What's up with beer and metal?

Sometimes I even feel that knowing the lyrics can distract from the song, I think this comes down to the discussion between the "program music" and "pure music" proponents. Personally, if we're talking most genres I care most about the vibe I get from a song - even if that deviates from what the artist envisioned. The only notable exception to this being rap because the lyrics are at the forefront. That doesn't mean these things never "touch", it just depends. Clutch for example is a band where the vibe I get from the song is almost always related to the lyrics (granted, Clutch has super tight musicianship and pretty good lyrics).

But Metal specifically is also a different beast. Metal - similar to Punk - was borne out of something of a rebellion, being extreme and having a lot of shock value. As I have noted before, I listen to a lot of other music (including some that you could dub "pop" or "with pop sensibilities" and I honestly don't mind pop music as a phenomenon - people can like whatever they want as long as they're not pushy about the music they like) but with different moods/atmospheres in mind. I don't think anyone listens to death metal expecting a philosophical dissertation. Although in the meantime there have been quite a few bands that have gone far and beyond the stereotypes.

 

I appreciate the explanations. I guess for me, the difference between listening to Nirvana or any "normal" rock band's usually meaningless lyrics and those screaming bands are that I personally find the throaty, screaming/growling lyrics to be difficult to enjoy. Easier on the ears is I guess how I would put it. I think that's why that extreme death metal is such a niche, and bands like Nirvana, Metallica, etc have a larger following...because people want to be able to at least hear some of the lyrics I imagine, regardless of meaning.

 

I'm not sure it's that much of a niche, globally speaking at least. Metal has been living resurgence in the past 10 years and here in Germany Metal and Punk (including the harsher varieties) have been alive and kicking, there's everything from concerts to small and big festivals throughout the year. I guess it's more obvious in a country like Germany because everything is so "bunched up" and "focussed", metal/rock/punk pubs and clubs are quite common here and there's usually a local scene in most places that aren't rural.

I mean yeah, it is more of a niche than something that aims to please the biggest audience. But it's certainly not a small niche. Festivals like Wacken, Summerbreeze and the likes attract thousands of people, often from all over the world. A lot of metal festivals have even been gearing up in the past 10 years going for bigger venues, more tickets, bigger lineups and the likes.

 

Does nobody listen to Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, or Lenard Cohen (Just to name a few well known names)? They have the worst voices ever, with rambling often nonsensical lyrics, but I can't stop listening to them, and the entire point of listening to them is for the lyrics. I am always trying to figure out what they are saying. Everybody listens to music in different ways. My personal identity is very closely tied to my musical tastes, and as a side note I find it silly that Metal is more or less "extreme" than many other forms of music. Folk, Jazz, Blues, etc are what gives me that in some cases. I can see how that is the same with Metal fans, and I guess I can see how a brewer can be viewed as more "extreme" with these labels and names. Though, it just really boils down to that is the type of music those particular brewers listen too, and want to identify more closely with two things they are passionate about.

 

Whatever perceived relationship there is (real or otherwise), likely stems from some significant demographic overlap. I strongly doubt there is any directional relationship (in either direction) between metal culture and craft beer culture.

 

Best description ever. Like beat boxing with words. Even though their spoofish, Dethklok is a pretty good example of vocals as percussion. In another instance, take Hatebreed for example - the music gets you pumped but you don't start slamming until Jamey gets going. And don't get me going on how great Max Cavalera is!

 

I think you are on to something here.

 

I think a lot of metal heads are driven to post links to songs on threads like NBS (though there's a lot of other musical genres posted on there as well), seems like every week there's some youtube clip of some sort of Swedish death cult paranormal ice fishing metal band (joking, but now watch, someone will find an actual band like that!). My musical tastes are all over the place (except popular country <shudder>), and I listen to lots of different things, but it seems like whenever there's something I haven't heard of before, it's some sort of variation of highly aggressive rock music.

 

I think that may be more generational. A lot of the guys sporting Dead avatars give me the impression of being a bit older than the metalheads. Not to say there aren't some younger folk into them as well. I've known a lot of "trustafarians" in my time.

 

Just had a collaboration between cigar city and a metal group. Forgot their name. The ipa was called captain of the world and it was brewed with quite a few hop varieties and sage which i thought was cool. They also made a stout

 

I didn't take what he posted as being specific to breweries. What he brought up made me think of users of this site more than anything else. People post links to all sorts of music here, but I think metalheads do it a tad more. While it's a little bit interesting to me why or why not (depending on how prevalent you think it is or isn't), I really don't care. If I'm not into a particular artist or kind of music, I don't watch the clip. Having said that, if someone posts an Alan Jackson video a part of me dies a little!

 

Did you follow it up with On The Corner? LOL.

 

Funny thing is, the only local "metal" bar I know of, virtually everyone in there is drinking MBC or PRB or some Euro lager, and that's why I rarely go there (that and it's so small you have to step outside to find enough room to change your mind).

 

What I like is when a subversive song like "Walk On The Wild Side" is playing in a big box store, Lou Reed sing-speaking about trannie bjs and drug dealers, and old ladies are obliviously buying their Depends.

 

What's this metal scene you speak of? Oi!

