November 29th, 2020 - An Explosion At Dawn From A Little Blasting Powder

 

Hello and happy Sunday rockers, rollers, and craft beer lovers!  The Meista here today chilling out with a pairing of Captain Beyond's underrated "Dawn Explosion" and a Blasting Powder Coffee Stout from the fine folks at Ogden River Brewing Company!

Album Info: 

• Artist: Captain Beyond
• Title: "Dawn Explosion"
• Recorded: 1976 through 1977 at the Record Plant in Sausalito, California
• Release date: 1977
• Record company: Warner Bros.
• Personnel: Bobby Caldwell (drums, percussion, and vocals), Willy Daffern (lead vocals), Lee Dorman (bass, string ensemble, and vocals), and Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt (guitars)
• Musical style: Hard rock/progressive rock/psychedelic rock
• Sound: A bit "poppier" than the previous two albums, "Dawn Explosion" is still a solid rocker.  The album blends straight-ahead hard rock with more progressive arrangements and R&B grooves.  I'm reminded a bit of Jo Jo Gunne and Bad Company.  Rhino's smokin' guitar work paired with the monster rhythm section of Caldwell and Dorman is profoundly rich and mesmerizing!
• Major themes: Time and space, Greek mythology, states of consciousness, dreams, etc.
• Tracks:

1. "Do Or Die"
2. "Icarus"
3. "Sweet Dreams"
4. "Fantasy"
5. "Breath Of Fire, Part 1 (A Speck Within A Speck)"
6. "Breath Of Fire, Part 2 (Alone In A Cosmos)"
7. "If You Please"
8. "Midnight Memories"
9. "Space Interlude"
10. "Oblivion"
11. "Space Reprise"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Ogden River Brewing (Ogden, Utah)
• Website: https://ogdenriverbrewing.com/
• Brew: Blasting Power Coffee Stout
• Style: Coffee Stout
• Serving: 32 ounce crowler can
• ABV: 5.0%
• IBUs: 40
• Ingredients: Galena and Hallertau hops with locally roasted coffee 
• Pour: The Blasting Power Coffee Stout pours a .
• Nose: The nose is roasty, earthy, chocolaty, malty, and rich.  There are aromas of dark roasted coffee beans, espresso, dark chocolate, cocoa, rich soil, toasted malts, and sweet toffee.
• Taste: The taste of the Blasting Power Coffee Stout follows the nose and is characterized by earthy, chocolaty, malty, and sweet flavors.  There are notes of dark roasted coffee, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, hearty bread, toasted biscuit, and sweet caramel and burnt toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full in body with low carbonation, the Blasting Power Coffee Stout's mouthfeel is velvety, somewhat thick, and smooth with a dry, slightly sweet finish.

Overall pairing: I paired "Dawn Explosion" with the Blasting Power Coffee Stout as a celebration of the music and the lives of Rhino and Lee Dorman, who both left us too soon.  The the Blasting Power Coffee Stout is a really earthy, chocolaty, and rich brew... perfect for kicking back on a cold winter day/night with the richness and complexity of Captain Beyond!  

Cheers!!