December 18th, 2025 - When There's Trouble at Home, I Like to Hang a Silver Wreath

 

Hello, happy Friday and happy holidays rockers, rollers, music lovers, and craft beer fans of all styles!  The Meista here rocking out with a pairing of Silver Condor's excellent sophomore album "Trouble At Home" and a Silver Wreath Holiday Dopplebock Lager from the fine folks at Silver Reef Brewing Company!

Album Info:

• Artist: Silver Condor
• Title: "Trouble At Home"
• Recorded:  1983 at Cherokee Studio in Hollywood, California and Electric Lady Studios in New York City, New York
• Release date: 1983 (2nd studio album by Silver Condor)
• Record company: Columbia Records / CBS 
• Production: Joe Cerisano and Steve Plunkett 
• Album cover art: Welden Andersen (photography) and Galen Rowell (photography)
• Personnel: Kenny Aaronson (bass), Nick Brown (guitars), Joe Cerisano (lead vocals), Steve Goldstein (keyboards), Craig Krampf (drums and percussion), and Steve Plunkett (guitars and vocals) 
• Additional musicians: Clarence Clemons (tenor sax), Rick Derringer (guitar on "Thank God For Rock 'N' Roll"), Neal Schon (guitar on "Holdin' On (Barely)"), and Waddy Wachtel (guitar on "Goin' Out On The Town" and "I Stand Accused")
• Musical style: Hard rock, rock, AOR
• Sound: Straight-forward rock and roll with lots of great hooks, this album is a wonderfully underrated gem that every hard rocker needs in their collection!  The guest musicians alone make this album a must, let alone the incredible musicianship and songwriting of the band!
• Major themes: Life, love, loss, nightlife, partying, , etc.
• Tracks:  

1. "Trouble At Home"
2. "Dear Abby"
3. "Goin' Out On The Town"
4. "Good Lovin' Don't Come Easy"
5. "I Stand Accused"
6. "Thank God For Rock 'N' Roll"
7. "When A Man Loves A Woman" (Percy Sledge cover)
8. "Turn Back The Big Machine"
9. "Holdin' On (Barely)"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Silver Reef Brewing Company (St. George, Utah)
• Website: https://sgbev.com/
• Brew: Silver Wreath Holiday Dopplebock Lager
• Style: Bock / Doppelbock 
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 7.5%
• IBUs: 23
• Pour: The Silver Wreath pours a murky bronze-amber hue with a 1-finger, light beige, creamy head with good retention and sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is malty, bready, slightly fruity, and slightly sweet.  There are aromas of freshly baked bread, freshly milled barley, dark fruits (plum and raisin), and burnt toffee.
• Taste: The taste of the Silver Wreath follows the nose with robust malty, bready, and sweet flavors.  There are notes of doughy and hearty bread, barley, light plum, soft raisin, a hint of cocoa, and sweet toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Silver Wreath is thick and hearty, yet crisp and smooth with a dry, slightly sweet and slightly boozy finish.

Overall pairing: The well-balanced flavors of the Silver Wreath Holiday Dopplebock Lager from Silver Reef Brewing Company work wonderfully well with the rock and roll punch of Silver Condor's underrated "Trouble At Home" album!  The robust flavors and aromas are great for the overall rockin' feel of the album, while the sweeter flavors mingle well with vocal harmonies and soaring guitars!  

Make sure to check out my interview with legendary Silver Condor guitarist Steve Plunkett here: https://youtu.be/mybn48_8ESM !

Cheers!!  Rock on!!