July 27th, 2022 - Yelling At Black Clouds & Silver Linings

 

Hello and happy Wednesday craft brew freaks and metal maniacs!  The Meista here today with a pairing of Dream Theater's wonderful "Black Clouds & Silver Linings" and a tasty and hoppy Yelling At Clouds Cold India Pale Ale from Epic Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Dream Theater
• Title: "Black Clouds & Silver Linings"
• Recorded: October 2008 through March 2009 at Avatar Studios in New York City, New York
• Release date: June 23rd, 2009 (10th studio album by Dream Theater)
• Record company: Roadrunner Records
• Production: John Petrucci and Mike Portnoy
• Album cover art: Hugh Syme
• Personnel: James LaBrie (lead vocals), John Myung (bass), John Petrucci (guitars and backing vocals), Mike Portnoy (drums, percussion, and vocals), and Jordan Rudess (keyboards, Continuum Fingerboard, iPhone app Bebot, and lap steel guitar)
• Additional musicians: Jerry Goodman (violin on "The Best Of Times", "Odyssey" and "Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part Two")
• Musical style: Progressive metal/rock
• Sound: In a word, epic!  Like all of Dream Theater's albums, "Black Clouds & Silver Linings" is a bold, grandiose work with moments of bombastic and cinematic power and moments of soft and haunting beauty.  The band is tight, LaBrie's vocals soar, and the music is as mind-blowingly intricate as ever!
• Major themes: A concept album of sorts, themes revolve around personal experiences about disturbing or difficult moments of the band's lives and explore, life and death, loss, pain, alcoholism, sorrow, survival, hope, etc.
• Notes: Sadly, this would be Mike Portnoy's last album with Dream Theater, as he left the band later that year.
• Tracks: 


Disc 1 and 3 (instrumental versions)

1. "A Night To Remember"
2. "A Rite Of Passage"
3. "Wither"
4. "The Shattered Fortress"
• "X. Restraint"
• "XI. Receive"
• "XII. Responsible"
5. "The Best Of Times"
6. "The Count Of Tuscany"


Disc 2

1. "Stargazer" (Rainbow cover)
2. "Tenement Funster/Flick of the Wrist/Lily of the Valley" (Queen cover)
3. "Odyssey" (Dixie Dregs cover)
4. "Take Your Fingers From My Hair" (Zebra cover)
5. "Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part Two" (King Crimson cover)
6. "To Tame A Land" (Iron Maiden cover)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Epic Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://www.epicbrewing.com/
• Brew: Yelling At Clouds Cold India Pale Ale
• Style: American India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 22 ounce bottle
• ABV: 6.5% 
• Pour: The Yelling At Clouds IPA pours a slightly hazy, bright golden yellow hue with a billowy and frothy, 1+ finger, bright white head with great retention and lots of sticky intricate lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by citrusy, bready, and grassy elements.  There are aromas of pink grapefruit rind, lemon zest, summer grass, fresh hay, doughy bread, cracked wheat, and a hint of caramel.
• Taste: The taste of the Yelling At Clouds IPA follows the nose with lots of citrusy, and lightly malty flavors.  There are notes of grapefruit, light tangerine, grassy hops, crackery biscuit, and just a hint of caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Yelling At Clouds is very crisp and refreshing, and slightly bitter with a dry, fairly clean finish.

Overall pairing: Epic's Yelling At Clouds IPA is a drinkable, yet somewhat punchy and flavorful brew... a good companion to the might and depth that is Dream Theater!  Those citrusy hoppy notes go great with the intricate guitar work and bass work, while the crackery elements and slightly bitter bite go great with the more aggressive passages! 

Cheers!!