December 23rd, 2018 - Saison - Brett & The Rainmaker

Good afternoon!  The Meista here today pairing "The Rainmaker" by Swedish prog rockers The Flower Kings and an aged, 2016 Saison - Brett (Special Limited Release Ale) from Boulevard Brewing Company!   

 

Album Info:

• Artist: The Flower Kings
• Title: "The Rainmaker"
• Recorded: February through May 2001
• Release date: September 18, 2001 (6th studio album by The Flower Kings)
• Record company: InsideOut Music
• Production: Don Azzaro
• Album cover art: Ioannis
• Personnel: Tomas Bodin (keyboards), Hasse Fröberg (vocals), Jonas Reingold (bass guitar), Jaime Salazar (drums), and Roine Stolt (vocals, guitars, percussion, and additional keyboards)
• Additional musicians: Hans Bruniusson (percussion) and Ulf Wallander (soprano saxophone)
• Musical style: Progressive rock with elements of art rock, hard rock, and jazz fusion
• Sound: With heavy influence from Yes, early Genesis, and a sprinkling of Frank Zappa, The Flower Kings were one of the leaders of the neo-prog movement of the 1990s and early 2000s.  With "The Rainmaker", they further explore their dynamic use of polyrhythms and time changes, harmonies, and complex melodies.
• Major themes: Life and death, spirituality, love, hope, knowledge, etc.
• Tracks:

1. "Last Minute On Earth"
2. "World Without A Heart"
3. "Road To Sanctuary"
4. "The Rainmaker"
5. "City Of Angels"
6. "Elaine"
7. "Thru The Walls"
8. "Sword Of God"
9. "Blessing Of A Smile"
10. "Red Alert"
11. "Serious Dreamers"

   
Brew Info:

• Brewery: Boulevard Brewing Company (Kansas City Missouri)
• Website: http://www.boulevard.com/
• Brew: Saison - Brett 2016 (Special Limited Release Ale)
• Style: Saison / Farmhouse Ale 
• Serving: 25 ounce bottle
• ABV: 8.5%
• IBUs: 38
• Ingredients: 
• Pour: The Saison - Brett pours a cloudy golden-orange yellow with a huge, billowy, bright white head with good retention and lacing.
• Nose: The nose of the Saison - Brett is fruity, earthy, and funky.  There are multi-layered aromas fruit ester (green apple, apricot, pear, lemon, soft banana), wet leather, horse blanket, wheat.
• Taste: It has bold and complex flavors of fruit, spices, earthiness, and funk.  There are notes of orange peel, pear, dried apricot, green apple, Chardonnay, white pepper, and barnyard funk.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and well-carbonated, the Saison - Brett's mouthfeel is very crisp, somewhat tart, and funky with a dry finish.

Overall pairing: The Boulevard Saison - Brett 2016 is a wonderfully complex and flavorful brew, perfect for the progressive depth and musical prowess of the amazing Flower Kings and their wonderful "The Rainmaker" album!  

Cheers!