October 5th, 2017 - A Monster Of A Narwhal

Good afternoon! Today's pairing is dedicated to the people of Puerto Rico and all the shit they are dealing with right now... "Monster" by Steppenwolf and a Narwhal Imperial Stout (2017 Release)  from Sierra Nevada Brewing Company!
 
Album Info:

• Artist: Steppenwolf
• Title: "Monster"
• Recorded: 1969 at American Recording Co. Studio in Studio City, California
• Release date: November 1969 (5th studio album by Steppenwolf)
• Record company: ABC Dunhill
• Production: Gabriel Mekler
• Album cover art: ?
• Personnel: Larry Byrom (lead guitar), Jerry Edmonton (drums), John Kay (vocals, harmonica, and guitars), Goldy McJohn (keyboards), and Nick St. Nicholas (bass guitar)
• Musical style: Hard rock, psychedelic rock, heavy blues rock, R&B
• Sound: With that classic Steppenwolf sound, "Monster" is heavy duty rock and roll circa 1969!  There is a wonderful groove, a soulful thread that permeates throughout every track.
• Major themes: War, civil rights, protest, rebellion, equality, injustice, humanity, power, greed, brotherly love, hate, hope, peace, genocide, the military industrial complex, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Monster/Suicide/America"
2. "Draft Resister"
3. "Power Play"
4. "Move Over"
5. "Fag"
6. "What Would You Do (If I Did That to You)"
7. "From Here to There Eventually"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Sierra Nevada Brewing Company (Chico, California and Mills River, North Carolina)
• Website: http://www.sierranevada.com/
• Brew: Narwhal Imperial Stout (2017 Release)
• Style: Double / Russian Imperial Stout
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 10.2%
• IBUs: 60
• Ingredients: Ale yeast, Magnum and Challenger hops, and Two-row Pale, Caramel, Chocolate, Honey, Carafa, Roasted Barley malts
• Pour: The Narwhal pours a deep, opaque black chocolate with a 1 to 2-finger, well-sustained and frothy, mocha-colored head.
• Nose: The nose is rich and complex.  There are notes of cocoa bean, rich soil, and espresso.
• Taste: The flavors are big, bold, complex, richly layered, and encompassing.  The taste is multi-layered as well with deep roasted malt flavors and velvety chocolate.  There are flavors of dark roasted Colombian coffee mixed with baker's bitter-sweet dark cocoa, subtle and well-blended bourbon notes, subtle marshmallow, vanilla bean, and hints of black licorice.
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with very low carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Narwhal is velvety, creamy, and smooth with some dark chocolate bitterness, and the finish is heavy and satisfying... an excellent example of how an Imperial Stout should taste!  As my dad would say, "you've got to drink that one with a fork and knife!"
• Notes: This brew was inspired by the illusive and mysterious horned whale that "dwells in the deepest Arctic seas" and the black nights of the Russian winters... or so I'm told.

Overall pairing: Trying to describe the complexity and brilliance of Steppenwolf's classic "Monster" and how it pairs so very well to Narwhal Imperial Stout from Sierra Nevada Brewing Company is like trying to describe the color red to a blind man.  You just have to listen, you just have to taste.

Cheers!!