April 26th, 2015 - Glory To The Noche De Los Muertos!

Good evening!  The Meista here tonight pairing two things that make me very, very happy... "Glory To The Brave" by Swedish power metal giants HammerFall and a Noche De Los Muertos Imperial Stout from Aztec Brewing Company outta Vista, California!
 
Album Info:

• Artist: HammerFall
• Title: "Glory To The Brave"
• Recorded: Late 1996 through April 1997 at Studio Fredman, Göteborg, Sweden
• Release date: June 27th, 1997 (debut album by HammerFall)
• Record company: Nuclear Blast
• Album cover art: Andreas Marschall
• Personnel:  Joacim Cans (lead vocals and background harmonies), Oscar Dronjak (guitar and backing vocals), Fredrik Larsson (bass guitar and backing vocals), Glenn Ljungström (guitar), and Patrik Räfling (drums)
• Additional musicians: Hans Björk (backing vocals), Stefan Elmgren (lead and acoustic guitar), Mats Hansson (lead guitar), Niklas Isfeldt (background harmonies), and Fredrik Nordström (grand piano, keyboard, and backing vocals)
• Musical style: Power metal, speed metal
• Sound: Fast, melodic, soaring... a few adjectives that describe the music on "Glory To The Brave".  HammerFall is wonderfully powerful and beautifully aggressive!
• Major themes: In the vein of Dio and Manowar, many of HammerFall's songs fall in the category of sword and sorcery fantasy.  On the surface, themes include knights and warriors battling dragons, sword play, wizardry, etc.  However,  upon further analysis, the thematic nature of the album becomes more apparent... honor, bravery, truth, etc. 
• Tracks:   

1. "The Dragon Lies Bleeding"
2. "The Metal Age"
3. "HammerFall"
4. "I Believe"
5. "Child Of The Damned" (Warlord cover)
6. "Steel Meets Steel"
7. "Stone Cold"
8. "Unchained"
9. "Glory To The Brave"
10. "Ravenlord" (Stormwitch cover)

    Brew Info:

• Brewery: Aztec Brewing Company (Vista, California)
• Website: http://aztecbrewery.com/home.html
• Brew: Noche De Los Muertos Imperial Stout
• Style: Russian Imperial Stout
• Serving: 22 ounce bottle
• ABV: 10.2%
• IBUs: 64
• Pour: A wonderful, opaque ink black with a thin mocha head that leaves intricate lacing.
• Nose: Loads of dark roasted coffee, dark chocolate, and cinnamon characterize the nose of this bad boy!   There are aromas of bitter dark chocolate, cinnamon sticks, cloves, dark roasted coffee, roasted malts, vanilla bean, and earthy hops.
• Taste: Like HammerFall... bold, Bold, BOLD!!  There are huge flavors of bakers dark chocolate, cinnamon sticks, and rich coffee beans along with hints of black licorice, very subtle vanilla bean and marshmallow. 
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with low carbonation, the mouthfeel is smooth and creamy with a very dry and spicy finish. 

Overall pairing: Anytime you go HammerFall you gotta go big (and I mean fuckin' BIG!) in terms of brew... thus the Noche De Los Muertos Imperial Stout from Aztec Brewing Company!  The bold and aggressive, yet wonderful drinkability of the Noche De Los Muertos Imperial Stout is a perfect for the power metal intensity that is HammerFall!!

Skål!!

April 26th, 2015 - The Ultra Gnar Gnar Crusader

Good evening/morning!  Time for some heavy-duty rock and roll and brew my friends!!  The Meista here tonight pairing Saxon's classic NWOBHM album "Crusader" with Ultra Gnar Gnar IPA from Base Camp Brewing Company!  Oh yeah!!
 
Album Info:

• Artist: Saxon
• Title: "Crusader"
• Recorded: 1984 at the famed Sound City Studios, Los Angeles, California,
• Release date: April 16th, 1984 (6th studio album by Saxon)
• Record company: Carrere
• Album cover art: Paul R. Gregory
• Personnel:  Biff Byford (lead vocals), Steve Dawson (bass guitar), Nigel Glockler (drums), Graham Oliver (guitar), and Paul Quinn (guitar)
• Musical style: Heavy metal/hard rock
• Sound: Aggressive, in-your-face, celebratory hard rock with lots of great hooks and melodies! 
• Major themes: Rock and roll, freedom, knights, warriors, fighting for your beliefs, etc.
• Notes: One of the most important and influential metal bands out there, Saxon's "Crusader" album sold over 2 million copies!  Why this band isn't celebrated more in the States is beyond me!
• Tracks:   

1. "The Crusader Prelude"
2. "Crusader"
3. "A Little Bit Of What You Fancy"
4. "Sailing To America"
5. "Set Me Free" (Sweet cover)
6. "Just Let Me Rock"
7. "Bad Boys (Like To Rock 'N' Roll)"
8. "Do It All For You"
9. "Rock City"
10. "Run For Your Lives"

    Brew Info:

• Brewery: Base Camp Brewing Company (Portland, Oregon)
• Website: http://basecampbrewingco.com/
• Brew: Ultra Gnar Gnar IPA
• Style: American India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 6.7%
• IBUs: 60
• Gravity: 15.4 degrees Plato
• Ingredients: "Six different Oregon-grown flavor and aroma hop varietals" and " specialty-malted barley and oats".
• Pour: The Ultra Gnar Gnar IPA pours a very cloudy dark caramel-amber with a thick and foamy 1+ finger white head that displays sustained and intricate lacing throughout.
• Nose: Nice and pungent, the nose of the Ultra Gnar Gnar is defined by big citrus, pine resin, and tropical fruit aromas.  There are notes of orange peel, grapefruit, lemon zest, pine, cedar, mango, and pineapple with some good caramel malt notes as well.
• Taste: Following the nose, the taste is embodied by big citrus, pine, and tropical fruit along with herbal, floral, malt, and mineral flavors.  There are notes of tangerine, grapefruit, mango, white pepper, black tea, Smarties, and soft caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied with moderate carbonation, the Ultra Gnar Gnar IPA is fairly smooth, but with a bitter, dry, and sharp finish.

Overall pairing: The Ultra Gnar Gnar's hoppy and biting, yet very drinkable nature is great for the straight-ahead approach to Saxon's music!  Like "Crusader", the Ultra Gnar Gnar is aggressive, yet well-balanced and richly textured.  Byford's vocals are well-complimented by the citrus notes while the more biting hoppy flavors play off the fiery guitar work of Oliver and Quinn.

Cheers!!

April 25th, 2015 - Clutching Grapefruit And Fish(?)

Good afternoon!  In celebration of the birthday of Fish (Derek William Dick), I'm pairing Marillion's brilliant album "Clutching At Straws" with a Grapefruit Sculpin IPA from Ballast Point Brewing Company!  This one goes out to Mike Sargent... cheers buddy!
 
Album Info:

• Artist: Marillion
• Title: "Clutching At Straws"
• Recorded: Westside Studios, London, England 1987
• Release date: June 12th, 1987
• Record company: EMI
• Album cover art: Mark Wilkinson
• Personnel:  Fish (vocals), Mark Kelly (keyboards), Ian Mosley (drums), Steve Rothery (guitars), and Pete Trewavas (bass)
• Additional musicians: John Cavanaugh – "Dr. Finlay" voice on "Torch Song", Chris Kimsey (credited as "Christopher 'Robbin' Kimsey") backing vocals on "Incommunicado", and Tessa Niles backing vocals on "That Time of the Night" and "The Last Straw"
• Musical style: Progressive rock/neo-progressive rock with elements of rock, pop, and jazz
• Sound: Deeply emotional, personal, and honest, with elements of early Genesis and Pink Floyd, "Clutching At Straws" may be the best Marillion album recorded.  What I find interesting about the album is the dark and defeatist subject matter and lyrics juxtaposed against very upbeat and hopeful music that is delivered with precision, depth, and beauty.  Fish's vocals sound like the mash up of Roger Waters and Peter Gabriel... incredibly honest and powerfully emotional. 
• Major themes: A semi-autobiographical concept album about a man named Torch, an alcoholic deadbeat father and musician coming out of a failed marriage, "Clutching At Straws" examines themes of self-deprecation and loathing, self-examination, anger, despair, a critical look at the music industry, and alcoholism in general.
• Notes: The last "track", "Happy Ending" is listed on the album, but is in fact not an actual track.  As a statement of black humor and irony, the track is just someone yelling "No!" and the echoed and muffled laughter from Fish, fading off into silence.  A rather interesting and telling ending, as "Clutching At Straws" was the last album with Fish as the vocalist. 
• Tracks:   

