Hello again! The Meista here pairing the unbelievably talented King Crimson and their album "The Power To Believe" with an unbelievably tasty Chainbreaker White IPA from Deschutes Brewery!
A white IPA (or Belgian IPA) is a Belgian ale inspired by the American IPA. (Interestingly enough, white IPAs are considered too hoppy by most Belgians!) Various malts are employed for use in white IPAs and finished (bottle-conditioned) with Belgian yeast strains and Northwest American hops like Cascade. The Chainbreaker definitely follows this style of brewing. The Chainbreaker has a "cleaner" bitterness than a traditional American IPA and a rather pronounced dry edge( similar to what you would find in a Belgian Tripel). It pours a very cloudy pale gold with tight lacing, excellent retention, and a billowy head. There is a nice hoppy flavor to this beer that mellows to a more citrusy and maltier mid-range, but with a crisp and dry finish. There are subtle notes of spices (from that Belgian yeast) and some real nice baked bread flavors as well. Unlike most white IPAs, the Chainbreaker is lower on the alcohol side (5.6% ABV), which gives it a very drinkable and refreshing character.
"The Power To Believe" was released in 2003 and was the 13th and last release by prog rock masters King Crimson. (However, they are currently in the studio... so that's good news!!) As with the previous release ("The ConstruKction of Light" - 2000), the line-up included Robert Fripp – guitars; Adrian Belew – guitars, lead vocals; Trey Gunn – Warr guitars, Fretless Warr Guitar; and Pat Mastelotto – drums, traps, buttons. Alternative versions of the songs "Eyes Wide Open," "The Power to Believe II" and "Happy With What You Have to Be Happy With" can be found on the "Happy With What You Have to Be Happy With" EP that was released in 2002. "The Power To Believe incorporates reworked and/or retitled versions of "Deception of the Thrush" and four of the "Happy With What You Have to Be Happy With"EP tracks along with a previously unreleased soundscape recorded in 1997. They also used lyrics from an Adrian Belew solo song ("All Her Love Is Mine") as a linking theme across four songs. "The Power To Believe" can be defined by a return to the diverse songwriting and instrumentation that made King Crimson a power to be reckoned with in their earlier years. The album also displays a greater reliance on space, transition, tempo change, and soundscapes, and richly textured percussion. Songs like as "Level Five," "EleKtrik," "Dangerous Curves," and "Happy With What You Have to Be Happy With" seem to almost fuse each decade fo their music and more modern Crimson styles, a nod to their full career without the sentimentality that most bands would employ in doing so. "The Power To Believe" is a brilliant, artistic, and challenging album... perfect for the complexity and refreshment of a Chainbreaker White IPA from Deschutes Brewery!
Cheers!!
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