The Spins

There is something about a great beer and a great vinyl record. They have a notable similarity. They both not only provide sustenance with the music/taste on the inside, but they are presented very artfully on the outside. Whether it be a gatefold, a single pocket, a bottle, a mug, or a growler, there is something about both of these things that we love to hold onto and show off. That is why we can always anticipate a good night when solid brews and tasty tunes are involved.

[solidbrewstastytunes-blog]

Drinking: Founders Brewing Company's Centennial IPA BeerAdvocate: 92/100 ABV: 7.2%

Woah, it's been a long time since I rock n' roll.

Founders is in many lists for the top ten brewers in the world. Personally, I like Bell's overall portfolio more than Founders as far as Michigan breweries go.  As you probably gather from previous posts, American IPA's are my favorite style of beer.  Not too heavy, but not too light, I am always in the mood for one.  Unlike porters and stouts that sometimes feel like a meal in a bottle.

Founders's Centennial IPA is no exception.  There was a quarter barrel of this at the liquor store I get my kegs from.  I was really tempted, but money is tight and the $100+ price tag ended up scaring me off.  Oh well, hopefully after the holidays we will be able to treat ourselves.

Spinning: Prawn's You Can Just Leave It All (2011) via Topshelf Records

I got to meet these guys when they came through a couple years ago, and they were pretty nice guys.  I ended up getting a casual interview with the band on a porch sipping on Lion Stout.  This record was on constantly for a good few months.  Although I have lost touch with the guys in the band over the past year or two, I still keep tabs on their releases and wish them the best!

[solidbrewstastytunes-blog]

Drinking: North Coast Brewing Company's Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout, BeerAdvocate: 95/100, ABV: 9%

There is a lot I like about this one.  The taste alone is great, but Rasputin was one of my favorite historical figures.  I'm sure you learned about him in school, but if you haven't you can read all about this Russian guy, use his wikipedia as a jumping off point.

In addition to making great beers, North Coast is a firm supporter of jazz music.  They actually are the main beer sponsors at a couple jazz festivals.

Spinning: DJ Danger Mouse via not sure, most likely himself.

This is one of those "finds" you get at record stores.  When you get a quick look, and then stop and go back and try to process exactly what you are looking at.  The website on the side A has since been taken by some freeloader called DJ Danger.  The other side label has the track listing:

Side A:

Nas - Got UR Self a Gun (DM Mix)

Method Man & Redman - How High part 2 (DM Mix)

Side B:

Xzibit - Papparazi (DM's Radiohead Mix)

OutKast - Whole World (DM's Funkadelic Mix)

First song is a mix of Nas and Dr. Dre (Nuthin' But A G Thang) mashed up, the second song is a mash up of Methodman/Redman and A Tribe Called Quest (Electric Relaxation).  You probably heard the Xzibit song that is backed by Radiohead, and OutKast backed by Funkadelic.  I have tried to find information about this record, but I haven't had much luck.  Most likely, these records were distributed promotionally by Danger Mouse to get his name out there as a producer.  The rest is history.

[solidbrewstastytunes-blog]

Drinking: Bass Brewers Limited's Bass Ale BeerAdvocate: 79/100

The new mug was a gift.  Unlike my other mugs, it comfortable seats two beers.  Bass Ale isn't necessarily an adventure like the other craft beers.  You can get it pretty much anywhere; I would consider it the middle tier between bland cheap beer and tasty craft beers.  Bass Ales was one of my first tastes of the British Pale Ale, and I have really taken a liking to British style beers in general since than (Except IPA's, American IPA's are where it's at).  I first picked it up because I like to fish, and when I read Bass Ale, I just liked it.

Bass Brewer's wikipedia page is an interesting one.  One thing I took away was that much of this beer you buy in the states is actually brewed here in Baldwinsville, New York, not the United Kingdom.

