February 1st, 2015 - DOA II

Evenin' rockers, rollers, and crafter brew swillers!  Your drinkin' buddy the Meista here pairing tonight Van Halen's second album and a Deluxe Organic Ale (DOA) from Hopworks Urban Brewery (HUB) outta Portland, Oregon!  This pairing goes out to Cody D. from Maximum Distortion... cheers my friend!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Van Halen
• Title: "Van Halen II"
• Recorded: December 11th, 1978 through January 1979 at Sunset Sound Recorders, Hollywood, California
• Release date: March 23rd, 1979
• Record company: Warner Bros.
• Record cover art: Dave Bhang
• Personnel: Michael Anthony (bass and backing vocals), David Lee Roth (lead vocals), Alex Van Halen (drums), and Eddie Van Halen (guitars and backing vocals)
• Musical style: Hard rock/heavy metal
• Sound: As with their first album, "Van Halen II" has a very heavy, very faced-paced late '70s vibe.  This is the real deal folks... pure, straight-ahead, melt-your-face rocking good stuff!
• Major themes: Girls, partying, drinking, sex, and rock and roll!
• Notes: This is cool... the black-and-yellow guitar pictured on the back of the album cover is buried with Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell.  Eddie Van Halen personally placed it in the coffin.  Dimebag had once told Eddie how much he liked the guitar.
• Tracks:

1. "You're No Good"
2. "Dance The Night Away"
3. "Somebody Get Me A Doctor"
4. "Bottoms Up!"
5. "Outta Love Again"
6. "Light Up The Sky"
7. "Spanish Fly"
8. "D.O.A."
9. "Women In Love"
10. "Beautiful Girls"

  Brew Info:

• Brewery: Hopworks Urban Brewery
• Website: http://hopworksbeer.com/
• Brew: Deluxe Organic Ale DOA
• Style: American Strong Ale
• Serving: 22 ounce bottle
• ABV: 7%
• IBUs: 55
• Original gravity: 16 Plato
• Pour: Clear, reddish-copper with a 2-finger, billowy dirty-white head that slowly dissipates and leaves a nice, sticky ring throughout.
• Nose: The nose is marked by big bready, sweet malty notes with more subtle fruit and floral aromas.  There are notes of spiced apples, caramel/toffee, citrusy hops, and summer grass.
• Taste: The flavor is a well-balanced mix of bready and nutty grains, rich yeast, ripe fruit, and subtle spices that hide the higher alcohol well.  There are notes of red apple, wheat bread, honey, nutmeg, and buttery toffee.
• Mouthfeel: With lower carbonation and some resinous character, the mouthfeel of the DOA is very smooth.
• Finish: The finish is slightly sweet with just a hint of booziness.

Overall pairing: The drinkability of the DOA goes great with the catchy hooks of "Van Halen II" while the bolder flavors and higher ABV gives it just the right punch to accompany the more aggressive elements of the album!

Cheers!!