May 4th, 2014 - Mosaic In The Night

Afternoon friends!  The Meista here with another rockin' pairing for ya... a Terrapin Mosaic Red Rye India Pale Ale (IPA) from Terrapin Beer Company outta Athens, Georgia and the quintessential UFO live album "Strangers In The Night"!!  Hell yeah!!

Recorded in autumn 1978 at shows in Chicago, Illinois and Louisville, Kentucky, the "Strangers In The Night" double live album was released in January of 1979.  With the classic lineup of Phil Mogg (vocals), Michael Schenker (lead guitar), Paul Raymond (rhythm guitar and keyboards), Pete Way (bass), and Andy Parker (drums), LAYS IT DOWN!  It is rumored that Schenker refused to record any overdubs for the album (which was very common place for live albums in the '70s and '80s due to diminished sound of the technology at the time).  Here's the AMAZING set list:

1. "Hot 'n' Ready" (Schenker/Mogg) – 3:26
2. "Cherry" (Way/Mogg) – 3:44
3. "Let It Roll" (Schenker/Mogg) – 4:48
4. "Love to Love" (Schenker/Mogg) – 7:58
5. "Natural Thing" (Schenker/Mogg/Way) – 3:57
6. "Out in the Street" (Way/Mogg) – 5:07
7. "Only You Can Rock Me" (Way/Schenker/Mogg) – 4:08
8. "Mother Mary" (Schenker/Mogg/Way/Parker) – 3:25
9. "This Kid's" (Schenker/Mogg) – 5:11
10. "Doctor Doctor" (Schenker/Mogg) – 4:42
11. "I'm a Loser" (Schenker/Mogg) – 4:13
12. "Lights Out" (Schenker/Mogg/Parker/Way) – 5:09
13. "Rock Bottom" (Schenker/Mogg) – 11:22
14. "Too Hot to Handle" (Way/Mogg) – 4:26
15. "Shoot Shoot" (Schenker/Mogg/Way/Parker) – 4:07

I thought "Strangers In The Night" needed an artisan brew of the same enormous character, something that is both complex and aggressive... just like UFO!   The Terrapin Mosaic Red Rye IPA pours a beautiful orange-cooper/ruby red with a thin tan head.  The nose is a nice balance of maltiness and hoppiness with the hoppy aromas being a little more prevalent.  There are aromas of freshly baked rye bread, cracked wheat, soft caramel, and big, bitter hop notes.  Brewed with 100% Mosaic™ hops and rye malt, the Terrapin Mosaic Red Rye IPA is marked by big rye and hop flavors.  There are notes of dark baked bread, peppery rye, light caramel, and citrusy (lemon and grapefruit) hops.  Coming in at 6.2% ABV, the Terrapin Mosaic Red Rye IPA is big, but not too big and the sweet malt notes give it a nice mellowing finish that hides the boozier notes well.  This is definitely a great beer to go with the massive sound of UFO's "Strangers In The Night"!!

Cheers!!