It's an old brewery, starting in 1777.  As a result, the marketing was old school. Bottles of Bass with the Red Triangle logo have occasionally appeared in art and literature. Bottles of Bass Pale Ale bearing the triangle can be seen in Edouard Manet's 1882 painting Bar at the Folies-Bergère.  Bottles of Bass can also be seen in over 40 paintings by Picasso, mostly at the height of his Cubist period around 1914.  In the "Oxen of the Sun" episode of James Joyce's Ulysses, Bloom remarks upon the Bass logo.

Spinning: Seahaven's Winter Forever via Run For Cover Records, Bandcamp

This was one of my favorite albums from last year.  It isn't something that is exactly groundbreaking, but it is an incredible impressive, catchy record.  The music pushes in all kinds of directions and the topping on the cake is the unique, stroryteller drawl.  He ranges between clear melodic melodies to rough, raw yelling.  The choruses are undeniable; after a couple listens it's hard not to belt out alongside this album.  The more I drink, the amount of belting out should increase until I fall into a sloppy stupor.

For the first press, I opted for one of the 300 180 gram vinyl records.  It isn't as pretty as the grey, white or clear, but many people argue that black vinyl sounds the best.  Honestly, I don't notice too much of a difference.  I am speaking from heresay/memory, so I might be totally wrong.  Sowwy.

[solidbrewstastytunes-blog]

Drinking: Brouwerij Van Steenberge's Piraat Ale BeerAdvocate: 90/100

Aside from being one of the 55 beers that will knock you flat on your ass, Piraat ale is considered one of the best Belgian beers. Steenberge Brewery , also known as Brewery Bios or Schelfaut, is a Belgian brewery founded in 1784 as Brouwerij De Peer. The company is located in the East Flemish village Ertvelde , part of Evergem .

Spinning: By Surprise's Mountain Smashers via Topshelf Records, Bandcamp

I remember after hearing "Realometer", the first single released for this album, that I immediately preordered the album and began to search everyday to find a leak for it online.  The smoke option is hard to see in the picture provided, but the subtle difference from a black record is actually pretty cool.  Here is a better look, but mine actually looks a bit less translucent than the one shown in that picture.

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Drinking: Laguinta's A Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale 7.5% BeerAdvocate: 93/100

I've like other Laguinta beers, mainly Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, so I wanted to give this whirl.  Holy crap, this is some good stuff.

Sneaky Smooth with a Touch of What We Call Wheatly-esque-ish-ness. Crispy Wheat and Pale Malt flavors with a Big Round & Juicy Hop Finish. Everyone Needs A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Sometimes. You Can Get It All Year Now... in a Six-Pack!

Lagunitas has been one of the fastest-growing craft breweries in the United States, increasing from 27,000 barrels in 2004to 106,000 barrels in 2010. As of March 2011, the company has 92 employees and sells its beer in 32 states. The brewery announced a $9.5 million expansion slated to begin early 2012 which will increase its brewing capacity to 600,000 barrels. On April 9th, 2012, Lagunitas announced plans for a new Chicago based brewery equipped with a 250 barrel brew house which will also have a 600,000 barrel capacity. The brew house is to be completed by July 2013 with the first mash in slated for Q4 2013.

This may be kind of weird, but something that I immediately like about beers is when companies use the rough, papery feeling labels that I assume is some kind of recycled paper.  It feels so DIY, and mainly smaller craft brewers seem to use it.  There is also a big sister to this beer called Little Sumpin' Wild that not only is stronger (8.6%) but contains nodes of citrus and bubblegum.  It is only available in July, so I plan to be on the lookout for this one.  If it is anything like it's little sister, it should be a trip.

Spinning: Maps and Atlases' You and Me and the Mountain (2008) via Sargent House, Bandcamp

This record scared the fuck out of their fanbase.  It was a deviation from the quirky, weird, fast jams on their EP Trees, Swallows, Houses.  This album was tamer, but in my eyes, much more mature.  It glows with rich harmonies and catchy riffs while not completely sacrificing everything about their previous work.  If you took what the band was before this release and their latest album(s), and smashed them together, this is what you get.  Personally, I think it incorporates the best of both worlds.  This EP is a one sided 12" and on the blank side there is a really neat etching of the album name.  You can see it better here.

