January 17th, 2024 - Sussed Out & Looking In

 

Good evening rockers, rollers and craft brew freaks!  Your buddy the Meista here tonight getting heavy with a pairing of a peppery and tasty Suss It Out Rye India Pale Ale from Level Crossing Brewing Company and "Looking In", the stellar 6th album by hard rockin' blues legends Savoy Brown!

Album Info:

• Artist: Savoy Brown
• Title: "Looking In" 
• Recorded: 1970
• Release date: November 1970 (6th studio album by Savoy Brown)
• Record company: Decca Records / Parrot Records
• Production: Kim Simmonds
• Album cover art: David Anstey and Jim Baikie
• Personnel: Roger Earl (drums), Lonesome Dave Peverett (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Kim Simmonds (lead guitar and piano), and Tone Stevens (bass)
• Additional musician: Owen Finnegan (congas)
• Musical style: Heavy blues with elements of hard rock, pop rock, and a little psychedelic rock
• Sound: Blending heavy blues with more straightforward rock and roll, the sound on "Looking In" is a testament of the musical prowess, vision, and depth of Simmonds and the Savoy Brown boys!  As with all Savoy Brown albums, Simmonds guitar work is truly inspiring while the rest of the band lays down some bittersweet and soulful grooves.
• Major themes: Life, sorrow, greed, loss, the blues, etc.
• Interesting note: Other than Simmonds, all other band members left to form Foghat in 1971.
• Tracks: 

1. "Gypsy"
2. "Poor Girl"
3. "Money Can't Save Your Soul"
4. "Sunday Night"
5. "Looking In"
6. "Take It Easy"
7. "Sitting An' Thinking"
8. "Leavin' Again"
9. "Romanoff"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Level Crossing Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://levelcrossingbrewing.com/
• Brew: Suss It Out Rye India Pale Ale
• Style: American India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 6.9%
• IBUs: 69
• Ingredients: Simcoe, Citra, and Mosaic hops; Briess Pale Ale, Mecca Grade Estate Rye, Flaked Rye, Caramel Rye, Solstice Red Wheat, and Honey Malts
• Pour: The Suss It Out pours clear, deep copper-amber with a frothy, 1-finger, off-white head with great retention and lots of sticky and intricate lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by citrusy, resinous, earthy, and spice notes.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, tangerine peel, pine resin, berries, peppery rye bread, herbal tea, and a hint of honey.
• Taste: Hop-forward, the taste of the Suss It Out is citrusy, peppery, malty, and herbal.  There are notes of freshly baked rye bread, pink grapefruit, tangerine, black tea, black pepper, and light toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel is crisp, yet a little oily and sticky with a dry, peppery, and slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The Level Crossing Suss It Out is a hoppy, peppery, and tasty brew with a midrange ABV that gives it a little kick... perfect for the hard rockin' blues of the mighty Savoy Brown!  Those spicy rye notes really amplify the heavy-duty guitar work of on all the album's tracks!  'Nuff said!

Make sure to check out my interview with Pat DeSalvo and Garnet Grimm of Savoy Brown here: https://youtu.be/I-sMLy25tB0.  And check out my interview with Roger Earl here: https://youtu.be/BXZslwvZFfI.

Cheers!!