February 15th, 2016 - My Oskar Blues IPA Obsession

Good afternoon! Your drinkin' buddy the Meista here today pairing UFO's "Obsession" and an IPA from Oskar Blues Brewery!

Album Info:

• Artist: UFO
• Title: "Obsession"
• Recorded: 1977 through 1978 at C.P. McGregors, Western Avenue, Los Angeles and West 3rd Carrier Station, Beverley Hills, California with The Record Plant Mobile
• Release date: June 1978 (7th studio album by UFO)
• Record company: Chrysalis Records
• Production: Ron Nevison
• Album cover art: Hipgnosis
• Personnel: Phil Mogg (lead vocals), Andy Parker (drums), Paul Raymond (rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals), Michael Schenker (lead guitar and recorder), and Pete Way (bass)
• Additional musicians: Neil Carter (guitar, keyboards, and backing vocals) and Alan McMillan (conductor, string arrangements, and string conductor)
• Musical style: Hard rock, heavy metal
• Sound: Ballsy, honest, heavy-duty rock and roll like only UFO produces!!  'Nuff said!!
• Major themes: Relationships, lust, self-reliance, loneliness, love, loss, honesty, life, etc.
• Notes: "Obsession" was the last album to feature Schenker on lead guitar until he returned to the band 15 years later in 1993.
• Tracks:   

1. "Only You Can Rock Me"
2. "Pack It Up (And Go)"
3. "Arbory Hill"
4. "Ain't No Baby"
5. "Lookin' Out For No. 1"
6. "Hot 'N' Ready"
7. "Cherry"
8. "You Don't Fool Me"
9. "Lookin' Out For No. 1 (Reprise)"
10. "One More For The Rodeo"
11. "Born To Lose"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Oskar Blues Brewery (Lyons, Colorado)
• Website: www.oskarblues.com
• Brew: IPA
• Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 6.43%
• IBUs: 70
• Ingredients: Malt barley and red wheat along with Enigma, Vic Secret, Ella, Topaz, and Galaxy hops
• Pour: Translucent yellow-gold with a frothy, bright white 2-finger head
• Nose: The Oskar Blues IPA has a big, fresh, hoppy aroma with bready malts and fruit ester.  There are aromas of pineapple and mango well-blended with orange and lemon juice along with a caramel and bready malt backbone and hints of freshly cut pine.
• Taste: The taste of the Oskar Blues IPA combines tropical fruit and berries with a blast of citrus and a malty backbone.  There are notes of mango, passion fruit, raspberries, pineapple, and tangerine, lemon, and grapefruit.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with solid carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Oskar Blues IPA is smooth and very crisp and refreshing with a somewhat dry and hoppy finish.

Overall pairing: The crisp, fresh, and refreshing flavor of the Oskar Blues IPA is great for the classic rockin' sound of "Obsession" from the legendary UFO!  Those punchy and bright citrus notes go great with Schenker's amazing guitar tone and the bready/sweet malt notes enhance the powerful crunch of the rhythm section.  The bitter hop notes are great for Mogg's emotional and honest vocals!

Cheers!!