January 25th, 2019 - Flying Over California With An Aching In My Heart

Good evening and happy Friday rockers and craft beer freaks!!  The Meista here tonight pairing the legendary 4th album by hard rock gods Led Zeppelin with a Fly Over California Common Steam Ale from Roosters Brewing Company!!  Hell yeah!! 
 
Album Info:

• Artist: Led Zeppelin
• Title: untitled, but commonly referred to as "Led Zeppelin IV" (sometime called "Runes" due to the 4 symbols that represent the band members)
• Recorded: November 1970 through May 1971 at various locations (mostly at Victorian house Headley Grange and Island Records in Basing Street Studios, London)
• Release date: November 8th, 1971 (4th studio album by Led Zeppelin)
• Record company: Atlantic Records
• Production: Jimmy Page and Peter Grant
• Album cover art: Graphreaks (design coordination)  Of the album cover, Robert Plant explained, "It represented the change in the balance which was going on. There was the old countryman and the blocks of flats being knocked down. It was just a way of saying that we should look after the earth, not rape and pillage it.  The cover was supposed to be something that was for other people to savour rather than for me to actually spell everything out, which would make the whole thing rather disappointing on that level of your own personal adventure into the music."
• Personnel: John "Bonzo" Bonham (drums), John Paul Jones (bass guitar, electric piano, mellotron, mandolin on "Going to California", recorders, EMS VCS 3, and acoustic guitar on "The Battle of Evermore"), Jimmy Page (electric and acoustic guitars, and mandolin on "The Battle of Evermore"), and Robert Plant (lead and overdubbed backing vocals, tambourine, and harmonica on "When the Levee Breaks")
• Additional musicians: Sandy Denny (vocals on "The Battle of Evermore") and Ian Stewart (piano on "Rock & Roll")
• Musical style: Hard rock, blues rock, heavy metal with elements of folk, and rock and roll
• Sound: I won't insult your intelligence by even attempting to describe the monster sound on this album.  As "overplayed" as some might say, it definitely stands the test of time and definitely is a masterpiece, a masterpiece in songwriting, performance/execution, and in production!
• Major themes: There's a lot going on here, but major themes include rock and roll, love, lust, desire, loss, war, etc.
• Notes: Interesting fact, there actually is a 5th rune symbol on the album that represents guest vocalist Sandy Denny.
• Tracks: 

1. "Black Dog"
2. "Rock & Roll"
3. "The Battle Of Evermore"
4. "Stairway To Heaven"
5. "Misty Mountain Hop"
6. "Four Sticks"
7. "Going To California"
8. "When The Levee Breaks"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Roosters Brewing Company (Ogden, Utah)
• Website: http://www.roostersbrewingco.com/
• Brew: Fly Over California Common Steam Ale 
• Style: California Common Ale / Steam Beer
• Serving: 32 ounce crowler can
• ABV: 4.0%
• Pour: The Fly Over California Common Steam Ale pours a fairly clear, dark amber with .
• Nose: The nose is malty, bready, mildly fruity, and slightly hoppy.  There are aromas of freshly baked bread, sweet caramel, bitter herbs, and hints of apple. 
• Taste: The taste is characterized by caramel maltiness with and fruity hop characteristics.  There are notes of hearty bread, fresh herbs, and mild sweet caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Fly Over California Common Steam Ale is very smooth with a medium level of bitterness and a smooth, somewhat dry finish.

Overall pairing: Commercially and critically speaking, "Led Zeppelin IV" is one of the greatest rock albums of all time!  As such, it deserves nothing less than a delicious brew... like the !  Those hearty, balanced, and well-crafted flavors are perfect for the incredible musical journey that is the one and only "Led Zeppelin IV"!!

Cheers and hails!!  Keep on rockin' my friends!!