July 28th, 2012 - Balanced Saison

Hey there fellow beer drinkers and head bangers!  The Meista here with another pairing for you... this one goes out to my brother, Dain (and was actually his suggestion) and to Cody D. from Maximum Distortion.  Today I am pairing Van Halen's 1995 album, "Balance" with Ovila Saison, a collaborative ale made by Sierra Nevada and the monks from the Abbey of New Clairvaux.  The driving motif here is "balance," both with the beer and with the album.  A quote from my brother regarding this pairing: "I immediately thought of the first track "The Seventh Seal," which actually starts out with some chanting monks! You can talk about the "balance" between the malty, caramel flavors, and the spicy undertones or some such bullshit...lol!"  So let's get cracking on the bullshit, shall we?

Those clever brewers at Sierra Nevada decided to get together with some equally clever monks and come up with a tasty ale for clever brew aficionados (and not so clever beer freaks like myself.)  :)  The result: the Ovila Saison.  Saison is French for "season."  Saisons are traditionally low alcohol, seasonal, refreshing, pale ales that were made for the French-speaking farmer workers in Belgium during the hot, long days of the harvest.  Modern day saisons tend to be higher in alcohol content (especially in the U.S.) as they are bottle conditioned; the Ovila comes in at 7.0% ABV.  It pours a peachy amber with a nice, 1-finger frothy head.  The nose is floral with notes of warm and aromatic spices and a hint of citrus.  With a wonderful blend of malts, sublte hops, and spices, the Ovila is a flavorful saison with notes of green grass, sweet fruit, caramel, and an underlying dry spiciness.   The balance of these complex flavors and notes is really quite astonishing... and refreshing!  It is very smooth, very drinkable, and goes down easy with a very clean finish.

"Balance" is the last great album by Van Halen in my humble opinion, which is sad considering it was released 17 years ago.  It is also the last album Sammy Haggar would record with the band.  With an almost pop sensibility to their approach on this album, Sammy, Michael and the Van Halen brothers created a well-balanced, well-layered, and complex rocker with "Balance."  Songs like opener, "The Seventh Seal" and "Don't Tell Me (What Love Can Do)," "Amsterdam," "Big Fat Money," and "Feelin'" are straight-ahead rocking monsters while "Can't Stop Lovin' You," "Not Enough," "Aftershock," and "Take Me Back (Deja Vu)" are nice, upbeat pop/rock tracks.  Eddie's solo on "Not Enough" is one of my favorites of his... not just on this album, but as a career piece.  And then there's the very cool instrumental piece, "Baluchitherium" where Eddie's tone and guitar mastery really shine.  The musicianship and sound production on this album is top-notch and the song placement flows well and is extremely well-balanced... perfect for the Ovila Saison's complex and multi-layerd flavors on a hot summer's day!

So enough of my "bullshit" beer babble... go get an Ovila Saison of your own, throw on some Van Halen "Balance," and experience the might and balance yourself of this beer and this band!  Cheers... happy weekend!!

July 27th, 2012 - Spine Tyngling Tygers In Nottingham!

Good evening true beer believers!  It is Friday night and you know what that means... another beer and metal pairing from yours truly, the Meista!  Tonight I'm pairing MacTarnahan's Brewing Company's Spine Tingler Golden Belgian-Style Triple Ale and the Tygers of Pan Tang's "Live at Nottingham Rock City." I paired these two bad boys for one simple reason... high energy!

With a frothy head, the Spine Tingler Golden Belgian-Style Triple pours a light golden amber hue.  The nose is fruity and floral with notes of sour apple, banana, exotic spice, and vanilla.  Being a Triple, the Spine Tingler comes in at 8.5% ALC with big flavor.  A little boozy, the flavor is sharp, crisp, and sour... like biting into a green apple... a green apple that bites back!  With a higher carbonation content and that ALC kick, the Spine Tingler truly is a spine tingling experience.  If you could categorize a beer as having high energy... this would be such a beer.  It makes you want to move! 

