September 21st, 2015 - Blanche De Comatorium

Welcome to the Comatorium my dears. Tonight loves, Danish is pairing The Mars Volta's debut full length album "De-loused in the Comatorium" with Unibroue's Blanche De Chambly White Ale On Lees. Fronted by guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and singer/songwriter Cedric Bixler-Zavala, The Mars Volta is (or was) the preeminent progressive rock band of the 21st century. Progressive rock is meant to challenge the listener and The Mars Volta does just that with their frenetic, cacophonic sound. As with some beers, The Mars Volta is an acquired taste. Their music is not for the faint of heart, nor are the themes expressed in their lyrics. According to the band, "De-loused in the Comatorium" is the first person account of an individual in a drug induced coma who is battling the evil side of their mind. It would be difficult to discern the meaning of the album based on the lyrics, which are quite oblique. Musically, The Mars Volta sounds like King Crimson on steroids. They have definitely taken progressive music to a new level that borders on the avant garde. Lopez' dynamic guitar playing presents the listener with a vast array of intricate patterns and rhythms. Cedric's vocal style serves to emphasize the band's tendency towards a discordant brand of music. Often singing in a high register, there are times when Cedric's voice almost mirrors that of progressive rock icon Geddy Lee. I think this album pairs perfectly with Unibroue’s Blanche De Chambly. Very few beers have a lemony flavor and no other band sounds quite like The Mars Volta. Tonight, we pair a unique beer with a one of a kind band that will be greatly missed. Following are the stats for Unibroue’s exquisite brew, Blanche De Chambly:

Origin	Chambly, Quebec
Brewed since	1992
ABV	5.0%
Fermentation	Top
Style	Belgian white ale (Witbier)
Color	Pale golden
SRM	4
Clarity	Cloudy
Head	White, creamy
Bubbles	Like Champaign, fine and abundant
Effervescence	Slow
Nose	Subtle bouquet of spice, citrus notes, aromas of yeast breads, coriander, and cloves
Flavor	Wheat and subtle spices blanketed in citrus flavors reminiscent of orange and lemon
IBU	10
Body	Medium
Aftertaste	Medium, short finish
Suggested serving temperature	4°C - 6°C/39°F - 43°F
Suggested glass	Footed flute