March 28th, 2024 - Duvel Tripel Hop Cashmere from the Unknown

 

Hello rockers, rollers, headbangers and hopheads!  Your drinking buddy the Meista here rockin' out to "The Unknown", the great album by hard rock / metal band Edge Of Paradise and a tasty and bold Duvel Tripel Hop Cashmere Belgian IPA from Duvel Moortgat Brewery!  Rock!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Edge Of Paradise
• Title: "The Unknown"
• Recorded: 2023 at Howard Benson's West Valley Studios in Woodland, California
• Release date: July 14th, 2023 (5th studio album by Edge Of Paradise) 
• Record company: Frontiers Music SRL 
• Production: Mike Plotnikoff, Howard Benson, and Neil Sanderson
• Album cover art: Alex Ruiz
• Personnel: Ricky Bonazza (bass), Dave Bates (guitars), Margarita Monet (lead vocals and keyboards), and Jamie Moreno (drums)
• Musical style: Hard rock / heavy metal with elements of symphonic metal, power pop, and industrial
• Sound: Blending symphonic and power pop elements with heavier rock and metal, the sound on "The Uknown" provides a unique and engaging sonic journey!  The fiery and soaring guitars really play well off of Monet's beautiful vocal range! 
• Major themes: A sci-fi themed concept album of sorts, subject matter and themes include power, might, perseverance, reality, the future, technology, knowledge, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Digital Paradise"
2. "My Method Your Madness"
3. "Tidal Wave"
4. "The Unknown"
5. "Believe"
6. "False Idols"
7. "You Touch You Die"
8. "One Last Time"
9. "Leaving Earth"
10. "Bound To The Rhythm"
11. "My Method Your Madness" (Industrial Mix) (bonus track)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Duvel Moortgat Brewery (Breendonk, Belgium)
• Website: https://www.duvelmoortgat.com/
• Brew: Duvel Tripel Hop Cashmere Belgian IPA
• Style: Belgian Blonde India Pale Ale (IPA) 
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 9.5%
• IBUs: 40
• Ingredients: Saaz-Saaz, Styrian Golding, and Cashmere hops
• Pour: The Duvel Tripel Hop Cashmere pours a somewhat cloudy golden yellow hue with a very frothy, bright white, soft and fluffy 2+ finger head with good retention and lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by citrusy, fruity, yeasty, floral, grainy, and slightly boozy notes.  There are aromas of Belgian yeast, orange peel and pith, grapefruit rind, lemon zest, lime, light pear or apple juice, a hint of cloves, wildflowers, sourdough bread, bright grains, and a hint of honey.
• Taste: Following the nose, the taste of the Duvel Tripel Hop Cashmere is citrusy, fruity, slightly spicy, and malty.  There are notes of tangerine, lemon zest, orange zest, grapefruit juice, Belgian spices, Belgian yeast, light apple, pear, a hint of booze, and light clover honey. 
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel is very crisp, hoppy, and exceptionally smooth with a dry, slightly bitter and boozy finish.

Overall pairing: The Duvel Tripel Hop Cashmere is a complex, hoppy, bold, and aggressive brew... the perfect mate to the beautifully crafted heavy punch that is "The Unknown"!  The sweeter flavors go great with the soaring guitars, Margarita's wonderful vocals, and the lyrics and themes, while the hoppy punch goes great with the more aggressive guitar elements of the album.

And make sure to check out my interview with Margarita Monet, lead vocalist of Edge Of Paradise here: https://youtu.be/7rUwjNM4G4s 

Cheers!!  Rock on!!