December 12th, 2015 - With Odin's Gift On Our Side

God kväll evildoers!  One more for you from the Meista tonight... I'm getting heavy and pairing "With Oden On Our Side" by Amon Amarth with Odin's Gift Amber Ale from Odin Brewing Company!  Ja!!  A HUGE thank you to my friends Jeff and  Terri for bringing me this excellent brew from Seattle!!  Skål and thanks kids!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Amon Amarth
• Title: "With Oden On Our Side"
• Recorded: May through June, 2006 at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden
• Release date: September 22nd, 2006 (6th full-length studio album by Amon Amarth)
• Record company: Metal Blade Records
• Production: Jens Bogren
• Album cover art: ?
• Personnel: Fredrik Andersson (drums), Johan Hegg (vocals), Ted Lundström (bass), Olavi Mikkonen (guitars), and Johan Söderberg (guitars)
• Musical style: Melodic death metal with elements of power metal
• Sound: If Vikings listened to metal centuries ago, this is the album they would have held in the highest esteem!  As with all of Amon Amarth's albums, "With Oden On Our Side" is bold, fast-paced, aggressive, yet melodic, and heavy as hell!  Kinda Morbid Angel meets Judas Priest.
• Major themes: With focus on Norse mythology and Viking lore, themes on "With Oden On Our Side" include war, power struggles, honor, bravery, self-determination, kinship, and brotherhood.
• Notes: Of the album's title and title track, Hegg remarked, "Well, it kind of has several meanings to it. Oden is of course the highest god in Scandinavian mythology, and he's the god of warfare, wisdom, poetry and artistry. The reason we chose the title is that it suited the lyrical concepts of the album and signified the feeling we had during the writing and recording of the album. We literally felt as if we had the gods on our side."
• Tracks:  

1. "Valhall Awaits Me"
2. "Runes To My Memory"
3. "Asator"
4. "Hermod's Ride To Hel - Loke's Treachery Part 1"
5. "Gods Of War Arise"
6. "With Oden On Our Side"
7. "Cry Of The Black Birds"
8. "Under The Northern Star"
9. "Prediction Of Warfare"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Odin Brewing Company (Seattle, Washington)
• Website: https://odinbrewing.wordpress.com/
• Brew: Odin's Gift Amber Ale
• Style: American Amber / Red Ale
• Serving: 22 ounce bottle
• ABV: 5.4%
• IBUs: 28
• Ingredients: Pale, CaraRed, CaraMunich, Wheat, and Debittered Black Wheat malts with Bravo, Willamette, and Styrian Goldings hops as well as a splash of juniper berries
• Pour: Odin's Gift pours a deep, opaque ruby red with lots of effervescence and a massive mash potato, off-white head with great retention and layered lacing. 
• Nose: The nose is characterized by dank and earthy hops, floral juniper, rich caramel, and roasted malts.  There are aromas of juniper, soap, sweet caramel, and hearty grains.
• Taste: The taste of Odin's Gift is toasty, roasty, bready, malty, slightly sweet, and slightly bitter.  There are notes of roasted hazelnut, toasted multi-grain bread, burnt toffee, dank hops, and hints of juniper berries.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel is smooth, easy-drinking, and creamy with a resiny/oily finish.

Overall pairing:  The nature of Amon Amarth's lyrics and rhythms has always made for great drinking music and what better way to celebrate their rockin' heaviness than with a Viking-themed brew?!  Those hearty bread and nut flavors of Odin's Gift Amber Ale is great for the heaviness of the album and the juniper and hops are great for the aggressive lyrics and brutal power of Hegg's vocals!!

Skål... Helan går!!