1. "Hotel Hobbies"
2. "Warm Wet Circles"
3. "That Time Of Night (The Short Straw)"
4. "Going Under"
5. "Just For The Record"
6. "White Russian"
7. "Incommunicado"
8. "Torch Song"
9. "Slàinte Mhath"
10. "Sugar Mice"
11. "The Last Straw"
12. "Happy Ending"

    Brew Info:

• Brewery: Ballast Point Brewing Company (San Diego, California)
• Website: http://www.ballastpoint.com/
• Brew: Grapefruit Sculpin IPA
• Style: American India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 7%
• IBUs: 70
• Pour: The Grapefruit Sculpin IPA pours a slightly hazy orange amber with lots of bubbles and a thin white head.  The lacing is light to moderate.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by big citrus, tropical fruit, and light, sweet malt.  There are aromas of pink grapefruit (obviously) along with lemon, tangerine, orange, mango, peach, a hint of pine, and soft caramel/toffee. 
• Taste:  Following the nose, the taste of the Grapefruit Sculpin IPA is very fruity, citrusy, hoppy, and sweet.  Grapefruit dominates the flavor throughout with "hints of apricot, peach, mango, and lemon flavors".  Well-balanced, there are really nice caramel malt notes as well.
• Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with good carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Grapefruit Sculpin IPA is very crisp, very refreshing, with a somewhat dry and very clean finish.

Overall pairing: The label on the Ballast Point Grapefruit Sculpin IPA states: "The Sculpin fish has poisonous spikes on its fins that can give a strong sting. Ironically, the meat from a Sculpin fish is considered some of the tastiest.  Something that has a sting but tastes great; sounds like a Ballast Point India Pale Ale."  It is for this reason (as well as the refreshing citrus flavor) that I think this lovely brew works well as a companion to the progressive brilliance of "Clutching At Straws"! 

Cheers!!

April 24th, 2015 - Hop Nosh Heroes

God kväll!  The Meista here still banging his head with one more late night pairing for you... Sabaton's foot-stomping, fist-pumping worthy album "Heroes" and a favorite of mine, Hop Nosh IPA from Uinta Brewing Company!  I just saw these bad-asses live 2 nights ago and I'm still in a state of awe!!  This one goes out to my late granddad and all you other vets out there... hails, cheers and thank you for your service!!
 
Album Info:

• Artist: Sabaton
• Title: "Heroes"
• Recorded: August 2013 through March 2014, Abyss Studios, Sweden
• Release date: May 6th, 2014
• Record company: Nuclear Blast
• Album cover art: Péter Sallai
• Personnel:  Joakim Brodén (lead vocals), Thobbe Englund (guitar and backing vocals), Chris Rörland guitar and backing vocals), Pär Sundström (bass and backing vocals), and Hannes van Dahl (drums)
• Musical style: Power metal/speed metal with elements of progressive metal, folk metal, and symphonic metal
• Sound: Bombastic 
• Major themes: As with all Sabaton albums, the main lyrical themes on "Heroes" are based on  historical battles.  However, with "Heroes", they decided to focus on individuals.  Bassist Pär Sundström stated the following about the album's basic concept: "Well, I think this is a perfect concept for Sabaton. We decided to go for the idea to write about individuals instead of bigger battles. Individuals who we think basically went beyond their call of duty, put themselves into harms way for the good of others".
• Tracks:   

1. "Night Witches"
2. "No Bullets Fly"
3. "Smoking Snakes"
4. "Inmate 4859"
5. "To Hell And Back"
6. "The Ballad Of Bull"
7. "Resist And Bite"
8. "Soldier Of 3 Armies"
9. "Far From The Fame"
10. "Hearts Of Iron"
11. "7734"
12. "Man Of War"

    Brew Info:

• Brewery: Uinta Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://www.uintabrewing.com/
• Brew: Hop Nosh IPA
• Style: American India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 7.3%
• IBUs: 82
• Ingredients: Malts: Caramel 40, Munich, and Pale.  Hops: Apollo, Bravo, Cascade, Chinook, and Galaxy.
• Pour: The Hop Nosh IPA pours a clear, dark amber with a big, 2-finger frothy head that displays intricate and sticky spider web lacing.
• Nose: The nose if very floral, very hoppy, and fruity.  There are big aromas of pine resin, peach, mango, and ginger along with more subtle notes of caramel and cereal grains.
• Taste: The flavor of the Hop Nosh is very grassy, citrusy, piney, and herbal.  There are notes of sweet grass, bitter black tea, pine, cedar, grapefruit, tangerine, and hints of mango and caramel. 
• Mouthfeel: Very crisp, very refreshing, medium-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel is fairly smooth and oily with a dry and slightly biting finish. 

Overall pairing: The crisp and bold hoppiness, yet exceptional drinkability of the Hop Nosh IPA is perfect for the fiery and fast paced guitar work and drumming of Sabaton, while the complexity and fruit ester goes great with the subject matter and folk elements of the band.  The high energy of Sabaton's "Heroes" deserves a beer with the same punchiness and complexity... and Hop Nosh delivers!

Skål... helan går!!

April, 24th, 2015 - Gnarly Scenes From A Dream Theater

Friday night!! The Meista here tonight helping you get the weekend going with a pairing of Dream Theater's brilliant concept album "Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory" and an Olde GnarlyWine from Lagunitas Brewing Company!!  Hell yeah!!
 
Album Info:

• Artist: Dream Theater
• Title: "Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory"
• Recorded: BearTracks Studios in Suffern, New York
• Release date: October 26th, 1999 (5th studio album by Dream Theater)
• Record company: Elektra Records
• Album cover art: Dave McKean
• Personnel: John Myung (bass), James Labrie (lead vocals), John Petrucci (guitar, background vocals, programming (track 7), and production), Mike Portnoy (drums, background vocals, and production), and Jordan Rudess (keyboard, choir arrangement, and conducting)
• Additional backing vocals and speaking parts: Dave Bottrill, Terry Brown, Clarence Burke Jr., Mary Canty, Carol Cyrus, Shelia Slappy, Jeanette Smith, Mary Smith, Dale Scott, and Theresa Thomason  
• Musical style: Progressive rock/metal
• Sound: With influence from such classic prog albums as Genesis's "The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway", Marillion's "Misplaced Childhood", Pink Floyd's "The Wall", Rush's "2112", Yes' "Close To The Edge", and Frank Zappa's "Joe's Garage", Dream Theater's "Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory" was their most ambitious and traditionally progressive rock album at the time.  The sound is big, intricate, bold, bombastic, and intense!  The band is on fire and LaBrie's vocals are incredible!  Along with their own unique voice, Dream Theater includes nuances of Fates Warning, King Crimson, Megadeth, Queen, and Queensrÿche. 
• Major themes: "Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory" is a concept album telling the story of a mentally disturbed man going through past life regression therapy.  He learns he was the victim of a murder in a past life.  Simply put, the major themes of the album include: love, murder, lust, infidelity, revenge, and deception.  (Apparently the album's concept was partially inspired by the film "Dead Again".)
• Notes: The album is the sequel to the song "Metropolis—Part I: "The Miracle and the Sleeper", which was a track recorded on the 1992 album "Images and Words".
• Tracks:   

1. "Scene One: Regression"
2. "Scene Two: I. Overture 1928"
3. "Scene Two: II. Strange Deja Vu"
4. "Scene Three: I. Through My Words"
5. "Scene Three: II. Fatal Tragedy"
6. "Scene Four: Beyond This Life"
7. "Scene Five: Through Her Eyes"
8. "Scene Six: Home"
9. "Scene Seven: I. The Dance Of Eternity"
10. "Scene Seven: II. One Last Time"
11. "Scene Eight: The Spirit Carries On"
12. "Scene Nine: Finally Free"

    Brew Info:

• Brewery: Lagunitas Brewing Company (Petaluma, California)
• Website: https://lagunitas.com/
• Brew: Olde GnarlyWine
• Style: American Barleywine
• Serving: 22 ounce bottle
• ABV: 10.7%
• IBUs: 69
• Pour: Clover honey red-amber with a thin, dull-tan head that dissipates quickly, leaving only a small off-white cap.  However, lacing is layered and sustained.
• Nose: The aromas of the Olde GnarlyWine are earthy, citrusy, sweet, and slightly hoppy.  There are notes of subtle pine, lemon, orange, toffee, and a hint of booze.
• Taste: The flavor is initially sweet and somewhat boozy with bursting caramel/toffee malt and bourbon notes followed by that piney hoppiness Lagunitas is known for in their brews.  There are notes of orange rind, lemon zest, black tea, and pine.  As the bottle label states: "The first sip is for thirst, the second one for pleasure. The third is for romance, and the fourth for pure madness."
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied and surprisingly fairly well-carbonated for a barleywine, the mouthfeel is very smooth, sticky, and somewhat tingly with some dry bitterness in the finish and a little boozy kick.

