December 29th, 2013 - I'd Like To Show You My Brainless Muscle Of Love!

Evenin' kiddies!  One more for ya because you've been so good!  Tonight yours truly, the Meista is pairing an Epic Brainless IPA (Belgian-Style India Pale Ale) Release #10 and Alice Cooper's masterpiece album from 1973, "Muscle Of Love"!  I'm dedicating this pairing to my heavy metal hero, fellow Coop fan, and a man I am proud to call friend, Mr. Kevin Kirk... owner of the Heavy Metal Shop here in Salt Lake City, Utah!  Cheers buddy!!

The Brainless IPA Release #10 is brewed with Premium Briess 2-Row, Muttons Caramalt, Briess flaked oats, and Briess Caramel malts along with Chinook and Centennial hops in the boil, whole-leaf Centennial hops in the hop-back, and dry-hopped with Citra.  And all this with some lovely Belgian yeast!  Poured in my frosted schooner, the Brainless is a beautiful, very hazy golden amber with a frothy 1-finger head.  The nose is an interesting blend of Belgian yeast and hops.  There are notes of banana, grassy hops, and both tropical and citrus fruits.  The flavor follows suit... incredibly complex, incredibly delicious!  The Brainless IPA is a perfectly blended artisan brew with notes of bitter and refreshing grapefruit, soft banana (which smooths the hop bitterness), herbal tea, clove and nutmeg, coriander, white pepper, and a slight hint of caramel.  The mouthfeel is wonderfully both oily and resinous as well as crisp and sharp.  There's a creaminess/soapiness as well... in a very good way!  For a big 6.3% IPA, this bad boy finishes clean.   

One of my all-time favorite beers deserves one of my all-time favorite albums. "Muscle Of Love" is probably one of the most under-rated hard rock albums... both of the band and of the era!  "Muscle Of Love" was the 7th studio album by Alice Cooper and final studio album recorded by the original band.  Thematically/lyrically the album loosely explores "urban sex habits" as well as teenage crime ("Crazy Little Child"),  teen popularity... or the lack there of ("Teenage Lament '74"), and spy movies ("Man With the Golden Gun").  Musically, the album marked a return to a more basic rock sound for the band... and is executed flawlessly!  The band was Vincent Damon Furnier (aka Alice Cooper) on vocals, the late, great Glen Buxton on lead guitar, Michael Bruce on rhythm guitar, Dennis Dunaway on bass guitar, and Neal Smith on drums.  Guest musicians included Mick Mashbir on guitar, Dick Wagner on guitar, and Bob Dolin on keyboards (as well as uncreditted horn and woodwine players on "Crazy Little Child").  The full track list for you:

 

Side one

1. "Big Apple Dreamin' (Hippo)"
2. "Never Been Sold Before"
3. "Hard Hearted Alice"
4. "Crazy Little Child"

Side two

1. "Working Up a Sweat"
2. "Muscle of Love"
3. "Man With the Golden Gun"
4. "Teenage Lament '74"
5. "Woman Machine"

Go visit my buddy Kevin at the Heavy Metal Shop and pick up a copy of "Muscle Of Love" (www.heavymetalshop.com) and check out Epic's Brainless IPA at http://epicbrewing.com/the-beers/exponential-series/item/643-brainless-ipa!!  Cheers brothas and sistas!!  Rock on!!