March 9th, 2019 - The Funkshine From The Moonglow

Hello and happy Saturday!  The Meista here today pairing a Funkshine 3-Year Anniversay Sour from Barbarian Brewing Company and "Moonglow", the brand new album from the amazing Tobias Sammet's Avantasia!

Album Info:

• Artist: Tobias Sammet's Avantasia
• Title: "Moonglow"
• Recorded: 2018
• Release date: February 15th, 2019 (8th studio album by Tobias Sammet's Avantasia)
• Record company: Nuclear Blast
• Production: Tobias Sammet and Sascha Paeth
• Album cover art: Alexander Jansson
• Personnel: Tobias Sammet (lead vocals, bass, keyboards, piano, and orchestration) with Ronnie Atkins (vocals), Nadia Birkenstock (Celtic harp), Felix Bohnke (drums), Bob Catley (vocals), Bridget Fogle (backing vocals), Oliver Hartmann (lead guitars and backing vocals), Billy King (backing vocals), Michael Kiske (vocals), Hansi Kürsch (vocals), Jørn Lande (vocals), Herbie Langhans (backing vocals), Alvin Le Bass (backing vocals), Eric Martin (vocals),Candice Night (vocals), Mille Petrozza (vocals), Sascha Paeth (guitars, keyboards, piano, and orchestration), Michael Rodenberg (keyboards and orchestration), Lerato Sebele (backing vocals), Geoff Tate (vocals), and Stokely Van Dall (backing vocals) 
• Musical style: Symphonic metal, progressive metal/rock, power metal, hard rock
• Sound:  It is big, bold, and beautifully bombastic!
• Major themes: "Moonglow" is a fantasy rock opera concept album about a nocturnal creature dealing with existence and reality.  Themes include darkness, isolation, destruction, feeling out of place, loss, conviction, expectations, etc.   
• Tracks:   

1. "Ghost In The Moon"
2. "Book Of Shallows"
3. "Moonglow"
4. "The Raven Child"
5. "Starlight"
6. "Invincible"
7. "Alchemy"
8. "The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn"
9. "Lavender"
10. "Requiem For A Dream"
11. "Maniac" (Michael Sembello cover)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Barbarian Brewing Company (Boise, ID)
• Website: https://barbarianbrewing.com/
• Brew: Funkshine 3-Year Anniversay Sour
• Style: American Wild Ale / Sour
• Serving: 16 ounce bottle
• ABV: 7.0% 
• Ingredients: Comet, Callista, and Mosaic hops
• Pour: The Funkshine pours a very cloudy, hazy caramel-amber hue with a thin, but frothy bright white head that dissipates quickly, leaving virtually no lacing behind.
• Nose: The nose is fruity, floral, tart and funky.  There are aromas of lemon, red wine vinegar, dried stone fruit, tart raspberries, pear, lemon zest, white grape juice, a hint of lavender, wild flowers, oak, and subtle wet leather and horse blanket.
• Taste: The taste of the Funkshine follows the nose.  It is very fruity, harp, tart, funky, and dry.  There are flavors of dried apricot, fruit leather, fresh strawberry, raspberry, lemon, red wine vinegar, Chardonnay, wheat bread, and funky Brett.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel is crisp and sharp, yet smooth and very drinkable with a dry finish.

Overall pairing: The bold, complex, and punchy flavors of Barbarian's wonderful Funkshine is great for the bombast and fantasy of Tobias Sammet's Avantasia's brilliant and engaging "Moonglow"!  The intricate flavors of the brew is great for all the mind-blowingly awesome guest singers and musicians and how well attuned they are to one another!  As will all Avantasia albums and Barbarian beers, I highly recommend both this brew and this album!!

HAILS!!  PROST!!