Overall pairing: The huge, robust flavor of the Olde GnarlyWine is very much like "Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory".  They both are bold, insanely complex, wonderfully crafted, and demand your full attention!  With each sip, of the Olde GnarlyWine, I discover a new flavor.  With each listen of "Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory", I find a new element, a new sound.  You definitely gotta sit down for both the brew and the album!

Cheers!!

April 24th, 2015 - Switching On The Power Windows

 Good afternoon! The Meista here today pairing "Power Windows" by Rush and a Switch Belgian-Style Sour Red Ale from the Utah Brewers Cooperative (Wasatch Brewery)!  This pairing goes out to John Crowley and Roseann Powell's husband... cheer guys!!
 
Album Info:

• Artist: Rush
• Title: "Power Windows"
• Recorded: April to June and August 1985 at The Manor Studio, Oxfordshire, England, Sarm East Studios, Angel Studios and Abbey Road Studios, London, England, and AIR Studios, Montserrat 
• Release date: October 29th, 1985 (11th studio album by Rush)
• Record company: Anthem/Mercury
• Album cover art: Hugh Syme
• Personnel: Geddy Lee (lead vocals, bass guitar, bass pedals, synthesizers ), Alex Lifeson (guitars), and Neil Peart (drums and percussion)
• Musical style: Progressive rock, hard rock, power pop, electronic rock
• Sound: Moving further away from their progressive '70s sound and significantly more synthesizer heavy than previous albums, "Power Windows" is crisp, technical, tight, angular, yet still punchy and rockin'.
• Major themes: The manifestation of power (greed, Cold War military aggression, nationalism, etc.), non-conformism, suburban monotony and mediocrity, criticism of the mainstream music industry, hope, etc.
• Notes: "Power Windows" was the first Rush album to ever be released directly to CD.
• Tracks:   

1. "Big Money"
2. "Grand Designs"
3. "Manhattan Project"
4. "Marathon"
5. "Territories"
6. "Middletown Dreams"
7. "Emotion Detector"
8. "Mystic Rhythms"

    Brew Info:

• Brewery: Utah Brewers Cooperative (Wasatch Brewery) (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://www.utahbeers.com/
• Brew: Switch Belgian-Style Sour Red Ale
• Style: American Wild Ale/Farmhouse Ale
• Serving: 22 ounce bottle
• ABV: 8%
• Pour: A very hazy plum red with a thin, white head that dissipates quickly leaving only trace lacing.
• Nose: The nose of the Switch is characterized by lemony tartness, barnyard funk, some dark fruit, and hints of caramel sweetness.  There are big aroma of lemon, red wine vinegar, Chardonnay, Belgian yeast, and horse blanket.
• Taste: Following the nose, the Switch is a very lemony brew with subtle elements of sweetness and maltiness.  There are big notes of lemon, sour cherry, and Chardonnay with more subtle flavors of grain, banana, wild yeast, and very light caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Light-bodied with moderate carbonation, the Switch Belgian-Style Sour Red Ale is very tart, crisp, and refreshing with a dry, punchy finish.

Overall pairing: The wild and tart flavors of the Switch Belgian-Style Sour Red Ale make for an interesting experience and an interesting pairing with "Power Windows".  The sharp flavor is great for the clarity with which Rush present their musical prowess and lyrical brilliance!

Cheers!!

April 23rd, 2015 - The Perfect Stormwatch

 Hey there old-school rockers and hop lovers.. the Meista here tonight pairing Jethro Tull's "Stormwatch" (Remastered Edition) with The Perfect Storm Double IPA from Oakshire Brewing! 
 
Album Info:

• Artist: Jethro Tull
• Title: "Stormwatch" (Remastered Edition)
• Recorded: Spring and summer 1979 at Maison Rouge Mobile and Maison Rouge Studio, Fulham, London, England
• Release date: September 14th, 1979 (12th studio album by Jethro Tull)
• Record company: Chrysalis
• Album cover art: David Jackson
• Personnel: Ian Anderson (vocals, flutes, acoustic guitar, and bass guitar), Martin Barre (electric guitar, mandolin, and classical guitar), Barriemore Barlow (drums and percussion), John Evan (piano and organ), John Glascock (bass guitar on tracks 2, 9, and 10), David Palmer (synthesizers, portable organ, and orchestral arrangements), Dave Pegg (bass guitar on bonus tracks 13 and 14), and Francis Wilson (spoken voice on track 1 (the Shipping Forecast), and the spoken introduction to track 8)
• Musical style: Progressive/hard rock, folk rock with elements of jazz, blues, and classical
• Sound: Complex, completely engaging, and wonderfully fun, Jethro Tull's sound on "Stormwatch" harkens to times long gone, while still rockin'!
• Major themes: Shipping, costal life, sea storms, environment, oil, money, legends, doom, and survival
• Notes: Sadly, Glascock (who suffered from congenital heart problems) passed away shortly after the album's release.
• Tracks:   

1. "North Sea Oil"
2. "Orion"
3. "Home"
4. "Dark Ages"
5. "Warm Sporran"
6. "Something's On The Move"
7. "Old Ghosts"
8. "Dun Ringill"
9. "Flying Dutchman"
10. "Elegy"
11. "A Stitch In Time" (Bonus Track)
12. "Crossword" (Bonus Track)
13. "Kelpie" (Bonus Track)
14. "King Henry's Madrigal" (Bonus Track)

    Brew Info:

• Brewery: Oakshire Brewing (Eugene, Oregon)
• Website: http://www.oakbrew.com/
• Brew: The Perfect Storm Double IPA
• Style: Imperial/America Double India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 22 ounce bottle
• ABV: 9.3%
• IBUs: 100+
• Gravity: 19.5 degrees Plato
• Ingredients: Rahr 2-row and Munich malt, WL001 Cal Ale Yeast, Chinook and Crystal hops for bittering, Citra, Cascade, Chinook, Centennial, and Zythosand for the finishing hops, and Citra, Centenial, and Mosiac used in the dry hop
• Pour: Hazy golden-orange with a fluffy 2-finger head that leaves lots of sticky lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by lots of sweet malt and tropical/citrus fruit aromas along with more subtle pine resin notes.  There are big aromas of caramel/toffee, grapefruit and orange rind, and earthy pine and peppery hops.
• Taste: Like the nose, the taste if big and bold with lots of citrus, tropical fruit, and sweet malt.  There are notes of  grapefruit, orange, tangerine, mango, hints pineapple, burnt toffee, sweet caramel, and pine with black tea and herbs in the finish.
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied and smooth carbonation with a bitter and biting finish.

Overall pairing: The complexity of The Perfect Storm Double IPA is great for the progressive and folk elements of "Stormwatch".  The sweeter and fruitier notes go well with the whimsical nature of the music while the bitter hop notes are great for the darker lyrics of the album.

Cheers!!

April 19th, 2015 - A Celestial CDL Blessing In Disguise

Sunday morning... time for church... the METAL CHURCH that is!!  Hey there rockers and hop-heads.. the Meista here today pairing the very underrated "Blessing In Disguise" by Metal Church and a tasty Celestial Meridian Cascadian Dark Lager (CDL) from Base Camp Brewing Company!  Hallelujah! 
 
