Monthly Archives: February 2013

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An evening with Carolina Story and Star & Micey

Carolina StoryThere are many things I love about listening to good music, but one the greatest joys is discovering something new. Whether it’s hearing a new single on the radio or learning of new band via word-of-mouth from a friend, I never turn down the chance to listen to something I’ve never heard before. Also at the top of my “joys of listening” list is live music. I have very broad taste in music (though I admit that it generally excludes country, with the exception of Johnny Cash, and scream-o, death metal), but I’m pretty much able to listen just about anything in a live setting. The spontaneity, the intimacy, the bond between performer and audience, the felling of awe as art is created in fount of you are all qualities of live performance that cannot be duplicated on a CD or and MP3.

Yesterday, via the wonders of social media, I discovered the band Carolina Story (I refrain from saying that I “stumbled upon” them because it would be more accurate to say they stumbled upon me on Twitter). Whilst listening their latest album, Home (which I had heretofore not known existed), and perusing their Twitter timeline, I realized they were playing a show in Columbus just few short hours from that moment. It’s entirely possible that the reason they “stumbled upon” me is precisely because they were playing a show in Columbus and it was an effort to get fans to their show. If this is, indeed, the case…well palyed, Carolina Story.

Nevertheless, not more than eight hours after listening to the first track I had ever heard from a band I knew next to nothing about, I was sitting in half-full bar, sipping a beer 12 feet from the stage, watching them perform. And that’s part of the beauty of music to me; it didn’t matter how big or well known the band was. It only mattered that they had something to share and people came out and listened. I’ve never had an experience where the music I head live wasn’t better than the recorded product (or at the very least, more fun to listen to), and that streak will continue. Besides a couple hiccups (knocking over an adjacent mic stand and miss-timing the beginning of a song), the performance was awesome. Ben and Emily have great stage presence and a sound that reminds a bit of The Civil Wars and Delta Rae. I love the simplicity of their music, and I especially dig Ben’s use of a old suitcase as a kick-drum.

Star & MiceyStar & Micey followed with an an equally enjoyable performance. Prior to the show I had never heard of, nor listened to, any of their music. To be frank, I didn’t even know another band was playing until I got to the bar. Two bands for the price of one (which happened to be free) is a pretty sweet deal! If  asked what type of music Star & Micey play, I’d be hard pressed to do so. I can hear so many different influences in their songs, from big country-pop tunes, to blues and bluegrass. They have quite a unique sound and a confident stage presence that make them a joy to watch. 

They are currently touring together, so if they’re in your city, go spend an evening with Carolina Story and Star & Micey (and buy them beer for me). Cheers!

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Gold Fields Black Sun

Gold Fields- Black SunThis is just second music-related post I’ve written for my blog and it’s already the second post about an up-and-coming band from Australia. Last week I wrote about the debut album from Australia-based synth-pop rockers Atlas Genius, and today Gold Fields released their debut album, Black Sun. It doesn’t take long to notice the similarities between these two bands, and their debut albums, don’t end at their Aussie roots.

Gold Fields, a quintet of old school buddies, formed in 2010 and released their self-titled EP in 2011. In addition to extensive touring in 2012, they made an appearance at SXSW, and released “Dark Again (Lights Out)”, the first single off their debut, full-length album.

Black Sun opens up with “Meet My Friends”, which immediately smacks you in face with a pounding drum beat, fierce, vibrating synth, and wailing background vocals. After the first smooth, flowing verse, the song moves in to mesmerizing, chant-like chorus. Listening to this song whilst sitting still is nearly impossible, and I was was fighting the urge to get up and dance in my cubicle at work.

The second track, “Dark Again (Lights Out),” from their self-titled 2011 EP, is the track that most will likely be familiar with. It begins with a hypnotic, pulsating beat that can be best described as an audible strobe light, before bursting into an undeniably 80′s pop jam with a big flashy chorus that’s easy and fun to sing along to. It’s a very poppy song, which I’m generally not a fan of, but this song (and album, for that matter) feels very crisp, fresh, and not at all cheesy.

Much like the Atlas Genius record, this album is heavily influenced by that poppy, syth-laden 80′s sound we’re all familiar with. Think “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astly, and that’s a good way to start describing Gold Fields’ sound. But they go further than just repeating some 30 year-old musical tricks. They’re able to take those tricks and make them sound fresh and new.

Gold Fields’ Black Sun is an extremely well put-together record. Every song flows naturally in and out of each other, making the album one cohesive unit. At the same time, each song is very unique and distinct from the tracks that preceded or succeed it. The one knock I had on the Atlas Genius album was that I felt like somewhere in the middle of the record, the tracks started to blend, and I really had to concentrate on what I was listening to. I don’t get that sense with this album. Any one of the eleven track could stand alone as a single while still fitting in perfectly on the whole album.

