April 19th, 2016 - Doin' A Little Side Trippin' With Crosby, Stills & Nash On A Tuesday Night!

Good evening!  The Meista is here tonight pairing the self-titled debut album by Crosby, Stills & Nash and a Side Trip Belgian Style Pale Ale from New Belgium Brewing Company!

Album Info:

• Artist: Crosby, Stills & Nash
• Title: "Crosby, Stills & Nash"
• Recorded: February through March 1969 at Wally Heider's Studio III in Los Angeles, California
• Release date: May 29th, 1969 (first album by Crosby, Stills & Nash)009-02-03)
• Record company: Atlantic Records
• Production: Crosby, Stills & Nash
• Album cover art: Gary Burden (art direction and design) and Henry Diltz (photography)
• Personnel: David Crosby (vocals, rhythm guitar, and acoustic guitar), Graham Nash (vocals, rhythm guitar, and acoustic guitar), Stephen Still (vocals, lead guitar, bass, keyboards, and percussion), and  Dallas Taylor (drums)
• Additional musicians: Cass Elliot (backing vocals) and Jim Gordon (drums)
• Musical style: Folk rock, rock with elements of blues, country, a touch of jazz, and traditional American folk music
• Sound: Blending folk, blues, country, and rock with social commentary, atmospheric moods, radio-friendly pop melodies, and complex rock structures along with distinct and deep harmonies, the sound on "Crosby, Stills & Nash" is wholly original, heavily influential, transcending, and delightful!
• Major themes: Relationships, love, hope, joy, peace, drugs, beauty, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes"
2. "Marrakesh Express"
3. "Guinnevere"
4. "You Don't Have To Cry"
5. "Pre-Road Downs"
6. "Wooden Ships"
7. "Lady Of The Island"
8. "Helplessly Hoping"
9. "Long Time Gone"
10. "49 Bye-Byes"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Company (Fort Collins, Colorado)
• Website: www.newbelgium.com   
• Brew:  Side Trip Belgian Style Pale Ale
• Style: Belgian Pale Ale
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 6.0%
• IBUs: 22
• Ingredients:  Buffalo yeast strain from Brouwerij Van Den Bossche, Belgian Chateau Abbey and Cara Ruby malts from Castle Malting, and Belgian Magnum, Saphir, and Target hops
• Pour: It pours a clear, golden-amber with a frothy, but thin white head that leaves good lacing.
• Nose: The nose is a blend of fruit esters, spices, and sweet malts along with more subtle hop notes.  There are aromas of banana, bubblegum, cloves, nutmeg, caramel/toffee, bready malt, herbs, and more subtle tropical and citrus fruits.
• Taste: Following the nose, the taste of the Side Trip is characterized by those big Belgian fruit esters, spices, and malts.  There are notes of soft banana, spicy cloves and nutmeg, a hint of dark fruit (dates and raisins), sweet caramel, toasted bread, and some pink grapefruit and mango in the finish.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is smooth, slightly warming, and crisp with a dry finish.

Overall pairing: The wonderfully blended and complex flavors of the Side Trip Belgian Style Pale Ale from New Belgium Brewing Company with its fruitiness, maltiness, and spiciness is perfect for the wonderfully rich and textured harmonies and melodies of the brilliant and defining "Crosby, Stills & Nash"!!

Cheers!!