September 17th, 2020 - Rock Island Vibes

 

Hello and happy Saturday my friends!  The Meista here today pairing a tart and tasty Island Vibes Fruited Sour with Pineapple and Double Hibiscus from the fine folks at Talisman Brewing Company and the legendary Jethro Tull and their 17th studio album, "Rock Island"!

Album Info:

• Artist: Jethro Tull
• Title: "Rock Island" 
• Recorded: early 1989 
• Release date: August 21st, 1989 (17th studio album by Jethro Tull)
• Record company: Chrysalis 
• Production: Jethro Tull 
• Album cover art: Anton Morris and Jim Gibson (illustrations) and John Pasche (art direction) 
• Personnel: Ian Anderson (lead vocals, flute, acoustic guitar, keyboards, Synclavier, mandolin, drums, and percussion), Martin Barre (lead guitars and acoustic guitar), David Pegg (bass guitar, acoustic bass, and mandolin), and Doane Perry (drums and percussion)
• Additional musicians: Maartin Allcock (keyboards) and Peter John Vettese (additional keyboards) 
• Musical style: Hard rock, progressive rock, blues rock 
• Sound: Continuing the band's late '80s hard rock approach like its predecessor "Crest Of A Knave", with "Rock Island", Tull proved once again that they are not only outstanding musicians, but adaptable and relevant.  Their sound is hard-hitting, yet very melodic.  This is definitely an overlooked gem in the vast Tull anthology!  
• Major themes: With songs about whaling, environmental damage from Chernobyl, life on the road, Christmas, and the theft of Barre's mandolin, themes on the album include lust, life, perseverance, the sea, isolation, solitude, tradition, loss, redemption, celebration, humor, etc. 
• Tracks:   

1. "Kissing Willie"
2. "The Rattlesnake Trail"
3. "Ears Of Tin"
4. "Undressed To Kill"
5. "Rocky Island"
6. "Heavy Water"
7. "Another Christmas Song"
8. "The Whaler's Dues"
9. "Big Riff And Mando"
10. "Strange Avenues"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Talisman Brewing Company (Ogden, Utah)
• Website: /https://www.talismanbrewingco.com/
• Brew: Island Vibes Fruited Sour with Pineapple and Double Hibiscus
• Style: Sour Ale
• Serving: 25.4 ounce crowler can
• ABV: 4.2%
• Ingredients: pineapple and hibiscus 
• Pour: The Island Vibes pours a hazy, deep violet hue with a billowy, 2-finger white head with pink highlights.  The head dissipates fairly quickly and leaves only trace lacing.
• Nose: The nose is tart, sweet, fruity, and herbal.  There are aromas of fresh pineapple, tart cherries, plums, sweet hibiscus, herbal tea, and a hint of honey.
• Taste: Like the nose, the taste of the Island Vibes is fruity, tart, and slightly sweet.  There are notes of pineapple, light lemon, plum, sweet hibiscus, and a hint of honey.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium in body with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is very crisp, juicy, and somewhat tart with a dry, slightly sweet finish.

Overall pairing: The well-balanced Talisman Island Vibes Fruited Sour is a complex, tart, and sweet, yet very drinkable brew... great for tossing back on a hot day while rocking out to the wonderful melodies of the amazing Jethro Tull!  The Island Vibes is the perfect beer for the dog days of summer and the hard rock perfection that is "Rock Island"!  'Nuff said!

Cheers!  Rock on!