May 25th, 2025 - A Sex, Age & Death Kinda Mindset

 

Hello and happy Sunday my rock and roll friends and beer lovers!  You pal the Meista here again with another killer brew and killer album pairing for ya!  I'm spinning the wonderful "Sex, Age & Death", the 4th solo studio album by the legendary Bob Geldof and a crisp and hoppy Mindset Extra Pale Ale from Helper Beer!  Hell yeah!

Album Info: 

• Artist: Bob Geldof
• Title: "Sex, Age & Death"
• Recorded: 2001 at Cosford Mill in Surrey, United Kingdom
• Release date: October 1st, 2001 (4th solo studio album by Bob Geldof)
• Record company: Eagle Records / Koch Records
• Production: Pete Briquette
• Album cover art: Nic Nicosia (photography)
• Personnel: Bob Geldof (lead vocals, guitars, and harmonica) with Pete Briquette (bass guitar, guitars, keyboards, and programming), Alan Dunn (keyboards, accordion, and backing vocals), Bob Loveday (violin and bass guitar). Joshua Macrae (drums and percussion), Niall Power (drums and backing vocals), Keith Prior (drums), Roger Taylor (drums and backing vocals on "Mind in Pocket", "Mudslide" and "Scream In Vain", and backing vocals on "One For Me"), and John Turnbull (guitars and backing vocals)
• Musical style: Rock, pop with elements of indie rock, alternative rock, folk rock, and world music
• Sound: Building off the folk and world sounds from his previous two albums, with "Sex, Age & Death" incorporates a more indie rock/alternative rock vibe.  The songs are raw, honest, and powerful in a subtle and unassuming kind of way.
• Major themes: Life, death, relationships, sex, desire, depression, isolation, introspection, solitude, aging, the passing of time, etc.
• Tracks:  

1. "One For Me"
2. "$6,000,000 Loser"
3. "Pale White Girl"
4. "The New Routine"
5. "Mudslide"
6. "Mind In Pocket"
7. "My Birthday Suit"
8. "Scream In Vain"
9. "Inside Your Head"
10. "10:15"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Helper Beer (Helper, Utah)
• Website: https://www.helperbeer.com/
• Brew: Mindset Extra Pale Ale
• Style: American Pale Ale (APA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0% 
• Pour: The Mindset Extra Pale Ale pours a clear, bright golden yellow with a billowy, 1+ finger, bright white head with good retention and lots of soapy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, earthy, and herbal.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, tangerine, apricot, wet pine needles, a hint of onion, pale grains, herbal tea, and light caramel. 
• Taste: Following the nose, the taste of the Mindset Extra Pale Ale is citrusy, resinous, and crackery.  There are notes of pink grapefruit juice, tangerine, dried apricot, black tea, pine resin, and soft caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Medium in body and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Mindset Extra Pale Ale is very crisp, and smooth with a clean, yet slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The crisp, citrusy, hop-forward, slightly bitter flavors and aromas of Helper Beer's Mindset Extra Pale Ale is a very crushable, yet complex and hoppy beer, perfect for the open, honest, and somewhat dark music of Bob Geldof on his wonderful "Sex, Age & Death" album!  The inviting citrus notes are great for the inviting grooves and melodies, while the hoppy bite goes great with the more introspective and bitter lyrics!  I highly recommend this wonderful gem of an album! 

Prost!!  Rock on!!