January 23rd, 2015 - A Imperial Red In Color (And Black And White)

Good evening friends!!  Your pal the Meista here pairing a couple favorites tonight... Cheap Trick's brilliant album "In Color (And Black And White)" (Remastered Edition) and an Imperial Red Ale from Lagunitas Brewing Company!   Oh hell yeah!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Cheap Trick
• Title: "In Color (And Black And White)" (Remastered Edition)
• Recorded: 1977 at Kendun Recorders, Los Angeles, California 
• Release date: September 1977
• Record company: Epic
• Personnel: Bun E. Carlos (drums), Rick Nielsen (lead guitars and vocals), Tom Petersson (bass and vocals), and Robin Zander (lead vocals and rhythm guitar)
• Musical style: Hard rock/power pop/rock and roll
• Sound: What I consider a near perfect album and one of the best power pop albums of all time, "In Color" was an instant classic with melodic pop sensibility and brilliant rocking riffs.  And of course, Zander's fantastic vocal delivery!  It is rock and roll mastery in 11 songs!
• Major themes: Lust, sexuality, love, rock and roll
• Notes: "In Color" made the band huge superstars in Japan, with both "I Want You to Want Me" and "Clock Strikes Ten" topping the Japanese charts.  (Their live recording of "I Want You To Want Me" at the famous Budokan is what would launch the band into stardom in America ironically enough.)  Several tracks from the album became mainstays in the band's live shows.
• Tracks:

1. "Hello There"
2. "Big Eyes"
3. "Downed"
4. "I Want You To Want Me"
5. "You're All Talk"
6. "Oh Caroline"
7. "Clock Strikes Ten"
8. "Southern Girls"
9. "Come On, Come On"
10. "So Good To See You"
11. "Oh Boy" (Single B-Side)
12. "Sothern Girls" (Demo)
13. "Come On, Come On" (Demo)
14. "You're All Talk" (Live)
15. "Goodnight" (Live)

    Brew Info:

• Brewery: Lagunitas Brewing Company outta Petaluma, California
• Website: http://www.lagunitas.com/
• Brew: Imperial Red Ale (Limited Release)
• Style: Imperial American Amber Ale
• Serving: 22 ounce bottle
• ABV: 7.8%
• IBUs: 54.2
• Original gravity: 1.072
• Pour: A very slightly hazy, deep copper-red with a billowy, 1+ finger, light tan head that shows good retention and chunky lacing.
• Nose: Piney and malty with some really well-balanced sweetness.  There are aromas of tangerines, orange peel, pine resin, toffee, maple, and brown sugar.
• Taste: A near perfect amber ale, Lagunitas' Imperial Red is an exceptional well-balanced and complex ale.  There are bitter notes of black tea and orange peel, sweet notes of toffee and brown sugar, bready notes of premium grains, hints of juicy and citrusy lemon and orange, and just a pinch of black pepper.
• Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with lower carbonation, the mouthfeel is slick, refreshing, and very smooth.
• Finish: The Imperial Red Ale finish crisp, dry, and clean with a slight lingering bitterness.

Overall pairing: Upon tasting the Imperial Red Ale from Lagunitas, I immediately wanted to pair it with Cheap Trick.  The robust yet tantalizing flavors of the beer seem to beckon the wonderful guitar tone of Nielsen.  It is very smooth and drinkable, but his a nice sharp and slightly boozy kick... exactly how I would describe Zander's vocal prowess if he was a beer!  :) 

Cheers!!