Album Info:

• Artist: Metal Church
• Title: "Blessing In Disguise"
• Recorded: August 29th through October 4th, 1988 at Kajem Victory Recording, Gladwyne, Pennsylvania
• Release date: February 7th, 1989
• Record company: Elektra Records
• Personnel: Kirk Arrington (drums), Duke Erickson (bass guitar), Mike Howe (vocals), John Marshall (guitars), and Craig Wells (guitars)
• Musical style: Thrash/power metal
• Sound: Aggressive, in-your-face, buzz-saw thrash goodness!  Combining the speed and precision of the NWOBHM sound with American hard rock assertiveness, "Blessing In Disguise" is the epitome of the early '80s thrash sound... tight and furiously fast musicianship foiled by screeching and angry vocals!
• Major themes: Social and religious criticism, war, insanity, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Fake Healer"
2. "Rest In Pieces (April 15, 1912)"
3. "Of Unsound Mind"
4. "Anthem To The Estranged"
5. "Badlands"
6. "The Spell Can't Be Broken"
7. "It's  A Secret"
8. "Cannot Tell A Lie"
9. "The Powers That Be"

    Brew Info:

• Brewery: Base Camp Brewing Company (Portland, Oregon)
• Website: http://basecampbrewingco.com/
• Brew: Celestial Meridian CDL
• Style: Euro Dark Lager
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 5.1%
• IBUs: 45
• Gravity: 17.2 degrees Plato
• Pour: The Celestial Meridian CDL pours an opaque milk chocolate sienna with a huge yellowish tan, 2+ finger head with great retention and intricate, sustained lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by citrus, tropical fruit, and pine aromas along with sweeter and maltier notes.
• Taste: The Meridian hops give this beer big citrus, tropical fruit, and pine flavors while the dark roasted malts provide a light and toasted sweetness, which is a nice balance to the bitter hops. 
• Mouthfeel: Very crisp, hoppy, and somewhat biting with a surprisingly clean finish for a darker brew.

Overall pairing: The punchy and hoppy qualities of the Celestial Meridian CDL are perfect for the thunderous bass and drums, crushing guitars, and gravel and broken glass vocals of Metal Church's "Blessing In Disguise"!  And both are the perfect Sunday morning "spiritual" wake-me-up!!

Cheers... and amen my metal brothas and sistas!!

April 18th, 2015 - Sunset On The Golden Age Silly Scotsmen... or... "We Are Here To Drink Your [Silly] Beer!"

Hey there me drinkin' mates! The Meista here tonight pairing the whimsical "Sunset On The Golden Age" by Scottish folk/power metal band Alestorm and a Scotch Silly from Brasserie de Silly S.A.!
 
Album Info:

• Artist: Alestorm
• Title: "Sunset On The Golden Age"
• Recorded: February 4th to February 26th, 2014 at LSD Studios in Lübeck, Germany
• Release date: August 1st, 2014 (4th studio album by Alestorm)
• Record company: Napalm Records
• Album cover art: Ingo Römling
• Personnel: Peter Alcorn (drums), Christopher Bowes (lead vocals and keytar), Dani Evans (guitars), Gareth Murdock (bass), and Elliot Vernon (keyboards)
• Additional musicians: Myk Barber (guitar solo on "Walk The Plank"), Bren Casey (backing vocals), Jonas Dieckmann (trumpet), Tobias Hain (trumpet), Gordon Krei (programming), Lasse Lammert (guitar solo and vibraslap on "Mead from Hell"), Hildegard Niebuhr (violin), and Luke Philp (Lagerstein) (lead vocals on "Hangover")
• Musical style: Power metal, heavy metal, Celtic/folk metal, pirate metal - "True Scottish Pirate Metal" as the band calls it.  There are also some hints of black/death metal.
• Sound: Alestorm's musical style is upbeat with melodies commonly found in folk metal.  Multi-instrumental, their music has a very sea-shanty/jig/drinking song feel. 
• Major themes: DRINKING and pirate/shipping tales, history, and lore
• Tracks:   

1. "Walk The Plank"
2. "Drink"
3. "Magnetic North"
4. "1741 (The Battle Of Cartagena)"
5. "Mead From Hell"
6. "Surf Squid Warfare"
7. "Quest For Ships"
8. "Wooden Leg"
9. "Hangover" (Tao Cruz cover)
10. "Sunset On The Golden Age"

    Brew Info:

• Brewery: Brasserie de Silly S.A. (Silly, Belgium)
• Website: http://www.silly-beer.com/
• Brew: Scotch Silly
• Style: Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 8%
• Gravity: 17.2 degrees Plato
• Ingredients: Pale ale malt, Caramel malt, Aromatic malt, Kent hops, Hallertau hops
• Pour: Hazy light mahogany with a creamy, tan, 1-finger head that leaves sticky lacing throughout.
• Nose: The nose of the Scotch Silly is characterized by lots of sweet malt aroma and fruit ester.  There are scents of sweet caramel, dark fruits (plums, dates, etc.), raisin bread, Belgian yeast, and minerals.
• Taste: Very malty, the taste is characterized by those same sweet flavors in the nose.  There are big doughy/bready notes of raisin bread, sweet biscuit, plums, dates, and bit of cherry along with some rum and brown sugar.
• Mouthfeel: Low carbonation and medium to full bodied, the Scotch Silly is smooth and velvety with some light warming booziness.

Overall pairing: The hearty, sweet, malty, and slightly boozy flavors of the Scotch Silly are perfect for the zany, yet very musical and intricate approach of Alestorm.  The next time you are feeling a bit piratey... reach for a Scotch Silly and throw on some rockin' Alestorm!!

Sláinte!  Shiver me timbers!

April 18th, 2015 - An Imperial Clockwork Ale Angel

Good evening!  The Meista here pairing the "Clockwork Angels Tour" DVD from Rush and a Pelican Imperial Ale from Pelican Brewing Company!
 
Album Info:

• Artist: Rush
• Title: "Clockwork Angels Tour" DVD
• Recorded: November 25th, 2012 at US Airways Center, Phoenix, Arizona;  November 28th, 2012 at American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas; and November 30th, 2012 at AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas
• Release date: November 9th, 2013
• Record company: Anthem Records/Roadrunner Records
• Personnel: Geddy Lee (vocals, bass guitars, and keyboards), Alex Lifeson (guitars and backing vocals), Neil Peart (drums and percussion)
• Additional musicians: Clockwork Angels String Ensemble
• Musical style: Progressive rock/metal, hard rock
• Sound: In a word, brilliant!!  Definitely the signature Rush approach: precision, musicianship, and complex lyric structures with all the energy and power of their live act!
• Major themes: Along with playing the sci-fi steampunk concept album "Clockwork Angels" in its entirety, major themes from their giant set list include science, reason, integrity, self-reliance, hope, etc.  
• Notes: Lots of great bonus material is included in the DVD including the "Can't Stop Thinking Big" tour documentary film.
• Tracks:   

1. "Subdivisions"
2. "The Big Money"
3. "Force Ten"
4. "Grand Designs"
5. "The Body Electric"
6. "Territories"
7. "The Analog Kid"
8. "Bravado"
9. "Where's My Thing?/Here It Is! (drum solo)"
10. "Far Cry"
11. "Caravan"
12. "Clockwork Angels"
13. "The Anarchist"
14. "Carnies"
15. "The Wreckers"
16. "Headlong Flight/Drumbastica (drum solo)"
17. ""Peke’s Repose (guitar solo)/Halo Effect"
18. "Seven Cities Of Gold"
19. "Wish Them Well"
20. "The Garden"
21. "Dreamline"
22. "The Percussor (I) Binary Love Theme (II) Steambanger’s Ball (drum solo)"
23. "Red Sector A"
24. "YYZ"
25. "The Spirit Of Radio"
26. "Tom Sawyer"
27. "2112: Overture/The Temples of Syrinx/Grand Finale"
28. "Limelight (soundcheck recording)"
29. "Middletown Dreams"
30. "The Pass"
31. "Manhattan Project"

    Brew Info:

• Brewery: Pelican Brewing Company (Pacific City, Oregon)
• Website: http://www.yourlittlebeachtown.com/pelican
• Brew: Imperial Pelican Ale
• Style: Double/Imperial India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 22 ounce bottle
• ABV: 8% 
• IBUs: 85
• Gravity: 17 degrees Plato
• Ingredients: Caramel and Pale ale malts, Cascade, Centennial, and Magnum hops along with pure ale yeast 
• Pour: Nice, clear deep orange-amber with a frothy 2-finger head with good retention and lacing.
• Nose: The nose of the Imperial Pelican Ale is characterized by big citrus, floral, herbal, and malt aromas.  There are notes of pink grapefruit, orange/tangerine, lemon, pine resin, black tea, sweet caramel/toffee, and bready grains. 
• Taste: Following the nose, the taste of this brew is complex, yet very inviting.  There are big citrus/tropical fruit notes of pink grapefruit, tangerine, mango, melon, pineapple, and lemon along with a hearty and sweet malt backbone of caramel/toffee and sweet bread. 
• Mouthfeel: Moderate and prickly carbonation and medium bodied, the mouthfeel is slightly sticky and oily

Overall pairing: For both the visual and sonic genius of Rush's "Clockwork Angels Tour" DVD, a brew of a very majestic and complex nature is required... I think the wonderful Imperial Pelican Ale from Pelican Brewing Company definitely fits that bill!  The well-balanced citrusy hops and sweeter caramel malts lend themselves well to the music of Rush... especially in a live setting!

