April 30th, 2024 - Hazy Blues Breakers

 

Hello there rockers, rollers, and hop lovers!  The Meista here with another pairing for ya, the classic "Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton" by John Mayall and a Hazy Blues Juicy IPA from Oskar Blues Brewery!  Cheers!!

Album Info:

• Artist: John Mayall
• Title: "Blues Breakers with Eric Clapton" (aka the "Beano" album)
• Recorded: March 1966 at Decca Studios, West Hampstead, London, England
• Release date: July 22nd, 1966 (1st studio album by John Mayall)
• Record company: Decca Records
• Personnel: John Mayall (lead vocals, piano, Hammond B3 organ, and harmonica) with Eric Clapton (guitar and lead vocals on "Ramblin' On My Mind"), Hughie Flint (drums), and John McVie (bass guitar)
• Additional musicians: Johnny Almond (baritone saxophone), Derek Healey (trumpet), and Alan Skidmore (tenor saxophone)
• Major themes: Standard blues themes, love, loss, wanderlust, sorrow, life, etc.
• Musical style: Heavy and deep-routed blues with rock and roll, R&B, and jazz influence.
• Sound: Rich, rich, rich bluesy goodness... did I mention rich?
• Notes: The album consists of several important blues standards by Robert Johnson, Freddie King, and Otis Rush, as well as some brilliant originals penned by Mayall and Clapton.
• Tracks:

1. "All Your Love"
2. "Hide Away"
3. "Little Girl"
4. "Another Man"
5. "Double Crossing Time"
6. "What'd I Say"
7. "Key To Love"
8. "Parchman Farm"
9. "Have You Heard"
10. "Ramblin' On My Mind"
11. "Steppin' Out"
12. "It Ain't Right"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Oskar Blues Brewery (Lyons, Colorado)
• Website: https://www.oskarblues.com/
• Brew: Hazy Blues Juicy IPA 
• Style: American India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 7.0%
• Ingredients: Galaxy, Citra, and Strata hops
• Pour: The Hazy Blues Juicy IPA pours a hazy, golden yellow with a frothy, eggshell white, 2-finger head with good retention and lots of sticky, sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is floral, citrusy, tropically fruity, zesty, floral, and slightly sweet.  There are aromas of fresh oranges, tangerine, grapefruit rind and pith, lemon zest, pineapple, mango, wildflowers, honeysuckle, herbal tea, pale malt, and soft caramel.
• Taste: The taste of the Hazy Blues Juicy IPA, like the nose, is citrusy, fruity, floral, herbal, and zesty.  There are notes of freshly squeezed orange juice, tangerine, pink grapefruit juice, mango, papaya, pineapple, guava, crackery biscuit, herbal tea, and soft caramel/toffee. 
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Hazy Blues Juicy IPA is very juicy, crisp, and smooth with a dry, slightly bitter, slightly sweet finish.

Overall pairing: The juiciness and depth of this hoppy brew lends itself well to the rich bluesy grooves of Mayall and his boys... very nice! 

Cheers!!  Rock on!!