December 24th, 2014 - Sad Wings of Sanctification

Good evening and happy holidays!  Your pal the Meista is tonight pairing of the mighty Judas Priest's magnificent "Sad Wings Of Destiny" and a brilliant Sanctification Sour Blonde from Russian River Brewing Company!  Oh hell yes!

Album Info:

• Artist: Judas Priest
• Title: "Sad Wings Of Destiny"
• Recorded: November – December 1975
• Release date: March 23rd, 1976 (2nd studio album)
• Record company: Gull/Janus Records
• Personnel: Rob Halford – vocals, K. K. Downing – guitar, Glenn Tipton – guitar and piano, Ian Hill – bass guitar, and Alan Moore – drums
• Album art: Patrick Woodroffe
• Major themes: Servitude, deception, destruction, evil plots, and a killer's mind.
• Musical style: Heavy metal perfection... Halford's amazing vocals coupled with the brilliance of the guitar Downing/Tipton onslaught and the power of the Hill/Moore rhythm section is beyond perfection!
• Sound: Heavy as hell, insanely complex, and profoundly powerful, "Sad Wings Of Destiny" is one of my all-time favorite albums. Although there is huge influence from Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Queen, and UFO, Priest creates a very atmospheric and very original and brilliant album with "Sad Wings Of Destiny"!
• Notes:
• Tracks:

1. "Victim Of Changes"
2. "The Ripper"
3. "Dreamer Deceiver"
4. "Deceiver"
5. "Prelude"
6. "Tyrant"
7. "Genocide"
8. "Epitaph"
9. "Island Of Domination"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Russian River Brewing Company
• Website: http://russianriverbrewing.com/
• Brew: Sanctification Sour Blonde
• Style: American Wild Ale
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 6.75%
• Pour: Very hazy bright honey-yellow hue with a very frothy head.
• Nose: Lots of sour and funk aromas... lambic, soft banana, lemon, leather, pink bubble gum
• Taste: A combination of tart and funk, yet very complex... notes of oaky fruit barrel, white grapes, sour Brett, vinegar, lemon juice,
• Mouthfeel: Light-bodied with big carbonation, the mouthfeel is fuzzy, foamy, smooth, and very tart. 
• Finish: The finish is very vinous and very dry.

Overall pairing: The heaviness, beauty, depth, and complexity of "Sad Wings Of Destiny" echoes in the nose, mouthfeel, and flavors of the very complex and refreshing Sanctification... a perfect pairing!

Cheers and hails!!