Cheers eh!!!

April 17th, 2015 - "I'm Takin' [In-Tents IPL] To The Party Tonight And I'm Lookin' For Somebody To Squeeze!"

 

 

 Hey there head-bangers and hop-heads! The Meista here pairing one more for ya tonight... Van Halen's classic "Women And Children First" with an In-Tents IPL from Base Camp Brewing Company!  This pairing goes out to my friends and fellow old-school head-bangers Lorie S. and Cody D.!!  Cheers buddies!!
 
Album Info:

• Artist: Van Halen
• Title: "Women And Children First"
• Recorded: December 1979 through February 1980
• Release date: March 26th, 1980 (3rd studio album by Van Halen)
• Record company: Warner Bros.
• Album cover art: Norman Seeff and Richard Seireeni
• Personnel: Michael Anthony (bass guitar and backing vocals), David Lee Roth (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Alex Van Halen (drums), and Eddie Van Halen (lead guitar, electric piano on "...And The Cradle Will Rock", and  backing vocals)
• Musical style: Hard rock/heavy metal
• Sound: Heavy-duty rock and roll right here brothas and sistas!  This is sonic profundity... plain and simple! 
• Major themes:  Rocking, sex, drinking, partying, and love(?)
• Notes: Interestingly enough, "Women And Children First" is the only Van Halen album with female backing vocals (Nicolette Larson).
• Tracks:   

1. "And The Cradle Will Rock..."
2. "Everybody Wants Some!!"
3. "Fools"
4. "Romeo Delight"
5. "Tora! Tora!"
6. "Loss Of Control"
7. "Take Your Whiskey Home"
8. "Could This Be Magic?"
9. "In A Simple Rhyme"

    Brew Info:

• Brewery: Base Camp Brewing Company (Portland, Oregon)
• Website: http://basecampbrewingco.com/
• Brew: In-Tents IPL
• Style: India Pale Lager
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 6.8% 
• IBUs: 62
• Gravity: 16.5 degrees Plato
• Pour: Slightly hazy golden-amber with a big, 2-finger white head with great retention and sustained spider web lacing.
• Nose: Aromas of pine needles, wild flowers, crackery biscuits, lemon zest, and a hint of oak characterize the nose of the In-Tents IPL.
• Taste: The In-Tents IPL is a really nice blend of the traditional doughy/crackery Pilsner and the piney/citrusy flavors of an IPA.  There are notes of pine, grapefruit, light caramel, grains, biscuit, and sweet grass.
• Mouthfeel: Well-carbonated, this light to medium-bodied lager is very crisp, very clean, very refreshing, and very drinkable!

Overall pairing: The crisp and very drinkable character of the In-Tents IPL is perfect for the rockin' goodtime late '70s early '80s feeling of "Women And Children First"! 

Cheers... keep on rockin' my friends!!

April 17th, 2015 - The Three-Eyed Raven That Refused To Sing...

Good evening!  I'm gonna get a bit wordy on you tonight.  The Meista here tonight pairing a Game Of Thrones: Three-Eyed Raven Dark Saison Ale from Brewery Ommegang and Steven Wilson's "The Raven That Refused to Sing (And Other Stories)"!  This one goes out to my brother Dain-o!!  Cheers bud!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Steven Wilson
• Title: "The Raven That Refused to Sing (And Other Stories)"
• Recorded: East West Studios, Los Angeles September 15th through 21st, 2012
• Release date: February 25th, 2013 (3rd solo studio album by Steven Wilson)
• Record company: Kscope
• Album cover art: Hajo Mueller
• Personnel: Steven Wilson  (lead vocals, mellotron, keyboards, guitars, production, and bass guitar on "The Holy Drinker") with Nick Beggs (bass guitar, Chapman Stick on "The Holy Drinker", and backing vocals), Guthrie Govan (lead guitar), Adam Holzman (keyboards, hammond organ, piano, and Minimoog), Marco Minnemann (drums and percussion), and Theo Travis (clarinet, flute, and saxophone)
• Additional musicians: Jakko Jakszyk (additional vocals on "Luminol" and "The Watchmaker"), Alan Parsons (haw-haw guitar on "The Holy Drinker"), and strings arranged by Dave Stewart and performed by the London Session Orchestra
• Musical style: Progressive rock, art rock, jazz-fusion
• Sound: With the inventive and melodic tenacity of bands like Genesis, King Crimson, Pink Floyd, and Yes along with the rock and roll sensibility of The Beatles, Steven Wilson's "The Raven That Refused to Sing (And Other Stories)" is a profoundly breathtaking experience.  The guitar work of Govan alone is worthy of a pairing!
• Major themes: A concept album in the sense that each song's subject matter is based in the supernatural, but analogous to the despair, mistakes, memories, pain, love, etc. that we all face in life.  (See more below in the track descriptions.)
• Tracks (with Steven Wilson's descriptions of the subject matter/themes of each song): 

1. "Luminol" - "somebody could be a ghost in life, as well as a ghost in death, somebody who’s completely ignored even in their lifetime – it hardly makes a difference; and death doesn’t make a difference, either; it doesn’t break the routine."^[
2. "Drive Home" - "about a couple driving along in a car at night, very much in love; the guy is driving, and his partner – his wife or girlfriend or whoever she is – is in the passenger seat, and the next minute she’s gone." The ghost of the woman eventually returns, "saying, ‘I’m going to remind you now what happened that night.’ There was a terrible car accident, and she died, etcetera, etcetera – again, the idea of trauma leading to a missing part of this guy’s life. He can’t deal with the reality of what happened, so he blocks it out – like taking a piece of tape and editing a big chunk out of it."
3. "The Holy Drinker" - "a guy who’s very pious, very religious, preachy and self-righteous. I’m thinking of TV evangelist-types – guys who are prepared to tell people that they’re living their lives wrong and that they’re missing something because they don’t believe in God or whatever it is." The man is an alcoholic and unwittingly challenges the Devil to a drinking competition.   "Of course, you can’t beat the Devil at a drinking competition – you can’t beat the Devil at anything – and so he loses. ... He gets dragged to Hell."
4. "The Pin Drop" - "the concept that you can be with someone because it’s comfortable and convenient, not because there’s any love or empathy.  The song is basically sung by the wife. She’s dead, she’s been thrown in the river by the husband, and she’s floating down in the river while singing this song – from beyond death, beyond the grave, as it were.  The idea... that sometimes in a relationship there can be so much tension, so much unspoken resentment and hatred, that the tiniest thing can set off a violent episode, and in this case, one that ends in tragedy. The sound of a pin dropping on a floor can be the thing that instigates the fury."
5. "The Watchmaker" - "the story of the watchmaker, the guy who is meticulous about his craft, but he never has any kind of emotional outburst, nor does he express violence or any extreme emotions whatsoever." He's been married for "50 years or more, purely because it was convenient and comfortable.  The watchmaker ends up killing his wife and burying her under the floorboards of his workshop. But, of course, she comes back, because she’s been with him for 50 years; she’s not going to leave him now.  The wife comes back to take him with her, which is another classic ghost story, in a way."
6. "The Raven That Refused To Sing" - "an old man at the end of his life who is waiting to die. He thinks back to a time in his childhood when he was incredibly close to his older sister. She was everything to him, and he was everything to her. Unfortunately, she died when they were both very young." He believes a raven in his garden is "a symbol or a manifestation of his sister. The thing is, his sister would sing to him whenever he was afraid or insecure, and it was a calming influence on him. In his ignorance, he decides that if he can get the raven to sing to him, it will be the final proof that this is, in fact, his sister who has come back to take him with her to the next life."

