December 23rd, 2021 - A Cold Manipulator

 

Good evening metal maniacs and hop-heads!  The Meista here tonight pairing "Manipulator", the great debut album of California metal band Tyranny and a punchy and crisp Cold IPA from Bewilder Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Tyranny
• Title: "Manipulator"
• Recorded: 1987 at Perspective Sound in Sun Valley, California 
• Release date: October 15th, 1987 (1st studio album by Tyranny)
• Record company: JCI Records / Canyon Records
• Production: Robert Mirabilio
• Album cover art: Hipgnosis 
• Personnel: Matt "Wolf" Chazin (drums), Zack Dillon (bass), J.P. Iacoune (guitars), and Robert Mirabilio (keyboards and vocals) 
• Additional musicians: Billy Aylesworth (songwriting), Gary Timmons (guitars), and Paul Vanalstyne (bass) 
• Musical style: Heavy metal, hard rock
• Sound: Blending pure old school heavy metal and hard rock with classic rock, progressive rock, and even a dash of punk, Tyranny's sound is very unique and complex, yet provides some really straightforward rockin' goodness!  Mirabilio's excellent finger work on the keys is reminiscent of Jon Lord and Ken Hensley.
• Major themes: Manipulation, deception, rock and roll, destruction, power, freedom, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Toxic Wastelands"
2. "Addict"
3. "Tyranny"
4. "Manipulator"
5. "Rock The World"
6. "Living Your Way"
7. "Doctor Deceiver"
8. "Echo Away From Here"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Bewilder Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://bewilderbrewing.com/
• Brew: Cold IPA 
• Style: American India Pale Ale (IPA) / India Pale Lager (IPL) / Brut IPA
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 7.0%
• IBUs: 60
• Ingredients: Centennial, Motueka, and Enigma hops with corn and lager yeast
• Pour: The Cold IPA pours a clear, golden yellow hue with a frothy, bright white head with good retention and sticky lacing.
• Nose: The nose is grainy, floral, grassy, and resinous.  There are aromas of crackery biscuit, grassy hops, pine resin, and a hint of soft caramel.
• Taste: Combining elements of a West Coast IPA, IPL, and a Brut IPA, the taste of the Cold IPA is hoppy, grainy, and  with moderate bitterness.  There are notes of crackery biscuit, light pine, and minerals.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel is very crisp and refreshing with a dry, slightly bitter, yet clean finish.

Overall pairing: The Bewilder Cold IPA is a delightfully crisp and punchy brew... a great beer for the wonderful rock and roll sensibility of the very underrated Tyranny and their killer debut album, "Manipulator"!  'Nuff said!     

Cheers and hails!!

And make sure to check out my interview with Robert Mirabilio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqvPJDrOO6U