October 1st, 2017 - An Unfiltered Ocean Machine

Good evening!  The Meista here tonight pairing Devin Townsend's amazing and very underrated "Ocean Machine: Biomech" and an Unfiltered Sculpin Extra Hopped India Pale Ale from Ballast Point Brewing Company!
 
Album Info:

• Artist: Devin Townsend
• Title: "Ocean Machine: Biomech"
• Recorded: September 1996 through December 1996
• Release date: July 21st, 1997 (2nd studio album by Devin Townsend)
• Record company: HevyDevy Records
• Production: Devin Townsend
• Album cover art: Daniel Collins and Masa Noda
• Personnel: Devin Townsend (vocals, guitars, keyboards, production, mixing, and editing) with Marty Chapman (drums), JR Harder (bass), John Morgan (keyboards and samples), and Chris Valagao (backing vocals)
• Musical style: Progressive metal/rock, hard rock, alternative rock, heavy metal, ambient
• Sound: Bombastic, yet honest, bold and complex, heavy and beautiful, the sound on "Ocean Machine: Biomech" is a wonderfully powerful blend of heavy metal, progressive rock, and ambient.   
• Major themes: Death and life, depression, isolation, pain, music, art, love, loss, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Seventh Wave"
2. "Life"
3. "Night"
4. "Hide Nowhere"
5. "Sister"
6. "3 A.M."
7. "Voices In The Fan"
8. "Greetings"
9. "Regulator"
10. "Funereal"
11. "Bastard: Not One Of My Better Days/The Girl From Blue City"
12. "The Death Of Music"
13. "Thing Beyond Things"

    Brew Info:

• Brewery: Ballast Point Brewing Company (San Diego, California)
• Website: https://www.ballastpoint.com/
• Brew: Unfiltered Sculpin Extra Hopped India Pale Ale
• Style: American India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 7.0%
• IBUs: 68
• Pour: The Unfiltered Sculpin pours a very cloudy golden-orange hue with a half-finger off-white head with good retention and soapy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is fruity, earthy, and hoppy.  There are aromas of tropical fruit (mango, pineapple, papaya, guava), citrus (lemon zest, tangerine, grapefruit rind, lime), herbal tea, light pine resin, cedar, summer grass, and a hint of caramel.
• Taste: The taste of the Unfiltered Sculpin is fruity (tropical fruit and citrus), hoppy, herbal, and slightly sweet.  There are big notes of pink grapefruit, lemon, apricot, peach, mango, and pineapple along with pine, grassy hops, herbs, black pepper, and very subtle caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is crisp, yet sticky and oily with a dry, slightly bitter finish. 

Overall pairing: The bold and punchy hop flavors and aromas of Ballast Point's delicious Unfiltered Sculpin Extra Hopped India Pale Ale is perfect for the heavy power, musical integrity, and pure honesty of Devin Townsend's imaginative and simply brilliant "Ocean Machine: Biomech"!

Cheers!!