February 1st, 2020 - A Symbolic Touch Of Haze

Hello and happy Saturday my friends!  The Meista here today raising horns and rocking the weekend with a pairing of a delicious and juicy Touch Of Haze (Deadhead IPA Series) from DESTIHL Brewery and Death's classic "Symbolic" album!

Album Info:

• Artist: Death
• Title: "Symbolic"
• Recorded: 1994 at Morrisound Recording in Tampa Bay, Florida
• Release date: March 21st, 1995 (6th studio album by Death)
• Record company: Roadrunner Records
• Production: Chuck Schuldiner and Jim Morris
• Album cover art: René Miville
• Personnel: Kelly Conlon (bass), Gene Hoglan (drums), Bobby Koelble (guitars), and Chuck Schuldiner (guitars and vocals)
• Musical style: Death metal, progressive death metal, melodic death metal, technical death metal
• Sound: Building on the more experimental, melodic, and progressive sound from their previous album "Human", yet still heavy and aggressive as hell, the sound on "Symbolic" is innovative, engrossing, and way ahead of its time!
• Major themes: Seeking truth/knowledge, justice, pain, isolation, evil, etc. 
• Tracks:   

1. "Symbolic"
2. "Zero Tolerance"
3. "Empty Words"
4. "Sacred Serenity"
5. "1,000 Eyes"
6. "Without Judgement"
7. "Crystal Mountain"
8. "Misanthrope"
9. "Perennial Quest"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: DESTIHL Brewery (Normal, Illinois)
• Website: https://www.destihl.com/
• Brew: Touch Of Haze (Deadhead IPA Series)
• Style: New England India Pale Ale (NEIPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 7.3%
• IBUs: 57
• Ingredient: Mosaic and Cascade hops with 2-Row, flaked oats, and Caramel malts
• Pour: The Touch Of Haze pours a hazy golden-yellow with a frothy, bright white, 2-finger head with good retention and lacing.
• Nose: The nose is very citrusy, tropical, floral, and herbal.  There are aromas of orange juice, orange peel, grapefruit rind, pineapple, mango, wild flowers, herbal tea, crackery biscuit, and light caramel.
• Taste: Like the nose, the taste of the Touch Of Haze is citrusy, tropical, grassy, and herbal.  Hop-forward, there are notes of orange juice, tangerine, pink grapefruit juice, mango, grassy hops, orange tea, and soft caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is very crisp, juicy, and smooth with a dry, slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: One of the most important death metal bands in the history of metal deserves a brew of complex and inspiring character... and that beer is DESTIHL Brewery's Touch Of Haze!  Those punchy and juicy hops are very crushable and work great with the aggression and power that is the mighty Death!!  'Nuff said!

Cheers and hails to the memory of Chuck!!