November 12th, 2021 - The Red Eyes Of Horror

 

Hello, happy Friday, and hails evil-doers and craft beer lovers!  Let's get back to the metal!  The Meista here today pairing "The Eyes Of Horror", the wonderful 1987 EP by metal legends Possessed and a very tasty and bold Red Eye Imperial Red Ale from my friends at UTOG Brewing Company!  What a great way to start the weekend!! 

Album Info: 

• Artist: Possessed
• Title: "The Eyes Of Horror"
• Recorded: 1987 at Fantasy Studio in Berkeley, California
• Release date: May 31st, 1987 (1st studio EP by Possessed)
• Record company: Combat Records
• Production: Joe Satriani
• Album cover art: Kent Mathieu
• Personnel: Jeff Becerra (bass and vocals), Larry LaLonde (guitars), Mike Sus (drums), and Mike Torrao (guitars)
• Musical style: Thrash metal, death metal
• Sound: More technical, more thrashy, and with maybe a cleaner production quality than their first 2 albums, the sound on "The Eyes Of Horror" is still that pure, early Possessed sonic attack... aggressive, fast, and wonderfully evil!  There are blisteringly fast riffs, catchy melodies, and Becerra's uniquely recognizable vocals.  What more could you want?  It slays!  
• Major themes: Death, horror, evil, the occult, darkness, violence, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Confessions"
2. "My Belief"
3. "The Eyes Of Horror"
4. "Swing Of The Axe"
5. "Storm In My Mind"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: UTOG Brewing Company (Ogden, Utah)
• Website: https://www.utogbrewing.com/
• Brew:  Red Eye Imperial Red Ale
• Style: American Imperial Red Ale
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 8.5%
• IBUs: 77
• Ingredients: 2-Row, Vienna, Wheat, and Black malts with Chinook and Simcoe hops
• Pour: The Red Eyes pours a clear, but very deep bronze-red with a frothy, light beige 1+ finger head with good retention and lots of intricate, sticky, and layered lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by malty, bready, earthy, citrusy, hoppy aromas.  There are aromas of freshly baked wheat bread, roasted walnuts and hazelnuts, herbal tea, orange zest, lemon zest, soft caramel, and honey.
• Taste: The taste of the Red Eye follows the nose with malty, herbal, somewhat bitter, and slightly boozy flavors.  There are notes of freshly baked wheat bread, walnuts, soft caramel/toffee, orange peel, a hint of spiced rum, a hint of cherries, and clover honey.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied and moderately carbonated, the Red Eye is thick, incredibly smooth, and rich with a dry, slightly boozy finish. 

Overall pairing: The UTOG Red Eye Imperial Red Ale's intense, slightly sweet, malty, nutty, and bold flavors are perfect for the extreme metal insanity and artistic integrity of Possessed's brutal and fiery "The Eyes Of Horror"!  Go buy this killer beer right now!!  'Nuff said!

Cheers and hails!!