November 23rd, 2025 - V... VI...

 

Good day rockers, rollers, metal maniacs, and craft beer freaks!  Happy Sunday!  The Meista here today getting heavy and aggressive with the offering, "V" and a bold and delicious VI Barrel-Aged Anniversary Ale from the fine folks at UTOG Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!

Album Info: 

• Artist: Alcatrazz
• Title: "V"
• Recorded: 2021 at The Den in Scotland, UK
• Release date: October 15th, 2021 (5th studio album by Alcatrazz)
• Record company: Silver Lining Music 
• Production: Giles Lavery and Jimmy Waldo
• Album cover art: Mike Morphett
• Personnel: Mark Benquechea (drums), Gary Shea (bass), Joe Stump (guitars), Jimmy Waldo (keyboards), and Doogie White (lead vocals)
• Guest musicians: Cliff Evans (bass on "Grace Of God"), Nigel Glockler (drums on "Guardian Angel" and "Blackheart"), Andy Haller (effects), Giles Lavery (backing vocals), Donnie Van Stavern (bass on "Guardian Angel", "Nightwatch", and "Target")
• Musical style: Hard rock, heavy metal with elements of R&B, rock, and pop
• Sound: Blending their signature, classic sound with a heavier more modern approach, with "V", Alcatrazz released another heavy blast of hard rock that fits perfectly in their catalogue of rockin' goodness!  Stump and Waldo lay down some wonderful melodies, riffs, and solos over the heavy-duty thunder of the Benquechea and Shea rhythm machine!  Doogie White is always wonderful and brings a really nice metal sensibility to this perfectly produced and executed album!
• Major themes: Rock and roll, life, relationships, power, valor, comradery, rebellion, fantasy, darkness, etc.
• Tracks:

1. "Guardian Angel"
2. "Nightwatch"
3. "Sword Of Deliverance"
4. "Turn Of The Wheel"
5. "Blackheart"
6. "Grace Of God"
7. "Return To Nevermore"
8. "Target"
9. "Maybe Tomorrow"
10. "House Of Lies"
11. "Alice's Eyes"
12. "Dark Day For My Soul"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: UTOG Brewing Company (Ogden, Utah) in collaboration with Ogden’s Own Distillery (Ogden, Utah)
• Website: https://www.utogbrewing.com/
• Brew: VI Barrel-Aged Anniversary Ale
• Style: Imperial Red Ale
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 10.3%
• IBUs: 90
• Ingredients: UTOG Red Eye Imperial Red Ale aged in Outlaw Distillery white oak barrels
• Pour: The VI Barrel-Aged Anniversary Ale pours an opaque, deep mahogany red with a creamy and firm, 1-finger, light mocha head with great retention and lots of sticky and intricate spider web lacing.
• Nose: The nose is malty, herbal, boozy, slightly citrusy, woody, and spicy.  There are aromas of freshly baked wheat bread, roasted walnuts and hazelnuts, roasted malts, strong herbal tea, oak, rich whiskey, black cherries, and a hint of black pepper.
• Taste: The taste of the VI Barrel-Aged Anniversary Ale is malty, herbal, slightly citrusy, and boozy.  There are notes of roasted malts, hazel nuts, orange peel, lemon zest, black tea, bitter herbs, robust bourbon, clover honey, and sweet toffee. 
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel is thick, sticky, and smooth, yet punchy and slightly citrusy with a slightly boozy and bitter, dry finish.

Overall pairing: The UTOG VI Barrel-Aged Anniversary Ale is a bold, complex, and punchy brew... great for the metal rock and roll intensity that is Alcatrazz's amazing "V"!  Those bold, roasty malt notes go great with overall power and intensity of the album while the sweeter notes go great with the soaring guitar and vocal work!  'Nuff said!

Make sure to check out my interview with legendary Alcatrazz bassist and founding member Gary Shea here: https://youtu.be/tR2K0ZEN33Q

Cheers!!  Rock on!!