March 29th, 2014 - Six Degress Of Inner Grande Réserve

Evenin' kiddies!  The Meista here and his brotha, Dain-O with another BIG pairing for ya tonight... Dream Theater's epic double album "Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence" and a Chimay Grande Réserve from Bières de Chimay S.A.!

"Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence" is the 6th studio album by progressive metal band Dream Theater and was released January 29th, 2002.  A concept album or sorts, the first 5 songs (disc one) explore themes of alcoholism, loss of faith, loss of self, self-isolation, and the exploration of the sanctity of life and death through stem cell research.  The second disc is an 8-part, 42-minute song exploring various stages of mental illness (including bipolar, paranoid schizophrenia, PTSD, and dissociative personality disorder) as told from several view points.  The album (as with the majority of Dream Theater's works) incorporates progressive rock, classic heavy metal, thrash metal, indie pop, and experimental rock.  Lyrically, this album may be the band's most cerebral.  Musically, this album may be the band's most intense.  This is an album that demands total attention... this is NOT background music. 

As with "Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence", the Chimay Grande Réserve from Bières de Chimay S.A. is a exquisitely complex, contemplative, and robust Belgian Dark Ale. "It challenges the essence of my soul."   It pours an opaque dark honey, tree sap brown with a creamy mocha head that shows strong retention and minimal lacing.  The nose is characterized by fruit ester and sweet malts.  There are notes banana cream pie, vanilla, peach, and subtle dark fruits along with metallic notes.  Medium-bodied, the mouthfeel is bitter, frothy, soft, and creamy.  The flavor is big, bold, and robust.  There are notes of baker's chocolate, burnt toffee, banana, dark fruits (plum, figs, dates, etc.), beets, black tea, and a slight metallic bite on the tip of the tongue.  There is also some warming booziness... subtle notes of white rum that become more prevalent as the beer warms.  The finish is dry and somewhat spicy... black pepper and nutmeg.

Op uw gezondheid... À votre santé!!