June 6th, 2023 - Cöld Fusion Singularity

 

Hello there music and craft beer fans!  The Meista here today pairing the seminal, debut album "Singularity" by English progressive rock band RAIN and tasty and crisp Cöld Fusion Kölsch Style Ale from Heber Valley Brewing Company!

Album Info:

• Artist: RAIN
• Title: "Singularity"
• Recorded: March through September 2020 at various locations and assembled at Grumpy's Shed Studios
• Release date: November 2020 (1st studio album by RAIN)
• Record company: Giant Electric Pea (GEP) Records
• Production: RAIN
• Album cover art: Matthew Bourne
• Personnel: Andy Edwards (drums and additional instruments), Rob Groucutt (guitars, keyboards, and vocals), John Jowitt (bass), and Mirron Webb (guitars and vocals)
• Musical style: Progressive rock with elements of jazz fusion
• Sound: Fully embracing their progressive rock roots, the players on this album present a collection of wonderfully crafted, inspired, and mesmerizing musical journeys. Although complex, the music is very melodic, engaging, and upbeat.  Of the album, drummer Andy Edwards stated: "This is the dream team as far as I am concerned - everyone is very talented but in different areas and so the whole is greater than the parts. And RAIN is pure prog too, no ifs or buts, it does everything it says on the tin. This album has been one of the easiest albums I have ever made, everyone loves what everyone else does, it's been a joy having all these ideas come in."
• Major themes: Life, isolation, loss, self-reflection, states of being, etc.
• Tracks:  

1. "Devils Will Reign"
2. "Dandelion"
3. "Walk Away"
4. "The Magician"
5. "Singularity"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Heber Valley Brewing Company (Heber City, Utah)
• Website: https://www.hebervalleybrewing.com/ 
• Brew: Cöld Fusion Kölsch Style Ale
• Style: German-style Kölsch
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 4.7%
• IBUs: 17
• Ingredients: Hallertau and Tettnang hops
• Pour: The Cöld Fusion pours a slightly hazy, straw yellow hue with a thin, bright white head that dissipates to a very thin ring with little lacing.
• Nose: The nose is grassy, crackery, and slightly hoppy.  There are aromas of fresh cut hay, summer grass, wildflowers, crackery biscuit, freshly baked sourdough bread, hints of pear and very light honey.
• Taste: The taste of the Cöld Fusion follows the nose with grassy, light malty, and noble hop flavors.  There are notes sourdough bread, cracked wheat, grassy hops, very soft caramel, and very light pear/apple. 
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium-bodied and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Cöld Fusion is very crisp, dry, and slightly bitter with a dry, clean finish.

Overall pairing: The Cöld Fusion Kölsch from Heber Valley Brewing is a wonderfully crisp, drinkable brew, perfect for the tasty proggie harmonies, and lyrics of RAIN's amazing debut album "Singularity"!  

Cheers!!