January 15th, 2016 - Staring At The Single Tracks

Good evening!  The Meista here pairing "Staring At The Sea: The Singles", a compilation album of singles from 1978 to 1985 by The Cure and a Singletrack Rye Pale Ale from Boulder Beer Company!

Album Info:

• Artist: The Cure
• Title: "Staring At The Sea: The Singles"
• Recorded: 1978 to 1985            
• Release date: May 6th, 1986
• Record company: Elektra Records
• Production: The Cure
• Album cover art: ?
• Personnel: Andy Anderson (drums), Michael Dempsey (bass), Simon Gallup (bass), Matthieu Hartley (keyboards), Robert Smith (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, and six-string bass), Porl Thompson (lead guitar, keyboards, saxophone, and 6 string bass), Phil Thornalley (bass), Lol Tolhurst (drums and keyboards), and Boris Williams (drums)
• Musical style: Goth rock, new wave, art rock, post punk, alternative rock, indie rock
• Sound: The sound of those early albums is a blend of a foreboding mood, pensiveness, poppy, dark, gothic, artistically honest and challenging, and fully engaging.
• Major themes: Relationships, sex, angst, nervousness, anxiety, pain, darkness, etc.
• Tracks:  

1. "Killing An Arab"
2. "10:15 Saturday Night"
3. "Boys Don't Cry"
4. "Jumping Someone Else's Train"
5. "A Forest"
6. "Play For Today"
7. "Primary"
8. "Other Voices"
9. "Charlotte Sometimes"
10. "The Hanging Garden"
11. "Let's Go To Bed"
12. "The Walk"
13. "The Lovecats"
14. "The Caterpillar"
15. "In Between Days"
16. "Close To Me"
17. "A Night Like This"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Boulder Beer Company (Boulder, Colorado)
• Website: www.boulderbeer.com
• Brew: Singletrack Rye Pale Ale
• Style: American Pale Ale (APA)
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 4.9%
• IBUs: 38
• Ingredients: Pale Malt, 50/60 Caramel Malt, Carapils, Flaked Rye, and Nugget and Tettnang hops
• Pour: Deep copper-amber hue with a 1-2 finger, frothy off-white head with good sustain and lacing.
• Nose: The nose of the Singletrack is a blend of sweet, spicy, earthy, hoppy, herbal, and fruity.  There are notes of peppery rye, juicy citrus, dank pine resin, and sweet caramel. 
• Taste: The flavor of the Singletrack Rye Pale Ale follows the nose with lots of citrus, spice, herbs, malts, and sweetness.  There are notes of lemon zest, orange and grapefruit juice, pine, floral hops, summer grass, soft caramel/toffee, peppery rye, and crackery biscuit with a hint of hazelnut.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Singletrack Rye Pale Ale is crisp, refreshing, slightly dry, and peppery.  The finish is slightly bitter and spicy.

Overall pairing: Like the music of The Cure from the early years, the flavor of the Singletrack Rye Pale Ale from Boulder Beer Company is a blend of sweet, bitter, spicy, biting, and nuttiness.  The easy drinkability of the Singletrack goes well with the poppier, dancier sounds, while the peppery rye and bitter hops go well with the darker lyrical elements. 

Cheers!!