December 19th, 2014 - Go Away Blanca

Hello my friends!  The Meista here pairing "Go Away White" by Bauhaus and a Calabaza Blanca Artisan White Ale from the Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, LLC!  And this one goes out to my buddy Fischbox... cheers my friend!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Bauhaus
• Title: "Go Away White"
• Recorded at: Zircon Skye, Ojai, California in 2006
• Release date: March 3rd, 2008 (first album by the band since 1983 and their 5th and final album)
• Record company: Bauhaus Music, Cooking Vinyl
• Personnel: Daniel Ash - guitars, Kevin Haskins - drums, David J - bass, and Peter Murphy - vocals
• Major themes/lyrical content: Social criticism, introspection, pain and suffering, anger, and indifference
• Musical style: Post-punk gothic rock
• Sound: "Go Away White" doesn't sound like any previous Bauhaus album.  There are elements of older Bauhaus as well as Peter Murphy's solo work and Love & Rockets, but it is a beast unto itself.  It is much darker, edgier, and at times more aggressive than the work of any of the members before or since.  This may very well be Ash's best guitar work and some of Murphy's most compelling lyrics.
• Album cover photo by: Dominique Duplaa
• Notes: The album was a "spontaneous" writing and recording experience.  First takes of the tracks were also the final takes, giving the album a very raw, honest, and spontaneous sound.  The recording was also marred by in-fighting.
• Tracks:

1. "Too Much 21st Century"
2. "Adrenalin"
3. "Undone"
4. "International Bullet Proof Talent"
5. "Endless Summer Of The Damned"
6. "Saved"
7. "Mirror Remains"
8. "Black Stone Heart"
9. "The Dog's A Vapour"
10. "Zikir"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, LLC
• Website: http://www.jollypumpkin.com/
• Brew: Calabaza Blanca Artisan White Ale
• Style: Witbier/Belgian Bier Blanche
• Serving: 22 ounce bottle
• ABV: 4.8%
• Ingredients/brewing methods: Wheat, Belgian yeast, and hops with orange peel and coriander.  Aged in oak barrels and bottle conditioned.  
• Pour: Hazy, pale golden straw hue with a huge, billow head
• Nose: A blend of tartness, crackery biscuit, citrus, and more subtle spices.  Aromas of lemon juice, orange and tangerine zest, wheat bread, soft banana, coriander and cloves.
• Taste: Quite different from most Witbiers, the Calabaza Blanca has strong farmhouse/Saison elements.  It is wheaty, but quite tart.  There are notes of tart lemon, bitter sweet marmalade, coriander, nutmeg, and cloves, along with biscuit and spicy white pepper.
• Mouthfeel: Light bodied with sharp and bubbly carbonation - very frothy, yet crisp and dry.
• Finish: Crisp and refreshing finish with a tart kiss.

Overall pairing: The sharp tartness of the Calabaza Blanca Artisan White Ale goes great with the more aggressive elements of "Go Away White" while the sweeter and more subtle flavors work well with the mellower, more melancholy tracks and emotion in Murphy's unique voice.

Cheers!