July 15th, 2020 - It May Be Difficult To Cure, But This Belgian IPA Seems To Be Helping

Good evenin' rockers, rollers, and craft brew lovers!  The Meista here rocking out with "Difficult To Cure" by Rainbow and a Limited Release Beer 1: Belgian IPA from 2 Row Brewing!  Hell yeah!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Rainbow
• Title: "Difficult To Cure"
• Recorded: 1980 at Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark and Kingdom Sound Studios in Long Island, New York 
• Release date: February 3rd, 1981 (5th full-length studio release by Rainbow)
• Record company: Polydor Records 
• Production: Roger Glover
• Album cover art: Hipgnosis 
• Personnel: Don Airey (keyboards), Ritchie Blackmore (guitars), Roger Glover (bass), Bob Rondinelli (drums), and Joe Lynn Turner (vocals)
• Musical style: Hard rock, power pop
• Sound: More polished and more commercial than the earlier Rainbow albums, "Difficult To Cure" still packs a rockin' punch and provides some incredible guitar riffs, powerful rhythms, soaring keys, and the amazing vocal talents of a very young Joe Lynn Turner!
• Major themes: Rock and roll, relationships, love, freedom, rebellion, etc.
• Tracks:   
  

1. "I Surrender"
2. "Spotlight Kid"
3. "No Release"
4. "Magic"
5. "Vielleicht Das Nächste Mal (Maybe Next Time)"
6. "Can't Happen Here"
7. "Freedom Fighter"
8. "Midtown Tunnel Vision"
9. "Difficult To Cure (Beethoven's Ninth)"

 Brew Info:

• Brewery: 2 Row Brewing (Murray, Utah)
• Website: https://2rowbrewing.com/
• Brew: Limited Release Beer 1: Belgian IPA
• Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 6.8%
• Pour: The Belgian IPA pours a fairly clear, bright golden yellow hue with a frothy, bright white, 1+ finger head with great retention and lots of soapy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, fruity, and slightly sweet. There are aromas of grapefruit, tangerine, pineapple, mango, soft banana, a hint of cloves, sweet biscuit, and caramel.
• Taste: The taste of the Belgian IPA follows the nose.  There are notes of grapefruit juice, orange,  tangerine, pineapple, mango, soft banana, light spices, and soft caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel is crisp, yet slight sticky with a dry, slightly sweet finish.

Overall pairing: The fun, fast-paced, polished hard rock sound of 1980s Rainbow deserves a bright, punchy brew... thus the delightful Limited Release Beer 1: Belgian IPA from my friends at 2 Row Brewing!  'Nuff said!

Rock on!!