Black Sun is stunning debut album from Gold Fields. Each track will make you want to get out of your seat and dance. I’m not one for the club scene, but I can see this album getting a lot of play from DJ’s around the country. When I listed to Atlas Genius last week I really dug their sound and style, and the same goes for this record. I don’t know that I’m ready to proclaim that this album is better, but Gold Fields’ sound is very similar, and they pull it off at least as well as Atlas Genius.

This album will appeal to fans of 80′s and 90′s music in general, but specifically bands like Depeche Mode. It should also appeal to fans of modern alternative bands like The Naked and Famous, Two Door Cinema Club, M83, and Foster the People. If you haven’t heard the record yet, it’s out now, so go pick it up. Enjoy!

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Rogue Dead Guy Ale

Rogue Dead Guy AleRogue Dead Guy Ale is generally a staple of any decent bar or beer shop, and most beer nerds, like me, have had Dead Guy many times. Therefore, this post isn’t likely to surprise anyone. I chose this beer, though, for a couple reasons. First it’s awesome and I enjoy drinking it. Second, as if any other reason is necessary, it is a perfect beer for the upcoming spring season. Dead Guy is not a seasonable beer, but it is a Maibock beer, which is the typical style of beer for the Spring season.

Dead Guy has a slightly hazy amber color with about a finger and a half of off-white head. The head dissolves quickly, but leaves behind some decent lacing. The tiny bubbles floating to the top are a clue to this beer’s medium carbonation.

The aroma is quite fruity and sweet. I can detect some dark fruits and even some citrus. The malt aroma is also very forward with notes of toffee and caramel.  There is an underlying aroma of floral hops that is noticeable yet not overpowering. This beer has a very pleasant nose.

Dead Guy Ale packs in quite a few flavors, beginning with the dark fruits I noticed in the aroma. I can detect some cherries and, perhaps, some dates, which add some sweetness to taste. I also taste some caramel and roasted malts. Finally, the beer gives the pallet a slight tingle from the hops and finishes with medium dryness and very little alcohol warmth. Dead Guy has a medium-to-full body with medium carbonation.

I’m sure most of my readers have had Dead Guy many times, and for good reason. This is an outstanding beer that always seems to hit the spot. This particular serving was from a 12 oz. bottle, but it’s even better on draught. With Spring right around the corner, this is a great beer to thaw you out from a frosty winter. If you’re new to Dead Guy, give it a shot and let me know what you think. If you’ve had it before, do you prefer a bottle or draught?

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Ballast Point Sculpin IPA

Ballast Point Sculpin IPAI’m almost ashamed to admit that I had never heard of Ballast Point Brewing, much less their Sculpin IPA, prior to this tasting. My brother picked some up and, after doing some research, I realized I should have become acquainted with this brew a long time ago. Ballast Point Sculpin IPA boasts a score of 98 on Beer Advocate, and comes in at number 36 on their list of the 250 top beers. I was anxious to give it a try and to see if lives up the high praise.

A vigorous pour into my glass reveals a very clear, vibrant orange beer with about two fingers of white head.The retention is lacking, but there is decent lacing on the glass. This is a highly carbonated beer, which is evident by watching all the little bubbles float to the top of the glass.

The first scent that greets my nose is the unmistakable aroma of hops. There is also a considerable amount of citrus in the aroma in the form of grapefruit and pineapple. I also get a lot of pine and some floral notes.  This is very easily identifiable as an IPA, and it’s complexity is refreshing.

To go along with the complex aroma, Sculpin IPA packs a very complex flavor profile as well. There are a lot of fruits here, including orange, mango and pineapple, and this adds a bit of sweetness to the initial taste. The pine and floral notes from the aroma really shine through in the taste as well. In the middle I taste some bread malts. This beer is really aggressively hopped and bitterness is impressive but not overpowering. The finish is long and dry with a moderate level of alcohol warmth. It feels creamy, a bit oily and highly carbonated.

Overall, this is an exceptionally well balanced beer. The flavor is complex and exceeding interesting. Also, at just 7% ABV, it’s an easy beer to enjoy over and over again. I’m a little disappointing that I’m just now discovering this gem, but I’m glad I finally did. Although I may not be able to rate it quite as highly its rating on Beer Advocate, I’ll certainly be coming back to Sculpin IPA again and again.

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Great Lakes Alchemy Hour Double IPA

Great Lakes Alchemy Hour Double IPA
One of my favorite things about drinking craft beer is drinking great local brews. Although I live in Columbus, and Cleveland is two and a  half hours North-East of me, many locals (myself included) consider Great Lakes to be a “local” beer. It is one of my all-time favorite breweries, and just about everything they do is out-of-this-world delicious. Great Lakes Alchemy Hour Double IPA is a brand-new brew from the Cleveland brewery which just started hitting the shelves this month. It certainly lives up to Great Lakes’ stellar reputation.

