
4th Tap Co-op Beer. 4thtap.coop. Accessed January 24, 2017
No arm-twisting was required to get me to go to 4th Tap Brewing Co-op on assignment, tasked with pairing their unique brews with classical composers.
It may sound strange at first, classical music and beer, but 4th Tap co-owner Chris Hamje is a classically-trained musician who studied audio engineering at UT Austin, so pairing brews with Bachs may not be much of a stretch after all.
I was joined at the tasting by a consultant: a classical music aficionado and professional brewer. I ordered a flight, and we got down to business.
Sun Eater Sorghum Ale
Musical Pairing: RESPONSORY: Favus distillans, Hildegard von Bingen
This is called gruit which means it was brewed without hops. My consultant informed me that this type of beer harks back to an earlier time, before hops were a standard ingredient. Hops were first mentioned in conjunction with the art of brewing in Germany in 1079.
4th Tap's Sun Eater is bittered with rosemary and lemon peel. Rosemary is also a medicinal herb, and Hildegard of Bingen is still revered today for her work as an herbalist and natural healer who also wrote about the health-giving qualities of beer.
Sun Eater is crisp, dry, and refreshing; a ray of light with a whiff of rosemary, so I think Hildegard of Bingen is the perfect composer pairing.
+2 Vitality Spring Ale
Musical Pairing: String Quartet "From my Life" and Overture to "The Bartered Bride," Bedrich Smetana
This is a light and buoyant brew with Pilsen malt and Glacier hops, subtle grassy notes, and an effervescent herbal finish.
The bubbly buoyancy plus the Pilsen malt made me think of Smetana. Works such as his string quartet, subtitled "From my Life," and the overture to "The Bartered Bride" would pair well with this beer. Plus, Bedrich Smetana's father Frantiŝek was a brewer, so the composer probably knew a thing or two about the art of brewing himself.
Zephyr American Pale Ale
Musical Pairing: Violin Sonata in A major and Variations Symphoniques, Cesar Franck
This beer is a pleasing concoction of coriander, sweet orange peel, and bold hops, with flavors normally found in a Belgian Witbier. It is complex, refreshing, hoppy (and happy!), with a touch of sweetness. A perfect brew for spring and summer in Texas.
The complexity, sweetness, happy/hoppiness and Belgian heritage made me think of Cesar Franck, especially his Variations Symphoniques and Violin Sonata. He was born in Belgium, but lived in France for most of his life, so I'm guessing he probably preferred wine. But maybe he liked to quench his thirst with a nice witbier after a hot day in the organ loft at Ste. Clotilde in Paris.
Brick Top: Robust Porter
Musical Pairing: Tapiola and Symphony No. 7, Jean Sibelius
In the mood for something darker? This beer has a roasty, toasty, dark chocolate flavor. Its full body makes it a wonderful brew for winter. It's warming, and dark without being bitter. Porter is a traditional English brew, but a version known as Baltic Porter sprang up all over the Baltic Sea coast, including Finland. The phrase "dark, but not bitter" called the music of Jean Sibelius to mind. The wintry flavor of this beer pairs wonderfully with his music, especially pieces like Tapiola and his Symphony No. 7. Sibelius only chills you in order to warm you right back up again.
Jim Crust's Friendship Brew: Cherrywood Smoked Imperial Rye
Musical Pairing: Academic Festival Overture, Johannes Brahms
A celebration of brewing and friendship: a big rye body and finish with a nice smoky flavor. When thinking of a rather roundish composer who smoked, Johannes Brahms came immediately to mind. This fits with the theme of friendship too, given his close ties with Clara and Robert Schumann. Brahms was no abstainer when it came to alcohol, and I think he would have been delighted to put away a pint or two of 4th Tap's smoky suds. It would pair well with the student drinking songs he incorporated into his Academic Festival Overture.
We will have free beer donated by 4th Tap at our 50th Birthday Block Party this Sunday, so come on out, taste their creations and see whether you agree with my pairings or not!
A big thank you to Laura, Darius, John, and Chris from 4th Tap, and to my consultant.