February 19th, 2021 - Ignorance Is [Can-O-] Bliss

Hello and happy Friday hopheads and headbangers!  The Meista here today getting the weekend off to the right start with a pairing of the classic "Ignorance", debut album by thrashers Sacred Reich and a hoppy and zesty Can-O-Bliss Citrus IPA from Oskar Blues Brewery!  

Album Info: 

• Artist: Sacred Reich
• Title: "Ignorance"
• Recorded: 1987 at Stagg Street Studio, Preferred Sound, and Track Record in California
  Release date: October 13th, 1987 (1st studio album by Sacred Reich)
• Record company: Metal Blade Records 
• Production: Bill Metoyer and Sacred Reich
• Album cover art: Paul Stottler 
• Personnel: Wiley Arnett (lead guitar), Greg Hall (drums), Jason Rainey (rhythm guitar), and Phil Rind (bass and vocals)
• Musical style: Thrash metal
• Sound: Fast and furious, the sound on Sacred Reich's debut album is pure late '80s American thrash!  It blends machine gun fire guitar riffs with explosive and thunderous rhythms along with a great vocal delivery that is dripping with sarcasm, rage, and intelligence!  
• Major themes: Politically charged and socially critical, themes and subject matter includes control, power, corruption, death, war, violence, anti-religion, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Death Squad"
   
2. "Victim Of Demise"
3. "Layed To Rest"
4. "Ignorance"
5. "No Believers"
6. "Violent Solutions"
7. "Rest In Peace"
8. "Sacred Reich"
9. "Administrative Decisions"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Oskar Blues Brewery (Lyons, Colorado)
• Website: https://www.oskarblues.com/
• Brew: Can-O-Bliss Citrus IPA 
• Style: American India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 7.2%
• Ingredients: Motueka, Amarillo, Mandarina Bavaria, Citra, and Experimental Hop #06277 hops
• Pour: The Can-O-Bliss pours a very hazy golden yellow-orange with a frothy, bright white, 2-finger head with good retention and lost of sticky, sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is floral, citrusy, tropically fruity, zesty, floral, dank, and slightly sweet.  There are aromas of fresh oranges, tangerine, grapefruit rind, lemon zest, pineapple, mango, wild flowers, herbal tea, pale malt, and soft caramel.
• Taste: The taste of the Can-O-Bliss, like the nose, is citrusy, fruity, floral, herbal, and zesty.  There are notes of freshly squeezed orange juice, tangerine, pink grapefruit juice, mango, pineapple, guava, crackery biscuit, herbal tea, and soft caramel/toffee. 
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Can-O-Bliss is juicy, crisp, and smooth with a dry, slightly bitter, slightly sweet finish.

Overall pairing: The punchy citrus and tropical fruit flavors of Oskar Blues' Can-O-Bliss Citrus IPA is a great weekend beer!  It has lots of flavor and a bit of boozy kick... perfect for the thrashing metal aggression of Sacred Reich's killer debut album, "Ignorance"!  'Nuff said!  

Cheers and hails!!