Along with my usual diet of power metal, thrash, and death, I've been listening to a lot of NWOBHM bands' albums as of late: Angel Witch, Diamond Head, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Pentagram, Tygers of Pan Tang, Witchfinder General, etc.  One album that has always stood out for me is Tygers of Pan Tang's "Live at Nottingham Rock City," which was recorded in the Spring of 1981 during their "Spellbound" tour, but not released until 2001.  I found this little gem at a music store in Tempe, Arizona one week after 9/11.  What I love about this album is the high energy of the band and colossal onslaught of sound... especially considering that the entire band had come down with the flu (apart from guitarist John Sykes.)  As sick as they apparently were, you would have had no idea... this is powerful, fast-paced rock and roll ecstasy with bite!  Singer Jon Deverill (who had replaced original singer Jesse Cox) is at the top of his game, delivering energetic and powerful vocals.  The rhythm section of Brian Dick (drums) and Rocky (bass) is a driving, pounding, and precise force.  The guitar work of the legendary John Sykes (later to join Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, and form Blue Murder) and Robb Weir is stunning to say the least!  Sykes signature vibrato is wonderful... check him out on "Mirror"... breathtaking.  The tracks are high energy, intense, fast, and a blast to listen to... especially with brew in hand!  The Tygers whip the crowd into a frenzy with tracks like "Take It," "Rock and Roll Man," Tyger Bay," "Euthanasia," "Silver and Gold," "Hellbound," and my favorite, "Insanity"... "Do you know... do you know what it's like to lose your mind?" Deverill asks the crowd.  Wow, what a fantastic, high energy live album!  Sadly, within a year, this incarnation of the band would cease to exist.  But at least we have this wonderful live album to seal them in time as one of the great NWOBHM performing bands.

If you are looking for some high-octane beer and metal, I highly suggest checking out Spine Tingler Golden Belgian-Style Triple from MacTarnahan's and Tygers of Pan Tang, but stick with their earlier work... faster and heavier for sure!  Cheers!!

July 21st, 2012 - A Beer For The Feathered King

Hello Brewvians and Tunevians! The Meista here with another metal and beer pairing for you. Tonight I am pairing Vacant Throne's forthcoming album "Fall of the Feathered King" and Gulden Draak Ale by Van Steenberge Brewery in Belgium.

Every now and again something comes along that really grabs your attention and speaks to you on a personal, emotional, intellectual, and (sonically) aesthetic level. Vacant Throne's new album "Fall of the Feathered King" is just such a gem!  Based out of Denver, Colorado, this is Vacant Throne's first full-length album and it is a courageous undertaking. As an album based on the 16^th Century Spanish conquest of the Aztecs, "Fall of the Feathered King" is a concept album, but each track conveys its own story, its own intensity and stand-alone conception. In the tradition of Iron Maiden, Hammerfall, Iced Earth, and Blind Guardian, Vacant Throne is pure power metal - fast, powerful, multi-layered, and intelligent, both lyrically and musically. The guitar work by Josh Mortensen (lead) and Chris Mauro (rhythm/synth) is fantastic - fast, precise, and bombastic. The rhythm section of Reginald Handy (bass) and Frank Candelario (drums) is powerful and driving, like a marching army at times and a stampeding herd of wild horses when things really pick up. Jason Mortensen's vocals are soaring and emotional.  I'm reminded a little of Angel Witch's Kevin Heybourne or a sprinkling of Jesse Cox of Tygers of Pan Tang, but Mortensen brings a very unique sound and a powerful range to his vocal delivery.  There is even an almost Gothic and theatrical element to his approach.  From "The Jaguar Knight" to the finale, "Genocide," each track is meticulously crafted.   "Sacraficial Prisoner" is a soaring Hammerfall-esque rocker as is  "Harsh Empire".  "Burning Skies" has an almost early Judas Priest flavor to the music with elements of early thrash.  "Voyage to the New World" could easily be an Iron Maiden track, a pure power metal track of intensity and depth.  I think my favorite track might be "The Return of Quetazalcoatl" with its thunderous drums, soaring guitar work, and interesting signature changes.  Josh's solo at the 6 1/2 minute mark is a power metal fan's wet dream.  :)  But then again "Genocide" is simply breathtaking!  Guest vocalist John Yelland (Disforia) really adds to the sonic delivery and the guitar work is absolutely stunning.  Every track on this album is just a joy to listen to time and time again!  So if you are a power metal or prog-metal fan or just a fan of metal in general, check these guys out!  Wonderful stuff!! Their album comes out August 4th, 2012.

