April 7th, 2017 - Sunshine For Darktimes In A Different Light

Good evening!  Your drinking buddy the Meista here tonight pairing "Darkness In A Different Light" by Fates Warning and a Sunshine For Darktimes from Red Rock Brewery!

Album Info:

• Artist: Fates Warning
• Title: "Darkness In A Different Light" (Limited Edition)
• Recorded: April through July 2013 at Carriage House Studios in Stamford, Connecticut; Jim Matheos' home studio in New Hampshire; and The Bridge Recording in Glendale, California
• Release date: September 30, 2013 (11th studio album by Fates Warning)
• Record company: Inside Out
• Production: Jim Matheos and Ray Alder
• Album cover art: Conte di San Pietro
• Personnel: Ray Alder (lead vocals), Frank Aresti (guitar and backing vocals), Bobby Jarzombek (drums), Jim Matheos (guitar and vocals), and Joey Vera (bass)
• Musical style: Progressive metal/rock, hard rock
• Sound: Catchy, melodic, intricate, richly textured, and totally rocking!
• Major themes: Of the songs, Alder stated: "the lyrics seemed to make everything a common bond—going back between light and dark. I don't know why or how that happened. It was some subconscious thing that went on. So the title just seemed to make sense. Some of the songs have to do with hope and working your way through certain things. I mean, darkness to me seems more of a state of mind - it's not a physical darkness. But Darkness In A Different Light seemed to make sense. Again, it tied in with the lyrics. It didn't mean to, but it did."
• Tracks:   

1. "One Thousand Fires"
2. "Firefly"
3. "Desire"
4. "Falling"
5. "I Am"
6. "Lighthouse"
7. "Into The Black"
8. "Kneel And Obey"
9. "O Chloroform"
10. "And Yet It Moves"
11. "Firefly" (extended version)
12. "Falling Further"
13. "One" (live at Progpower USA in Atlanta, Georgia on September 12th, 2009)
14. "Life In Still Water" (live at Progpower USA in Atlanta, Georgia on September 12th, 2009)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Red Rock Brewery (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://redrockbrewing.com/
• Brew: Sunshine For Darktimes
• Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
• Serving: Pint from the tap
• ABV: 4.0%
• Ingredients: The Sunshine For Darktimes is brewed with roasted and chocolate malts and over 200 pounds of sweet and tart cherries.
• Pour: It pours an opaque, deep mahogany with a thin, light tan head with good sustain and some lacing.
• Nose: The nose is malty, chocolaty, fruity, and tart with subtle spices.  There are aromas of dark roasted malts, dark chocolate, black cherry juice, lemon zest, and spices.
• Taste: The taste of the Sunshine For Darktimes is characterized by malty, spicy, fruity, and tart flavors.  There are notes of cocoa, toffee, tart cherries, spicy Belgian yeast, citrus zest, very light banana.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Sunshine For Darktimes is somewhat tart, yet very smooth and refreshing with a clean, somewhat dry finish.

Overall pairing: The wonderfully intricate and very drinkable flavors of Red Rock's brilliant Sunshine For Darktimes is perfect for the very underrated brilliance that is Fates Warning!  The incredibly well-balanced chocolate, cherry, malt, and spice notes of the brew make for an excellent companion to the warmth, honesty, and artistic integrity of "Darkness In A Different Light"!

Cheers!!