January 22nd, 2017 - Too Rye To Die

Good afternoon!  The Meista here with another pairing for you today... the brilliant "Too High Too Die" by the Meat Puppets and a Rye On Rye X - Sazerac from Boulevard Brewing Company!

Album Info:

• Artist: Meat Puppets
• Title: "Too High Too Die"
• Recorded: 1993 at the Warehouse in Memphis, Tennessee
• Release date: January 25th, 1994 (8th studio album by the Meat Puppets)
• Record company: London Records
• Production: Meat Puppets and Paul Leary
• Album cover art: Michael Halsband
• Personnel: Derrick Bostrom (drums), Cris Kirkwood (bass guitar and vocals), and Curt Kirkwood (guitar and vocals)
• Musical style: Rock, alternative rock, blues rock, folk rock
• Sound: Richly textured with multiple influences, the sound on "Too High Too Die" is at times heavy and rocking, and at times more mellow and mesmerizing... but always intriguing and melodic.
• Major themes: States of mind, life, death, relationships, knowledge, pain, sadness, isolation, love, hope, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Violet Eyes"
2. "Never To Be Found"
3. "We Don't Exist"
4. "Severed Goddess Hand"
5. "Flaming Heart"
6. "Shine"
7. "Station"
8. "Roof With A Hole"
9. "Backwater"
10. "Things"
11. "Why?"
12. "Evil Love"
13. "Comin' Down"
14. "Lake Of Fire" (hidden track)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Boulevard Brewing Company (Kansas City, Missouri)
• Website: https://boulevard.com/age-verify/?r=https://boulevard.com
• Brew: Rye On Rye X - Sazerac
• Style: Rye Ale
• Serving: 25 ounce bottle
• ABV: 11.8%
• IBUs: 29
• Ingredients: Boulevard "brewed batches of the base rye beer that received spice additions mimicking bitters as well as lemon peel during the boil. The resulting wort was fermented with our house Scottish ale yeast before being aged in freshly emptied Templeton Rye barrels."
• Pour: The Rye On Rye pours a murky, dark mahogany-amber with a large and thick off-white head with lots of soapy and sustained lacing.
• Nose: The nose is woody, bready, earthy, spicy, and slightly sweet.  There are aromas of "rye whiskey, toasted oak, vanilla bean, and cinnamon" along with caramel and roasted malts.
• Taste: The taste of the Rye On Rye X - Sazerac is slightly sweet, fruity (dark fruits), boozy, and woody.  There are notes of caramel malts, toffee, figs, plums, vanilla bean, subtle citrus, whisky, and peppery rye.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied with medium carbonation, the mouthfeel is creamy and smooth with a dry, spicy, and slightly boozy finish.

Overall pairing: The complex and bold flavors and aromas of Boulevard Brewing's wonderful Rye On Rye X - Sazerac is perfect for the intricate melodies, harmonies, and hooks of the Meat Puppet's amazing "Too High Too Die"!  This is how a great craft brew is supposed to taste and this is how a kick-ass rock album is supposed to sound!

Cheers!!