May 14th, 2017 - The Crazy Beat Splits And Goes On

Hello!  The Meista here today pairing "The Beat Goes On" by Vanilla Fudge and a Split Shot Espresso Milk Stout from Elysian Brewing Company!

Album Info:

• Artist: Vanilla Fudge
• Title: "The Beat Goes On"
• Recorded: Late 1967
  Release date: February 1968 (2nd studio album by Vanilla Fudge)
• Record company: Atco Records
• Production: George "Shadow" Morton
• Album cover art: Marvin Israel and Rich Russell 
• Personnel: Carmine Appice (drums and backing vocals), Tim Bogert (bass and backing vocals), Vince Martell (guitars and backing vocals), and Mark Stein (lead vocals, organ, and keyboards)
• Musical style: Psychedelic rock, hard rock, experimental rock 
• Sound: Although sometimes a bit convoluted due to Shadow Morton's misdirection and the fact that "The Beat Goes On" became a failed experiment, the excellent musicianship and tones of Vanilla Fudge cannot be overstated.  The album really highlights Stein's keyboard prowess.
• Major themes: "The Beat Goes On" is a rather odd experimental concept album with themes of love, sex, meditation, life and death, politics, religion, music, the music industry, etc.
• Tracks:   

Side one

1. "Sketch" 

Phase One

2. "Intro: The Beat Goes On" 
3. Eighteenth Century: Variations on a Theme by Mozart: "Divertimento No. 13 In F Major" 
4. Nineteenth Century: "Old Black Joe" 
5. Twentieth Century 
   1. "Don't Fence Me In "
   2. "12th Street Rag" 
   3. "In The Mood" 
   4. "Hound Dog" 
6. The Beatles  
   1. "I Want To Hold Your Hand" 
   2. "I Feel Fine" 
   3. "Day Tripper" 
   4. "She Loves You" 
   5. "Hello Goodbye" 

Phase Two

6. "The Beat Goes On" 
7. Beethoven: "Fur Elise" & "Moonlight Sonata" 
8. "The Beat Goes On"

Side two

1. "The Beat Goes On" 

Phase Three

2. "Voices in Time"

Phase Four

3. "The Beat Goes On" 
4. "Merchant/The Game Is Over" 
   1. "Merchant" 
   2. "The Game Is Over"
   3. "Merchant"
   4. "The Game Is Over"
   5. "Merchant"
   6. "The Game Is Over"
   7. "Merchant"
   8. "The Game Is Over"
   9. "Merchant"
5. "The Beat Goes On" 

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Elysian Brewing Company (Seattle, Washington)
• Website: http://www.elysianbrewing.com/   
• Brew: Split Shot Espresso Milk Stout
• Style: Milk Stout / Sweet Stout
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 6.0%
• IBUs: 28
• Ingredients: Kiln Coffee, Black, Roasted Barley, Pale Crystal, Crystal 45, and Flaked Oats malts, Magnum hops, and espresso from Stumptown Coffee
• Pour: It pours an almost jet black with hints of ruby.  The head is a thick and creamy light tan with great retention and lots of layered and intricate lacing.
• Nose: The nose is rich, earthy, malty, and sweet.  There are big notes of dark roasted coffee, milk chocolate, cocoa, caramel, fresh cream, and tobacco.
• Taste: The taste is chocolaty, creamy, and roasty.  There are notes of rich coffee, roasted malt, dark and milk chocolate, cocoa, fresh cream, marshmallow, and toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with lower carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Split Shot is thick, creamy, and velvety with a sweet, dry, and chocolaty finish.

Overall pairing: I won't lie to you.  "The Beat Goes On" is a tricky album to take on.  In reality it is a bit of a meandering mess, but there are some really wonderful moments of musical clarity and depth.  And what better way to go on a crazy musical journey than with a big, bold brew?  Although the Split Shot might be better suited to be paired with some sludgy doom metal, the name lends itself well to the crazy music fragmentation of   "The Beat Goes On".

Cheers!!