October 28th, 2020 - Flying By Night With An Aviator American Wheat

 

Good evening and happy Wednesday rockers, roll, and craft brew lovers!  The Meista here tonight rocking out to Rush's amazing "Fly By Night" and an Aviator American Wheat Ale from brand spanking new brewery, the Ogden River Brewing here in my hometown that just opened today!  Hell yeah!!

Album Info: 

• Artist: Rush
• Title: "Fly By Night"
• Recorded: September through December 1974 at Toronto Sound Studios in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• Release date: February 15th, 1975 (2nd studio album by Rush)
• Record company: Anthem Records / Mercury Records
• Production: Rush and Terry Brown
• Album cover art: Eraldo Carugati
• Personnel: Geddy Lee (bass, classical guitar, keyboards, and vocals), Alex Lifeson (electric and acoustic guitars), and Neil Peart (drums and percussion)
• Musical style: Hard rock, proto metal, progressive rock
• Sound: "Fly By Night" is the first Rush album to feature drummer Neil Peart (and one of my all-time favorite albums).  Along with taking the helm as drummer, Peart also took over the writing of lyrics for the band, which would lead Rush to adopt a far more literary and socially focused approach as opposed to the more Led Zeppelin influenced, hard rock lyrics of their debut album.  "Fly By Night" is one of Rush's faster paced, more rocking albums.  Geddy Lee's bass work and vocals on this album are wonderful... bass work is intricate, driving, and heavy as hell... vocals are otherworldly and high as shit!  Alex Lifeson's guitar work is an attack of sonic acrobatics... rich, complex, and oh so tasty... like an Aviator American Wheat! (Just listen to that tone in "In The End"!!)  And Peart's drumming is vibrant, youthful, and simply brilliant!  (Just listen to the drum roll toward the end of "Anthem"!)  Oh, sooooo, soooo good!!
• Major themes: Songs like "By-Tor & the Snow Dog" and "Rivendell" delve into the realm of fantasy while "Anthem" features lyrics inspired by Ayn Rand's book of the same name.  The title track is an autobiographical song about Peart's experience in moving to London from Canada (briefly) before he joined Rush.  "Best I Can" is simply about rocking and rolling and the pursuit of personal excellence.  "Making Memories" delves into the importance of living each and every moment to its fullest.  And "In The End" (a favorite of mine) explores honesty and love... without cheesy sentimentality.
• Tracks:   

1. "Anthem"
2. "Best I Can"
3. "Beneath, Between & Behind"
4. "By-Tor & the Snow Dog"
5. "Fly By Night"
6. "Making Memories"
7. "Rivendell"
8. "In The End"

    Brew Info:

• Brewery: Ogden River Brewing (Ogden, Utah)
• Website: https://ogdenriverbrewing.com/
• Brew: Aviator American Wheat Ale
• Style: American Wheat Hefeweizen
• Serving: 64 ounce growler bottle
• ABV: 5.0%
• Pour: The Aviator American Wheat pours a very hazy, pale, straw yellow with a frothy, bright white, 1- finger head that slowly dissipates to a thin ring with soapy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by bready, malty, hoppy, and slightly fruity esters.  There are aromas of fresh doughy bread, cracked wheat, hints of soft banana, lemon zest, light corn, and buttery toffee.
• Taste: The taste of the Aviator American Wheat follows the nose and is characterized by soft fruity and hoppy flavors along with sweeter bready malts and light spices.  There are notes of freshly baked wheat bread, crackery biscuit, very soft toffee/caramel, a hint of honey, light clove and white pepper, and light grassy hops.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium in body and well-carbonation, the Aviator's mouthfeel is very crisp refreshing, and smooth with a clean, dry finish.

Overall pairing: The crisp and deliciously easy drinking Ogden River Brewing Aviator American Wheat is the perfect brew for a mid-week rock out session to one of the greats... Rush's brilliant "Fly By Night!  It's mellowness is a great foil to the rock and roll intensity of  Dirk, Lerxst, and the Professor!!  'Nuff said!

Cheers!!  All hail Rush!!