August 26th, 2023 - Extracting Hop Venom From The Teeth Of The Hydra

 

Hello metal maniacs and hop heads of all ages!  Your drinking buddy the Meista here today getting a little wild and a little aggressive with a hoppy and delicious Hop Venom Double IPA from the fine folks at Boneyard Beer and "The Best Of Omen: Teeth Of The Hydra", the kick-ass compilation album by the mighty Omen!  Hell yeah!! 

Album Info:

• Artist: Omen
• Title: "The Best Of Omen: Teeth Of The Hydra"
• Recorded: 1984 through 1988
• Release date: November 1989 (1st compilation album by Omen)
• Record company: Metal Blade Records
• Production: Brian Slagel and Omen
• Album cover art: Voodoo 
• Personnel: Camil Daigneault (drums on "Thorn In Your Flesh"), Jody Henry (bass), J.D. Kimball (vocals), Coburn Pharr (vocals on "Thorn In Your Flesh"), Kenny Powell (guitars), and Steve Wittig (drums)
• Musical style: Heavy metal, power metal with elements of speed metal
• Sound: Aggressive, fast, powerful, just a few words to describe the heavy metal intensity that is Omen's brilliant music!  Along with bands such as Jag Panzer, Manilla Road, and Virgin Steele, Omen is definitive U.S. power metal at its best!  It is bold, inventive, unapologetic, and always a joy to hear at maximum volume!
• Major themes: Danger, death, aggression, power, war, violence, mythology, evil, darkness, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Holy Martyr"
2. "Termination"
3. "Dragon's Breath"
4. "Teeth Of The Hydra"
5. "Battle Cry"
6. "The Curse"
7. "Nightmares"
8. "Bounty Hunter"
9. "Thorn In Your Flesh"
10. "Die By The Blade"
11. "Hell's Gate"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Boneyard Beer (Bend, Oregon)
• Website: https://boneyardbeer.com/
• Brew: Hop Venom Double IPA
• Style: Double India Pale Ale (DIPA)
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 9.0%
• IBUs: 60
• Ingredients: Simcoe, Centennial, Chinook, and CTZ hops
• Pour: The Hop Venom pours a hazy, amber hue with a frothy, off-white, 1-finger head with good retention and lots of sticky, intricate lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, dank, earthy, herbal, malty, and floral.  There are aromas of tangerine, orange zest, grapefruit rind, pine resin, cedar, fresh herbs, wildflowers, and burnt toffee.
• Taste: The taste of the Hop Venom follows the nose with lots of punchy, hop-forward, citrusy, herbal, and malty flavors.  There are notes of tangerine, pink grapefruit juice, light mango, pine, black tea, burnt toffee, and bitter herbs.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied and moderately carbonated, the Hop Venom's mouthfeel is very crisp and hoppy with a dry, slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The punchy and aggressive, yet fruity and complex flavors and aromas of the Hop Venom Double IPA is sure to get you all charged up for the pit!  And that my friends is exactly the kind of beer you want when blasting the highly intense, powerfully rockin' sonic punch that is Omen's "The Best Of Omen: Teeth Of The Hydra"!  I also think the album artwork and the can label work well together.  'Nuff said!

Cheers!!