-year-old craft brewery can't make it, who can?

Craft beer

Craft Beer Is Doing the Unthinkable: Mimicking Macro Beer

From the rise of the light lager to retro packaging, microbreweries are pulling inspiration from Big Beer