October 3rd, 2026 - My Recurring Dream of New Zealand Pilsners

 

Hello and happy Saturday craft beer fans, and rock and rollers!  The Meista here on this sunny Saturday with a pairing of "Recurring Dream: The Very Best of Crowded House" and "Special Edition Live Album" by Crowded House and a crisp and delicious New Zealand Pilsner from the folks at Helper Beer! 

Album Info: 

• Artist: Crowded House
• Title: "Recurring Dream: The Very Best of Crowded House" and "Special Edition Live Album"
• Recorded: 1986 through 1993 at various studios and venues in Los Angeles, California, Melbourne, Australia, Newcastle, Australia, Atlanta, Georgia, and Karekare Beach, New Zealand
  Release date: June 24th, 1996 (1st compilation album by Crowded House)
• Record company: Capitol Records
• Production: Mitchell Froom, Neil Finn, and Tchad Blake
• Album cover art: Nick Seymour
• Personnel: Neil Finn (lead vocals, guitars, keyboards, and percussion), Tim Finn (piano, guitars, and backing vocals), Mark Hart (keyboards, electric and acoustic guitars, lap steel guitar, mandolin, and backing vocals), Paul Hester (drums and backing vocals), Peter Jones (drums), and Nick Seymour (bass, backing vocals, and keyboards)
• Musical style: Rock, pop, alternative rock
• Sound: Blending well-written, melodic songs with sharp, thoughtful lyrics, Crowded House's sound is totally engaging, upbeat, and richly textured pop rock sensibility with elements of Irish folk music and traditional Māori music.
• Major themes: Life, love, relationships, emotions, loss, hope, pain, freedom, reality, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Weather With You"
2. "World Where You Live"
3. "Fall At Your Feet"
4. "Locked Out"
5. "Don't Dream It's Over"
6. "Into Temptation"
7. "Pineapple Head"
8. "When You Come"
9. "Private Universe"
10. "Not The Girl You Think You Are"
11. "Instinct"
12. "I Feel Possessed"
13. "Four Seasons In One Day"
14. "It's Only Natural"
15. "Distant Sun"
16. "Something So Strong"
17. "Mean To Me"
    
18. "Better Be Home Soon"
19. "Everything Is Good For You"

Special Edition Live Album tracks: 

1. "There Goes God"
2. "Newcastle Jam"
3. "Love You Till The Day I Die"
4. "Hole In The River"
5. "Private Universe"
6. "Pineapple Head"
7. "How Will You Go"
8. "Left Hand"
9. "Whispers And Moans"
10. "Kill Eye"
11. "Fingers Of Love"
12. "Don't Dream It's Over"
13. "When You Come"
14. "Sister Madly"
15. "In My Command"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Helper Beer (Helper, Utah)
• Website: https://www.helperbeer.com/
• Brew: New Zealand Pilsner
• Style: New Zealand-style Pilsner
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Ingredients: 
• Pour: The New Zealand Pilsner pours a crystal clear, golden-yellow hue with a thin and bubbly bright white head that dissipates fairly quickly, leaving only light lacing.
• Nose: The nose is a blend of very mellow grainy, slightly musty, and grassy aromas.  There are notes of pale grains, very light cereal grains, crackery biscuit, a hint of summer grass, a hint of citrus and kiwi, and a touch of wildflowers. 
• Taste: Following the nose, the taste of the New Zealand Pilsner is grainy, slightly grassy, slightly fruity, and crackery.  There are notes of pale malts, toasted white bread, grassy hops, Saltine crackers, and a hint of lemongrass.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium in body with lots of bubbly carbonation, the mouthfeel is very crisp and smooth with a very clean, very dry finish.

Overall pairing: The crisp and smooth flavors of the Helper New Zealand Pilsner make it a great, drinkable beer!  It has lots of flavor and a slightly hoppy kick... perfect for the rock and roll stylings of the great Crowded House on their wonderful "Recurring Dream: The Very Best of Crowded House" and "Special Edition Live Album" compilation album!  'Nuff said! 

Cheers!