January 16th, 2016 - The Three Philosophers And The Space Bandits

One more for you tonight my friends!  I'm getting trippy with Hawkwind's "Space Bandits" and a Three Philosophers Quadrupel Ale from Brewery Ommegang!

Album Info:

• Artist: Hawkwind
• Title: "Space Bandits"
• Recorded: April to June 1990 at Rockfield Studios near the village of Rockfield, Monmouthshire near Monmouth in Wales
• Release date: September 24th,1990 (16th studio album by Hawkwind)
• Record company: GWR
• Production: Hawkwind and Paul Cobbold
• Album cover art: Joe Petagno
• Personnel: Harvey Bainbridge (keyboards and lead vocals on track 7), Dave Brock (guitar, keyboards, and lead vocals on tracks 4 and 6), Richard Chadwick (drums), Alan Davey (bass guitar and lead vocals on track 3), Simon House (violin), and Bridget Wishart (lead vocals)
• Musical style: Progressive rock, psychedelic rock, space rock, art rock, hard rock
• Sound: "Space Bandits" is exactly that... spacey, but also heavy and rockin'!  Brock and gang have created a huge wall of sound with this album that is wonderfully engaging and mesmerizing.  And Wishart adds a new sensuality to the classic progressive Hawkwind sound! 
• Major themes: With songs mostly focused on somewhat abstract urban and science fiction themes, they lyrics on "Space Bandits" explore spirituality, space travel, psychedelia, dreams, magic, absurdity, and social criticisms.
• Notes: Bridget Wishart was the first woman to sing lead vocals for Hawkwind and was the band's only frontwoman.
• Tracks:  

1. "Images"
2. "Black Elk Speaks"
3. "Wings"
4. "Out Of The Shadows"
5. "Realms"
6. "Ship Of Dreams"
7. "T.V. Suicide"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Brewery Ommegang (Cooperstown, New York)
• Website: www.ommegang.com
• Brew: Three Philosophers Quadrupel Ale
• Style: Belgian Quadrupel (Quad) (Belgian-style dark ale blended with 2% Liefmans Kriek) 
• Serving: 25 ounce bottle
• ABV: 9.7%
• IBUs: 19
• Ingredients: Amber, Caramel, Munich, Pils, and Xtra Special malts with Spalt Select and Styrian Golding hops, and Ommegang house yeast
• Pour: The Three Philosophers pours a deep, opaque ruby or mahogany with a thick and firm mocha head with good sustain and displaying sticky lacing throughout.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by strong malts, sweet toffee, dark fruit (cherry, dates, raisin, and plum), banana, molasses, oak, and booze (spiced rum or sherry).
• Taste: The taste of the Three Philosophers is complex, rich, and sweet. There are notes of roasted malt, molasses,brown sugar, soft banana, dark fruits (including black cherries, plum, and brandied raisins), and Tootsie Pop.
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with low carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Three Philosophers is velvety smooth, sticky, and thick with a spicy, boozy bite in the rather dry finish.

Overall pairing: The insane brilliance of Hawkwind demands a big, bold, wonderfully complex monster brew, which is exactly what you will find in a bottle of Brewery Ommegang's Three Philosophers Quadrupel Ale!  Those sweet, spicy, boozy flavors are perfect for the trippy intensity that permeates the tracks on "Space Bandits".  Both the brew and the album require your full attention with the potential of melting your face!

Cheers!!