February 27th, 2022 - Blows Against The Empire With Yuzu

 

Hello and happy Sunday!  Your drinking pal the Meista here today with a pairing of a tart and fruity Yuzulander Berliner Weisse from Melvin Brewing Company and "Blows Against The Empire" by Paul Kantner and Jefferson Starship!

Album Info:

• Artist: Paul Kantner and Jefferson Starship
• Title: "Blows Against The Empire" 
• Recorded: Summer and fall of 1970 at Pacific High Recording and Wally Heider Studios in San Francisco, California
• Release date: November 1970 (1st solo studio album by Paul Kantner)
• Record company: RCA Victor
• Production: Paul Kantner
• Album cover art: Paul Kantner (design) and CCCP (artwork)
• Personnel: Paul Kantner (vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, banjo, and bass machine) with Grace Slick (vocals and piano)
• Additional musicians: Harvey Brooks (bass on "Starship"), Jack Casady (bass on "A Child Is Coming" and "Sunrise"), Joey Covington (drums and vocals on "Mau Mau" and congas on "Hijack"), David Crosby (vocals and guitar on "A Child Is Coming" and "Have You Seen the Stars Tonite" and backing vocals on "Mau Mau" and "Starship"), David Freiberg (backing vocals on "Starship"), Jerry Garcia (banjo on "Let's Go Together" and "The Baby Tree", pedal steel guitar on "Have You Seen the Stars Tonite", sound effects and vocals on "XM", and lead guitar on "Starship"),  Mickey Hart (percussion on "Have You Seen the Stars Tonite" and sound effects and vocals on "XM"), Peter Kaukonen (lead guitar on "Mau Mau"), Bill Kreutzmann (drums on "Let's Go Together"), Graham Nash (congas on "Hijack", sound effects on "Home", backing vocals on "Starship"), and Phill Sawyer (sound effects on "Home" and "XM") 
• Musical style: Folk rock, progressive rock, acid rock, psychedelic rock 
• Sound: Blending mellow folk work with more progressive and psychedelic rock elements, the sound on "Blows Against The Empire" is akin to Katner's work with Jefferson Airplane.  It is upbeat, bright, hopeful, and filled with lots of wonderful melodies and hooks. 
• Major themes: A science fiction concept album about a group of hippies that want to steal a starship to escape oppression for "Uncle Samuel" and search of a new home in space, themes on the album include countercultural idealism, rebellion, revolution, life, unification, mind expansion, free love, peace, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Mau Mau (Amerikon)"
2. "The Baby Tree"
3. "Let's Go Together"
4. "A Child Is Coming"
5. "Sunrise"
6. "Hijack"
7. "Home"
8. "Have You Seen The Stars Tonite?"
9. "XM"
10. "Starship"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Melvin Brewing Company (Alpine, Wyoming)
• Website: http://www.melvinbrewing.com/ 
• Brew: Yuzulander
• Style: Berliner Weisse with Yuzu
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 4.0% 
• Pour: The Yuzulander pours a slightly cloudy golden yellow with a bright white, firm and billowy 2+ finger head with good retention and lacing.
• Nose: The nose is fruity, tart, and lightly grainy.  There are aromas of fresh yuzu, grapefruit rind, orange zest, lemon juice, and light wheat.
• Taste: The taste of the Yuzulander follows the nose with lot of tart and fruity flavors.  There are notes of yuzu juice, lemon juice, .
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium-bodied and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel is very crisp, tart, effervescent, yet smooth with a dry, clean finish. 

Overall pairing: The Yuzulander is a bright, tart, fruity, and crushable brew that wonderfully compliments the experimental rock and roll vibe of Mr. Katner and friends on "Blows Against The Empire"!  I also thought the album cover art and the label worked well together.  'Nuff said!

Cheers!!