April 28th, 2019 - Getting "Fat" With 5150

Hello rockers and craft beer lovers!  The Meista here today pairing a delicious Adipose IPA from Arch Rock Brewing Company (that I had back in December, but forgot to pair) and "5150" by the mighty Van Halen!  Oh yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Van Halen
• Title: "5150"
• Recorded: November 1985 through February 1986 at 5150 Studios in Studio City, California  
• Release date: March 24th, 1986 (7th studio album by Van Halen)
• Record company: Warner Bros. Records
• Production: Mike Jones, Donn Landee, and Van Halen
• Album cover art: Jeri McManus and Van Halen (art direction) and Aaron Rapoport (photography)
• Personnel: Michael Anthony (bass guitar and backing vocals), Sammy Hagar (lead and backing vocals), Alex Van Halen (drums and percussion), and Eddie Van Halen (guitars, keyboards, and backing vocals)
• Musical style: Hard rock, heavy metal
• Sound: The first Van Halen album with Sammy Hagar, the sound is obviously a little different from previous albums.  It is a bit poppier, contains ballads and love songs, and has more keyboards... but it still rocks and rocks hard!
• Major themes: Love, lust, sex, desire, insanity, rock and roll, life, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Good Enough"
2. "Why Can't This Be Love"
3. "Get Up"
4. "Dreams"
5. "Summer Nights"
6. "Best Of Both Worlds"
7. "Love Walks In"
8. "5150"
9. "Inside"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Arch Rock Brewing Company (Oregon)
• Website: https://archrockbeer.com/
• Brew: Adipose IPA
• Style: American India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 32 ounce crowler can
• ABV: 7.0%
• Ingredient: Simcoe, Centennial, Bravo, Chinook, and Nugget hops
• Pour: The Adipose IPA pours a hazy golden yellow hue with a thick and frothy, 2 + finger head with great sustain and pervasive and intricate lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, tropical, floral, and resinous.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, tangerine, pineapple, passion fruit, mango, pine resin, wild flowers, and soft caramel. 
• Taste: Hop-forward, the taste of the Adipose IPA follows the nose with lots of citrus and tropical fruit and resinous flavors.  There are notes of grapefruit, tangerine, pineapple, mango, stone fruit, pine, herbs, grassy green hops, light caraemel with medium bitterness in the finish.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and well-balanced with moderate carbonation, the Adipose IPA is crisp, yet smooth with a clean, yet slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The Adipose IPA from Arch Rock is very hoppy, very well balanced, very complex, and flavorful brew that goes down smooth and easy... perfect for the rock and roll punch of Van Halen's wonderful "5150"!  Those citrusy notes are great for Eddie's guitars and Sammy's vocals, while the malt backbone is great for the heavy-duty rhtyhm section of Michael and Alex!

Cheers!!  

April 26, 2019 - A Double Dose Of Physical Graffiti... or ...Cashmere In Kashmir

Hello and happy Friday rockers, rollers, and hop-lovers!  Your pal the Meista here starting off the weekend right with a pairing of the brilliant "Physical Graffiti" by giants of the hard rock / proto-metal world, Led Zeppelin and a Physical Graffiti Pale Ale from Fisher Brewing Company!! 


Album Info:

