February 27th, 2016 - Diamond Alpha Dogs

Good afternoon!  The Meista here rocking out to David Bowie's brilliant "Diamond Dogs" and enjoying an Alpha Dog Imperial IPA from Laughing Dog Brewing!

Album Info:

• Artist: David Bowie
• Title: "Diamond Dogs"
• Recorded: January through February 1974 at Olympic Studios and Island Studios in London, England and Ludolph Studios in Nederhorst den Berg
• Release date: May 24th, 1974 (8th studio album by David Bowie)
• Record company: RCA Records
• Production: David Bowie
• Album cover art: Guy Peellaert
• Personnel: David Bowie (vocals, guitars, saxophones, Moog synthesizer, and Mellotron) with Aynsley Dunbar (drums), Herbie Flowers (bass guitar), Mike Garson (keyboards), Alan Parker (guitar on "1984"), Earl Slick (guitar on "Rock 'N' Roll With Me") and Tony Visconti (string arrangements)
• Musical style: Glam rock
• Sound: Quite possibly my favorite Bowie album, the sound on "Diamond Dogs" is in a word, brilliant!  This album is the blue-print of not only great glam rock, but kick-ass rock and roll in general!
• Major themes: "Diamond Dogs" is a rather strange concept album that marries the themes and concepts of the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell and Bowie's own glam-esque  post-apocalyptic vision of America.  Themes include nihilism, urban chaos, corruption, death, sexual ambiguity, sexual tension, lust, rebellion, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Future Legend"
2. "Diamond Dogs"
3. "Sweet Thing"
4. "Candidate"
5. "Sweet Thing (Reprise)"
6. "Rebel Rebel"
7. "Rock 'N' Roll With Me"
8. "We Are The Dead"
9. "1984"
10. "Big Brother"
11. "Chant Of The Ever Circling Skeletal Family"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Laughing Dog Brewing (Ponderay, Idaho)
• Website: http://www.laughingdogbrewing.com/
• Brew: Alpha Dog Imperial IPA
• Style: Imperial India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 8.5%
• IBUs: 126.8
• Ingredients: Columbus and Mt. Hood hops with Premium Pale, Honey, and Munich malts
• Pour: Hazy, deep clover honey/copper amber with a frothy, 1-finger, off-white head that leaves a thin white ring and subtle cap with minimal lacing.
• Nose: Dank, earthy, and sweet, then nose of the Alpha Dog is characterized by aromas of pine resin, herbal tea, wild flowers, organic honey, and soft toffee.
• Taste: Following the nose, the taste of the Alpha Dog is a big hop punch up front followed by sweet malts and bitter hop flavors.  There are notes of pine, cedar, unsweetened black tea, savory herbs, white pepper, honey, soft caramel, fresh bread, and a hint of booze.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is sticky, oily, yet dry with a bitter and spicy dry finish.

Overall pairing: The complex, sweet, and very bitter flavor of the Alpha Dog Imperial IPA is perfect for the depth, musical integrity, masterful musicianship, and emotional honesty of the iconic "Diamond Dogs"!!  'Nuff said!!

Cheers... and RIP to Halloween Jack!