May 1st, 2017 - Asterisk Of The Year

Good evening!  The Meista here tonight pairing an Asterisk DIPA from Melvin Brewing Company and "Album Of The Year" by Faith No More!

Album Info:

• Artist: Faith No More
• Title: "Album Of The Year"
• Recorded: 1996 through 1997 at Brilliant Studios in San Francisco, California
• Release date: June 3rd, 1997 (6th studio album by Faith No More)
• Record company: Slash Records
• Production: Roli Mosimann and Billy Gould
• Album cover art: Katherine Delaney
• Personnel: Mike Bordin (drums), Roddy Bottum (keyboards), Billy Gould (bass guitar), Jon Hudson (guitar), and Mike Patton (vocals)
• Musical style: Alternative metal / rock with elements of R&B and lounge music
• Sound: More straightforward than past efforts and a bit darker, the sound on "Album Of The Year" is complex, heavy, and intense, yet still contains some of the band's zaniness from earlier times.  There are some really, really powerful musical moments on this album!
• Major themes: Isolation, loneliness, social criticism, communication and relationships over the Internet, sorrow, etc.
• Tracks:

1. "Collision"
2. "Stripsearch"
3. "Last Cup Of Sorrow"
4. "Naked In Front Of The Computer"
5. "Helpless"
6. "Mouth To Mouth"
7. "Ashes To Ashes"
8. "She Loves Me Not"
9. "Got That Feeling"
10. "Paths Of Glory"
11. "Home Sick Home"
12. "Pristina"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Melvin Brewing Company (Alpine, Wyoming)
• Website: http://www.melvinbrewing.com/
• Brew: Asterisk DIPA
• Style: Double India Pale Ale (DIPA) / Imperial IPA (IIPA)
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 10.0%
• Pour: It pours a hazy ice tea-bronze with a bubbly, bright white 1-finger head with good sustain and soapy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is a wonderful blend of citrus, tropical fruit, dank earth, and sweet malt.  There are aromas of mango, guava, peach, grapefruit rind, orange, pine resin, bitter herbs, and caramel/toffee.
• Taste: The taste of the Asterisk DIPA is characterized by lots and lots of tropical fruit balanced by strong piney and herbal bitterness along with sweet malt.  There are notes of pink grapefruit juice, mango, guava, pine, black tea, a hint of onion, and soft caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Asterisk is slick and oily, yet crisp and refreshing with some nice bitterness and a hint of boozy warmth and a dry finish.

Overall pairing: The intensely fruity and dank flavors and aromas of Melvin's wonderful  Asterisk DIPA is perfect for the incredibly underrated and well-crafted insanity of Faith No More's "Album Of The Year"!  The brew's complexities mingle wonderfully well with intricate layers of emotion, honesty, and musicianship on each track!

Cheers!!