January 22nd, 2012 - Boont's Boogie

Today's final pairing (phew!) is Anderson Valley Brewing Company's Boont Amber Ale and Blue Oyster Cult's (BOC) 1975 live ablum, "On Your Feet Or On Your Knees." 

Gold medal winner, Boont Amber Ale pours dark amber - reddish-copper in color with a low, cream-colored head and good lacing.  The nose is very mellow with a delicate malty aroma coupled by a slight hoppiness.  Boont Amber Ale is a classic, American-styler amber with a sweet caramel and honey flavor and toasted barley notes... very smooth and well-balanced.  In fact, the label describes it as "an essay in balance."  It has a nice body and goes down smooth with a clean finish.

And speaking of "an essay in balance," "On Your Feet Or On Your Knees" was the mysterious BOC's first live album, highlighting their first 3 albums (considered their best and landmark recordings by many die-hard fans.)  As with Boont Amber Ale, this album went gold for BOC... and for good reason... simply put, it - kicks - ass!  To be honest, I wasn't sure if this pairing was quite right at first, but upon further listening (and drinking), I think the juxtapositioning works well.  The mellowness of the beer and the heaviness of the album compliment each other rather nicely.  I don't know how to explain it exaclty, but there is an ominous underlying note within both the beer and the album.  Maybe it is the visual ominousness of the record cover or the ominousness of "Then Came The Last Days of May" or the higher alcohol content hidden behind a mellow taste of the beer?  Or maybe it is the craftsmanship of of the brewers and the musicianship of the players.  Anyway, the album really rocks with killer tunes like "The Red & The Black," "Hot Rails To Hell," "7 Screaming Diz-Busters," "Buck's Boogie," and "Cities On Flame With Rock And Roll!"  That mid-70s rockin' groove really fits in well with the ale I tell ya!  So do yourself a favor... spin "On Your Feet Or On Your Knees" and throw back a Boont Amber Ale... two of America's classics!

Learn more about Boont Amber Ale and all of Anderson Valley Brewing Company's fine concoctions at http://www.avbc.com/main/!