February 14th, 2026 - On a Need to Know Basis for the Ob(Servant)

 

Hello and happy Saturday evil-doers, metal maniacs, hopheads, and craft beer lovers!  The Meista here with another great pairing for you... a hoppy and delicious Need To Know Basis Hoppy Ale from Offset Brewing and "Ob(Servant)", the 4th studio album by Tasmanian technical death metal band Psycroptic!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Psycroptic
• Title: "Ob(Servant)"
• Recorded: March through May 2008 at Crawlspace Studios and Red Planet Studios
• Release date: September 26th, 2008 (4th full-length studio album by Psycroptic)
• Record company: Nuclear Blast Records
• Production: Psycroptic
• Album cover art: Raymond Swanland
• Personnel: Cameron Grant (bass), David Haley (drums), Joe Haley (guitars), Jason Peppiatt (vocals)
• Musical style: Technical death metal with elements of blackened death metal
• Sound: Blending insane riffage with wonderful counter-rhythmic intensity and brutal vocals, the sound on "Ob(Servant)" is both intense and mesmerizing.  As always, Joe's guitar work is awe-inspiring, while David and Cameron lay down an impressively powerful rhythm for Peppiatt's fierce vocals.
• Major themes: Death, destruction, metaphysics, mythology, science fiction, politics, ignorance, corruption, fantasy, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Ob(Servant)"
2. "A Calculated Effort"
3. "Slaves Of Nil"
4. "The Shifting Equilibrium"
5. "Removing The Common Bond"
6. "Horde In Devolution"
7. "Blood Stained Lineage"
8. "Immortal Army Of One"
9. "Initiate"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Offset Bier Company (Park City, Utah)
• Website: https://offsetbier.com/
• Brew: Need To Know Basis Hoppy Ale
• Style: American Pale Ale
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Ingredients: ?
• Pour: The Need To Know Basis Hoppy Ale pours a clear, bright, golden-yellow hue with a frothy, bright white, thin head with good sustain and soapy lacing. 
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, dank, floral, and malty.  There are aromas of tangerine, grapefruit rind, stone fruit (apricot), yuzu, lemon zest, light pine resin, a hint of toffee, and light, crackery biscuit.
• Taste: The taste is like the nose: citrusy, hoppy, grainy and malty.  There are notes of pink grapefruit juice, yuzu, lemon zest, hints of dank pine, white pepper, and soft, sweet toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Need To Know Basis Hoppy Ale is very crisp, yet smooth with a dry, clean, and slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The mysterious Need To Know Basis Hoppy Ale from the folks at Offset is a delightfully hoppy and very drinkable brew with loads of bright citrusy notes... perfect to crush whilst pumping your fists and banding your head to the intricate, intense, and intoxicating metal attack of Psycroptic's excellent "Ob(Servant)" album!  'Nuff said! 

Cheers and hails!