Alchemy hour is a beautiful copper color with a slight reddish tint. The color reminds me of a Summer sunset. I poured the beer rather aggressively into the glass and, despite my vigor, I was only able to yield about one finger of head. The head promptly dissipated, leaving behind no evidence of its existence. Nevertheless, this is a nice-looking beer.

The aroma is more complex than I’ve experienced with a lot of IPAs. I definitely get a lot of hops, but there’s also a lot of other fragrances going on here as well. There’s pine notes, some caramel and honey from the malts, and some breadiness. I also detect a few floral notes, and it seems the more I sniff the more I can pick out. The aroma is very tempting and it makes you want to dive right in.

Like almost every other Great Lakes beer I’ve had (and I’ve had most of them), this one does not disappoint in the taste category. Up front, I get some sweetness from the honey malts, and there is some breadiness in the middle. On the back end there is a very bright hop flavor and it finishes dry with a mild alcohol burn. The flavor is just as complex as the aroma, with hints of pine, honey, caramel and spices. Mouthfeel is medium-bodied, feels chewy (even a bit sticky), and has medium to light carbonation. As I sip this beer, though, I feel like there is something missing and I can’t quite put my finger on what it is. About half way through the class I realized that what is lacking in the IPA is citrus flavor. It’s there, but it’s very understated. This makes for a unique flavor profile for an imperial IPA in that all the other flavors are allowed to shine.

I am a huge fan of Great Lakes Brewing Company, and this beer only further reinforces how great they are. This isn’t even my favorite IPA by Great Lakes (that honor goes to Lake Erie Monster), but this is still an awesome beer. If you’re not familiar with Great Lakes, my recommendation is that you become acquainted  and if possible, get you hands on some Alchemy Hour Double IPA in the process.

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Heavy Seas Peg Leg Imperial Stout

Heavy Seas Peg LegAhoy, Matey! Because Peg Leg Imperial Stout by Heavy Seas is a pirate-themed beer from a pirate-themed brewery, it was very tempting for me to write this entire post in pirate lingo. But, because I actually want you to continue reading, and because I’d hate to be sent to Davey Jones’ locker, I will spare you and share this beer with you in plain English (or as plain as I can manage). Savvy? Batten down the hatches, we’re settin’ sail.

Right away Peg Leg screams imperial stout; it is very, very dark. Its nearly perfect blackness is only interrupted by the tiniest hint of copper around the edges of the glass. It pours with three to four fingers of creamy, tan head. Retention is good and there is a fair amount of lacing left behind on the glass.

The aroma is overwhelming dominated by chocolate malts. It smells a bit like roasted coffee  and there may also be a hint of caramel present as well. The dark chocolate malts, though, are the stars of the show here. Absent is any real indication of hops at all. Despite the lack of hops aroma, it smells amazing!

The first thing I taste as I sip though the thick  creamy head is chocolate. A lot of chocolate. The I’m greeted with the roasted coffee that I detected in the aroma. It is very malty and also quite sweet in middle. The carbonation is a bit high, and it doesn’t feel as full-bodied as I would have expected. It finishes dry with some bitterness that’s reminiscent of eating dark chocolate. Finally, at 8% ABV, the alcohol is masked very well.

Heavy Seas Peg Leg is a very solid stout and a beer I’d gladly drink again. It’s very drinkable and, although the chocolate dominates the flavor profile, there is actually a pretty complex pallet beneath the chocolate layer. There are definitely some better stouts out there, but I wouldn’t make this one walk the plank.

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Atlas Genius- When it was Now

Atlas Genius- When it was Now

They come from a land down under and, no, I’m not referring to Men At Work. I’m talking about the Australian quartet, Atlas Genius, who’s debut album, When it was Now was released today. I’ve been waiting for this album to drop since the day I heard their first single, “Trojans” last year, which now seems like an eternity ago. I’ve really been enjoying their 4-track Through the Glass EP, but it just leaves me wanting more. The wait is finally over.

When it was Now is very heavily influenced by 80′s and early 90′s pop music, and it is apparent immediately on the first track, which is aptly named “Electric.” It begins with electronic 8-bit-sounding beat that is reminiscent of an old Nintendo game. After being sucked into a time-warp, you’re greeted with a big, synth-powered beat that is very familiar (and nostalgic, even) while also being refreshingly new. I almost feel like I’m listening to Depeche Mode, but it’s easily identifiable as something new and unique.

