September 4th, 2023 - Who Mourns For The Morning Star With Goldfish Tears?

 

Hello and happy Labor Day metal maniacs, and craft beer fanatics!  The Meista here today on this rainy Monday rocking the hell out with a pairing of the wonderful "Who Mourns For The Morning Star", the 7th album by legendary NWOBHM band Cloven Hoof and a tasty and hoppy Goldfish Tears IPA from Black Raven Brewing Company in collaboration with Fort George Brewery!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Cloven Hoof
• Title: "Who Mourns For The Morning Star"
• Recorded: 2016 in the UK and the U.S.
• Release date: April 21st, 2017 (7th studio album by Cloven Hoof)
• Record company: High Roller Records
• Production: Patrick W. Engel
• Album cover art: Alexander von Wieding
• Personnel: George Call (lead vocals), Chris Coss (rhythm guitars), Luke Hatton (lead guitars), Lee Payne (bass and backing vocals), and Danny White (drums and percussion) 
• Musical style: Heavy metal
• Sound: Blending power metal and thrash metal with more traditional NWOBHM 
• Major themes: Steeped in sci-fi, fantasy, and mythology, themes on the album include escape, journeys in space, death, the occult, darkness, deception, freedom, history, war, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Star Rider"
2. "Song Of Orpheus"
3. "I Talk To The Dead"
4. "Neon Angels"
5. "Morning Star"
6. "Time To Burn"
7. "Mindmaster"
8. "Go Tell The Spartans"
9. "Bannockburn"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Black Raven Brewing Company (King County, Washington) in collaboration with Fort George Brewery (Astoria, Oregon)
• Website: https://blackravenbrewing.com/ and https://fortgeorgebrewery.com/
• Brew: Goldfish Tears IPA
• Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 6.0%
• IBUs: 60
• Ingredients: Motueka, Belma, and Estate Grown Comet hops, and flaked rice
• Pour: The Goldfish Tears pours a clear, bright yellow hue with a billowy and fluffy, bright white 2-finger head with great retention and lots of sticky, sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by citrusy, tropical, grassy, floral, and slightly sweet notes.  There are aromas of tangerine, lemon zest, orange zest, kiwi, green grape, light berry, lemongrass, wildflowers, and mellow, light toffee. 
• Taste: The taste of the Goldfish Tears follows the nose with lots of bright, fruity and floral hop flavors along with more subtle grainy notes.  There are notes of pink grapefruit juice, orange juice, tangerine, lemon zest, light lime, mango, kiwi, crackery biscuit, and soft caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Goldfish Tears is very crisp, juicy, and refreshing, and very smooth with a dry, slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The very crushable, juicy, punchy, and hoppy flavors and aromas of the Goldfish Tears IPA are perfect for the heavy metal sonic attack that is the mighty Cloven Hoof's kickass "Who Mourns For The Morning Star" album!!  'Nuff said!

And if you haven't done so already, make sure to check out my interview with the very friendly, talented, and amazing Lee Payne, bassist, founding member, and mastermind behind Cloven Hoof here: https://youtu.be/j1xlaNRn-JI 

Cheers and hails!!