    Brew Info:

• Brewery: Brewery Ommegang (Cooperstown, New York)
• Website: http://www.ommegang.com/
• Brew: Game Of Thrones: Three-Eyed Raven Dark Saison Ale
• Style: Dark Saison / Belgian Dubbel / Farmhouse Ale
• Serving: 22 ounce bottle
• ABV: 7.2%
• Pour: Pours a deep, dark mahogany hue with a huge rocky, 2 to 3-finger, light mocha head that slowly fades down to a frothy cap, leaving layered lacing.
  Nose: The nose of the Three-Eyed Raven Dark Saison is characterized by lots of fruit ester, spices, doughy bread, and a slight hint of barnyard funk.  There are aromas of plums, raisins, grapes, pumpkin spice bread, lemon zest, ripe banana, nutmeg, cocoa, and vanilla.
• Taste: The flavor follows the nose and is a wonderful blend of chardonnay and dark fruits along with Belgian yeast.  There are flavorful and richly textured notes of white grapes, lemon, banana, soft pumpkin, Tootsie Rolls, exotic spices, and a hint of vanilla extract, pink bubblegum, and spiced rum in the finish.
• Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate to high carbonation, the Three-Eyed Raven Dark Saison is very frothy, crisp, somewhat tart and biting, and refreshing.  The finish is dry, slightly hoppy, and full of lingering spices.

Overall pairing: The stellar musicianship and writing of the brilliant Steven Wilson requires an ale of complexity, depth, ingenuity, and intrigue... thus the Game Of Thrones: Three-Eyed Raven Dark Saison Ale from Brewery Ommegang!  Like the ale, "The Raven That Refused to Sing (And Other Stories)" is a richly textured blend of artistry and passion!

Cheers to you!

April 17th, 2015 - Give 'Em Hell-Diver!

Hey there! The Meista here with a pairing of Sebastian Bach's "Give 'Em Hell" and a Hell-Diver Pale Ale from Sockeye Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!!
 
Album Info:

• Artist: Sebastian Bach
• Title: "Give 'Em Hell"
• Recorded: April 30th, 2013 through January 13th, 2014
• Release date: April 22nd, 2014 (5th studio album by Sebastian Bach)
• Record company: Frontiers Records
• Album cover art: Richard Villa
• Personnel: Sebastian Bach (lead vocals), Devin Bronson (guitar), Bobby Jarzombek (drums and percussion), and Duff McKagan (bass guitar)
• Guest musicians: John 5 (guitar on track 4) and Steve Stevens (guitars on tracks 5, 7, and 8)
• Musical style: Heavy metal/hard rock with elements of progressive metal
• Sound: Hard-hitting, in-your-face metal, Bach's "Give 'Em Hell" has a very early '90s Skid Row vibe while still sounding very fresh and new!  Bach's vocals as better than ever and his backing band is tight, talented, and fierce!
• Major themes: Sex, aggression, rock and roll, fighting the good fight,
• Tracks:   

1. "Hell Inside My Head"
2. "Harmony"
3. "All My Friends Are Dead"
4. "Temptation"
5. "Push Away"
6. "Dominator"
7. "Had Enough"
8. "Gun To A Knife Fight"
9. "Rock N Roll Is A Vicious Game"
10. "Taking Back Tomorrow"
11. "Disengaged"
12. "Forget You"

    Brew Info:

• Brewery: Sockeye Brewing Company (Boise, Idaho)
• Website: http://www.sockeyebrew.com/
• Brew: Hell-Diver Pale Ale
• Style: American Pale Ale (APA)
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 5.5%
• IBUs: 75
• Gravity: 13.5 degrees Plato
• Pour: Cloudy orange-copper with a big, creamy, 2-finger head with great retention and sustained spider web lacing.
• Nose: Lots of great citrus and sweet malt in the nose of this one.   There are big aromas of juicy orange, lemon, grapefruit, caramel/toffee, and fresh bread.
• Taste: Like the nose, the flavor is a really well-balanced blend of hoppy citrus and sweet malts.  There are citrusy notes of orange, tangerine, grapefruit, and mango along with hearty and sweet notes of soft caramel, butter toffee, grainy cereal, and hints of bitter black tea.
• Mouthfeel: Well-carbonated, this light to medium-bodied brew is crisp, smooth and refreshing with a clean finish.

Overall pairing: The tight hard-rockin' bad-assery of Sebastian Bach's "Give 'Em Hell" goes great with the easy-drinking, yet complex deliciousness of the Hell-Diver Pale Ale!  The crisp, punchy citrus flavor is the perfect accompaniment to Bach's fierce and powerful vocal range!

Cheers... and hails!!

April 16th, 2015 - Crossing Into MacPelican's Ale

Guid eenin!! The Meista here tonight getting back to my Scottish roots and pairing a MacPelican's Ale from Pelican Brewing Company and Big Country's debut album "The Crossing"!
 
Album Info:

• Artist: Big Country
• Title: "The Crossing"
• Recorded: May 1983 at The Manor, Oxfordshire and RAK Studios, London, England
• Release date: July 15th, 1983 (1st studio album by Big Country)
• Record company: Mercury Records
• Personnel: Stuart Adamson (lead vocals, guitar, piano, and e-bow), Mark Brzezicki – drums, percussion, and vocals), Tony Butler (bass and vocals), and Bruce Watson (guitar, mandolin, sitar, vocals, and e-bow)
• Musical style: Alternative rock, Celtic-folk rock, post-punk/new wave
• Sound: Poppy, but guitar driven rock with strong Celtic vibes from the mimicking of bagpipes with MXR Pitch Transposer 129 Guitar effects.  Upon the release of the album, music critic Kurt Loder said: "Here's a big-noise guitar band from Britain that blows the knobs off all the synth-pop diddlers and fake-funk frauds who are cluttering up the charts these days. Big Country mops up the fops with an air-raid guitar sound that's unlike anything else around, anywhere ... Like the Irish band U2 (with whom they share young, guitar-wise producer Steve Lillywhite), Big Country has no use for synthesizers, and their extraordinary twin-guitar sound should make The Crossing a must-own item for rock die-hards."
• Major themes: Love, life, loss, hope, honesty, self-discovery, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "In A Big Country"
2. "Inwards"
3. "Chance"
4. "A Thousand Stars"
5. "The Storm"
6. "Harvest Home"
7. "Lost Patrol"
8. "Close Action"
9. "Fields Of Fire (400 Miles)"
10. "Porrohman"

    Brew Info:

• Brewery: Pelican Brewing Company (Pacific City, Oregon)
• Website: http://www.pelicanbrewery.com/
• Brew: MacPelican's Ale
• Style: Scottish Ale
• Serving: 22 ounce bottle
• ABV: 5%
• IBUs: 16
• Gravity: 13 degrees Plato
• Ingredients: Caramel malt, Flaked barley, Golden Promise malt, pure ale yeast, and Willamette hops
• Pour: Clear, yet very dark copper-amber with a thin, soapy/bubbly head that dissipates quickly and leaves very little lacing. 
• Nose: The nose of the MacPelican's is malty and sweet with hints of grassy hops.  There are aromas of butterscotch, caramel/toffee, leafy hops, and minerals.
• Taste: Sweet, malty, and delicious, the MacPelican's has notes of butterscotch, caramel/toffee, some dark fruit, brown sugar, and grainy cereal notes.
• Mouthfeel: Sessionable and a very good example of the Scottish Ale style, the MacPelican's Ale has lower carbonation and a very smooth and velvety mouthfeel. 

Overall pairing: The MacPelican's Ale and "The Crossing" by Big Country make for great companions (and not just for the Scottish connection).  The sweet and mellow nature of the ale works very well with the poppier yet artistically honest songwriting and execution of Big Country's sound.  I think the song "Chance" really is the perfect song for the wonderful flavor of the MacPelican's Ale!

 Sláinte!!

April 14th, 2015 - Rising Up Red From Beneath The Remains

Boa noite my friends!  The Meister here tonight pairing "Beneath The Remains" (1997 Remaster) from Brazilian thrash metal monsters Sepultura and a Rise Up Red India Red Ale from Hopworks Urban Brewery (HUB)!
 
