May 27th, 2017 - The Liberty Of Beginnings And Endings For The Midnight Rider

Very sad news today... Greg Allman, founding member of the Allman Brothers has passed away at the age 69.  I'm celebrating the music of the late Greg Allman and his memory with a pairing of "Beginnings", a compilation album of the first two Allman Brothers' records and a Liberty IPA from Anchor Brewing Company.


Album Info:

• Artist: The Allman Brothers
• Title: "Beginnings"
• Recorded: August 3rd through 12th, 1969 at Atlantic Studios in New York City, New York and February through July 1970 at Capricorn Sound Studios in Macon, Georgia, Atlantic South in Miami, Florida, and Regent Sound Studios in New York City, New York
• Release date: 1973
• Record company: Atco / Capricorn
• Production: Adrian Barber, Tom Dowd, and Joel Dorn
• Album cover art: Chuck Pulin
• Personnel: Duane Allman (slide, acoustic, and lead guitars), Gregg Allman (organ, piano, and lead vocals), Dickey Betts (lead guitar), Jai Johanny Johanson (drums, timbales, percussion, and congas), Berry Oakley (bass guitar and backing vocals), and Butch Trucks (drums, timpani, and percussion)
• Additional musicians: Thom Doucette (harmonica and percussion)
• Musical style: Southern rock, hard rock, blues, blues rock with elements of jazz and country
• Sound: The songs that make up "Beginnings" invented and defined the Southern rock sound.  There is a depth, an honesty, and downright kick-ass musicianship that this band excelled so very well at, especially in those early years.  It is both from a time long gone and timeless. Simply put, it is brilliant!
• Major themes: The blues, love, loss, heartbreak, honesty, deception, life and death, pain, hope, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Don't Want You No More"
2. "It's Not My Cross To Bear"
3. "Black Hearted Woman"
4. "Trouble No More"
5. "Every Hungry Woman"
6. "Dreams"
7. "Whipping Post"
8. "Revival"
9. "Don't Keep Me Wonderin'"
10. "Midnight Rider"
11. "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed"
12. "Hoochie Coochie Man"
13. "Please Call Home"
14. "Leave My Blues At Home"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Anchor Brewing Company (San Francisco, California)
• Website: https://www.anchorbrewing.com/
• Brew: Liberty IPA
• Style: American India Pale Ale (IPA)   
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 6.3%
• Ingredients: Two-row pale malt and Cascade, Nelson Sauvin, and El Dorado hops
• Pour: The Liberty IPA pours a very hazy golden-amber with a frothy 1+ finger white head with very good sustain and soapy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is dank, pungent, earthy, and floral.  There are notes of pine resin, soap, grapefruit rind, wild flowers, and bitter herbs.
• Taste: The taste of the Liberty IPA is a well-balanced blend of piney hops and biscuity malts.  There are notes pine, bitter tea, herbs, orange peel, grapefruit, and spicy pepper.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Liberty IPA is very crisp, somewhat bitter, and sharp with a smooth, dry finish.
• Notes: The Liberty IPA was first brewed in 1975 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Paul Revere’s midnight ride. 

Overall pairing: I thought the all-American imagery, aromas, and flavors of Anchor Brewing's Liberty IPA seemed fitting for the depth and artistic integrity of one of America's great rock bands!  Both are institutions, both are simple, yet complex.

Rest In Peace Mr. Allman.