January 26th, 2019 - My Hops Are Rising For A Little Easy Action

Hello and hails rock and rollers and craft brew lovers!  Your drinkin' buddy the Meista here today rocking out to "Easy Action" by the original Alice Cooper group and a Hop Rising Tropical Double IPA from the Utah Brewers Cooperative (Squatters Brewery)!

Album Info:

• Artist: Alice Cooper
• Title: "Easy Action"
• Recorded: Late 1969 through early 1970 at Sunwest Studios in Hollywood, California
• Release date: March 27th, 1970 (2nd studio album by Alice Cooper)
• Record company: Straight Records
• Production: David Briggs
• Album cover art: Lorrie Sullivan (photography) and John Williams (art direction)
• Personnel: Michael Bruce (rhythm guitar, piano, backing vocals, and lead vocals on "Below Your Means" and "Beautiful Flyaway"), Glen Buxton (lead guitar), Alice Cooper (lead and backing vocals), Dennis Dunaway (bass and backing vocals), and Neal Smith (drums and backing vocals)
• Guest musicians: David Briggs (piano on "Shoe Salesman")
• Musical style: Hard rock, psychedelic rock, pop rock, garage rock, acid rock, glam rock
• Sound: Characterized by raw, sometime misguided direction, "Easy Action" is an underrated gem that bridges the gap between the bands 1960s pop rock sound to the shock rock brilliance they would be known for in the early to mid 1970s!  The tracks have a Yardbirds meets early David Bowie kinda vibe.  "Easy Action" is experimental, in-your-face, and fun as hell!
• Major themes: Themes on the album are rather dark with heavy influence from the musical West Side Story and include: violence, crime, death, isolation, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Mr. & Misdemeanor"
2. "Shoe Salesman"
3. "Still No Air"
4. "Below Your Means"
5. "Return Of The Spiders"
6. "Laughing At Me"
7. "Refrigerator Heaven"
8. "Beautiful Flyaway"
9. "Lay Down And Die, Goodbye"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Utah Brewers Cooperative (Squatters Brewery) (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: www.squatters.com/         
• Brew: Hop Rising Tropical Double IPA
• Style: Double India Pale Ale (DIPA) / Imperial IPA (IIPA)
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 9.0%
• IBUs: 72
• Pour: The Hop Rising Tropical Double IPA pours a hazy, golden peach hue with a 1-finger, frothy white head.  As the head recedes, sustained spider web lacing is left behind. 
• Nose: The nose is very citrusy, tropical, malty, slightly bitter, and sweet.  There are strong notes of pineapple, grapefruit rind, tangerine, mango, guava, orange, lime, black tea, baked bread, and soft caramel.
• Taste: The flavor is marked by lots of juicy tropical and citrus fruits along with bitter herbs and sweetness.  There are notes of pineapple, pink grapefruit, orange pith, lime, mango, tangerine, black tea, sweet caramel, and a hint of booze.
• Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Hop Rising Tropical Double IPA is effervescent, sharp, and crisp with a dry, slightly boozy and sweet finish.

Overall pairing: The Squatters Hop Rising Tropical Double IPA is a punchy, hop-forward, yet bright and tasty brew... great for the raw, psychedelic grooves of early Coop!  'Nuff said!

Cheers and hails!!