Skip to main content

The Lights Out and Aeronaut Collaborate on T.R.I.P.

By Lee Heidel Published January 6, 2020

Boston-based psychedelic prog rockers release their new album via beer can.

“Are you ready for the reckoning?”

Recommended Videos

That’s the way The Lights Out’s new album T.R.I.P. begins. It’s as much a battle call as a public service announcement, girding the listener for a concept record that journeys through a science fiction universe of multiple dimensions. The music harkens to big rock stadium anthems complete with flashy guitar solos, layered harmonies and arrangements that are complex while remaining accessible.

However, instead of settling in with a gatefold LP filled with liner notes to learn more about the album, the listener is presented with a sixteen ounce can of beer. The Lights Out teamed up with Somerville, Massachusetts’ Aeronaut Brewing to present the world’s first album release via craft beer vessel.

Related Post: The Best Brew Cruises

After listening to the music and discussing the concept with band members, Aeronaut crafted an “Imperial Session IPA,” a beer style that simply does not exist. The conflicting terms of “imperial”, implying a high alcohol percentage, and “session,” dictating a low alcohol percentage, play right into the album’s themes, resulting in a paradox.

“The beer fuels your trip for the multiverse,” explains The Lights Out’s guitarist Adam Richie. The usage of galaxy hops is another nod to the album’s content and creates a rich combination of fresh grapefruit flavor and clean hop bite. The sweet cracker malts mask the 7.5% alcohol by volume and make the beer balanced and easy to drink.

When picking up a can of T.R.I.P., drinkers are encouraged to follow the label’s instructions to download a copy of the album via a Twitter hashtag. If Aeronaut isn’t available in your area, you can listen to a teaser of the album at Soundcloud. T.R.I.P. will be released by The Lights Out through the usual music services later in 2017.

Lee Heidel is the managing editor of Brew/Drink/Run, a website and podcast that promotes brewing your own beer, consuming the…

Topics

Food & Drink

The best beers from California you can buy anywhere

California is more than just IPAs

Sierra Nevada

Currently, more than 9,000 breweries of all sizes operate in the US. That’s an awful lot of IPAs, stouts, and lagers to choose from. Some states are more saturated with breweries (per capita) than others. This includes places like Vermont, Colorado, Maine, Oregon, and, of course, California. While I could take a deep dive into all the biggest beer-producing states, today is all about The Golden State.

I have a special affinity for California beer, and it’s because of one style in particular. Sure, you can find a beer style to fit every palate in the state, but in California, the IPA reigns supreme. In fact, if you look at almost any list ranking the best beers in the state, it will be littered with IPA options. While I often imbibe pilsners and other lagers (as well as wheat beers and other lighter beers) in the summer as well as stouts and porters (and other dark beers) in the winter, I always go back to the classic West Coast IPA.

Food & Drink

Blue Bottle just proved California can grow world-class coffee

Blue Bottle Coffee just dropped a super rare California-grown coffee

Blue Bottle Coffee

Coffee has always had its origins story – Ethiopia, Colombia, Panama. But California was never part of that conversation, until now. Coffee leader, Blue Bottle, has just launched the California Frinj San Diego Gesha, a washed Gesha grown in San Diego and Santa Barbara counties in partnership with Frinj Coffee, the pioneering network behind California's emerging coffee movement. Gesha is widely regarded as one of the most prized varietals in specialty coffee, known for its delicate floral complexity and fruit-forward character – and this one delivers jasmine, peach, and strawberry in a cup.

Up until now, many coffee brands would shy away from growing specialty-grade coffee in California, as it requires years of experimentation and innovation. For the past two decades, Jay Ruskey, founder of Frinj Coffee, has helped pioneer California coffee product through continual experimentation with innovative growing practices, coffee varieties, and post-harvest processing. Now, this exciting new launch finally reflects that work. Cherries from two California farms were processed at Frinj's wet mill in Ventura, using carefully controlled fermentation to result in an exceptionally clean cup of coffee. This new variety showcases the signature floral aromatics and bright fruit character of the Gesha variety.

Food & Drink

Dark rums for whiskey fans

These rums are a great choice for whiskey drinkers

rum bottles

There’s no disputing the appeal of whisk(e)y. Whether it's single malt Scotch whisky, bourbon, rye whiskey, Irish whiskey, or others. There’s something special about this barrel-aged spirit. But it’s not the only aged spirit, and if you’re limiting your sipping to this style, you’re missing out on some other special, flavorful spirit. Especially dark rum.

I’ve spent years imbibing the various forms of whiskey. But every now and then, I branch out and pour myself a glass of dark rum instead. Unsurprisingly, the two spirits have some of the same aromas and flavors. Since both are matured in wood barrels, they impart flavors like caramel, vanilla, dried fruits, and oak (among others). If you don’t already, you should branch out and add dark rum to your aged spirits rotation.