October 16th, 2021 - Nouveaux Houblons Is The Key

 

Good evening evil-doers and hop freaks!  The Meista here tonight pairing "The Key", the brilliant debut album by death metal band Nocturnus and a unique Nouveaux Houblons IPA from Bewilder Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Nocturnus
• Title: "The Key"
• Recorded: 1990 at Morrisound Studio in Tampa, Florida 
• Release date: August 1st, 1990 (1st studio album by Nocturnus)
• Record company: Earache Records 
• Production: Tom Morris
• Album cover art: Dan Seagrave
• Personnel: Mike Browning (drums and lead vocals), Mike Davis (guitars), Jeff Estes (bass), Sean McNenney (guitars), and Louis Panzer (keyboards) 
• Additional musicians: Kam Lee (backing vocals) 
• Musical style: Death metal, technical death metal, progressive death metal
• Sound: Incorporating keyboards, sound effects, and science fiction-themed lyrics into traditional death metal, Nocturnus developed their own, brilliant and new sound with "The Key".  And with production from the legendary Tom Morris, the sound is superb! 
• Major themes: A concept album about a cyborg traveling back in time to destroy Christianity, themes on the album include anti-religion, hell, time travel, the occult, darkness, violence, death, destruction, etc.
• Notes: Although Jeff Estes is listed as the bass player, there is some speculation (accusations) that Mike Davis actually played all the bass parts on "The Key".
• Tracks:   

1. "Lake Of Fire"
2. "Standing In Blood"
3. "Visions From Beyond The Grave"
4. "Neolithic"
5. "BC/AD"
6. "Andromeda Strain"
7. "Droid Sector"
8. "Destroying The Manger"
9. "Empire Of The Sands"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Bewilder Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://bewilderbrewing.com/
• Brew: Nouveaux Houblons IPA 
• Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 7.3%
• IBUs: 70
• Ingredients: Belgian grain bill, Belgian yeast, and the following French hops: Barbe Rouge, Mistral, and Triske 
• Pour: The Nouveaux Houblons IPA pours a slightly hazy, deep copper hue with a 2+ finger, off-white, frothy head with great retention and intricate, layered lacing.
• Nose: The nose is very citrusy, fruity, floral, and slightly spicy.  There are aromas of orange zest, tangerine, lime peel, wild flowers, pink bubble gum, soft banana, cloves, and crackery biscuit.
• Taste: Following the nose, the taste of the Nouveaux Houblons IPA is very fruity, citrusy, slightly peppery.  There are notes of pink grapefruit juice, tangerine, caramel/toffee, peppery yeast, pink bubble gum, and soft banana.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel is very crisp, juicy, and refreshing with a dry, spicy finish.

Overall pairing: The Nouveaux Houblons IPA is a delightfully crisp, juicy, spicy, and unique brew with combined IPA and Belgian ale elements... a great beer for the ingenuity and ingenious sound and concept of Nocturnus' amazing "The Key"!    

Cheers and hails!!

And make sure to check out my upcoming interview with Mike Browning, which will be posted in the coming days!