April 28th, 2019 - Getting "Fat" With 5150

Hello rockers and craft beer lovers!  The Meista here today pairing a delicious Adipose IPA from Arch Rock Brewing Company (that I had back in December, but forgot to pair) and "5150" by the mighty Van Halen!  Oh yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Van Halen
• Title: "5150"
• Recorded: November 1985 through February 1986 at 5150 Studios in Studio City, California  
• Release date: March 24th, 1986 (7th studio album by Van Halen)
• Record company: Warner Bros. Records
• Production: Mike Jones, Donn Landee, and Van Halen
• Album cover art: Jeri McManus and Van Halen (art direction) and Aaron Rapoport (photography)
• Personnel: Michael Anthony (bass guitar and backing vocals), Sammy Hagar (lead and backing vocals), Alex Van Halen (drums and percussion), and Eddie Van Halen (guitars, keyboards, and backing vocals)
• Musical style: Hard rock, heavy metal
• Sound: The first Van Halen album with Sammy Hagar, the sound is obviously a little different from previous albums.  It is a bit poppier, contains ballads and love songs, and has more keyboards... but it still rocks and rocks hard!
• Major themes: Love, lust, sex, desire, insanity, rock and roll, life, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Good Enough"
2. "Why Can't This Be Love"
3. "Get Up"
4. "Dreams"
5. "Summer Nights"
6. "Best Of Both Worlds"
7. "Love Walks In"
8. "5150"
9. "Inside"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Arch Rock Brewing Company (Oregon)
• Website: https://archrockbeer.com/
• Brew: Adipose IPA
• Style: American India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 32 ounce crowler can
• ABV: 7.0%
• Ingredient: Simcoe, Centennial, Bravo, Chinook, and Nugget hops
• Pour: The Adipose IPA pours a hazy golden yellow hue with a thick and frothy, 2 + finger head with great sustain and pervasive and intricate lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, tropical, floral, and resinous.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, tangerine, pineapple, passion fruit, mango, pine resin, wild flowers, and soft caramel. 
• Taste: Hop-forward, the taste of the Adipose IPA follows the nose with lots of citrus and tropical fruit and resinous flavors.  There are notes of grapefruit, tangerine, pineapple, mango, stone fruit, pine, herbs, grassy green hops, light caraemel with medium bitterness in the finish.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and well-balanced with moderate carbonation, the Adipose IPA is crisp, yet smooth with a clean, yet slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The Adipose IPA from Arch Rock is very hoppy, very well balanced, very complex, and flavorful brew that goes down smooth and easy... perfect for the rock and roll punch of Van Halen's wonderful "5150"!  Those citrusy notes are great for Eddie's guitars and Sammy's vocals, while the malt backbone is great for the heavy-duty rhtyhm section of Michael and Alex!

Cheers!!