August 25th, 2016 - Relaying That Your Father Smelt Of Elderberries

Good evening!  The Meista here tonight pairing "Relayer" by Yes and a Stochasticity Project Your Father Smelt Of Elderberries from Stone Brewing Company!

Album Info:

• Artist: Yes
• Title: "Relayer"
• Recorded: August through October 1974 at New Pipers in Virginia Water, Surrey, England
  Release date: December 5th, 1974 (7th studio album by Yes)
• Record company: Atlantic Records
• Production: Eddy Offord
• Album cover art: Roger Dean
• Personnel: Jon Anderson (lead vocals), Steve Howe (acoustic and electric guitars, and backing vocals), Patrick Moraz (keyboards), Chris Squire (bass guitar and backing vocals), and Alan White (drums and percussion)
• Musical style: Progressive rock
• Sound: At times chaotic, at times ethereal, the sound on "Relayer" is vast, bombastic, and intriguing.  It demands your full attention, but is also very harmonious and melodic.
• Major themes: Science fiction, war, victory, peace, hope, love, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "The Gates of Delirium"
2. "Sound Chaser"
3. "To Be Over"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Stone Brewing Company (Escondido, California)
• Website: www.stonebrewing.com  
• Brew: Stochasticity Project Your Father Smelt Of Elderberries
• Style: Medieval-style ale brewed with elderberries
• Serving: 22 ounce bottle
• ABV: 10.3%
• Pour: It pours a opaque reddish brown with a thin, light tan head that dissipates quickly, leaving very little lacing.
• Nose: The nose is both malty and fruity with hints of booze.  There are aromas of caramel, toffee, raisin, oats, fresh herbs, rum(?), and lots of tart and sweet berries.
• Taste: Following the nose, the taste of the Stochasticity Project Your Father Smelt Of Elderberries is malty, sweet, and slightly boozy with a hint of smokiness... almost like a barleywine.  There are notes of blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, grain alcohol, fresh bread, herbs.
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with low carbonation, the mouthfeel is thick, chewy, sticky and a bit boozy, with a warm and sweet finish.

Overall pairing: The "old world" and "Medieval" taste of Stone's Stochasticity Project Your Father Smelt Of Elderberries is great for the bombast and melodic dichotomy of Yes's "Relayer"!  The boldness and interesting flavors of the ale blend wonderfully well with Howe's enchanting guitars, the powerful rhythm section of Squire and White, the intricacies of Moraz, and the uniqueness and beauty of Anderson's vocals!

Cheers!!