But as much fun as a night out on the town can be, I’m referring instead to a more private and solitary experience, the kind of night where you can curl up with a few drinks and listen to an album from start to finish. Maybe you’re focusing on the music, or maybe your thoughts drift someplace else. The only thing that really matters is listening to every track, and sipping on your drink throughout.

Here’s a list of great albums to listen to while enjoying a drink. So pop your top and muddle your mint, and we’ll see you on the other side.

If You’re Drinking Beer

Let’s get one thing straight: I love beer. It’s my go-to drink while listening to albums because of its unique ability of putting me into a wistful state. These albums pair perfectly with a cold six pack and an hour or so to yourself.

“As much fun as a night on the town can be, I’m referring instead to a more private and solitary experience, the kind of night where you curl up with a few drinks and listen to an album from start to finish. The only thing that really matters is listening to every track, and sipping on your drink throughout.”

Beck – One Foot in the Grave: Probably the best Beck album ever produced, and certainly my favorite one. The album has a consistent vibe of melancholy punctuated with manic highs and soul-searching lows. There are examples of the trademark sound Beck is famous for, but the album demonstrates a simpler songwriting and more raw approach to music. You’ll know from the first song, right away, if it’s for you.

Kyle Craft – Dolls of Highland: I walked into a concert last November and this guy was opening for the headlining band. He instantly cemented himself as one of my favorites. Clever and tight musical arrangements and incredibly powerful vocals make for an album worth rocking out to. Prepare to be told a series of stories by Kyle Craft, all with a quality seemingly written to be listened to with a beer in one hand.

Marcy Playground – Leaving Wonderland in a Fit of Rage: Most folks are surprised to learn that Marcy Playground, the band behind the 90’s hit “Sex and Candy,” continued producing albums. This particular gem demonstrates some of the band’s best songwriting and contains the killer tune “Devil Woman.” It’s one of my favorite albums for reminiscing and kicking back.

If You’re Drinking Wine

Wine is the drink of poets, philosophers, and bored housewives, all of which are fine company. For me something about the aroma and heady highs of wine pairs well with the following albums.

Asteroids Galaxy Tour – Fruit: The first album released by the band, Fruit is a collection of over-stuffed sounds with an intoxicating lead singer powering through every song. This is an album to move and dance and groove to, even if you’re sitting in your chair with a glass — just try not to spill it. The best part of Asteroids Galaxy Tour is that they are so damned difficult to fit into a category.

Simon and Garfunkel – Sound of Silence: This is definitely the album to listen to when you’re aching for something unapologetic. Most everybody knows the album’s title track, but it’s the rest of the album that makes it a spectacular listen. Prepare yourself for a walk down memory lane with this musical accompaniment.

Tool – 10,000 Days: I’ve listened to this album about 10,000 times, and it’s never sounded as powerful as when I’m drinking some wine. This is an album perfect for listening to through some high-quality speakers or headphones with some rich red wine in hand. The operatic, guitar-driven music is balanced perfectly with musicians of incredible skill and talent. The lyrics for each song are just as powerful. Fair warning: This record is considerably louder than anything else on this list!

If You’re Drinking Cocktails

I’ve never been big on liquor of any sort, but a few drink combinations feel just right, at least when listening to music and drinking.

Tom Waits – Mule Variations: No list involving music and drinking should ever be considered without adding something by Tom Waits into the mix. Mule Variations catches a little bit of everything Waits is about. It’s impossible to listen to it and not catch the groove. This is my go-to album when I’ve had a good day and want to relax to some great storytelling — after all, that’s what Waits excels at. This pairs perfectly with a Jim and ginger (2 oz. Jim Beam bourbon and 10 oz. ginger ale).

eels – Blinking Lights and Other Revelations: Prepare for one hell of a show with this one. The eels really reach into the ether for this album, experimenting with new sounds and songwriting. There are plenty of hits in the mix, but enough gambles to keep the listener tuned in to the unusual sounds and combinations. Speaking of combinations, the eels have been a lifelong-favorite band of mine, and my circle of closer friends have agreed that the only drink to enjoy while listening to the eels is the classic Tom Collins (2 oz. gin, 1 oz. simple syrup, 3/4 oz. lemon juice (I use most of a single lime for mine), soda water, lemon wedge and cherry for garnish).

Neil Young – In Concert (BBC 1971): Alright, this one isn’t actually an album, but it’s a single show Neil Young played more than 40 years ago. It’s worth actually watching, too, if only to enjoy the fact that there are no cell phones in view recording the show. This album is the quintessential Neil Young experience, and may be the only “required listening” on this entire compilation. It’s a straight-up, no-frills performance, and as such deserves a straight drink. I recommend whiskey neat.

The post Music and Drinking: Here are Some Perfect Pairings appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.

“Right now, there’s a dizzying profusion of classic styles on the market, which range from undrinkable swill to perfect expressions of ale and lager. Of course, there are plenty of exotic beers, made with rare infusions, unusual aging, or wild yeasts. Many of these experiments are god-awful.”

So maybe we won’t have a ton of free time, but dammit we’ll be making that time count! And since every summer should involve adventure, why not set some drinking goals? Step away from your old standbys and hunt down 15 of America’s best summer beer options.

