Saturday, March 30, 2013

March 29th, 2013 - Bock, Hell, And Angels



Alright!  The Meista here with another kick-ass pairing for you today... and this is a biggie!  How about some Niner Bock from Roosters Brewing Company and the new Jimi Hendrix album, "People, Hell, and Angels"?  Damn straight!!

A German style lager, the Niner Bock pours a wonderfuly rich, mahogany-copper amber with a 1-finger, mocha head that displays modereate to strong and sustained lacing.  The nose is malty and hoppy with a hint of smokiness.  There are notes of hot buttered rum and toffee.  Medium to full-bodied with a dry finish, the Niner Bock's mouthfeel is somewhat sticky, but fully refreshing.  Earthy and slightly sweet, the flavor is robust and fairly complex.  There are notes of toasted German malt, caramel, toffee, and rich soil.  There are some more subtle baked bread and even some soft dark fruit notes as well.  The hops give it a nice dry finish.  The Niner Bock comes in at 9% ABV so it has a nice kick as well, but without a boozy flavor.

Released on March 5th, 2013, "People, Hell, and Angels" is the 4th posthumous release from the Experience Hendrix label.  The album contains 12 previously unreleased studio recordings from the unfinished "First Rays of the New Rising Sun" recording sessions in 1968-1970 with Billy Cox (bass), Buddy Miles (drums), Mitch Mitchell (drums), and Juma Sultan (congos).  There's also some great sax playing from Lonnie Youngblood on "Let Me Move You."  As you can expect from any Hendrix album, the guitar work, songwriting, and delivery is almost overwhelmingly brilliant.  As writer William Clark stated, "Between the downright fantastic music, to the production quality and the attention to detail, this new album is something any established Hendrix fan should easily be able to get into and passionately enjoy time and time again."  I would take it step further and proclaim that not only is this a wonderfully rich and beautiful album for an "established" Hendrix fan, but even a great jump in point for new fans and the curious.  This is a master musician engaging his art with profundity, honesty, and unparalled depth.  Hendrix's "People, Hell, and Angels" explores hard rock, blues, funk, and soul.  From the opening note of "Earth Blues" to the finale fading note of "Villanova Junction Blues," Hendrix takes you on a journey of musical and spiritual discovery.  And the version of "Hear My Train A Comin'" is simply breathtaking!

Check out Roosters Brewing Company's Niner Bock and their other great ales at www.roostersbrewing.com and pick up a copy of "People, Hell, and Angels" by Jimi Hendrix for an afternoon/evening of richly complex sounds and flavors.  Cheers!

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