Album Info:

• Artist: Sepultura
• Title: "Beneath The Remains" (1997 Remaster)
• Recorded: December 15th through 28th, 1988 at Nas Nuvens Studio in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Release date: April 7th, 1989 (3rd studio album by Sepultura
• Record company: Roadrunner Records
• Album cover art: Michael Whelan
• Personnel: Igor Cavalera  (drums and percussion), Max Cavalera (vocals, rhythm guitar, and mixing), Andreas Kisser (lead guitar), and Paulo Xisto Pinto, Jr. (bass guitar)
• Musical style: Thrash metal, speed metal, death metal
• Sound: Explosive, fiery, fast, and furious, "Beneath The Remains" is all about buzz-saw guitars, machine gun fire drums, thunderstorm bass, and Max's intensely brutal and wonderful vocals!
• Major themes: Pain, death, self-determination, aggression, mind-control, honesty, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Beneath The Remains"
2. "Inner Self"
3. "Stronger Than Hate"
4. "Mass Hypnosis"
5. "Sarcastic Existence"
6. "Slaves Of Pain"
7. "Lobotomy"
8. "Hungry"
9. "Primitive Future"
10. "A Hora E A Vez Do Cabelo Nascer"
11. "Inner Self" (Drum Tracks)
12. "Mass Hypnosis" (Drum Tracks)

    Brew Info:

• Brewery: Hopworks Urban Brewery (HUB) (Portland, Oregon)
• Website: http://hopworksbeer.com/
• Brew: Rise Up Red India Red Ale
• Style: Red IPA
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 6.1%
• IBUs: 65
• Gravity: 14.5 degrees Plato
• Pour: Deep mahogany red with a thick, 1-finger, well-sustained white head that displays lots of spider web lacing.
• Nose: The nose of the Rise Up Red is a very nice blend of herbal, floral, piney, and malty aromas. 
• Taste: Very well-balanced, the Rise Up Red has a nice blend of barley malt, toffee/caramel, citrus, pine, and herbal flavors.  There are notes of baked bread, sweet toffee, grapefruit, pine, and black tea.
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied and medium to high carbonation the Rise Up Red is very smooth with a crisp and refreshing profile.  The finish is clean and smooth with a slight hoppy bite. 

Overall pairing: The Rise Up Red is a great brew to pair with "Beneath The Remains" for the simple fact that it goes down easy, but is full-flavored, complex, and has some bite... a great beer to pound whilst banging your head to the might and power that is Sepultura!!

Saude!!

April 10th, 2015 - Hot Sriracha Stout Rats

Good Friday evening my friends!  The Meister here with a rather odd pairing for you tonight... Frank Zappa's amazing "Hot Rats" and a Rogue Sriracha Hot Stout Beer!  This pairing goes out to my buddy Mikey at the Utah Beer Blog (http://utahbeer.blogspot.com/)!  Cheers my friend!!
 
Album Info:

• Artist: Frank Zappa
• Title: "Hot Rats"
• Recorded: July 18th through August 30th, 1969 at  T.T.G., Los Angeles, California, Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, California, and  Whitney Studios, Glendale, California using a "homemade sixteen track" recorder
• Release date: October 10th, 1969 (2nd solo album by Frank Zappa)
• Record company: Bizarre/Reprise
• Album cover art: Cal Schenkel
• Personnel: Frank Zappa (guitars, octave bass, and percussion) and Ian Underwood (piano, organus maximus, flute, clarinet, and saxophone)
• Additional musicians: Max Bennett (bass on all tracks except "Peaches en Regalia"), Captain Beefheart (vocals on "Willie The Pimp), Lowell George (rhythm guitar), John Guerin (drums on "Willie The Pimp", "Little Umbrellas", and "It Must Be A Camel"), Don "Sugarcane" Harris (violin on "Willie the Pimp" and "The Gumbo Variations"), Paul Humphrey (drums on "Son Of Mr. Green Genes" and "The Gumbo Variations"), Shuggie Otis (bass on "Peaches En Regalia"), Jean-Luc Ponty (violin on "It Must Be A Camel"), and Ron Selico (drums on "Peaches En Regalia")
• Musical style: Jazz fusion, free form jazz, experimental instrumental rock, progressive rock
• Sound: "A movie for your ears", as the album liner notes state, "Hot Rats" is an intricate, heavily jazz-influenced experimental album.  Almost entirely instrumental ("Willie The Pimp" is the only song with lyrics - sung by Captain Beefheart), all the tracks were composed, arranged, and produced Zappa.
• Major themes: As the majority of the album (5 of 6 tracks) are instrumental, the themes are more arbitrary and impressionistic.  "Willie The Pimp" examines the life of a pimp from his viewpoint.
• Notes: "Hot Rats" was dedicated to Zappa's then newborn son, Dweezil.
• Tracks:   

1. "Peaches En Regalia"
2. "Willie The Pimp"
3. "Son Of Mr. Green Genes"
4. "Little Umbrellas"
5. "The Gumbo Variations"
6. "It Must Be A Camel"

    Brew Info:

• Brewery: Rogue Ales
• Website: http://www.rogue.com/
• Brew: Rogue Sriracha Hot Stout Beer
• Style: Stout/chili ale
• Serving: 22 ounce bottle
• ABV: 5.7%
• IBUs: 55
• Gravity: 15 degrees Plato
• Ingredients: Huy Fong original hot chili sauce and sun ripened Rogue Farms ingredients
• Pour: The Rogue Sriracha Hot Stout Beer pours a very dark (almost black) and opaque chocolate brown with a thick, 2-finger mocha head.  Lacing is chunky and sustained.
• Nose: Suprisingly, you don't really get any chili pepper aromas in the nose.  Instead, you get nice, traditional stout aromas of coffee, roasted malt, and chocolate.
• Taste: The flavor of the Rogue Sriracha Hot Stout Beer is an interesting blend of earthy and chocolaty characteristics and chili pepper.  There are notes of dark chocolate, coffee, roasted malt, caramel, mellow smokiness, and of course, chili pepper (sans the usual garlic flavor prevalent in Sriracha).  I have to admit, I was rather skeptical, thinking this would just be another gimmick beer.  But it is actually quite tasty!  (It would actually make a great pairing with a plate of eggs and hash browns as well as "Hot Rats"!)
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied, the Rogue Sriracha Hot Stout Beer is somewhat creamy and surprisingly very drinkable.  The heat slowly builds, leaving tingly spiciness on your lips, tongue, and throat.  The finish is rather dry with that lingering heat.

Overall pairing: I can think of nothing more fitting for the Rogue Sriracha Hot Stout Beer to be paired with than Frank Zappa's "Hot Rats".  And not just for the "weird" factor either, but more specifically for the complexity, uniqueness, and richness of character.  And as for the heat... just listen to that smokin' guitar in "Willie The Pimp" and smokin' sax in "Peaches En Regalia"!

Cheers... chook-die!!

April 10th, 2015 - Klickitat's Tribal Ale

 Hello friends!  The Meister here pairing Queensrÿche's "Tribe" with a Klickitat Pale Ale from Alameda Brewing Company for you today!
 
Album Info:

• Artist: Queensrÿche
• Title: "Tribe"
• Recorded: Robert Lang Studios and The Grove, Seattle, Washington, 2003
• Release date: July 22nd, 2003 (8th studio album by Queensrÿche)
• Record company: Sanctuary Records
• Personnel: Chris DeGarmo (guitar), Eddie Jackson (bass), Scott Rockenfield (drums), Mike Stone (guitar), Geoff Tate (vocals), and Michael Wilton (guitar)
• Musical style: Heavy metal, progressive metal
• Sound: Returning to more of their late 1980s/early 1990s vibe, Queensrÿche's sound on "Tribe" is rich and bright (although a bit overproduced in spots).  The addition of DeGarmo's richly textured guitar work is very welcome indeed.  Tate's vocals are wonderful.  And the rest of the band is very tight and well-balanced.  At times the album is heavy and in others it is very ethereal and melodic.
• Major themes: Self-actualization, the pursuit of knowledge, love, life, hope, etc.
• Notes: "Tribe" should have marked the triumphant return of DeGarmo to the band (he left in 1997), but due to clashes during the recording sessions with Tate, he would leave the band again.  Sadly and unfairly, DeGarmo was listed as a "guest musician" in the liner notes.
• Tracks:   

1. "Open"
2. "Losing Myself"
3. "Desert Dance"
4. "Falling Behind"
5. "The Great Divide"
6. "Rhythm Of Hope"
7. "Tribe"
8. "Blood"
9. "The Art Of Life"
10. "Doin' Fine"

    Brew Info:

• Brewery: Alameda Brewing Company (Portland, Oregon)
• Website: http://alamedabrewing.com/
• Brew: Klickitat Pale Ale
• Style: American Pale Ale (APA)
• Serving: 22 ounce bottle
• ABV: 5.3%
• IBUs: 36
• Gravity: 1.014
• Ingredients: Caramel and Munich malts, and Cascade hops
• Pour: Hazy bronze hue with a creamy, 1-finger head
• Nose: The Klickitat is characterized by spicy, floral, and citrus aromas of crackery and doughy bread, light caramel, lemon, tangerine, and light grapefruit, and mellow spices.
• Taste: Somewhat dank, earthy, leafy, and citrusy flavors linger with heartier and bready flavors of grainy malts.  There are notes of lemon, orange, grapefruit, pine, light caramel/toffee, and crackery biscuit with hints of spices.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the Klickitat Pale Ale is a very smooth, clean, and refreshing ale with a little dryness and bitterness in the finish.

