OnTap Magazine

FEATURE BEER STYLES: Red ale, wee heavy, barleywine MUSIC GENRES: Folk, indie rock, progressive rock Ever found yourself in an English- style pub in front of a roaring fire and looking for something classic, sumptuous, and – well – proper? These are the big boys of the wood- and-leather public houses of old and, for that, you need to have the lilting melodies and ethereal jigs of these carefully chosen bands. ALBUM RECOMMENDATIONS: Fairport Convention – Liege & Lief Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes Jethro Tull – Songs From The Wood LOCAL BEER RECOMMENDATIONS: Friar’s Habit Craft Brewery – Irish Red Ale Aegir Project – A Wee Heavy Scottish Ale Triggerfish Brewing – Stonefish BEER STYLE: India pale ale MUSIC GENRES: Thrash metal, punk rock, power metal, hard rock Ah, the noble IPA – the style to end all styles. Whether West Coast, session, black, New England, imperial, or just straight-up classic English, the hops arrive instantly and take the palate to heights found nowhere else. Bitter and delish, the IPA kickstarts the heart and bangs the head. ALBUM RECOMMENDATIONS: Anthrax – Among The Living Fear – The Record Eternal Champion – The Armor Of Ire Motörhead – Overkill LOCAL BEER RECOMMENDATIONS: Afro Caribbean Brewing Co. – Jungle Paradise Agar’s Brewery – Tomahawk Anvil Ale Brewery – Mjölnir The 400 Brewing Company – Harambe Imperial Black IPA BEER STYLES: Belgian ale, saison, Trappist ale MUSIC GENRES: Jazz, classical, death metal These styles are just that – stylish. Not only does the punter feel like they’re drinking something as old as time, the complexity of these beers is taken to a new level with the addition of the intricate musicianship found in jazz, classical, and (yes, trust me) death metal. ALBUM RECOMMENDATIONS: Miles Davis – Sketches Of Spain Julian Bream – The Ultimate Guitar Collection Blood Incantation – Hidden History Of The Human Race LOCAL BEER RECOMMENDATIONS: Woodstock Brewery – Sugarman Old Potter’s Brewhouse – Plaas Japie Drifter Brewing Co. – Ocean Aged Tripel BEER STYLES: American wild ale, Berliner Weisse, Lambic, Flanders red MUSIC GENRES: Acid jazz, soul, post- punk, hip hop These sometimes mouth-puckering styles have become very popular with local craft drinkers, and rightfully so. A totally different taste experience to all other beers, they are wild and experimental, and require music just as adventurous. ALBUM RECOMMENDATIONS : St. Germain – Tourist Stevie Wonder – Songs In The Key Of Life Joy Division – Unknown Pleasures The Roots – Things Fall Apart LOCAL BEER RECOMMENDATIONS: Little Wolf Brewery – The Sour Plum Clockwork Brewhouse – Blueberry Berliner Weisse Hazeldean Brewing Co. – Plum Lambic Frontier Beer Co. – Tart Of Darkness There are numerous bands, albums, and local beers to experiment with to find what works best for you, and the journey has infinite rewards. An even better plan is to get together (virtually at this point of course) with like-minded friends and make a party of the process. But just remember - as long as the beer is good and the music is flowing, pairing the two just makes ‘em both better. Wondering about those “tribulations” I mentioned? Well here are a few. Sometimes music pairings are so bad that the tunes will put you off your pint… • Nickelback – Rockstar (Lager) – There is no good time for Nickelback, either sober or inebriated. Ever. • Billy Ray Cyrus – Achy Breaky Heart (Blonde Ale) – Country music is a fine pairing to a smooth blonde, but when it’s Miley’s dad on the stereo, rather get a glass of water. • Creed – Higher (IPA) – The adrenaline harnessed from potent hard rock makes for a killer addition to the noble IPA. You’ll find none of this in ‘Higher’. • Kenny G – Songbird (Belgian Ale) – I’ve found that most great jazz rounds out a tasty Belgian ale, adding smiles and warmth to the pint. Kenny G, unfortunately, does the direct opposite. • Vanilla Ice – Ice Ice Baby (Berliner Weisse) – Hip hop has a way of starting and then livening up a party. Unless you enjoy a nostalgic trip down a dark memory lane, avoid the ‘Ice. NEVER THE TWAIN 20 | Winter 2020 | ontapmag.co.za