• Artist: Led Zeppelin
• Title: "Physical Graffiti"
• Recorded: November 1973 through July 1974 at Headley Grange in Hampshire, England (with previously unused material from 1970 through 1972)
• Release date: February 24th, 1975 (6th studio album by Led Zeppelin
• Record company: Swan Song Records
• Production: Jimmy Page
• Album cover art: Peter Corriston and Mike Doud
• Personnel: John Henry Bonham "Bonzo" (drums and percussion), John Paul Jones (bass, keyboards, Mellotron, mandolin, acoustic guitars, and string and brass arrangements), Jimmy Page (acoustic, electric, lap steel, and slide guitars), and Robert Plant (lead vocals and harmonica)
• Additional musician: Ian Stewart (piano on "Boogie With Stu")
• Musical style: Hard rock / heavy blues rock with elements of progressive rock and folk rock
• Sound: Their most ambitious album and quite possibly my favorite of the mighty Zep, with "Physical Graffiti", the band laid down a sonically massive and richly diverse album!  The band was already big, but this album launched them into super stardom partly because they gel so well as a band on the album.  Each member is firing on all cylinders!
• Major themes: Life, death, love, lust, sex, loss, the blues, isolation, the ancient world, spiritualty, mysticism, rock and roll, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Custard Pie"
2. "The Rover"
3. "In My Time Of Dying"
4. "Houses Of The Holy"
5. "Trampled Under Foot"
6. "Kashmir"
7. "In The Light"
8. "Bron-Yr-Aur"
9. "Down By The Seaside"
10. "Ten Years Gone"
11. "Night Flight"
12. "The Wanton Song"
13. "Boogie With Stu"
14. "Black Country Woman"
15. "Sick Again"

    Brew Info:

• Brewery: Fisher Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://fisherbeer.com/
• Brew: Physical Graffiti Pale Ale
• Style: American Pale Ale (APA)
• Serving: 32 ounce crowler can
• ABV: 4.0%
• Ingredients: Cashmere hops
• Pour: The Physical Graffiti pours a golden-orange with a 1-finger, eggshell white, creamy head with good retention and intricate, layered lacing.
• Nose: The nose is malty, earthy, grassy, citrusy, floral, and piney.  There are sweet aromas of caramel and doughy bread, earthy aromas of pine resin and cedar as well as herbs and wild flowers, citrusy aromas of lemon zest, grapefruit, lime, and tangerine, and summer grass.
• Taste: Lots of toasted malt, earthiness, and citrus in this taste of this one.  There are notes of grapefruit, orange, lime, tangerine, melon, pine, and more subtle notes of black tea, orange tea, and grassy hops.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is crisp,  with a dry, slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: Although I'm not sure any brew can truly do this album justice, the Physical Graffiti from Fisher Brewing Company with all it's complexity and balanced flavors, does a pretty fine job of accompanying the swinging grooves, heavy-duty punch, the multilayered depth, and the sheer brilliance of "Physical Graffiti"!  'Nuff said!

Cheers!!

April 20th, 2019 - ...And The Phototropic Circus Leaves Town

Hello there headbangers and craft beer lovers!  The Meista here today pairing "...And The Circus Leaves Town" by Kyuss and a Phototropic from TRVE Brewing Company, "Denver's true heavy metal brewery"!

Album Info:

• Artist: Kyuss
• Title: "...And The Circus Leaves Town"
• Recorded: March 1st through the 20th, 1995 at Sound City Studios in Van Nuys, California
• Release date: July 11th, 1995 (4th studio album by Kyuss)
• Record company: Elektra Records
• Production: Chris Goss and Kyuss
• Album cover art: Jill Jordan
• Personnel: Josh Garcia (lead vocals), Alfredo Hernandez (drums), Josh Homme (guitars), and Scott Reeder (bass) 
• Musical style: Stoner rock/metal, experimental rock
• Sound: Tighter and a bit lighter than previous albums, and very straightforward, "...And The Circus Leaves Town" is chalk full of undulating grooves and heavy riffs and trippy harmonies.
• Major themes: Life, death, grief, drugs, music, the sea, the desert, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Hurricane"
2. "One Inch Man"
3. "Thee Ol' Boozeroony"
4. "Gloria Lewis"
5. "Phototropic"
6. "El Rodeo"
7. "Jumbo Blimp Jumbo"
8. "Tangy Zizzle"
9. "Size Queen"
10. "Catamaran"
11. "Spaceship Landing"
12. "M'deea" (hidden track)
13. "Day One" (hidden track)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: TRVE Brewing Company (Denver, Colorado) in collaboration with Finback
• Website: https://www.trvebrewing.com/
• Brew: Phototropic
• Style: American Wild Ale / Farmhouse / Belgian Golden Ale
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 5.0%
• Ingredients: Mixed culture with prickly pear
• Pour: The Phototropic pours a clear golden-yellow with a 1-finger, billowy, bright white head that dissipates quickly and leaves virtually no lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, floral, funky, and earthy.  There are aromas of lemon Greek yogurt, lime, grapefruit light vinegar, light crackery grain, wet horse blanket, leather, and desert flowers.
• Taste: The taste of the Phototropic is tangy, fruity, funky, and grainy.  There are notes of lime juice and zest, lemon juice, grapefruit, vinegar, light grains, ginger, cactus juice, a hint of barnyard funk, and spicy black pepper. 
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium in body and well carbonated, the Phototropic's mouthfeel is frothy, fizzy, crisp, and slightly tart, with a dry finish.