When it comes to beer, we’re living in America’s golden age. And a walk down the beer aisle has gotten a lot more complicated. First we encounter the dizzying profusion of classic styles, ranging from undrinkable swill to perfect expressions of ale and lager. Then we have the exotics, made with rare infusions, unusual aging, or wild yeasts. Many of these experiments are god-awful, but some should be part of your regular refrigerator rotation.

To save you from shelling out $12 for a six pack you’ll want to pawn off on your less-discerning guests, I’ve hunkered down to some serious research, sampling many an unpalatable experiment in search for truly divine summer beer. You’re welcome.

Cold Press Black, Bent Paddle, Duluth, MN — 6% ABV

Ever tried to decide if it’s beer o’clock, or time for another cup of coffee? You can thank Bent Paddle Brewing for the perfect solution. Cold Press Black is a diabolical mix of smooth black ale and cold pressed coffee, and the result is subtly delicious and invigorating. Like Four Loko for grown-ups.

RPM IPA, Boneyard, Bend, OR — 6.5% ABV

Bend is a hotspot in a state famous for beer. In such a beer-centric region, it takes a lot to stand out, but Boneyard is ahead of the pack. Brewed with six varieties of Northwestern hops, this well-rounded IPA sets the standard for summer beer.

Organic IPA, Eel River, Fortuna, CA —  7.2% ABV

Want to feel virtuous while you get your buzz on? Done. Brewed by America’s first certified organic brewery, Eel River IPA’s environmental pedigree is as sterling as its flavor. A solid English-style IPA for everyday drinking.

Blushing Monk, Founders, Grand Rapids, MI — 9.2% ABV

So you don’t go in for fruity beers? We made that claim as well until we tried Blushing Monk, brewed with Belgian yeast and raspberries.  Amazingly, the intense raspberry flavor is neither cloying nor overly sweet, but instead has a sparkling bite.

Bourbon County Stout, Goose Island, Chicago, IL — 14.2% ABV

Luxurious and thick, this imperial stout is aged to perfection in bourbon barrels. Be warned: the notes of cherry and vanilla may make you forget the brew’s killer ABV.

Light Me-Up Lager, Hop Valley, Eugene, OR — ABV 4%

Many artisan brewers can’t seem to resist the temptation to fancy up their lagers, but the masters at Hop Valley know restraint. Light Me-Up is the ideal summer brew: refreshing, but not sweet.

Blonde Ale, Hop Valley, Eugene, OR — ABV 5%

Looking for a light beer of substance? This easygoing blonde ale has body yet finishes crisp. Perfect for the moment when you’re burnt out on lager but it’s too hot to switch to IPA. This balanced brew is perfection in a can.

Park Sesh Lager, Stanley Park, Vancouver – ABV 5%

For a truly easy-drinking and crisp summer beer, you could do much worse than this delicious Park Sesh lager from Stanley Park. This 5%-er is perfect for those lazy days in the park when you just want to unwind and relax, and it’s a great all-round beer for parties and other events too.

Double Day Tripper, Indeed, Minneapolis, MN — ABV 8%

With a hoppy nose and a honeyed orange-peel aftertaste, this macho pale ale packs a punch. One of those rare beers that catches and then keeps your attention, growing more complex as you drink.

Cask-Conditioned Imperial IPA, Maritime, Seattle, WA — ABV 7.5%

You’ll have to make a pilgrimage to Maritime’s Seattle taproom to taste this brew, but it’s well worth the trip. Pumped straight from the wooden cask and served at room temperature, this beer retains the flavor of an IPA, but goes down smooth like a Northwestern pale ale. While you’re there, order a round of the best onion rings on earth.

Wild Peach, New Glarus, New Glarus, WI — ABV 7.5%

Another challenge to our prejudice against fruity beer. Tart and complex with a bittersweet finish, this American take on lambic is brewed with wild Michigan peaches and aged in oak. One of the best beers ever.

Maiden the Shade, Ninkasi,  Eugene, OR — ABV 6%

Ninkasi put Eugene, Oregon, on the beer-lover’s map, and this seasonal summer brew epitomizes the brewer’s aggressive yet nuanced style. Milder than your average Northwestern IPA, with a bright, hoppy finish that tells you all is right in the world.

Scrimshaw, North Coast, Fort Bragg, CA — ABV 4.7

Crisp with a dry finish, Scrimshaw offers a refreshing contrast to your average overly-sweet pilsner. Recommended for day drinking.

Damnation 23, Russian River Brewing, Santa Rosa, CA — 10.75% ABV

For the serious beer snob, drinking has become akin to bird watching or record collecting: the rarer the quarry, the greater the thrill. Russian River Brewing has long been famed for producing some of the world’s most sought-after beers, and Damnation 23 is no exception. Although we certainly recommend their most famous brews, Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger, this tripel is the better summer beer: full-bodied yet easy-to-drink, with hints of oak, pear, and cherry. You’ll probably have to go to Santa Rosa to get your paws on one, but what is summer without a road trip?

Three Floyds, Behemoth, Munster, IN — 10.5% ABV

The lurid label promises something “not normal” and delivers. A good barleywine for beginners to the category, Behemoth is big and bold, with a fruity finish.

Toppling Goliath, SOSUS, Decorah, IA — 8.0% ABV

A light malt base allows the hop profile to shine on this summer beer. Surprisingly fruity for a Double IPA, SOSUS goes down easy, like a velvet hammer. You have been warned.

The post It’s Good to Have Goals: Here’s Your Summer Beer Bucket List appeared first on FactoryTwoFour.