September 18th, 2020 - Blizzard Wizard Of Oz

 

Hello and hails craft brew and heavy metal fans... happy Friday!  Your drinking buddy the Meista here today pairing an all-time favorite album of mine, Ozzy Osbourne's classic "Blizzard Of Ozz," which turns 40 this week and a tasty Blizzard Wizard Hazy Pale Ale from Proper Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!  This pairing is dedicated to the memory of Lee Kerslake. Rest in Power Mr. Kerslake!! 

Album Info: 

• Artist: Ozzy Osbourne
• Title: "Blizzard Of Ozz"
• Recorded: March 22nd through April 19th, 1980 at Ridge Farm Studios in Rusper, England
• Release date: September 20th, 1980 (debut solo album by Ozzy)
• Record company: Jet
• Production: Ozzy Osbourne, Randy Rhoads, Bob Daisley, and Lee Kerslake
• Album cover art: Fin Costello
• Personnel: Ozzy Osbourne (lead and harmony vocals) with Don Airey (keyboards), Bob Daisley (bass, backing vocals, and gongs), Lee Kerslake (drums, percussion, tubular bells, and timpani), and Randy Rhoads (guitars)
• Musical style: Heavy metal, hard rock
• Sound: Wow... where does one even start?!  The richness, depth, and warmth on this album coupled by the sheer rockin' heaviness is indescribable!  This is definitive Ozzy!
• Major themes/lyrical content: States of being, insanity, loss, suicide, alcoholism, evil, pornography, conservation, rock and roll, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "I Don't Know"
2. "Crazy Train"
3. "Goodbye to Romance"
4. "Dee"
5. "Suicide Solution"
6. "Mr. Crowley"
7. "No Bone Movies"
8. "Revelation (Mother Earth)"
9. "Steal Away (The Night)"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Proper Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://www.properbrewingco.com/ 
• Brew: Blizzard Wizard Hazy Pale Ale 
• Style: American Pale Ale (APA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Pour: The Blizzard Wizard pours a slightly hazy golden-yellow with a 1-finger, frothy and creamy, bright white head with good retention and lots of soapy lacing.
• Nose: The nose of the Blizzard Wizard is very floral, earthy, herbal, citrusy, malty, and slightly spicy.  There are aromas of pine resin, wild flowers, grapefruit, tangerine, lime, lemon zest, light pineapple, toasted caramel, and a hint of white pepper. 
• Taste: Like the nose, the taste of the Blizzard Wizard is citrusy, herbal, earthy, and malty.  There are notes of grapefruit juice, tangerine, pine, flowery hops, biscuit, caramel/toffee, and a little pepper in the finish. 
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel is crisp and slightly bitter with a dry, fairly clean finish.

Overall pairing: The crisp, floral, punchy, hop-forward flavors of the Blizzard Wizard from the fine folks at Proper Brewing is perfect for the soaring, brilliant texture of the late, great Rhodes' guitar work, while the citrusy elements makes for a great foil to Ozzy's crazy vocals and the overall rockin' punch!

Cheers and hails!!