August 5th, 2014 - A Wall Of La Grande Reserve

Bonsoir!  The Meista here with a grand pairing for you tonight my friends!  How 'bout Grande Reserve 17 from Unibroue and Pink Floyd's "The Wall"?!  HELL. YES. 

The Grande Reserve 17 from Unibroue is a "wall" of flavor!  Having received the prestigious title of "World's Best Dark Ale" and a platinum medal 3 years in a row, the Grande Reserve 17 is characterized by complexity to the nth degree.  Here's the skinny on this amazing ale:

• Pour: opaque Tootsie Roll cocoa brown; really, really creamy mocha head - 2-finger with good retention and sustaining lacing
• Nose: BIG banana, vanilla, spiced rum, dark fruits (plum, fig, dates, raisin, etc.) - lovely!!
• Taste: sweet, tart, big time raisin, cocoa, bitter, fruit ester, oaky, boozy warming in the finish
• Mouthfeel: medium bodied, low carbonation, creamy, smooth, but with some astringency
• Finish: dry and tart
• Overall: A-freaking-mazing!!!

"I think I just burped a giant banana!"

I'm not going to insult your intelligence by even attempting to give an analysis of this mind-blowing album... but it is most definitely one of the most important and brilliantly amazing albums I own!!  I'll just give you some interesting facts and assure you that it goes oh so very well with the Grande Reserve 17!!   "The Wall" is the 11th studio album by English progressive rock band Pink Floyd.  It was released on November 30th, 1979.  The idea for the album and tour came in part to Roger Waters because he "loathed playing in stadiums ... I kept saying to people on that tour, 'I'm not really enjoying this ... there is something very wrong with this.'"  So he decided to build a wall (literally and figuratively) between himself and the audience. Sadly Keyboardist Richard Wright left the band due to infighting with Roger Waters during the album's production, but he remained as a salaried musician, performing with Pink Floyd during the subsequent tour.

Personnel:

David Gilmour – guitars, vocals, bass guitars, synthesizers, clavinet, sound effects

Nick Mason – drums, percussion

Roger Waters – vocals, bass guitars, guitars, synthesizer, sound effects

Richard Wright – organ, piano, Rhodes electric piano, synthesizers, bass pedals

A shit ton of guest musicians including:

• Bruce Johnston – backing vocals
• Toni Tennille – backing vocals
• Joe Chemay – backing vocals
• John Joyce – backing vocals
• Stan Farber – backing vocals
• Jim Haas – backing vocals
• Islington Green School – children’s choir
• Michael Kamen – orchestral arrangement
• Bob Ezrin – orchestral arrangement

Additional musicians (uncredited) Bob Ezrin – organ, piano, synthesizer, backing vocals James Guthrie – percussion, synthesizer, sound effects Jeff Porcaro – drums Joe Porcaro, Blue Ocean & 5 others – snare drums Lee Ritenour – guitars Joe (Ron) di Blasi – classical guitar Fred Mandel – Hammond organ Bobbye Hall – congas, bongos Frank Marrocco – concertina Larry Williams – clarinet Trevor Veitch – mandolin New York Orchestra – orchestra New York Opera – choral vocals Unnamed children's choir from New York – children’s choral vocals "Vicki & Clare" – backing vocals Harry Waters – child's voice, "Goodbye Blue Sky" Chris Fitzmorris – male telephone voice Trudy Young – voice of the groupie Phil Taylor – sound effects

Anyway, "The Wall" works beautifully with the depth, complexity, beauty, and passion of Unibroue's Grande Reserve 17

À votre santé!!