Overall pairing: The Phototropic from TRVE Brewing is a bright, fruity, and very crisp brew, which makes a great foil to the heavy stoner rock of Kyuss' "...And The Circus Leaves Town"!  The beer is actually named for the song "Photorropic" on the album so I really didn't have to work to hard for thisone.  :) 'Nuff said!

Cheers and hails!!

April 18th, 2019 - Undercover And Stormin' Heaven's Gates To Shut It Down!

Good evening evil-doers!  Let's do some heavy duty headbangin' with "Storm The Gates", the latest album by metal veterans Venom and an Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale from Lagunitas Brewing Company!

Album Info:

• Artist: Venom
• Title: "Storm The Gates"
• Recorded: 2016 through 2018 at Thunderoar OQB Studios and DooM Mobile and 2017 through 2018 at OffWorld Mobile Recording and Insomniac Sound and Vision in the UK
• Release date: December 14th, 2018 (studio album by Venom)
• Record company: Spinefarm Records
• Production: Cronos
• Album cover art: Radvicioust and Nikos Outsikas 
• Personnel: Conrad "Cronos" Lant (bass and vocals), Danny "Danté" Needham (drums), and Stuart "La Rage" Dixon (guitars) 
• Musical style: Thrash metal, speed metal, black metal
• Sound: Fast, furious, raw, and aggressive, this is pure, classic Venom!  Sure, there's nothing really new here in terms of subject matter or approach, but it kicks ass like only Venom does!
• Major themes: Death, violence, the occult, Satan, evil, darkness, hell, heavy metal, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Bring Out Your Dead"
2. "Notorious"
3. "I Dark Lord"
4. "100 Miles To Hell"
5. "Dark Night (Of The Soul)"
6. "Beaten To A Pulp"
7. "Destroyer"
8. "The Mighty Have Fallen"
9. "Over My Dead Body"
10. "Suffering Dictates"
11. "We The Loud"
12. "Immortal"
13. "Storm The Gates"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Lagunitas Brewing Company (Petaluma, California)
• Website: http://www.lagunitas.com/
• Brew: Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale
• Style: American Strong Ale (somewhere between a Double IPA and a Barleywine)
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 9.6%
• IBUs: 6.66
• Pour: Hazy iced-tea caramel hue with a thick and creamy 1-2 finger off-white, mashed potato head with great sustain and intricate and layered lacing.
• Nose: The nose is nice blend of big, sweet malts, dank and earthy herbs, caramel, hops, booze, and a little smokiness.  There are aromas of pine resin, cedar, herbal tea, burnt toffee, bourbon, and a slight hint of liquid smoke.
• Taste: Lots of sweet, bitter, earthy, and boozy flavors going on here!  There are notes of pine, juniper, bitter grapefruit, black tea, toasted biscuit, soft caramel, and minerals. 
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied with minimal carbonation, the mouthfeel is thick, chewy and creamy with some booziness and a bitter finish.

Overall pairing: I think the big, crazy, complexity of the Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale from Lagunitas Brewing Company is perfect for the bold and aggressive heavy metal beast that is Venom's "Storm The Gates"!  Those sweeter flavors go well with the while the more bitter notes go well with the darker lyrical subject matter and the intense wails Cronos!