http://www.vacantthrone.com

http://www.facebook.com/vacantthrone
http://www.youtube.com/vacantthrone

The trick with pairing music and beer comes down to several key factors: intensity of flavor vs. intensity of sound, style of beer vs. style of music, and mood and perception vs. actualisation.  In pairing "Fall of the Feathered King" I decided to go with something intensely flavorful and dramatic to really emphasize the powerhouse that is Vacant Throne... thus the Gulden Draak Ale.  The creamy head the Gulden Draak is definitely sustained and thick with very strong lacing.  The aroma is malty, sweet, and swirls with notes of banana, nutmeg, and apple.  It pours a very dark amber/caramel color.  Coming in at 10.5% alcohol, this is a big beer.  You can definitely taste the booziness, but it is well balanced.  Full-bodied for a Belgium, it has a big kick initially, but finishes clean.  The Gulden Draak Ale is another one of those "sippers" in my book, which is perfect for an album such as "Fall of the Feathered King," which demands that you sit your ass down and make special attention of every cymbal crash, every scream, every note!

Cheers my friends!!  Enjoy a craft beer tonight, enjoy some rockin' music, and be good to one another!  -The Meista

July 15th, 2012 - Hefe Stomper

The Meista here pairing some local color today: Utah's very own Uinta Brewing Company's Golden Spike Hefeweizen and power trio, the Krypled and their album, "Rondragon And The Griffin."

Admittedly, I'm not usually a huge Hefeweizen consumer, but on a hot day... very refreshing.  And that definitely goes for Uinta's version, which is a long-time staple of the Utah beer family.    The Golden Spike Hefeweizen pours a beautiful, cloudy amber with a thin, white head that leaves nice lacing.  Subtle in nose and flavor, the Golden Spike is a very drinkable, very smooth brew with notes of sourdough bread, citrus, and malt.  It goes down easy and has a nice, clean finish.

"Rondragon And The Griffin" opens with the very cool, very rocking "Waffle Stomper."  Front man Jeff Mondragon's guitar work and powerful vocals really drive this song, but that is not to say that the powerhouse rhythm section of Brent Davis on bass and Paul Griffin on drums aren't impactful... these guys are pros and crazy talented!  We then move into the very odd, but very cool "Black Oz," with its almost psychedelic sound and cool signature changes.  That's one thing that prevails throughout their music - cool signature changes, which makes them very refreshing and "drinkable" in the local metal scene.  "Cookie Monster Syndrome" and "Big Bad Truck" are humorous, rocking numbers and "Z-4" really highlights the musicianship of the band.  They do a really nice version of the Scorpion's "The Sails of Charon" as well on this album.  The Krypled approach their playing with fun, passion, and intensity.  As much as I like this album, nothing beats seeing them live.   That sense of fun, passion, and intensity is multiplied by 10 when they hit the stage... especially in Jeff's humor and antics.

Check out the Krypled at http://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/pages/The-Krypled/243451582369867 and make sure you pick up a copy of their cd from them or from Kevin down at the Heavy Metal Shop... then pick up a sixer of Golden Spike Hefeweizen, kick back, and enjoy!

Cheers!  -The Meista

July 15th, 2012 - A Killer's Tilted Smile

Hello!  The Meista here with another "killer" pairing for you... Uinta Brewing Company's Tilted Smile Imperial Pilsner (part of their Crooked Line specialty beers) and my pal Eddie and his tilted and crooked grin from the 1981 Iron Maiden album, "Killers."  Oh, and this is the 1995 extended version of the album with a bonus disc featuring live tracks from Kosei Nenkin Hall in Nagoya, Japan and two b-side tracks, "Women In Uniform" and "Invasion."  I'm pairing these two beauties for several reasons: a) both are ass-kickers, "Killers" for its sonic assault and the Tilted Smile for its huge flavor (and alcohol content).  b) both are masterpieces of their respected industries.  c) both employ rich, complex, and intense approaches to delivery and flavor.  d) did I mention that they both kick ass?  :)

