July 20th, 2013 - "Don't Eat The Yellow Snow..." Drink It!

Good morning!  The Meista here today (with a rather obvious) pairing of Frank Zappa's 1974 classic "Apostrophe (')" and a Rogue Ales Yellow Snow IPA... from last night's pub outing!

Zappa's "Apostrophe (')" was released on March 22, 1974 and was his 18th album*.   The album became his biggest commercial success and includes his first ever chart single "Don't Eat The Yellow Snow."  Always surrounding himself with exceptional talent, "Apostrophe (')" follows that course with such musicians as Jack Bruce (Cream) on bass/cello, Aynsley Dunbar on drums, Jean-Luc Ponty on violin, George Duke on keyboards and backing vocals, Ian Underwood on saxophone, the Fowler brothers (Bruce and Tom) on trombone and bass guitar, among a host of other talents!  Zappa of course performs lead vocals, lead guitar, bass, and bouzouki as well as writing all the music and lyrics.  The album's instrumental title track, "Apostrophe (')" is an all-time favorite Zappa track of mine... like the Yellow Snow IPA, it has a nice kick, but grooves!  That can be said of much of the album.  Songs like "St. Alfonzo's Pancake Breakfast," "Father O'Blivion," "Cosmik Debris," "Uncle Remus," and "Stink Foot" all are musical complexities of sarcastic humor, social critique, and unparalleled delivery and skill.  If you don't own any Zappa, this is definitely a good starting point.

Zappa's sharp and irreverent lyrics, his biting humor, and his multi-layered compositions deserves a beer of similar caliber and intensity.  From a 22 ounce bomber, the Rogue Yellow Snow IPA pours a very cloudy, pale, honey-gold amber with a very frothy 1-2 finger head, which displays sustained and thick lacing throughout. The nose is incredibly floral and aromatic.  Notes of sweet grass, citrus, and skunky hops abound!  Medium-bodied, the mouthfeel is crisp and dry, but very refreshing... especially on a hot, 96 degree evening.  The flavor with some big hop flavors mid-pallet.  Like the nose, there are notes of pine resin, juniper, grapefruit, and summer grasses.  Coming in at 70 IBU, the finish is nice and bitter.   Yellow Snow IPA is brewed with Cara Foam, Melanoiden and Great Western 2-Row Malts, Amarillo and Perle Hops, Free Range Coastal Water, and Pacman Yeast.  Good stuff!!

Check out Rogue's Yellow Snow IPA and all their other wonderful ales at http://www.rogue.com/! 

*Yes, his 18th album by 1974... that's how prolific Mr. Zappa was in terms of compositions and album production.  By the end of his life in the early 1990s, Frank Zappa had written, performed, and released over 60 albums!