HAILS!!

April 14th, 2019 - Whether Your Dealing With Matters Of The Heart Or Matters Of Science, You'll Probably End Up Covered In Blood

Hello!  Your pal the Meista here today rocking the hell out to Arch Enemy's "Covered In Blood", a compilation cover album and a very tasty Heart And Science IPA from Ninkasi Brewing Company!

Album Info:

• Artist: Arch Enemy
• Title: "Covered In Blood"
• Recorded: 1996 through 2018 at various studios                 
• Release date: January 18th, 2019 (3rd compilation album by Arch Enemy)
• Record company: Century Media Records
• Production: Arch Enemy, various
• Album cover art: Costin Chioreanu
• Personnel: Christopher Amott (guitars tracks 12-24), Michael Amott (guitars, bass, and backing vocals), Nick Cordle (guitars tracks 3-6), Sharlee D'Angelo (bass), Daniel Erlandsson (drums), Angela Gossow (lead vocals on tracks 12-20 and 23), Johan Liiva (lead vocals tracks 14 and 21-24), Jeff Loomis (guitars and backing vocals tracks 1 and 2), and Alissa White-Gluz (lead vocals tracks 1-11)
• Musical style: Melodic death metal, heavy metal, hard core punk, thrash metal
• Sound: Fast, aggressive, unapologetic, the sound on "Covered In Blood" is signature Arch Enemy, but Arch Enemy covering some of their favorite songs over the years!   
• Major themes: Anger, aggression, rebellion, society, war, death, power, etc.
• Tracks:  

1. "Shout" (Tears For Fears cover)
2. "Back To Back" (Pretty Maids cover)
3. "Shadow On The Wall" (Mike Oldfield cover)
4. "Breaking The Law" (Judas Priest cover)
5. "Nitad" (Moderat Likvidation cover)
6. "When The Innocent Die" (Anti Cimex cover)
7. "Warsystem" (Shitlickers cover)
8. "Armed Revolution" (Shitlickers cover)
9. "Spräckta Snutskallar" (Shitlickers cover)
10. "The Leader (Of The Fuckin' Assholes)" (Shitlickers cover)
11. "City Baby Attacked By Rats" (GBH cover)
12. "Warning" (Discharge cover)
13. " The Zoo" (Scorpions cover)
14. "Wings Of Tomorow" (Europe cover)
15. "The Oath" (Kiss cover)
16. "The Book Of Heavy Metal" (Evil Dreams cover)
17. "Walk In The Shadows" (Queensrÿche cover)
18. "Incarnated Solvent Abuse" (Carcass cover)
19. "Kill With Power" (Manowar cover)
20. "Symphony Of Destruction" (Megadeth cover)
21. " Aces High" (Iron Maiden cover)
22. "Scream Of Anger" (Europe cover)
23. "Starbreaker" (Judas Priest cover)
24. "The Ides Of March" (Iron Maiden cover)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Ninkasi Brewing Company
• Website: http://ninkasibrewing.com/
• Brew: Heart And Science IPA
• Style: American India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 6.8%
• IBUs: 48
• Ingredients: 2-Row, Pale, Vienna, Acidulated, and Flaked Barley malts along with Nugget, Mosaic, El Dorado, Simcoe, Citra, Calypso, and Amarillo hops
• Pour: The Heart And Science IPA pours a clear golden-amber with a 1-finger, billowy, bright white head with good sustain and soapy lacing.
• Nose: The nose combines dank floral aromas with malty sweetness and citrusy hop scents.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, tangerine, pineapple, pine resin, bread crust, and soft caramel.
• Taste: Following the nose, the taste of the Heart And Science IPA is a fruity, citrusy, floral, herbal, and bready.  There are notes of grapefruit juice, lemon, orange, papaya, peach, melon, and more subtle caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Medium in body with good carbonation, the mouthfeel is with a crisp, juicy, withm minimal bitterness and a clean, slightly dry finish.
• Notes: "Heart and Science is brewed as tribute to the technical arts and heartfelt dedication that brewers, farmers, suppliers, and fans bring to the independent craft beer industry."

