November 21st, 2021 - A Bloody Kölsch Ceremony

 

Good afternoon and happy Sunday rockers and craft beer lovers!  The Meista here today getting "religious" with a pairing of Blood Ceremony's excellent, self-titled debut album and a refreshingly delicious and crisp Bloody Kölsch from my friends at UTOG Brewing Company!  Oh hell yeah!


Album Info:

• Artist: Blood Ceremony
• Title: "Blood Ceremony"
• Recorded: June 2007 at Halla Recording Studio
• Release date: September 2008 (1st studio album by Blood Ceremony)
• Record company: Rise Above Records
• Production: Pete Hudson and Blood Ceremony
• Album cover art: George Barr (cover artwork) and Gaven Dee (gatefold artwork)
• Personnel: Jeremy Finkelstein (drums), Sean Kennedy (guitars), Chris Landon (bass), and Alia O'Brien (vocals, flute, and organ) 
• Additional musician: Jacques Mindreau (viola)
• Musical style: Psychedelic doom metal/rock with elements of stoner rock, hard rock, folk rock
• Sound: Blending 1970s doom metal/stoner rock with 1960 psychedelia and hard rock, Blood Ceremony's sound is a wonderful, eerie, and nostalgic sonic journey... think early Black Sabbath meets the Doors meets Joni Mitchell.  They incorporate richly textured grooves with a profound heaviness.
• Major themes: Witchcraft, occultism, magic, mysticism, paganism, mythology, life, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Master Of Confusion"
2. "I'm Coming With You"
3. "Into The Coven"
4. "A Wine Of Wizardry"
5. "The Rare Lord"
6. "Return To Forever"
7. "Hop Toad"
8. "Children Of The Future"
9. "Hymn To Pan"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: UTOG Brewing Company (Ogden, Utah)
• Website: https://www.utogbrewing.com/ 
• Brew: Bloody Kölsch
• Style: German-style Kölsch with Blood Orange
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• IBUs: 25
• Ingredients: Wheat and Pilsner malts with Mandarina Bavaria hops
• Pour: The Bloody Kölsch pours a slightly cloudy, bright red hue with a light pink, 1+ finger, frothy head with good retention and lots of sticky, soapy lacing. 
• Nose: The nose is a wonderful blend of citrusy, grassy, floral, and crackery aromas.  There are notes of blood oranges, orange peel, lemon zest, hints of lime, summer grass, wild flowers, and crackery biscuit.
• Taste: The taste of the Bloody Kölsch follows the nose with lots of hop forward citrus, grassy, floral, sweet, and crackery flavors.  There are notes of blood oranges, tangerine, orange jelly candies, orange soda, grassy hops, cracked wheat, and crackery biscuit. 
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium in body and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel is incredibly crisp, effervescent, juicy, and refreshing with a very clean finish.

Overall pairing: The very bright, citrusy aromas and flavors and wonderful drinkability of  UTOG's tasty Bloody Kölsch make for a great pairing with the "Blood Ceremony" album!  Those crisp and citrusy elements are great for those killer retro grooves, fiery guitars, and O'Brien's wonderful vocal delivery!  'Nuff said!

Prost... hails!!