February 3rd, 2023 - Who Do We Think We Are? Elephino!

 

Hello and happy Friday rockers, rollers, and hop lovers!  Your pal the Meista here today pairing Deep Purple's fantastic "Who Do We Think We Are!" with a bold and hoppy Elephino Double IPA from Red Rock Brewery!

Album Info:

• Artist: Deep Purple
• Title: "Who Do We Think We Are!"
• Recorded: July 1972 in Rome, Italy and October 1972 in Frankfurt, Germany (with the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio)
  Release date: January 13th, 1973 (7th studio album by Deep Purple)
• Record company: Warner Bros.
• Production: Deep Purple
• Album cover art: Roger Glover and John Coletta
• Personnel: Ritchie Blackmore (guitars), Ian Gillan (vocals), Roger Glover (bass), Jon Lord (keyboards, organ, and piano), and Ian Paice (drums and percussion)
• Musical style: Hard rock, progressive rock, blues rock
• Sound: A little bluesier and more soulful than previous Mark II albums, "Who Do We Think We Are!" still has that bold, hard-rockin' sound along with exceptional musicianship that so wells defines Deep Purple!  Lord really shines on this album!
• Major themes: Sex, lust, touring, complacency, hypocrisy, love, etc. 
• Notes: Sadly, this was the last Mark II Deep Purple album until 1984.  Both Gillan and Glover were fired by Blackmore while touring in Japan in support of the album due to increased infighting between band members as well as conflicts with management.
• Tracks:  

1. "Woman From Tokyo"
2. "Mary Long"
3. "Super Trouper"
4. "Smooth Dancer"
5. "Rat Bat Blue"
6. "Place In Line"
7. "Our Lady"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Red Rock Brewery (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: www.redrockbrewery.com
• Brew: Elephino Double IPA
• Style: Double India Pale Ale (DIPA) / Imperial IPA (IIPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce bottle
• ABV: 8.0%
• Ingredients: Red Rock employs six varieties of hops and then double dry-hops this bad boy with whole leaf Amarillo hops, which gives it a big citrus and piney flavor.
• Pour: The Elephino pours a very hazy golden orange with a big and rocky frothy head that displays good retention.
• Nose: The nose really grabs you with a blend of citrus and floral and pine notes. 
• Taste: Those same citrus notes in the nose are what really grab you with its flavor.  Notes of bitter grapefruit, pine, and softer, more subtle sweet malts intertwine for a well-balanced and flavorful brew. 
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied with good carbonation, the mouthfeel is not as dry and a bit "creamier" than most IPAs, but you definitely get that hop oily feel on the tongue, which leaves a nice, lingering bitterness.

Overall pairing: The Elephino (pronounced: el-if-know) is an American style double IPA with a huge hop profile!  Those bright citrus and pine flavors are great for the for the hard rockin' goodness of Deep Purple's "Who Do We Think We Are"... and specifically works well with the head-bobbing, fist-pumping power of "Woman From Tokyo"! 

Cheers!!