While the 80′s electro-synth style remains through much of the album, it is toned down a bit after the first track. The second track, “If So,” is one of my personal favorites on the album. This track features more of the typical alt-rock sound most fans are familiar with. The electronic sound is still there, but it takes a back seat to an actual drum beat and guitar riffs.

The fifth track, “Trough the Glass,” is a bit of a change of pace for the album. It begins with an acoustic guitar riff and soft base-line from the kick-drum, and gradually builds to the chorus which is very piano driven, accompanied by a harder drum beat, acoustic guitar and synthesized ambiance. The song has an ebb and flow between these two distinct sounds which, for lack of better words, I’ll simply call “small” and “big.”

The 80′s influence really reaches it’s climax on “Centered on You,” which, at least initially, sounds like it could be a Debbie Gibson song. This theme carries itself out through much of the album, and it’s not at all a bad thing. It gives Atlas Genius a very unique, signature sound which should attract fans of bands like Depeche Mode, but also fans of bands like Two Door Cinema Club and Foster the People.

The album includes club-style remixes of “Trojans” and “Back Seat,” which I could do without. Also included, however, is an acoustic version of “If So” which is truly one of the gems on this record. Atlas Genius has a very fun, upbeat sound and great vocals that are great to sing along to. After the long wait for this album, I’d say it was worth the wait. Check it out if you haven’t already.
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Golden Monkey by Victory Brewing Company

Victory Golden MonkeyI’ve been drinking a lot of IPAs and stouts lately, so I decided to pick up something different. I had some vague recollection of previously drinking Golden Monkey, a tripel from Victory Brewing Company, and enjoying it, so I decided to give it another go.

Golden Monkey is bright yellow with a slight orange tint and it’s quite clear with minimal haze. It pours with an average amount creamy, off-white head, but retention was fair at best and there was almost no lacing.

The nose is reminiscent of a Hefe, but a bit more harsh. There is a lot of yeast, spice, and barley in the aroma. There is also a bit of fruitiness present as well. I would call it tangy, citrus scent.

Golden Monkey boasts an excellent balance of sweet citrus, spices, and hops. The initial taste reminds me, again, of a Hefe, but it is much more aggressively hopped and much more spicy. The yeast flavor is strong, but not overwhelming.  True to style, this beer is highly alcoholic (9.5% ABV), but is hidden devilishly well behind the balancing act of other flavors. There is very little burn from alcohol, but the hops give this beer a bit of a dry finish.

The initial sweetness makes this a very drinkable beer, and the dry finish leaves you wanting more. At 9.5%, that’s a dangerous, (or perfect, perhaps) cycle. This isn’t an extraordinary beer, but it is a very good beer and pretty true to style. If you like tripels  give it a shot, and if you’re new to tripels, this might be a good place to start.

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Welcome to the New Rough Draught!

Welcome to the New Rough Draught Blog! Welcome to the new Rough Draught! I took a big step and moved the blog to WordPress on my own domain name, RoughDraughtBlog.com. I now have a lot of tool which give me more flexibility and control of the the site to help make it awesome. I’ve also given the blog a complete make-over with a look that is simple, clean, and easier on the eyes than the old site. Finally, I extended the redesign to both the Rough Draught Twitter and Facebook pages. Although, at the moment  I admit that I am very much a WordPress dummy, I’m really excited about the change and look forward to making my blog better.

I also want to give a very special Thank You to my wife, Ashley, for helping me set up the site on WordPress. And of course by “helping me” I actually mean “doing everything for me.” She’s pretty much a pro at this by now, and, left to my own devises, I surely would have broken something.

So take a look around and I hope you enjoy. If you are so inclined, leave a comment and let me know what you think. Cheers!

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Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous

Sublimely Self-Righteous is a Black IPA (emphasis on BLACK!) by Stone Brewing Company. I don’t think this this beer really needs any more introduction than that. Let’s get to it.

This beer is black. Jet black, even. When held up to light, there is a deep, reddish amber around the edges of the glass, but not much light is getting through. It pours with an average amount of head and lacing is very good. This beer is definitely eye candy.

But it’s beer, so it’s not made to look at; it’s made to drink. And you want to drink this one. Like all Stone beers, this is a beer that really pushes the envelope a particular style. This is an IPA, and it’s a beer by Stone, so the hops really hit you in the face. But there is also a nice balance with the malts as well. I really enjoy the blend of coffee and caramel flavors in the malts. It finishes a dry, and at 8.7% ABV, there’s only a slight burn from the alcohol. The hops, though, do linger a bit on the pallet.

This beer is a masterpiece, and yet another gem by Stone Brewing. If you’re a beer-lover and have never had Sublimely Self-Righteous, do yourself a favor and do so immediately!