April 29th, 2022 - Experimenting With Zappa Hops In Joe's Garage

 

Hello and happy Friday!  Your drinkin' buddy the Meista here today pairing Frank Zappa's wonderful "Joe's Garage Act I." and a tart, tangy, and hoppy Zappa Hops Philly Sour IPA from the fine folks at Level Crossing Brewing Company in collaboration with CLS Farms!

Album Info:

• Artist: Frank Zappa
• Title: "Joe's Garage Act I."
• Recorded: March through June 1979 at Village Recorders "B" in Los Angeles, California
  Release date: September 17th, 1979 (28th album by Frank Zappa)
• Record company: Zappa Records
• Production: Frank Zappa
• Album cover art: Ferenc Dobronyi (design), Norman Seeff (photography), and John Williams (artwork)
• Personnel: Frank Zappa (guitar and vocals) with Arthur Barrow (bass, guitar, and vocals), Dale Bozzio (vocals), Vinnie Colaiuta (drums, combustible vapors, and optometric abandon), Warren Cuccurullo (rhythm guitar and vocals), Marginal Chagrin aka Earle Dumler (baritone saxophone), Jeff Hollie (tenor saxophone), Al Malkin (vocals), Ed Mann (percussion and vocals), Tommy Mars (keyboards), Patrick O'Hearn (bass), Stumuk aka Bill Nugent (bass saxophone), Craig Steward (harmonica), Denny Walley (slide guitar and vocals), Ike Willis (lead vocals), and Peter Wolf (keyboards)
• Musical style: Progressive rock, hard rock, rock and roll, blues rock, jazz, fusion, R&B, experimental rock
• Sound: Wow... how do you describe Zappa's sound??  Seriously?  It is wholly its own thing... compelling, humorous, wonderfully complex.  In a word... BRILLIANT!!
• Major themes: A concept album/rock opera, Zappa described "Joe's Garage as a "stupid little story about how the government is going to do away with music."  The songs examine individualism, free will, human sexuality, the music industry, invasive government oversight, censorship, religion, oppression, etc. 
• Tracks:   

1. "The Central Scrutinizer"
2. "Joe's Garage"
3. "Catholic Girls"
4. "Crew Slut"
5. "Fembot In A Wet T-Shirt"
6. "On The Bus"
7. "Why Does It Hurt When I Pee?"  
8. "Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up"
9. "Scrutinizer Postlude"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Level Crossing Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah) in collaboration with CLS Farms (Yakima, Washington)
• Website: http://www.levelcrossingbrewing.com/ 
• Brew: Zappa Hops Philly Sour IPA
• Style: Sour India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• IBUs: 42
• Ingredients: Philly Sour yeast, Zappa, Idaho Gem, and Cashmere hops, and Rahr North Star Pils, Weyermann Munich, Flaked Oats malts 
• Pour: The Zappa Hops pours a slightly hazy, bright yellow hue with a 1finger, bright white head with that dissipates to the thin ring with some sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by citrusy, tropical, tart, and slightly funky aromas.  There are notes of tangerine, tart lemon juice and zest, dried apricot, grapefruit juice, fresh pineapple, mango, white grape, and green tea.
• Taste: Following the nose, the taste of the Zappa Hops is a blend of citrusy and tropical hoppiness and sour flavors.  There are notes of tart lemon juice, tangy apricot, tart pineapple, tangerine, orange pith, soft mango, light peach, herbal tea, and an ever so slight hint of caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium-bodied and well-carbonated the mouthfeel is very tart and very crisp with a dry, lip puckering, yet slightly sweet finish.

Overall pairing: The tart, complex, and hoppy flavors of Level Crossing's Zappa Hops IPA makes for a nice companion to the brilliant insanity that is Zappa's "Joe's Garage"!   'Nuff said!

Cheers!!