Thursday, January 1, 2015

January 1st, 2015 - Fresh Pliney For The Elder Statesmen



Good evening!  Your pal the Meista here launching 2015 artisan beer and music pairings with some old favorites of mine... "Fresh Cream" by the ultimate power trio, Cream and a Pliny The Elder from Russian River Brewing Company!

Album Info:
  • Artist: Cream
  • Title: "Fresh Cream"
  • Recorded: July through October 1966 at the Rayrik Studios and the Ryemuse Studios in London, England
  • Release date: December 9th, 1966 (debut album by the band)
  • Record company: Atco
  • Personnel: Ginger Baker (drums, percussion, and vocals), Jack Bruce (lead vocals, bass, and harmonica), and Eric Clapton (guitars and vocals)
  • Major themes: The album is evenly split between self-penned original song and standard blues covers.  Themes of the original tracks include joy, love, sleep, and freedom
  • Musical style: Heavy hard rockin' blues/psychedelic rock
  • Sound: HEAVY  ('nuff said!)
  • Tracks:
  1. "I Feel Free"
  2. "N.S.U."
  3. "Sleepy Time Time"
  4. "Dreaming"
  5. "Sweet Wine"
  6. "Cat's Squirrel"
  7. "Four Until Late"
  8. "Rollin' And Tumblin'"
  9. "I'm So Glad"
  10. "Toad"
  Brew Info:
  • Brewery: Russian River Brewing Company
  • Website: http://russianriverbrewing.com/
  • Brew: Pliny The Elder
  • Style: American Double India Pale Ale (DIPA)/ Imperial IPA
  • Serving: 22 ounce bottle
  • ABV: 8%
  • Original gravity: 1.070
  • Ingredients: Amarillo, Centennial, CTZ, and Simcoe hops
  • Pour: Light copper/straw gold with a big, billowy white head that displays excellent and sustained lacing throughout
  • Nose: Like sticking you face in "a box of hops".  Big, bold pine resin and grapefruit rind aromas.
  • Taste: About as good as it gets, Pliny The Elder is an incredibly well-balanced DIPA.  The flavor follows the nose.  BIG citrus, melon, and pine flavors followed by more subtle Tootsie-pop/caramel notes. 
  • Mouthfeel: Crisp and bubbly, Pliny The Elder is smooth and refreshing.
  • Finish: Crisp and refreshing with a little dryness along with lingering grapefruit and bittern hops.  There's a bit of booziness as well.
 Overall pairing: The classic complex sound of Cream coupled with the classic and amazing taste of Pliny The Elder... what could be better?!

Cheers!!

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