In the early 1980s Iron Maiden (along with several other NWOBHM bands) completely changed the face of music and redefined the metal genre.  "Killers," the bands sophomore album was the first Maiden album I purchased and still gives me goosebumps to this day with every listen.  Pre-Dickinson era, "Killers" is a bit more raw in style and production (which I like), but it still has that Maiden signature sound (thunderous drums, melodic and fast guitar work, and that stampeding bass guitar.)  And it offers classic Maiden tracks like opener, "The Ides of March," the rockers, "Wrathchild," "Murders In The Rue Morgue," and of course, the title track, "Killers."  But there are also some other "hidden" gems on this album like "Another Life," "Genghis Khan," and "Purgatory" with their blistering, face-melting speed... and also the wonderful "Prodigal Son" with its beautiful guitar intro.  If you are a metal-head and do not own this album, I seriously question your metal credentials.  :)

Uinta Brewing Company's Tilted Smile Imperial Pilsner is for all intents and purposes... a beast!  There's a good reason the innocent looking character on the bottle has a "tilted" smile.  She knows that the illusion of it being a Pilsner and what's actually inside is going to smack you right in the face!  Oh, she's a sly one alright... but very tasty!  The aromas are subtle, somewhat citrusy with a bit of a bicuitty scent.  Fully loaded with Saaz hops, there's an almost grassy flavor on the front end, but the malts are big and flavorful (especially for a Pilsner) with a somewhat boozy kick (the hatchet behind the back if you will).    The Tilted Smile is crisp and refreshing - drinks almost like an IPA, but without the hoppy bitterness.  A really good, solid brew... perfect for a hot, summer day with Maiden's "Killers" cranked up to the maximum!!

Cheers!!  -The Meista

July 14th, 2012 - A Rustic Heritage

Today finds me in me a bit of a pensive mood and what better way to approach this pensiveness than by pairing the genius that is Opeth and their latest album, "Heritage" with Bootlegger's Brewery's Rustic Rye IPA!

Departing a bit from their death metal leanings, Opeth's "Heritage" is a truly remarkable and progressive rock album.  The musicianship is top-notch, the lyrics deep and brooding.  There are a multitude of layers to this album - beauty, darkness, melancholia, intensity, passion, and subtlety.  The song "I Feel The Dark" alone captures all of these emotions... and more!  Other favorites on the album: "The Devil's Orchard," "Slither" (a Rainbow-esque tribute to Ronnie James Dio, "Famine," "The Lines In My Hand," and "Folklore."  Hell, the whole album is fantastic!!  Mikael Akerfeldt and his brethren really have created an amazing piece of work with "Heritage."

Combining the complexities of the spiciness of rye, and the sweetness and bitter/tart properties of north western American hops, The Bootlegger's Rustic Rye IPA is a refreshing and flavorful, well-balanced beer.  The nose is very floral, but not overpowering as the rye aroma hides in the background.  It pours a lovely amber color with a good, sustained head with pronounced lacing.  Unlike most rye IPAs that I have had, Bootlegger's Rustic Rye IPA is a bit more subtle in flavor, both in the spiciness of the rye and the bitter hoppiness of the hops, but I think that works just fine in pairing with "Heritage."  I wanted something a little less astringent, a little less pronounced to really emphasize the complexities of the music instead.  Not to say that this isn't a flavorful beer mind you!  It definitely is good drinking, but is a bit better balanced and more mellow than many rye IPAs I've encountered as of late.

Check out Bootlegger's Brewery at http://www.bootleggersbrewery.com and if you are a metal fan, prog-rock fan, or just a fan of complex and dark music in general, do yourself a favor and go buy Opeth's "Heritage"... today!!  And make sure you purchase the extended version of the album with the bonus material!  Cheers... good drinking and rocking to you!!