This also was their first release with Sargent House, which is around the time the label became a haven for progressive, underground music.  People give a lot of credit to other labels, but I think Sargent House has an absolutely stellar roster.

[solidbrewstastytunes-blog]

Drinking: Sierra Nevada's Torpedo Extra IPA Ale BeerAdvocate: 92/100

It's hard finding a good beer when you are low on cash.  Fortunately, this brew is fucking delicious and isn't nearly as expensive as other tasty high ABV beers.  Around here you can get a six pack for 8 or 9 bucks.  So to save some cash, buy a sixer of these guys, and a case of cheapass piss water.  Start with the Torpedo, and then after one or two, everything begins to taste like water anyways, so you can start breaking into the cheap beer.  Remember, always start with the tasty beers, kids.

Spinning: Snowing's I Could Do Whatever I Wanted If I Wanted (2010) via Count Your Lucky Stars/Square of Opposition Records.  Bandcamp

This is one of the first presses of this album.  It was one of the three options you could get in the first run.  The cover is different than the album art in general because this version was black vinyl with a screen printed jacket.  It included some info of this pressing on the inside:

"...The screen printed covers were printed by yours truly in Bethlehem PA on recycled covers or paper produced by French Paper Co.  French Paper is based in Michigan, runs on hydroelectricity, and has been family owned for generations.  Every aspect of this record was produced through small, independent companies based in the united states.  I think that still matters and I hope you'll consider supporting these fine people."

I would say go see this band, but I heard a rumor that they broke up.  Crazy, huh?  Oh wait, I am still in denial.

[solidbrewstastytunes-blog]

Drinking: Great Lakes Brewing Company's Commodore Perry IPA BeerAdvocate: 88/100

"Don't Give Up The Sip"

The folks at Great Lakes Brewing Company named this brew after "The Hero of Lake Erie", Oliver Hazard Perry.  He participated in the War of 1812 against the British, and had the battle flag that read "Don't Give Up The Ship". After supervising the building of a fleet at Erie, Pennsylvania, at the age of 27 earned the title "Hero of Lake Erie" for leading American forces in a decisive naval victory at the Battle of Lake Erie, receiving a Congressional Gold Medal and the Thanks of Congress.

Speaking of gold medals, this brew was a gold medal winner at the World Beer Championships in 1996, 2008, and 2011.  Great Lakes Brewing Company seems to be a step above the rest; every beer I try by them is above average.  It's considered an English-style IPA, but the 7.5% gives it an American kick to it.

Spinning: Rooftops's A Forest of Polarity via Topshelf Records (2009) Bandcamp

The term "classic" gets thrown around quite a bit these days, but I think this album definitely deserves the term.  This band took what made Piglet awesome, and tightened it up even more and added more layers by throwing more guitarists in the mix.  Not to take anything from Piglet; Lavaland was/is a classic in it's own right.  These two bands also have another sad similarity: they released really great albums and then disbanded shortly after that.  It's disappointing, but it is arguably the best way to go.  Make people wanting more.

This was one of my first all-white records.  It fits perfectly with the album art, and it just makes for a really good piece.

P.S. Never ever get Alexander Kieth's India Pale Ale.  I got a case of it at the Duty Free thinking I was getting a decent relatively inexpensive Canadian IPA.  The 5% should have been a warning, but I blindly bought it.  I couldn't check Beeradvocate or other sites, because I would get crazy roaming charges.  Basically, it tastes like someone siphoned Budweiser into a different bottle and labeled it an IPA.  Seriously, it doesn't taste at all like an IPA.  Now I have a whole shitty case of shitty beer to drink.  Poor me.

