July 28th, 2021 - The Witchcraft Of Salem Destroyed My Mind & Reaped My Soul

 

Good evening hop freaks and evildoers!  The Meista here tonight pairing a deliciously drinkable Salem New England IPA from Helltown Brewing Company and Coven's "Witchcraft Destroys Minds & Reaps Souls"!  Hell yeah!  And a big thank you to my buddy Brett for the beer!  Cheers man!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Coven
• Title: "Witchcraft Destroys Minds & Reaps Souls"
• Recorded: 1968 
• Release date: February 1969 (1st full-length studio album by Coven)
• Record company: Mercury Records
• Production: Bill Traut
• Album cover art: Jerry Griffith
• Personnel: Jinx Dawson (lead vocals), Jim Donlinger (guitars and vocals), Rick Durrett (keyboards), Alan Estes (bass guitar), John Hobbs (keyboards), Jim Nyeholt (organ, piano, and keyboards), Oz Osborne (bass guitar), and Steve Ross (drums and percussion)
• Musical style: Hard rock, progressive rock, psychedelic rock, occult rock
• Sound: Steeped in the psychedelic late '60s sound, Coven can be compared to Jefferson Airplane to some effect.  There are great guitar riffs and hooks, jazzy basslines, interesting and progressive rhythms, wonderful harmonies, and of course, Jinx's unique and beautiful voice! 
• Major themes and subjects: The occult, witchcraft, darkness, magic, Satanism, death, ritual, etc.
• Note: Of the album, Jinx once said: "It was actually meant to be a scholarly work; it really was not meant to be a band like the other rock bands.  It was almost meant just for the stage, a sort of rock opera situation, because I had come out of extensive opera training, and I was not really familiar with the recording world or rock music."
• Tracks: 

1. "Black Sabbath"
2. "White Witch Of Rose Hall"
3. "Coven In Charing Cross"
4. "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge"
5. "Pact With Lucifer"
6. "Choke, Thirst, Die"
7. "Wicked Woman"
8. "Dignitaries of Hell"
9. "Portrait"
10. "Satanic Mass"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Helltown Brewing Company (Export, Pennsylvania)
• Website: https://www.helltownbrewing.com/ 
• Brew: Salem New England IPA 
• Style: New England India Pale Ale (NEIPA) 
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 6.0%
• Pour: The Salem New England IPA pours a very hazy, bright yellow with a bright white, 2+ finger head with great retention and lots of sticky, intricate lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, tropical, grassy, and grainy.  There are aromas of orange juice, tangerine, light grapefruit, mango, bold pineapple, grassy hops, light crackery biscuit, lemon tea, and a hint of honey.
• Taste: Well-balanced, the taste of the Salem New England IPA follows the nose with lots of fruity, juicy, sweet, and lightly grainy flavors.  There are big notes of pineapple and mango with more subtle flavors of orange, tangerine, mango, lemon zest, cereal grain, and a hint of caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel is very crisp and juicy with low bitterness and a dry, clean, and refreshing finish.

Overall pairing: The juicy, hop-forward crushability of Helltown's tasty Salem New England IPA is the perfect foil for the dark and foreboding rocking psychedelia of Coven's infernal (yet groovy) "Witchcraft Destroys Minds & Reaps Souls"!  'Nuff said! 

Cheers!!  Hails!!