May 4th, 2024 - Fate, [Old Rasputin], & Wisteria

 

Hello and happy Saturday hellions!  The Meista here today pairing an Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout from North Coast Brewing Company with "Fate, Wine, & Wisteria" by gothic metal band October Noir!   Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: October Noir
• Title: "Fate, Wine, & Wisteria"
• Recorded: 2021 at Wicked Wind Studios 
• Release date: September 22nd, 2021 (3rd full-length studio album by October Noir)
• Record company: Independent
• Production: Tom Noir and Paul Bento 
• Album cover art: Adrianna Eve
• Personnel: Daniel "Stickz" Bryant (drums), Doug Lane (guitars), Tom Noir (lead vocals and bass), and Justin Thompson (keyboards)
• Musical style: Gothic metal, gothic rock, doom metal
• Sound: With heavy influence from Type O Negative as well as My Dying Bride and The Cure, the sound on "Fate, Wine, & Wisteria" combines brooding gothic rock with heavy doomy passages.
• Major themes: Death, darkness, loss, love, heartbreak, sex, lust, mythology, gothic imagery and romance, etc. 
• Tracks: 

1. "Fate"
2. "Windows"
3. "Reverence (Make You Love)"
4. "Effigy"
5. "Wine"
6. "Persephone"
7. "Serendipity"
8. "Wanderlust"
9. "Cradle The Monster"
10. "Wisteria"
11. "Sistinas" (Danzig cover)
12. "Proverbs"
13. "Goodbye Black Bird"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: North Coast Brewing Company (Fort Bragg, California)
• Website: http://northcoastbrewing.com/
• Brew: Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
• Style: Russian Imperial Stout
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 9.0%
• Pour: The Old Rasputin pours an opaque, ink black with a big, billowy, 2+ finger, light mocha head with great retention and lots of sticky, intricate lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by chocolaty, malty, earthy, and boozy notes.  It smells like a musty, old bookshop, a fertile garden, and a chocolate shop all at once.  There are aromas of rum soaked pipe tobacco, espresso, earthy soil, a hint of vanilla bean, and burnt toffee.
• Taste: The flavor follows the nose... there are notes of peat, dark roasted coffee, aged bourbon, earthy hops, bittersweet dark chocolate, and a hint of anise, and soft vanilla.
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with low carbonation, the mouthfeel is silky and velvety with a dry finish, and good warmth from the alcohol content. 

Overall pairing: Brewed in the tradition of the 18th century English brewers of Catherine the Great's Russian court, the Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout is a richly complex, with a wonderful "old-world" sapidity!   Like October Noir's musical approach, the Old Rasputin's flavor is very bold, very big, and very profound! 

And make sure to check out my recent interview with October Noir from 2022 here: https://youtu.be/DDGjo-j9W3A

Cheers and hails!!