Overall pairing: The Heart And Science IPA from Ninkasi Brewing Company is a very well balanced, drinkable, very crisp ale that goes down easy, but with a solid flavor... perfect for the fast-paced metal insanity of Arch Enemy's "Covered In Blood"!  Those bitter and grassy hops are prefect for the angry vocals and lyrics while the crisp and citrusy notes go well with the song structures and amazing guitar delivery!

Prost!!  Hails!!

April 12th, 2019 - Green Naugahyde Hydraulic Sandwich

Hello and happy Friday!  The Meista here today pairing "Green Naugahyde" by the Primus and a Hydraulic Sandwich India Pale Ale from Mare Island Brewing Company!  This pairing is dedicated to my sweet, amazing, and wonderful wife!  Cheers baby!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Primus
• Title: "Green Naugahyde"
• Recorded: October 2010 through April 2011 at Rancho Relaxo, Sebastopol, California
• Release date: September 12th, 2011 (7th studio album by Primus)
• Record company: ATO Records / Prawn Song
• Production: Les Claypool
• Album cover art: Zoltron (design and layout) and Tod Brilliant (photography)
• Personnel: Les Claypool (bass guitar, upright bass, and vocals), Larry LaLonde (acoustic and electric guitars), and Jay Lane (drums)
• Musical style: Progressive rock, funk rock, art rock, experimental rock
• Sound: With that signature eccentricity they are known for, "Green Naugahyde" is funkier than other albums, but is also a trippy, atmospheric, sometimes silly, a bit creepy, and wonderfully and masterfully written, executed, and produced album!  Of the sound, Claypool stated: "If I were to look at all of our records, it seems like this is reminiscent of the early stuff. Obviously, with Jay there's a newness to it, but because he left the band right before we recorded our first record, his approach has an eerie harkening to the old Frizzle Fry days."
• Major themes: Of the album's lyrics, Claypool stated that it has "20 years of life experience on it – from many different angles. A song like "Jilly's on Smack" just wouldn't have been written in the early Nineties, because we hadn't lost a friend to heroin addiction. A song like "Lee Van Cleef" which is reflective of my youth just wouldn't have been written back then."  Themes include addiction, life and death, visual media, television, movies, , etc.
• Tracks:  

1. "Prelude To A Crawl"
2. "Hennepin Crawler"
3. "Las Salmon Man (Fisherman's Chronicles Part IV)"
4. "Eternal Consumption Engine"
5. "Tragedy's A' Comin"
6. "Eyes Of The Squirrel"
7. "Jilly's On Smack"
8. "Lee Van Cleef"
9. "Moron TV"
10. "Green Ranger"
11. "HOINFODAMAN"
12. "Extinction Burst"
13. "Salmon Men"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Mare Island Brewing Company (Vallejo, California)
• Website: http://www.mareislandbrewingco.com/
• Brew: Hydraulic Sandwich India Pale Ale
• Style: American India Pale  Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 22 ounce bottle
• ABV: 7.1%
• IBUs: 51
• Ingredients: 2-Row, White Wheat, Victory, and Crystal malts along with Centennial, Summit, Citra, Simcoe, and Amarillo hops
• Pour: The Hydraulic Sandwich pours a hazy, bronze-amber with a thick, sudsy, 2+ finger, off-white head with great retention and lots of sticky, layered lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, dank, herbal, bitter, and malty.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, orange peel, tangerine, black tea, pine resin, oak, doughy bread, and sweet toffee.
• Taste: The taste of the Hydraulic Sandwich follows the nose with lots of citrus, sweet malt, bitter herb, and earthy flavors.  There are notes of grapefuit, tangerine, black tea, orange tea, pine, a touch of honey, and caramel/toffee.  
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied with moderate carbination, the mouthfeel of the Hydraulic Sandwich and a dry finish.

