October 11th, 2024 - Cerveza Vermillion

 

Hello and happy Friday my rocking, rolling, and beer lovin' friends!  The Meister here today pairing "Vermillion", the 1st solo album by Epica vocalist Simone Simons and a tasty and easy-drinking Cerveza Roja from the fine folks at the Ogden Beer Company!  Oh, yeah!! 

Album Info:

• Artist: Simone Simons
• Title: "Vermillion"
• Recorded: 2024 at The Electric Castle in the Netherlands
• Release date: August 23rd, 2024 (1st solo studio album by Simone Simons)
• Record company: Nuclear Blast
• Production: Arjen Anthony Lucassen
• Album cover art: Hedi Xandt (artwork and design) and Lori Linstruth (photography)
• Personnel: Simone Simons (lead and backing vocals) with Arjen Anthony Lucassen (guitars, keyboards, and backing vocals)
• Additional musicians: John Jaycee Cuypers (backing vocals on "Aeterna"), Isaac Delahaye (choir vocals), Jasper Erkens (choir vocals), Koen Herfst (drums), Monique Hooft (choir vocals), Mark Jansen (growls and choir vocals), Coen Janssen (choir vocals),Peter Kettenis (choir vocals), Perttu Kivilaakso (cello on "Dark Night Of The Soul"), Lori Linstruth (choir vocals), Ben Mathot (violin), Joost van den Broek (piano and choir vocals on "Dark Night Of The Soul"), Rob van der Loo (bass and choir vocals), Johan van Stratum (choir vocals), Ariën van Weesenbeek (choir vocals), Jurriaan Westerveld (cello), and Alissa White-Gluz (vocals on "Cradle To The Grave")
• Musical style: Symphonic metal, progressive metal/rock
• Sound: Bombastic, symphonic, theatrical, cinematic... the sound on Simone Simons' "Vermillion" is a powerful and stunning musical journey!  It blends beautiful orchestral movements with rockin' progressive metal intensity... and of course Simons' amazingly beautiful vocals!
• Major themes: Life, death, relationships, memories, loss, sorrow, revolution, darkness, the passage of time, etc.
• Tracks:  
1. "Aeterna"
2. "In Love We Rust"
3. "Cradle To The Grave"
4. "Fight Or Flight"
5. "Weight Of My World"
6. "Vermillion Dreams"
7. "The Core"
8. "Dystopia"
9. "R.E.D."
10. "Dark Night Of The Soul"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Ogden Beer Company (Ogden, Utah) 
• Website: http://www.ogdenbeercompany.com/ 
• Brew: Cerveza Roja
• Style: Red Mexican Lager
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Pour: The Cerveza Roja pours a with a 1+ finger, bright white, light and frothy head with great retention and soapy, sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is a characterized by malty, crackery, grainy, and herbal aromas.  There are aromas of cracked wheat, toasted bread, grainy maze, a hint of lemon zest, light herbal hops.
• Taste: Well-balanced, the Cerveza Roja has a nice blend of bready, grainy, malty, and herbal flavors.  There are notes of toasted bread, bread crust, corn chips, a hint of lemon zest, light honey, soft caramel, and herbal hops.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium in body and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel is crisp and smooth with a dry, clean finish. 

Overall pairing: The Ogden Beer Company Cerveza Roja is a very crisp, delicious, and crushable brew... a great companion to the haunting beauty of Simone Simon's incredible voice and her amazing songs on "Vermillion"!  'Nuff said!

Cheers!!  Salud!!  Proost!!