June 30th, 2018 - The Bloom Of The Paardebloem

Good afternoon! Your drinking buddy the Meista here today pairing a Paardebloem Belgian Style Ale from Red Rock Brewery and Eric Johnson's "Bloom"!

 

Album Info:

• Artist: Eric Johnson
• Title: "Bloom"
• Recorded: 2005 at Saucer Sound, Surfland, One Good Ear, Studio B, and No Favors  
• Release date: June 2005 (5th studio release by Eric Johnson)
• Record company: Favored Nations
• Production: Eric Johnson and Richard Mullen
• Album cover art: Steve Shaw
• Personnel: Eric Johnson (guitars, pedal steel, sitar, bass, synth, Rhodes electric piano, piano, and vocals) with Salvatore Banzai La Rocca (harmonica), Steve Barber (acoustic piano, Moog synth, and vocals), Roscoe Beck (bass), Tal Bergman (drums), Tom Brechtlein (drums), Tom Burrit (percussion), Shawn Colvin (vocals), Brad Evilsizer (percussion), James Fenner (percussion), Rich Harvey (acoustic piano), Jody Lazo (vocals), Adrian Legg (guitar), Bill Maddox (drums and percussion), Chris Maresh (bass), Tony Phillips (drums, bass, and synth), Barry "Frosty" Smith (drums), Tommy Taylor (drums and percussion), and Lisa Tingle (vocals)
• Musical style: Rock, hard rock, blues rock, jazz, world music, instrumental rock
• Sound: Wonderfully complex, yet very melodic and moving, the sound on "Bloom" is signature Eric Johsnon!  As with all of his albums, the guitar work is simply stunning!  And that amazing tone... whooee!!
• Major themes: As most of the album is instrumental, there are only a few lyrical themes, which examine life, love, relationships, sorrow, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Bloom"
2. "Summer Jam"
3. "My Back Pages" (Bob Dylan cover)
4. "Good To Me"
5. "Columbia"
6. "12 To 12 Vibe"
7. "Sea Secret"
8. "Sad Legacy"
9. "From My Heart"
10. "Cruise The Nile"
11. "Tribute To Jerry Reed"
12. "Your Sweet Eyes"
13. "Hesitant"
14. "Sunnaround You"
15. "Magnetized"
16. "Ciel"

    Brew Info:

• Brewery: Red Rock Brewery (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://redrockbrewing.com/
• Brew: Paardebloem Belgian Style Ale
• Style: Belgian Strong Pale Ale
• Serving: 22 ounce bottle
• ABV: 9.2%
• Ingredients: "It’s made with toasted Pilsner malt, grains of paradise, peaches, fresh picked dandelion greens and is blended with some wood-aged beer."
• Pour: The Paardebloem pours a cloudy orange-gold with a creamy 1+ finger white head with great sustain and lots of intricate lacing.
• Nose: The nose is floral, malty, woodsy, and yeasty.  There are aromas of wild flowers, Belgian yeast, soft banana, summer grass, biscuit, light chardonnay, oak, and light spices.
• Taste: The taste of the Paardebloem is floral, sweet, malty, yeasty, and slightly spicy.  There are notes of vegetal greens, peach, grass, caramel, peppery spice, a hint of chardonnay, and a hint of light funkiness.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel is smooth and a little boozy with a dry, clean finish. 

Overall pairing: Red Rock's Paardebloem is a complex, yet very drinkable brew that is perfect for a hot summer day rockin' out to the wonderful melodies, rhythms, and tones of the brilliant Eric Johnson!

Cheers!!