-The Meista

July 13th, 2012 - Black Country Stout Communion

Good evening and happy Friday the 13th everyone!  The Meista here... tonight I thought I would go bold - a doubly whammy of Black Country Communion albums and Epic Brewing Company's 825 Stout, part of their Elevated Series.  Truthfully, I love both of Black Country Communion's albums and could not decide which to pair with the 825 Stout so I thought, "what the hell... pair them both!"  And the 825 Stout is a good "sipper" that deserves some heavy rocking with longevity.



The 825 Stout is smooth, velvety, and chocolaty... so what better pairing than the bold, rich flavor of Glenn Hughes amazing and soulful voice and bass work, Joe Bonamassa's wonderful guitar work and distinct and smooth voice, Derek Sherinian's blistering keys, and Jason Bonham's thunderous and brutal drumming?  There's a nice organic nose to the 825 and the flavors are coffee, maple, and roasted barley.  This full-bodied stout is rich and smooth like a good mocha.  It goes down smooth and has a nice finish.

Both Black Country Communion albums are rich, complex, and bold with a sound like early 1970's hard rock in the style of Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple, yet there is a freshness to the musical voice that is very rare these days.  Essentially a "super group," the members of Black Country Communion bring their own unique styles to both albums (mostly written by Hughes), yet they mesh in a beautiful and organic way as if having played together for years and years.  Between these two albums there are so many amazing, brilliant, rocking songs... I don't even know where to start.  "Black Country Communion" hits you from the first bass note on "Black Country" on through "The Great Divide," "Beggarman," the cover of Trapeze's "Medusa," and the epic "Too Late For The Sun."  And then... "Black Country Communion 2" is just as amazing, just as deep, just as rich with songs like "The Outsider," "Save Me," "Smokestack Woman," the slow, but heavy bluesy "Little Secret," and the amazing finale, "Cold."

If you are a fan of a good, solid, no-frills stout, grab a bottle of Epic's 825 Stout and check out Epic online at www.epicbrewing.com.  And if you love good old-fashioned hard rock (especially when fronted by the amazing Glenn Hughes) like I do, hit up the Heavy Metal Shop (www.heavymetalshop.com) for either or both of the Black Country Communion's albums... and tell Kevin that Victor sent ya!

July 13th, 2012 - Fischbox Sends Cheers From The UK

Fischbox reporting live from England.. Sitting in a pub working my way across the tap heads.. Its dirty work but I am committed. I'd like to pair these lovely beers and cider with something rocking and inspiring but I'm immersed in a ca...cophony of football (err.. soccer) banter of which I understand mostly the curse words and something about Manchester being shite.. so yeah, it's a bit like Rage Against the Machine's debut album except there's a tad less self- immolation thankfully...

The Suffolk Blonde is thus far my choice date for the evening.. (although earlier a tour bus dropped off 20 pre-lubricated lasses for a few hours and they were as much fun to watch as a Mini Cooper full of monkeys with syringes).

The Suffolk Blonde is a local lager.. Light, crisp, 5.2% with a floral waft that was rather appreciated amongst a crowd of tour bus enhanced estrogen fumes.

I suspect I will devolve back to Guinness shortly as I haven't had dinner and as they say.. "There's a pork chop in every pint! ". Guinness is thick like a meal and mom taught me to never go to bed without dinner.

Cheers from the UK. May all your syringes be filled with glitter and gasoline... Or maybe penicillin if you find yourself trapped in that Mini Cooper..

±Fischbox

June 29th, 2012 - This Strange Beer Engine

I had the great pleasure of seeing Marillion live at the Fillmore in San Francisco!! 

Here's the setlist to the show: 29 June 2012
The Fillmore, San Francisco, USA

Splintering Heart
Cover My Eyes (Pain and Heaven)
... Slainte Mhath
The Other Half
Fantastic Place
The Great Escape
Afraid of Sunlight
Easter
Power
King
Sugar Mice
Man of a Thousand Faces
Neverland
The Invisible Man
This Strange Engine
Happiness is the Road

And my pre-show pairing was as follows: 1. Stone's Arrogant Bastard 2. Ninkasi's Tricerahops Double IPA 3. Leffe Blonde. I feel these were the perfect blends of flavor, crispness, hoppiness, and Belgian spice to prepare for the profundity, depth, and joy that was the Marillion show at the Fillmore!! Cheers!! (The Meista)