November, 14th, 2015 - Celebrating Who We Think We Are!

Good evening rockers, rollers, and hop lovers!  Your pal the Meista here tonight pairing Deep Purple's "Who Do We Think We Are" with a Celebration Fresh Hopped Ale (2015 release) from Sierra Nevada Brewing Company!

Album Info:

• Artist: Deep Purple
• Title: "Who Do We Think We Are"
• Recorded: July 1972 in Rome, Italy and October 1972 in Frankfurt, Germany (with the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio)
  Release date: January 13th, 1973 (7th studio album by Deep Purple)
• Record company: Warner Bros.
• Production: Deep Purple
• Album cover art: Roger Glover and John Coletta
• Personnel: Ritchie Blackmore (guitars), Ian Gillan (vocals), Roger Glover (bass), Jon Lord (keyboards, organ, and piano), and Ian Paice (drums and percussion)
• Musical style: Hard rock, progressive rock, blues rock
• Sound: A little bluesier and more soulful than previous Mark II albums, "Who Do We Think We Are" still has that bold, hard-rockin' sound along with exceptional musicianship that so wells defines Deep Purple!  Lord really shines on this album!
• Major themes: Sex, lust, touring, complacency, hypocrisy, love, etc. 
• Notes: Sadly, this was the last Mark II Deep Purple album until 1984.  Both Gillan and Glover were fired by Blackmore while touring in Japan in support of the album due to increased infighting between band members as well as conflicts with management.
• Tracks:  

1. "Woman From Tokyo"
2. "Mary Long"
3. "Super Trouper"
4. "Smooth Dancer"
5. "Rat Bat Blue"
6. "Place In Line"
7. "Our Lady"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Sierra Nevada Brewing Company (Chico, California)
• Website: http://www.sierra-nevada.com/
• Brew: Celebration Fresh Hop IPA
• Style: American India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 6.8%
• Ingredients: Fresh Cascade, Centennial, and Chinook hops
• Pour: Very murky iced-tea colored copper-amber with a billowy half-finger, off-white head with good lacing.
• Nose: The nose is very hop-forward with lots of grassy, floral, and earthy notes.  There are aromas of tangerine zest, sage, wild flowers, herbs, and a hint of caramel.
• Taste: The taste of the Celebration is very hoppy and somewhat bitter, but well-balanced and delicious!  There are notes of pine, cedar, black tea, wild herbs, grapefruit rind, and bready and sweet malts.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel is very crisp and fizzy with a dry, somewhat bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The punchy, yet very drinkable hoppy flavor of the Celebration Fresh Hop IPA from Sierra Nevada Brewing Company is great for the hard rockin' goodness of Deep Purple's "Who Do We Think We Are"... and specifically works well with the head-bobbing, fist-pumping power of "Woman From Tokyo"! 

Cheers!!