January 7th, 2021 - Don't You Eat That Yellow Snow... Drink It!

 

Good evening!  The Meista here pairing Frank Zappa's pivotal and wildly fun "Apostrophe (')" and a crisp, refreshing, and tasty Yellow Snow Pilsner from Rogue Ales!  It's strictly commercial!

Album Info: 

• Artist: Frank Zappa
• Title: "Apostrophe (')"
• Recorded: 1969 through January 1974 at Electric Lady Studios in New York, New York, Bolic Sound in Inglewood, California, and Paramount Studios in Hollywood, California  
  Release date: March 22nd, 1974 (18th studio album by Frank Zappa)
• Record company: DiscReet / Ryko 
• Production: Frank Zappa  
• Album cover art: Mark Aalyson (photography) and Ferenc Dobronyi (design)
• Personnel: Frank Zappa (lead vocals, lead guitar, bass, and bouzouki) with Napoleon Murphy Brock (saxophone and backing vocals), Jack Bruce (bass and cello on "Apostrophe'"), Robert "Frog" Camarena (backing vocals), Ray Collins (backing vocals), Erroneous aka Alex Dmochowski (bass), George Duke (keyboards and backing vocals), Aynsley Dunbar (drums on "Uncle Remus" and "Stink-Foot"), Tony Duran (rhythm guitar), Bruce Fowler (trombone), Tom Fowler (bass), Don "Sugarcane" Harris (violin), Sue Glover (backing vocals), Jim Gordon (drums on "Apostrophe"), Johnny Guerin (drums on "Excentrifugal Forz"), Ralph Humphrey (drums), Sal Marquez (trumpet), Kerry McNabb (backing vocals), Jean-Luc Ponty (violin), Linda Sims (backing vocals), Tina Turner (backing vocals), Ian Underwood (saxophone), Ruth Underwood (percussion), and Debbie Wilson (backing vocals)
• Musical style: Progressive rock, hard rock, jazz fusion, art rock  
• Sound: The album's instrumental title track, "Apostrophe (')" is an all-time favorite Zappa track of mine...  it has a nice kick, but grooves!  That can be said of much of the album.  Songs like "St. Alfonzo's Pancake Breakfast," "Father O'Blivion," "Cosmik Debris," "Uncle Remus," and "Stink Foot" all are musical complexities of sarcastic humor, social critique, and unparalleled delivery and skill.  If you don't own any Zappa, this is definitely a good starting point! 
• Major themes: The fist half of the album is a concept of sorts about a dream Zappa had where he was an Eskimo named Nanook.  Themes on the album include snow eating advice, revenge, theft, pancakes, rebellion, anti-mysticism, anti-religion, racism, etc.
• Notes: The album became his biggest commercial success and includes his first ever chart single "Don't Eat The Yellow Snow."
• Tracks:   

1. "Don't Eat The Yellow Snow"
2. "Nanook Rubs It"
3. "St. Alfonzo's Pancake Breakfast"
4. "Father O'Blivion"
5. "Cosmik Debris"
6. "Excentrifugal Forz"
7. "Apostrophe'"
8. "Uncle Remus"
9. "Stink-Foot"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Rogue Ales ()
• Website: http://www.rogue.com/ 
• Brew: Yellow Snow
• Style: Pilsner 
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 5.5%
• IBUs: 19
• Ingredients: Weyerman Pilsner and Carabelge malts with Perle and Sterling hops, Alaskan spruce tips, Czech Pils yeast and free range coastal water 
• Pour: The Yellow Snow pours a hazy golden yellow/orange with a bright white, 1-finger head with good retention and soapy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is grainy, piney, earthy, and slightly fruity.  There are aromas of hay, grassy hops, cereal grains, spruce, cedar, orange zest, lemon, light honey, light caramel. 
• Taste: Following the nose, the taste of the Yellow Snow is grainy, herbal, fruity, citrusy, and slightly sweet.  There are notes of light citrus, crackery biscuit, grassy hops, a hint of honey, and light pine.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium in body and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel is very crisp, smooth and  with a dry, clean finish.

Overall pairing: Zappa's sharp and irreverent lyrics, his biting humor, and his multi-layered compositions deserve a beer that compliments with subtly and good flavor!  The Rogue Yellow Snow is crushably crisp and characterized by grainy, piney, and slightly fruity flavors and aromas... perfect for an evening of zany, complicated, and thought-provoking Zappa good fun!

Cheers!