Stillwater Sensory Series v.1 – Lower Dens
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MyBeer Buzz
An exciting new Music meets beer project from Brian @ Stillwater Artisanal Ales. The original label is here and now this from Stillwater:
The Stillwater Sensory Series is a collaboration between Stillwater Artisanal and singular musical artists. In this first collaboration, Stillwater works with Lower Dens to make an ale based on an interpretation of their song, "In the End is the Beginning." On the bottle itself, a QR code will link to an exclusive Lower Dens performance of the song. Ultimately, this is a true artistic collaboration that aims to create a full sensory experience – sound, sight, smell, touch, and taste.
I first came across Lower Dens on Stereo gum.com which lead me to their Tiny Desk performance on NPR.. I was still doing an IT job, 9-5 thing and decided that it would make a good ‘lunch break’. My first impression was the subtle complexity that their music was built upon, and the attention to detail and atmosphere. It instantly rang clear to me that these were seasoned mature artists.. there were hints of beloved nostalgia but nothing obvious or trendy; driving repetition with intricate overlays allows the listener to take the back seat for a ride while also tempting you to look deeper within.. these were all traits that I related to, from my days as an electronic music artist and now as a beer designer. With Stillwater, we set out to create an environment of intrigue; from the visual aesthetics of the packaging to the lack of definitive style of the beer, subtle complexity is also our hallmark.. we are asking the consumer for consideration, to interact with the product.
The ‘Sensory Series’ was an idea that I have been carrying around for a while now. Stillwater was not set up to just be a beer company, but more of a collective to showcase the talents of a variety of artists, and incorporating music was only a matter of time. It was earlier last year, while doing an interview with the Chicago Tribune, the writer had mentioned that he had met with the Lower Dens the night before and brought up the Baltimore connection eventually concluding that we were mutual fans of one another’s work. This was the perfect launch for the new series; after swapping emails and a brief rendezvous in Paris, we decided to use the the last track on their new album as the foundation. "White but not bright" is how I described the song and that is what I have set out to create with beer itself. Light in body and color intermingled with aspects of dark fruits and a floral earthy spiciness, gently accented with a hint of smoke. The band then recorded a live performance of the song ‘In the End is the Beginning’ and their graphic artist Rose MF Chase took the lead for the label design working with LeeVersosa to compete the final packaging. This was a true art collaboration, and the outcome I believe accurately represents the strengths of all involved.
“With Stillwater, we set out to create an environment of intrigue; from the visual aesthetics of the packaging to the lack of definitive style of the beer, subtle complexity is also our hallmark.. we are asking the consumer for consideration, to interact with the product,” says BrianStrokee, Owner / Brew Master. “It instantly rang clear to me that [Lower Dens] were seasoned mature artists.. there were hints of beloved nostalgia but nothing obvious or trendy; driving repetition with intricate overlays allows the listener to take the back seat for a ride while also tempting you to look deeper within.. these were all traits that I related to, from my days as an electronic music artist and now as a beer designer.”
In the End is the Beginning’ is taken from the band’s second studio album,No tropicss (pronounced No-ehtrodopickss), released earlier this year on Ribbon Music. The song is lengthy, contemplative: an end-of-the-world song wherein the narrator readies him/herself for whatever’s next.
“Brian explained the Sensory Series and immediately we were on board,” says band member Jana Hunter. “He took something we spent a lot of time on and put a lot of thought and ourselves into, and he offered the same.”
“White but not bright” is how I described the song and that is what I have set out to create with beer itself. Light in body and color intermingled with aspects of dark fruits and a floral earthy spiciness, gently accented with a hint of smoke” statesStrokee. The beer itself will come in the form of individual 375ml bottles and also 20L kegs and initial distribution with span 35 states via Twelve Percent Imports – Brooklyn, NY.
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