Overall pairing: The bright citrusy/pine flavors of Alameda's Klickitat Pale Ale go great with the progressive, yet radio-friendly sound of  Queensrÿche's very underrated "Tribe", while the more complex flavors work well with some of the darker imagery and prowess of the band's musicianship.  The native tribe imagery of the beer's label goes well with the overall themes as well. 

Cheers!!

April 9th, 2015 - Another Perfect Day Time Ale

Good afternoon!  The Meister here pairing Motörhead's "Another Perfect Day" (2006 Deluxe Edition) with a DayTime Ale from Lagunitas Brewing Company!
 
Album Info:

• Artist: Motörhead
• Title: "Another Perfect Day" (2006 Deluxe Edition)
• Recorded: February through March 1983 at Olympic Studios and Eel Pie Studios, London, England
• Release date: June 4th, 1983 (6th studio album by Motörhead
• Record company: Mercury Records
• Album cover art: Joe Petagno
• Personnel: Lemmy Ian Kilmister (bass and vocals), Brian "Robbo" Robertson (lead guitar, piano on "Rock It", Fender piano on "Shine", and backing vocals on "Back at the Funny Farm"), and Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor (drums)
• Musical style: Hard rock, heavy metal, speed metal
• Sound: With the addition of Robertson on guitar (who replaced original guitarist "Fast" Eddie Clarke), Motörhead's sound become a bit "cleaner" and more melodic. 
• Major themes: Revenge, rock and roll, hard living, sex, the rock and roll lifestyle, etc.
• Notes: Seeing the album cover art for the first time, Philthy responded by saying, "Fuck man! If the kids see that on acid, they're just going to freak!"
• Tracks:  

Disc 1:

1. "Back At The Funny Farm"
2. "Shine"
3. "Dancing On Your Grave"
4. "Rock It"
5. "One Track Mind"
6. "Another Perfect Day"
7. "Marching Off To War"
8. "I Got Mine"
9. "Tales Of Glory"
10. "Die You Bastard"
11. "Turn You Round Again" (Single B-Side of "I Got Mine")

Disc 2:

1. "Back At The Funny Farm" (Live At Manchester Apollo 10th June 1983)
2. "Tales Of Glory" (Live At Manchester Apollo 10th June 1983)
3. "Heart Of Stone" (Live At Manchester Apollo 10th June 1983)
4. "Shoot You In The Back" (Live At Manchester Apollo 10th June 1983)
5. "Marching Off To War" (Live At Manchester Apollo 10th June 1983)
6. "Iron Horse" (Live At Manchester Apollo 10th June 1983)
7. "Another Perfect Day" (Live At Manchester Apollo 10th June 1983)
8. "Hoochie Coochie Man" (Live At Manchester Apollo 10th June 1983)
9. "(Don't Need) Religion" (Live At Manchester Apollo 10th June 1983)
10. "One Track Mind" (Live At Manchester Apollo 10th June 1983)
11. "Go To Hell" (Live At Manchester Apollo 10th June 1983)
12. "America" (Live At Manchester Apollo 10th June 1983)
13. "Shine" (Live At Manchester Apollo 10th June 1983)
14. "Dancing On Your Grave" (Live At Manchester Apollo 10th June 1983)
15. "Rock It" (Live At Manchester Apollo 10th June 1983)
16. "I Got Mine" (Live At Manchester Apollo 10th June 1983)
17. "Bite The Bullet" (Live At Manchester Apollo 10th June 1983)
18. "The Chase Is Better Than The Catch" (Live At Manchester Apollo 10th June 1983)

    Brew Info:

• Brewery: Lagunitas Brewing Company (Petaluma, California)
• Website: https://lagunitas.com/
• Brew: DayTime Ale (A Fractional IPA)
• Style: American India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 4.65%
• Pour: It pours a clear, golden-straw hue with a thin, but fluffy white head.
• Nose:  The nose is characterized by crisp, grassy, citrusy, and crackery aromas... a really nice blend of floral and citrus hops.  There are notes of pink grapefruit, orange, light biscuit, and summer grass.
• Taste: As with the nose, the flavor of the DayTime Ale is citrusy and floral with mellow malt notes.  There are flavors of lemon, orange, grapefruit, light caramel, light grains/biscuit, and floral hops.
• Mouthfeel: Well-carbonated and light-bodied, the DayTime Ale is crisp, refreshing, and slightly bitter, with a clean and somewhat dry finish.

Overall pairing: "Another Perfect Day" is a (dare I say) more mellow album than previous works, yet still rockin'!  The sessionable, yet flavorful characteristics of the DayTime Ale make for a great companion brew to the hard-rockin' grooves of Lemmy and the boys! 

Cheers!!

April 4th, 2015 - Total Domination In Rock!

Good evening!  Against my better judgement, the Meister here with one last pairing for you tonight: one of my all-time favorite albums, "In Rock" (25th Anniversary Edition) by Deep Purple and a Total Domination IPA from Ninkasi Brewing Company!  Hell yes!!
 
Album Info:

• Artist: Deep Purple
• Title: "In Rock"
• Recorded: October 14th, 1969 through April 13th, 1970 at  IBC, De Lane Lea and Abbey Road Studios, London, England
• Release date: June 3rd, 1970 (4th studio album by Deep Purple) (25th Anniversary Edition released in 1995)
• Record company: Harvest (UK) and Warner Bros. (US)
• Personnel: Ritchie Blackmore (guitars), Ian Gillan (lead vocals), Roger Glover (bass), Jon Lord (keyboards and organ), and Ian Paice (drums and percussion)
• Musical style: Hard rock/heavy metal
• Sound: Mind-blowing, face-melting, paint-blistering, orgasmic rock and roll perfection!!  This is the heaviest of the heavy... the blueprint of all hard rock and heavy metal!!
• Major themes: Rock and roll, love, loss, sex, freedom, etc.
• Tracks:  

1. "Speed King"
2. "Bloodsucker"
3. "Child In Time"
4. "Flight Of The Rat"
5. "Into The Fire"
6. "Living Wreck"
7. "Hard Lovin' Man"
8. "Black Night" (Original Single Version)
9. "Studio Chat"
10. "Speed King" (Piano Version)
11. "Studio Chat"
12. "Cry Free" (Roger Glover Mix)
13. "Studio Chat"
14. "Jam Stew (Unreleased Instrumental)
15. "Studio Chat"
16. "Flight Of The Rat" (Roger Glover Mix)
17. "Studio Chat"
18. "Speed King" (Roger Glover Mix)
19. "Studio Chat"
20. "Black Night" (Unedited Roger Glover Mix)

    Brew Info:

• Brewery: Ninkasi Brewing Company
• Website: http://www.ninkasibrewing.com/
• Brew: Total Domination IPA
• Style: American India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 6.7%
• IBUs: 65
• Ingredients: 2-Row Pale, Carahell, and Munich malts, and Amarillo and Summit hops
• Pour: The color of an Arnold Palmer iced tea, the Total Domination IPA displays a 1-finger white head with good retention and lacing.
• Nose: A big citrusy and floral hop aroma with a nice balance of sweeter malt, there are notes of juicy pink grapefruit, lemon, tangerine, black tea, pine resin, and caramel/toffee. 
• Taste: Lots of grassy, herbal, and citrusy/tropical fruit flavor, the Total Domination IPA is characterized by notes of pine, black tea, tangerine, grapefruit, orange juice, lemon, mango, melon, pineapple, and a well-balanced and sweet malt backbone. 
• Mouthfeel: Crisp, medium-bodied, and refreshing, the Total Domination IPA's mouthfeel is clean, slightly oily, but with a dry finish.

Overall pairing: Not many beers can back up the hard rockin' intensity of Deep Purple's "In Rock", but the Total Domination IPA from Ninkasi holds its own!  The bright, crisp, and intensely hoppy flavor works perfectly with the brilliance and musical prowess of Blackmore, Gillan, Glover, Lord, and Paice!  A great brew... a timeless album!!

Cheers!!