March 20th, 2023 - Darkest White IPA

 

God kveld evil-doers and hop freaks!  The Meista here tonight pairing "Darkest White", the 7th and (sadly) final album by the wonderful Norwegian goth metal band Tristania and a tasty White IPA from the fine folks at Fisher Brewing Company!  Hell. Yes.  

Album Info:

• Artist: Tristania
• Title: "Darkest White"
• Recorded: January 2013 at Christer's place and Tanken Studio 
• Release date: May 31st, 2013 (7th full-length studio album by Tristania)
• Record company: eat Records / Combat Records 
• Production: Christer-André Cederberg and Ole Vistnes
• Album cover art: Eliran Kantor 
• Personnel: Mariangela Demurtas (vocals), Anders Høyvik Hidle (guitars and vocals), Tarald Lie Jr. (drums and lyrics), Gyri Smørdal Losnegaard (guitars), Kjetil Nordhus (vocals), and Ole Vistnes (bass and backing vocals) 
• Additional musicians: Bernt Moen (keyboards) 
• Musical style: Gothic metal with elements of death metal, black metal, and symphonic metal
• Sound: Blending a richly textured tapestry of darker music, and the wonderful vocal talents of Demurtas, Hidle, and Nordhus, with "Darkest White", Tristania created a profoundly dark and hauntingly beautiful collection of desolation in the sonic form.
• Major themes: Death, darkness, isolation, desolation, beauty, despair, emotional scars, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Number"
2. "Darkest White"
3. "Himmelfall"
4. "Requiem"
5. "Diagnosis"
6. "Scarling"
7. "Night On Earth"
8. "Cathedral" (bonus track)
9. "Lavender"
10. "Cypher"
11. "Arteries"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Fisher Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://www.fisherbeer.com/
• Brew: White IPA
• Style: West-Coast India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 7.5% 
• Ingredients: Wheat malt with Mosaic, Cascade, and Simcoe hops
• Pour: The White IPA pours a fairly clear, bronze hue with a bright white, 1+ finger, very frothy head with great retention and lots of sticky, intricate lacing.
• Nose: The nose is earthy, malty, fruity, and very hoppy.  There are aromas of barley, pine resin, grapefruit rind, sweet berries, a hint of melon, and soft caramel. 
• Taste: The taste of the White IPA follows the nose with lots of hoppy, malty, and earthy flavors.  There are notes of pine, tangerine, berries, bready biscuit, light herbs, and soft caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel is very crisp, yet hearty with a dry, clean, moderately bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The crushable, very drinkable tastiness of Fisher's White IPA is perfect foil for the goth metal brilliance of the mighty Tristania!  Those bold hop flavors are great for the intense guitar work and vocals while the malty backbone goes great with the depth of musicianship and inventiveness.  'Nuff said!

"Raise your glass for those who smiled - swaying from their ropes"...  skål and hails!!