[solidbrewstastytunes-blog]

Drinking: Great Lakes Brewing Co's Edmund Fitzgerald Porter Beeradvocate: 95/100

It's like Guinness, but waaaaay better.  A phenomenal chocolate/coffee taste makes this one of my favorite brews.  

Great Lakes Brewing Company has undertaken a number of initiatives to promote sustainability, including recycling promotional materials to create fuel for heating an outdoor structure, the use of straw-bale construction (incidentally the first straw-bale structure in Cleveland), the composting of leftovers from the brewery's restaurant, and the use of local and organic food. The brewery also provides barley left over from the brewing process to local farmers for use as feed and to local bakers who use it to produce bread and pretzels. In addition, the delivery trucks are equipped to use biodiesel and are fueled with left-over vegetable oil from the restaurant. The brewery also uses outside air for cooling during winter months, rather than conventional refrigeration units. The organization is growing, with 5800 members in 2008.

Spinning: Kite Party's Baseball Season via Animal Style Records

This band came out of nowhere for me when I happened to catch them opening for a band I was anxiously awaiting.  There live set was awesome, and I made a note when I got back home to make sure I checked these guys out.  At the time, they hadn't been signed to Animal Style yet, and didn't have this out on vinyl.  After people started catching on that this album ruled, they were quickly scooped up by Animal Style and are about to embark on a tour.  Go see them, seriously.  I was going to link the tour dates up, but I am having a hard time finding them.

[solidbrewstastytunes-blog]

Drinking: Dogfish Head's My Antonia Beer Advocate: 90/100

This here beer is a lagerific departure for our ale-centric brewery.  A marriage of the old world tradition and new world innovation, My Antonia is brewed with pilsner malt and continually-hopped with a blend of Noble and West Coast hops.

-Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales

Cliches and made-up words aside, this brew is fantastic.  My Antonia started out as a collaboration beer when Sam from Dogfish brewed it at Birra del Borgo outside Rome, Italy, with owner/brewer Leonardo DiVencenzo in October 2008. In 2010, they began brewing My Antonia in Delaware for U.S. distribution.

The variety of tastes is great; there is a balance of hops and pils providing a cohesion of sweet, bitter, malty, and smooth.  This is a palate that many people could appreciate.  It is very drinkable, but the 7.5% ABV still will hit you fairly quickly.

Spinning: Explosions in the Sky's All of A Sudden I Miss Everyone (2007) via Temporary Residence

Thirty seconds is all you'll need to believe in the tragedy-turned-majesty of 'All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone', Explosions In The Sky's long-awaited fourth album. The hands-over-your-face, drop-to-your-knees opening track is only the beginning of the dominating brilliance of this record. Recorded by John Congleton (The Roots, The Mountain Goats) at Pachyderm Studios in rural Minnesota, the album is a massive leap forward, showcasing a broader instrumental range and their most focused, efficient songwriting to date. It's also within arm's length of matching the overwhelming glory of their legendary live shows, trading in the crystalline production of 'The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place' for a paint-peeling intensity that blurs the lines between studio and live performance.

-Temporary Residence

This is one of EITS most accomplished and solid albums overall; an effort where they seem to come full circle and balance every aspect and strength they had in other albums.

Here is a fun random fact: Internet music critic Anthony Fantano of The Needle Drop has the cover of this album tattooed on his left bicep.

[solidbrewstastytunes-blog]

Drinking: Short's Brewing Company's Huma-Lupa-Licious BeerAdvocate: 91

Short's is located in little ol' Bellaire, Michigan.  This village of 1,000 or so people are lucky to have a world-class brewery in it's midst, but it does help that Bellaire is somewhat of a popular tourist destination.  The brewery, specifically, was founded in 2004 by brewer and owner Joe Short in an empty hardware store.  First year production totaled 178 barrels.  With the 2008 Elk Rapids warehouse facilities, Short's production capacity increased to thirty barrels, leading to a total projected five year production of between 8,000 and 10,000 barrels per year.The bottling line is designed to process 800 bottles per day.

