December 1st, 2016 - Live Stout

Good evening and happy December 1st!  The Meista here tonight pairing Uriah Heep's classic "Live" double-album and a Uinta Brewing Company Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout!!  Oh yeah!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Uriah Heep
• Title: "Live"
• Recorded: January 26th, 1973 at Town Hall in Birmingham, England
• Release date: April 1973 (1st live album released by Uriah Heep)1969-04-16)
• Record company: Mercury Records
• Production: Gerry Bron and Ken Hensley
• Album cover art: Lillian Bron (sleeve coordinator) and Fin Costello (photography) 
• Personnel: Mick Box (guitar and vocals), David Byron (lead vocals), Ken Hensley (keyboards and vocals), Lee Kerslake (drums and vocals), and Gary Thain (bass guitar and vocals)
• Musical style: Hard rock, progressive rock, proto metal
• Sound: The sound on this album is big, bold, powerful, awe-inspiring, and true, classic Heep!  In a word, BRILLIANT! 
• Major themes: Life, death, love, lust, loss, magic, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Sunshine"
2. "Sweet Lorraine"
3. "Traveller In Time"
4. "Easy Livin'"
5. "July Morning"
6. "Tears In My Eyes"
7. "Gypsy"
8. "Circle Of Hands"
9. "Look At Yourself"
10. "The Magician's Birthday"
11. "Love Machine"
12. "Rock 'n' Roll Medley: Roll Over Beethoven/Blue Suede Shoes/Mean Woman Blues/Hound Dog/At The Hop/Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Uinta Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://uintabrewing.com/
• Brew: Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout
• Style: American Stout
• Serving: 22 ounce bottle
• ABV: 7.0%
• Pour: It pours an opaque ink black with a small, but creamy mocha head that leaves a thin ring and minimal lacing.
• Nose: The nose is earthy, rich, chocolaty, and a little boozy.  There are aromas of dark roasted coffee, dark fruit, dark chocolate, cocoa, vanilla bean, oak, and mild bourbon.
• Taste: The taste is earthy, woodsy, rich, chocolaty, and boozy.  There are notes of rich coffee, vanilla, oak, and light bourbon up front with a sweeter, creamier middle and finish of caramel, vanilla, cream, and chocolate along with a little raisin and molasses. 
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with low carbonation, the mouthfeel is velvety, creamy, and smooth with a woody and dry finish.

Overall pairing: The bold coffee, chocolate, and bourbon flavors and aromas of Uinta's Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout bring out the power and genius of Uriah Heep's live shows in the early years!  The richness of the brew is perfect for the heavy-duty rhythms and riffs, while the light bourbon booziness is great for Byron's vast vocal range, Hensley's amazing keys, and Box's very underrated guitar bad-assery!

Cheers!!