Overall pairing: The Mare Island Brewing Hydraulic Sandwich India Pale Ale is bold, complex, and very hop-forward brew... great for the intricate and funky rhythms of Primus' amazing "Green Naugahyde"!

Cheers!!

April 7th, 2019 - Vapor Trails And Vapor Ringz

Good afternoon and happy Sunday! The Meista here today with a very special pairing for you... the amazing "Vapor Trails" by Rush and a Vapor Ringz Imperial Oat Cream India Pale Ale from Other Half Brewing Company!  This pairing goes out to my buddy Josh... thank you for the amazing beer, pairing idea, inspiration, and continued support my friend!! Cheers Mr. Sparrow!!

 

Album Info:

• Artist: Rush
• Title: "Vapor Trails"
• Recorded: January through November 2001 at Reaction Studios in Toronto, Canada
• Release date: May 14th, 2002 (17th studio album by Rush)
• Record company: Anthem Records
• Production: Rush and Paul Northfield
• Album cover art: Hugh Syme
• Personnel: Geddy Lee (lead vocals and bass guitar), Alex Lifeson (electric and acoustic guitars and mandola), and Neil Peart (drums and percussion)
• Musical style: Progressive rock/metal, hard rock, alternative rock/metal
• Sound: Louder, more aggressive, more angry than previous works, with "Vapor Trails", Rush stepped into the new millennium with a focused, precise, and determined sonic approach.  The soaring keyboards of the 1980s and 1990s are gone.  Instead, we find layered guitars, intricate and experimental drum patterns, thunderous bass, and Geddy's unique and wonderful vocals!  Of the album's direction, Peart stated: "We laid out no parameters, no goals, no limitations, only that we would take a relaxed, civilized approach."
• Major themes: Subject matter and themes on the album include the September 11th terrorist attacks in the U.S., loss, life and death, pain, emotional healing, remorse, determination, hope, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "One Little Victory"
2. "Ceiling Unlimited"
3. "Ghost Rider"
4. "Peaceable Kingdom"
5. "The Stars Look Down"
6. "How Is It"
7. "Vapor Trails"
8. "Secret Touch"
9. "Earthshine"
10. "Sweet Miracle"
11. "Nocturne"
12. "Freeze (Part IV Of Fear)"
13. "Out Of The Cradle"

    Brew Info:

• Brewery: Other Half Brewing Company (Brooklyn, New York)
• Website: https://otherhalfbrewing.com/
• Brew: Vapor Ringz Imperial Oat Cream India Pale Ale
• Style: Imperial India Pale Ale (IIPA) / Double IPA (DIPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 8.4%
• Ingredients: Citra, Galaxy, and Nelson Sauvin hops with oats, raw wheat, and lactose.
• Pour: The Vapor Ringz pours the color of freshly squeezed orange juice... an opaque golden-yellow hue with a 1+ finger, bright white head with good retention and lots of sticky, layered, soapy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by citrus, tropical fruit, stone fruit, and dank and musky fruits and earthiness.  There are aromas of grapefruit, orange juice, pineapple, lemon meringue, fresh peach, apricot, a hint of anise, light honey, overripe berries, canabis, and mellow maltiness.
• Taste: The taste of the Vapor Ringz follows the nose with lots of citrus, tropical fruit, stone fruit, vegetal dankness, .  There are notes of pineapple, grapefruit, lemon, light cream, a hint of black licorice, and pink bubble gum.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is crisp, punchy, and refreshing, yet creamy with a dry and slightly bitter finish. 

Overall pairing: Apart from the obvious name similarities, the crisp, dank, complex, and fruity hop-forward, yet very drinkable flavors of the Vapor Ringz are perfect for the electrifying, intricate, and angry melodies, harmonies, and subject matter found on Rush's wonderful and very underrated "Vapor Trails" album!

Cheers!!