The pub offers space for community gatherings, local art (even the bar was made by locals), and live performance. The pub organises beer festival parties and a "Short's To Short's Paddle," a 26 mile lake and river canoe trip from the pub to the Elk Rapids facility.

Huma-Lupa's name is in honor of the hop plant, Humulus lupulus.  For good reason, the amount of hops in this brew packs a punch.  It has quickly become one of Short's most popular beers.

Spinning: Signals Midwest's Lagitudes and Longitudes (2011) via Tiny Engines

It's hard to find bands that are not only intelligent, but easily accessible.  This is a band that can rock a dingus off while propagating new people to get their dinguses rocked off.  Why are people so eager to get their dinguses rocked off?  Probably because they spare no energy during the procedure (a show). Not only does their expertise (musicianship) speak for itself on this debut album, but so does their name.  This is a true midwest band.  They mix together elements of punk, emo, and post-hardcore to make post-hunk-mo.  Will you be able to see these hunks somewhere near you?  Most likely.  They are touring like it's the cool thing to do or something, so I guarantee you can find them.

Out of the three color styles I chose maroon, but I prefer to think of it as shit-swirling-down-the-toilet color.  Then I can confidently say this album is the shit. ZING!

[solidbrewstastytunes-blog]

Drinking: Yard's Brawler Pugilist Style Ale BeerAdvocate: 82

Yard's Trivia:

Pennsylvania's first 100% wind-powered brewery.

Bar tops are reclaimed bowling alley lanes.

Floors made from recycled concrete and coated in SoyCrete sustainable compound.

Block walls covered in earthen American clay.

Hot water collected and reused whenever possible.

All fixtures, furniture and equipment are reclaimed.

Salvaged mahogany trim on the bar and walls.

Century-old pool table originally manufactured a few blocks away at 222 S. 8th Street.

Reusable growlers to reduce packaging and waste.

Grains donated to local farms as feed.

Yards cases are printed using 65% post-consumer recycled cardboard at a local SFI-certified manufacturer.

Spinning: Radiohead's Amnesiac (2001)

Amnesiac is the fifth studio album by English rock band Radiohead, released in June 2001 on Parlophone and produced by Nigel Godrich. Recorded in the same sessions as previous album Kid A, Amnesiac incorporates similar influences of electronic music, classical music, jazz and krautrock.

"I read that the gnostics believe when we are born we are forced to forget where we have come from in order to deal with the trauma of arriving in this life. I thought this was really fascinating. It's like the river of forgetfulness. [Amnesiac] may have been recorded at the same time [as Kid A]... but it comes from a different place I think. It sounds like finding an old chest in someone's attic with all these notes and maps and drawings and descriptions of going to a place you cannot remember."

-Thom Yorke

When Radiohead is brought up, most people reference Kid A or OK Computer as their favorites.  It's a wonder why when I was first getting into Radiohead, nobody suggested this album to me.  I was in a record shop and saw this beautiful double 10" gatefold.  I hadn't listened to this album before and when I saw the band it was and that it was only 11 dollars, I was prompt with getting this unique piece.  This has been spun many, many times since then.

[solidbrewstastytunes-blog]

Drinking: Founder's All Day IPA; ABV: 4.7% Beer Advocate: 88/100

As you may or may not know, I'm a big fan of the IPA's.  I was very surprised with how light this beer tasted compared to other IPA's I have had.  Maybe that is why it is called "All Day" because it isn't as heavy so you can drink it "all day".  The artwork certainly alludes to a sunny, fun camping trip that probably would encourage extended periods of sipping on this beer.  Perhaps if you know someone that is not a big fan of strong, thick hoppy beers, then maybe this would be a good introduction to a lighter IPA.  Think of it as more of a British IPA.  We tend to think of IPA's having a higher ABV in the States, but it turns out the British have been brewing IPA's under 4% since the 1920's.  IPA's in England tend to be of a low gravity.

