May 21st, 2020 - Rocking With The Voodoo Ranger From 1984 Through 1985

Good evening and hails rockers and hop heads!  Your drinking buddy the Meista here rocking the hell out to "1984" by Van Halen and a juicy and delicious Voodoo Ranger 1985 IPA from New Belgium Brewing Company!  Hells yeah!!  

Album Info:

• Artist: Van Halen
• Title: "1984"
• Recorded: 1983 at 5150 Studios in Studio City, California
  Release date: January 9th, 1984 (6th studio album by Van Halen)
• Record company: Warner Bros.
• Production: Ted Templeman
• Album cover art: Margo Nahas
• Personnel: Michael Anthony (bass guitar and backing vocals), David Lee Roth (lead vocals), Alex Van Halen (drums and backing vocals), and Eddie Van Halen (guitars, keyboards, backing vocals)
• Musical style: Hard rock, heavy metal
• Sound: Damn... how do you define the sound on this album?  It is so very '80s, but timeless as well... and that goddamned guitar solo on "I'll Wait"... fucking brilliant!!!
• Major themes: Sex, rock and roll, attraction, lust, partying, life, love, and gettin' crazy!
• Tracks:   
1. "1984"
2. "Jump"
3. "Panama"
4. "Top Jimmy"
5. "Drop Dead Legs"
6. "Hot For Teacher"
7. "I'll Wait"
8. "Girl Gone Bad"
9. "House Of Pain"

    
Brew Info:

• Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Company (Fort Collins, Colorado)
• Website: http://www.newbelgium.com/
• Brew: Voodoo Ranger 1985 IPA
• Style: American India Pale Ale (IPA)  
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 6.7%
• IBUs: 50
• Ingredients: Pale, Munich, and Oat malts with Galaxy, Jester, El Dorado, and Idaho 7 hops
• Pour: The 1985 IPA pours a hazy bright orange-gold with a frothy and creamy, 1+ finger, bright white head that displays lots of intricate and layered lacing throughout.
• Nose: The nose is fruity, citrusy, juicy, and slightly bready.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, tangerine, pineapple, orange juice, mango, and papaya along with more subtle notes of doughy bread, summer wild grass, pine resin, and caramel.
• Taste: The taste, like the nose is characterized by tropical, citrusy, and light malty flavors.  There are notes of fresh pink grapefruit juice, tangerine, orange juice, mango, guava, pineapple, light melon, pine, herbal tea, and hints of caramel. 
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the 1985 IPA's mouthfeel is very crisp and very juicy with a dry, slightly bitter, yet clean finish.

Overall pairing: The punchy and aggressive, yet fruity and complex flavors and aromas of New Belgium's great Voodoo Ranger 1985 IPA are perfect for the power metal punch and high energy of DragonForce!  Those big, hoppy citrus notes are great for the straightforward rocking depth, while the sweeter tropical and malt notes are great for the fast, melodic rhythms and vocal prowess!

Cheers!!