February 10th, 2017 - Heavy Melons For Heavy Horses

Good evening!  The Meista here tonight pairing "Heavy Horses" by Jethro Tull and a Heavy Melon Watermelon Lime Ale from New Belgium Brewing Company!   This pairing is dedicated to the late John Glascock!  Rest in peace Mr. Glascock!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Jethro Tull
• Title: "Heavy Horses"
• Recorded: January 1978 at Maison Rouge Studio in Fulham, London
• Release date: April 10th, 1978 (11th studio album by Jethro Tull)
• Record company: Chrysalis
• Production: Ian Anderson
• Album cover art: James Cotier
• Personnel:  Ian Anderson (vocals, flute, acoustic and occasional electric guitars, and mandolin), Barriemore Barlow (drums and percussion), Martin Barre (electric guitar), John Evan (piano and organ), John Glascock (bass guitar and backing vocals), and David Palmer (portative pipe organ, other keyboards, and orchestral arrangements)
• Additional musician: Darryl Way (violin on "Acres Wild" and "Heavy Horses")
• Musical style: Progressive rock, folk rock, hard rock
• Sound: Tighter, prettier, and "heavier" than previous albums, "Heavy Horses" is a richly textured, yet rocking musical adventure with the band in top form in writing, execution, and production!
• Major themes: With songs about agriculture, hard work, love, sex, pain, life, etc., "Heavy Horses" is more of a realist's perspective of a changing world along with prosaic themes.
• Notes: Sadly, this was the last album John Glascock recorded.  He died in November 1979, at the young age of 28, as a result of a congenital heart valve defect.
• Tracks:   

1. "And The Mouse Police Never Sleeps"
2. "Acres Wild"
3. "No Lullaby"
4. "Moths"
5. "Journeyman"
6. "Rover"
7. "One Brown Mouse"
8. "Heavy Horses"
9. "Weathercock"

    Brew Info:

• Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Company (Fort Collins, Colorado)
• Website: http://www.newbelgium.com/
• Brew:  Heavy Melon Watermelon Lime Ale
• Style: Fruit Ale
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 5.0%
• IBUs: 14
• Ingredients: Nugget hops, Pale and Caramel-80 malts, and ale yeast along with juicy watermelon and zesty lime peel
• Pour: The Heavy Melon pours a slightly hazy golden amber with a thin and bubbly white head with sparse and soapy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by fruity, citrusy, and grainy/malty.  There are aromas of melon rind, watermelon, papaya, lime juice and zest, subtle herbs, and cereal grain.
• Taste: The taste of the Heavy Melon follows the nose.  There are light and fruity notes of watermelon, papaya, and lime along with grassy and floral hops, and more subtle malts.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is juicy and mouthwatering with a crisp and zesty finish.

Overall pairing: The crisp, juicy, whimsical, and crushable flavors and aromas of New Belgium's Heavy Melon Watermelon Lime Ale are perfect for the complex and very melodic/harmonic musical adventures concocted by those wacky boys in Jethro Tull! 

Cheers!!