September 21st, 2020 - Peanut Butter And Blueberry Murder Jelly Roll

Good evening and happy Monday craft beer fiends and rock and rollers!  The Meista here today rocking out with a pairing of Blue Murder's self-titled, kick-ass, debut album and a tasty and rather unique PB&J with Blueberries American-Style Sour Ale from Shades Brewing!  

Album Info:

• Artist: Blue Murder
• Title: "Blue Murder" 
• Recorded: 1988 through early 1989 at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 
• Release date: April 25th, 1989 (1st studio album by Blue Murder)
• Record company: Geffen  
• Production: Bob Rock
• Album cover art: Margo Chase (logo design), Maria DeGrassi (design), Aaron Rapoport (photography), and Gabrielle Raumberger (art design and direction)  
• Personnel: Carmine Appice (drum and backing vocals), Tony Franklin (bass and backing vocals), and John Sykes (guitars and lead vocals)
• Additional musicians: Nik Green (keyboards), David Steele (backing vocals), and John Webster (additional keyboard programming)
• Musical style: Heavy metal, hard rock
• Sound: Characterized by hard-driving riffs, intense playing, precise musicianship, and strong songwriting, "Blue Murder" is a monster of an album!  Steeped in classic rock and metal, Blue Murder's songs are wonderfully crafted gems in the tradition of Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake.  Sykes guitar work is poetry... worth every penny spent on this album!  His rich tone, his impressive vibrato, and driving chords are absolute magic!!  Coupled with the power, mastery, and intensity of the Appice/Franklin rhythm section along with Syke's vocals (definitely underrated), you have a perfect sound!  Songs like "Riot," "Sex Child," "Valley Of The Kings," "Blue Murder," and the epic "Ptolemy" will knock you on your ass, while the classic "Jelly Roll" and "Out Of Love" are both mesmerizing.  Also, the finale, "Black-Hearted Woman" sounds almost like classic "Thunder And Lighting" era Thin Lizzy... killer stuff!
• Major themes: rebellion, freedom, life, death, love, sex, desire, ancient Egypt, loss, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Riot"
2. "Sex Child"
3. "Valley Of The Kings"
4. "Jelly Roll"
5. "Blue Murder"
6. "Out Of Love"
7. "Billy"
8. "Ptolemy"
9. "Black-Hearted Woman"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Shades Brewing (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://www.shadesbrewing.beer/
• Brew: PB&J with Blueberries American-Style Sour Ale
• Style: American-Style Sour Ale
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 6.5% 
• Ingredients: Peanut butter, blueberry jam, and Norwegian Kveik yeast
• Pour: The PB&J with Blueberries pours a very murky dark violet/deep purple color with a thin, pink head that dissipates quickly, leaving only a thin ring.
• Nose: The nose is fruity, nutty, sweet, and slightly tart.  There are aromas of creamy peanut butter, peanuts, blueberry jelly, freshly picked blueberries, light lemon zest, a hint of honey, and bready dough.  It literally smells exactly like a peanut butter and blueberry jam sandwich on white bread!
• Taste: The taste of the PB&J with Blueberries follows the nose with big notes of creamy peanut butter, sweet blueberry juice, sweet blueberry jelly, lightly toasted bread, and a hint of lemon juice.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium in body with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is crisp, refreshing, and slightly tart, yet very smooth with a dry and slightly sweet finish.

Overall pairing: Complex and unique, yet very drinkable, the delicious PB&J with Blueberries is a huge blast of interesting and nostalgic sweet, tart, and nutty flavors... perfect for the sheer power, rock and roll sensibilities, and melodic prowess of the mighty Blue Murder!  "Blue Murder" is an album of three amazing musicians producing great music on their own terms... a must own for any hard rock fan!  'Nuff said!!

Cheers!!