June 22nd, 2018 - The Beauty And Sadness Of Blanche de Namur In Neverworld's End

Hello and happy Friday!  The Meista here today pairing a Blanche de Namur from Brasserie du Bocq and "Neverworld's End" by German symphonic metal band Xandria!

Album Info:

• Artist: Xandria
• Title: "Neverworld's End"
• Recorded: 2011 at Principal Studios in Münster, Germany and Weltram Studios in Munich, Germany 
• Release date: February 24th, 2012 (5th studio album by Xandria)
• Record company: Napalm Records
• Production: Marco Heubaum and Corni Bartels 
• Album cover art: ?
• Personnel: Marco Heubaum (guitars and keyboards), Manuela Kraller (vocals), Gerit Lamm (drums), Nils Middelhauve (bass), and Philip Restemeier (guitars)
• Additional musicians: Klaus Ackermann (choir vocals), Fredrik Forsblad (choir vocals), Mani Gruber (choir vocals), Ben Hathot (violin), McAlbi (tin whistle and low whistle), Mani Müller (choir vocals), Johannes Schiefner (uillean pipes), Anselm Soos (choir vocals), Norbert Swoboda (choir vocals), Joost van den Broek (keyboards, programming, orchestral arrangements, and sound design), and Marc Zillmann (choir vocals)
• Musical style: Symphonic metal, power metal with elements of folk metal
• Sound: Reminiscient of early Nightwish, "Neverworld's End" blends powerful metal riffs with operatic and symphonic melody and drama!  Kraller's vocals are beautiful, the dual guitar work of Heubaum and Restemeier soars, and Lamm and Middelhauve deliver a thunderous rhythm.  The album is wonderfully balanced, well mixed, bombastic, enchanting, and powerful!
• Major themes: Mythology, fantasy, dreams, love, loss, hope, lust, rape, darkness, good vs. evil, etc. 
• Tracks:   

1. "A Prophecy Of Worlds To Fall"
2. "Valentine"
3. "Forevermore"
4. "Euphoria"
5. "Blood On My Hands"
6. "Soulcrusher"
7. "The Dream Is Still Alive"
8. "The Lost Elysion"
9. "Call Of The Wind"
10. "A Thousand Letters"
11. "Cursed"
12. "The Nomad's Crown"

    Brew Info:

• Brewery: Brasserie du Bocq (Yvoir-Purnode, Belgium)
• Website: bocq.be/en/
• Brew: Blanche de Namur
• Style: Witbier  
• Serving: 22 ounce bottle
• ABV: 4.5% 
• IBUs: 11
• Pour: The Blanche de Namur pours a very cloudy and milky pale yellow with a huge, frothy, bright white head with great sustain and lots of sticky lacing.
• Nose: The nose is a blend of light floral and fruit with hints of spice and grain. There are aromas of orange peel, lemon zest, lemon juice, coriander, cloves, and light wheat.
• Taste: The taste of the Blanche de Namur is fruity, slightly tart, sweet, floral, and slightly spicy.  There are notes of lemon meringue, orange peel, lemon zest, coriander, and light wheat.
• Mouthfeel: Light in body and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel is crisp, thirst-quenching, and very smooth with a hint of tartness and a clean finish. 

Overall pairing: The Blanche de Namur from Brasserie du Bocq is the perfect beer for a hot summer day and the great beer to sip whilst engrossed in the complexities, mythologies, bombast, and brilliance of Xandria's "Neverworld's End"!

Cheers!!  Prost!!