 

I have yet to find a great craft selection in a "death metal" bar. Now, what you call heavy metal is also a debate; some people call Def Leppard and AC/DC heavy metal acts. Others feel anything short of Black Flag or Cannibal Corpse is pop music. Is it truly death metal or is it just bad music? Personally, I have found most good craft bars in my area play more Dave Matthews and Nickelback than Trivium or Testament.

 

I agree with that. When I go to a metal show, even at venues that host primarily heavy music, the beer selection is mostly macros, and maybe some Shiner. If you get real lucky, they might have a Saint Arnold's or Real Ale (in other words, the better-known craft breweries within the state of Texas). Same with rock and metal oriented bars. It's disappointing, but I can't fault the owners for just catering to one niche market instead of doubling down for the overlapping fans of two niches. Among metalheads, beer advocates are still in the minority, and vice versa, but I do think that the overlap between the two is larger than can be explained as nothing more than beer lovers having the same spectrum of musical interests as any other random group of people

 

I don't think there's any sort of real connection. A lot of people/breweries seem to have strong interests in both.

 

Ironic that Down for Life by Testament was playing on my Pandora feed when I read that... But yes most craft beer bars are going to have mainstream music on, but if a bar has a digital jukebox (e.g. TouchTunes) you might catch some interesting tunes.

 

I've always found it odd that playing metal in a bar/restaurant is (mostly) taboo, outside of venues known for it, but blasting loud modern rap with misogynistic, violent and profane themes is fairly commonplace in well known chefs restaurants and just about every retail store I walk into here in NYC.

Then again it's also normal to just walk around rapping here too. I'd like to see the looks if I walked around singing along to some death or black metal.

Back to the topic, there obviously is a sizable representation of metal aesthetics in the beer scene, outside of the hippie/jam band I don't think there is another genre that could be so commonly found.

 

It's a match made in heaven if you ask me! (turns volume up to 11)

 

I think you mean a match made in Valhalla!

 

I think 'metal' most embodies the same spirit reinvention, experimentation, evolution, innovation, and in many cases extremity as craft beer.

Its more nimble of a genre, where you can try things out on a smaller scale, take risks, and push the limits a little bit. It doesnt make the music 'better' than anything else, and these elements certainly exist in other genres, I just think its more central to the identity of both metal and craft.

 

Beer and metal?

These guys think so...

 

A wise man once asked, "Since when does metal have to make sense?" I pose the same question to the relationship between metal and craft beer. Does it make total sense? Maybe not. But neither does bringing Brett into your brewery where it could wreak havoc on anything it touches. Both were once "dark horse(s)" in their respected fields once upon a time. Why not make a relationship - "birds of a feather flock together".

 

The PG-13 version? When the passion of brewing meets the passion of metal, in the creative mind of a brewer, they fall in love and...well, that's how babies are made

 

Yes, because people never listen to songs they can't understand.

 

I love both metal and beer but no correlation for me....except when I get done with work for school I like to have a beer while jammin' out to some Slayer or Skeletonwitch or some other kind of axe murdering devil music.

 

I have no clue what you're referring too. I also didn't read any other posts in this thread. I do not listen to metal/death metal. But I do drink good beers.

Cheers!

 

Hey, I love beer and metal. Only two of my craft beer friends that I know of though are also into metal, but we first became friends through our similar tastes in metal. Most of my other metal friends drink AAL's or liquor. I wish there was a bigger correlation so I would have more things to talk about at bottle shares.

 

I've been into metal for nearly 10 years before I was even old enough to drink legally. What about it do you not understand? There's way more to metal as a whole than death and black metal. They are certainly acquired tastes. If you don't like for some reason quoted death metal, than try another subgenre before you bash it as a whole such as power metal like Nocturnal Rites or doom metal like Anathema. This is as if a macro disciple said they didn't get craft beer because we all only drink IPA's.

 

I guess. I don't even know what that is you linked.

 

Weird:
http://blogs.ocweekly.com/heardmentality/2015/03/best_booze_brands_metal_bands.php

 

I have noticed this as well.

But I have also noticed that people with lifted trucks tend to like country music and crappy beer.

For some hilarious correlations, go here.

 

When you think about it, metal heads may have just cut their hair, greased it up, put glasses on and became hipsters.

 

I agree with the OP. I'm a metal head craft beer drinker. I'm in a band called "Infirmity" if you wanna check us out but I just think that both extreme metal music and craft beer are acquired tastes. People who listen to metal are more apt to get into craft beer IMO.

 

Amon Amarth.

 

well my local brewery is big on Phish and the Dead.
I do like Phish/Dead all the way to metal so its all fine by me (except for country, that would be a deal breaker)

 

My guess is that it's more the kind of people who are attracted to craft beer and heavy metal rather than any significant connection between beer and metal (ditto for any other kind of music). If you think about, the people attracted to heavy metal (or heavily interested into a single kind of music) tend to be what they would consider to be independent thinkers (See "Off-centered ales for off-centered people.") or at least those with interests that main society would consider outside of the norm. Craft beer fits nicely into this personal view because of how dominant and pervasive BMC is in society. At the time when some of these breweries were being established, craft beer would have been considered a niche interest and the kind of people attracted to these sort of niche interests would be interested. Personally, I'm interested to see what happens when craft beer because fully "mainstream".