Spinning: They Make Beer Commercials Like This by Minus the Bear (2004)

Talk about becoming a household name, Minus the Bear went from the noodley, dancy emo/indie rock to an extremely accessible indie band.  Generally when asked what kind of bands I like, I tend to include Minus the Bear not because they are one of my favorite bands, but because I know the person is more likely to know who they are.

I chose this album not only because it is my favorite of theirs, but because the whole camping trip image on "All Day IPA" fits perfectly with the lyrics to my favorite song "Houston, We have Uh-Oh":

"We go home, after fishin' all day

and get our hands dirty getting the catch clean

and mike is in the kitchen

he's heating up the fry pan

and we're in the front yard

we're watching the sun fall"

This song is one of the B-sides.  If Minus the Bear did a compilation of their rarities and b-sides, I would buy it in a heartbeat.  Simply because they tend to not want to include songs on their albums that I tend to really enjoy.

Here's to summer, and to many camping trips ahead.

[solidbrewstastytunes-blog]

Drinking: Bell's Two Hearted Ale; BeerAdvocate: 95 (the Bros: 78, wuh?)

India Pale Ale style well suited for Hemingway-esque trips to the Upper Peninsula. American malts and enormous hop additions give this beer a crisp finish and incredible floral hop aroma.

The Two Hearted River is a short river, approximately 23.6 miles (38.0 km) long, in northern Michigan in the United States. It drains a forested wilderness area of the eastern Upper Peninsula into Lake Superior.  Hemingway used the name because of its appeal; however, the geography of the story indicates that Hemingway was really describing a different trout stream, the Fox River near Seney.

Spinning: Stereopathetic Soulmanure by Beck (1994)

Although not one of his more noted albums, I got this for a steal.  The album comprises mostly home demos, live performances, and abstract noise experiments.

[solidbrewstastytunes-blog]

Drinking: Founders Double Trouble IPA Beer Advocate: 93/100

A solid Michigan brew that is highly drinkable (strong citrus/grapefruit taste), but also quite potent (almost 10%).  Basically, if Hopslam is out of season, here is one of the several adequate substitutes.

Spinning: Tera Melos "Drugs to the Dear Youth" 10" EP via Sargent House

No lyrics, just twenty minutes of trippy awesomeness.

[solidbrewstastytunes-blog]

Drinking: Canadian Club

Whiskey on the rocks, a man's drink.  Restorations' drink. Go Wings!

Spinning: Strange Behaviors EP by Restorations

It would probably be fitting to be playing their self-titled LP that features the song "Canadian Club", but I have been listening to this'un a bit more.

"There is no answer here."

"And how much can you get, for a dollar and some cents? 

We can ask for pardons when  the mayor calls it in."

"I can feel it crawling through my bones"

[solidbrewstastytunes-blog]

Drinking: Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout; BeerAdvocate: 94/100

-Yorkshire's oldest brewery founded in 1758

-Brewing water for ales and stouts is still drawn from the original 85 ft (26 m) well, sunk when the site was established in 1758, and the yeast used in the fermentation process is of a strain that has been used continuously since approximately 1900 - one of the oldest unchanged strains in the country

-In keeping with this rich sense of history and tradition, the brewery keeps a small team of dapple-grey Shire Horses. Far from being simply show horses, these gentle giants are among the last active dray horses in the world. They deliver beer around the town of Tadcaster five days a week.

-The brewery operates over 300 pubs,which are notable for their independence: The beers are all produced by the Tadcaster brewery and no large-corporation spirits or soft-drinks are available.

Spinning:  A Tribe Called Quest's Midnight Marauders

"You can be a black man and lose your soul,

you can be white and blue but don't crap the roll."

"Ladies make a forum on your sexual drive,

devoted to your lover and make it thrive."

"Bust out on your couch, now you got semen's furniture"

"Keep bouncing"

"I like my beats hard like two day old shit"

"When's the last time you heard a funky diabetic?"

"I skate on your crew like Mario Lemieux"

"See, I like to get down, Jack"