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!!