October 21st, 2017 - The Epic, Sweet, Sweet (And Tart) Freedom Of An Oak And Orchard

Hello!  The Meista here pairing an Oak and Orchard Dark Sour with Plum from Epic Brewing Company and Uriah Heep's "Sweet Freedom" album!

Album Info:

• Artist: Uriah Heep
• Title: "Sweet Freedom"
• Recorded: June through July 1973 at Château d'Hérouville in Hérouville, France
• Release date: September 1973 (6th studio album by Uriah Heep)
• Record company: Warner Bros. Records
• Production: Gerry Bron
• Album cover art: Fin Costello
• Personnel: Mick Box (guitars), David Byron (lead vocals), Ken Hensley (keyboards, guitars, and backing vocals), Lee Kerslake (drums, percussion, and backing vocals), and Gary Thain (bass)
• Musical style: Hard rock, progressive rock with elements of heavy metal
• Sound: Still very much in the realm of progressive rock, with "Sweet Freedom", Uriah Heep explored heavier elements and layered complexity.  There's even a bit of soul and funk in there!  But make no mistake, this album rocks!!  Byron's signature vocals soar, Kerslake and Thain bring the thunder, Box tears it up with amazing riffs, and Hensley is simple brilliant!
• Major themes: Focusing on more personalized lyrical content rather than the mystical/mythical elements of previous albums, "Sweet Freedom" explores themes of regret, self-obsession, the price of freedom, rebellion, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Dreamer"
2. "Stealin'"
3. "One Day"
4. "Sweet Freedom"
5. "If I Had The Time"
6. "Seven Stars"
7. "Circus"
8. "Pilgrim"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Epic Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://epicbrewing.com/
• Brew: Oak and Orchard Dark Sour with Plum
• Style: Flanders Oud Bruin 
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 7.9%
• Pour: The Oak and Orchard pours a dark, cloudy, mahogany brown with 1-finger, dense, light tan head that dissipates to thin, yet sustained ring with light lacing.
• Nose: The nose is very tart, fruity, yeasty, bready, and sweet with a little booziness.  There are aromas of fresh plum, lemon, apple cider vinegar, overripe berries, Belgian yeast, oak, rock candy, caramel, toffee, horse blanket, and light bourbon. 
• Taste: The taste of the Oak and Orchard is fruity, acidic, sweet, malty, and boozy.  There are notes of fresh plum, lemon juice and zest, black cherry, red wine vinegar, fig, raisin, burnt toffee, soft banana, smoky oak, and bourbon.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel is very crisp, very tart, very refreshing, and smooth with a dry, lip-puckering tart, boozy finish.

Overall pairing: Epic's Oak and Orchard Dark Sour with Plum is a very complex brew with all sorts of amazing and compelling flavors and aromas!  With these bold and sometimes contrary flavors, the Oak and Orchard makes for the perfect companion to the sheer genius that was, is, and ever shall be the Uriah Heep's "Sweet Freedom"!!

Cheers!!  Rock on!!