June 30th, 2013 - "This Is A Public Service Announcement... With Guitar [And Beer]!!"

Alright, one more for  you tonight from the (slightly loopy) Meista!  Let's jump back into my vinyl collection and dig out the 1982 album "Combat Rock" from The Clash!  I'm pairing this with a Latitude 48 IPA from the Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams).

Originally planned as a double album with the working title "Rat Patrol From Fort Bragg," the 5th studio release by The Clash, "Combat Rock" was released on May 14th, 1982 and was their most commercially successful album at the time.  Obviously considered one of the founders of English punk, The Clash incorporated reggae, ska, dub, funk, R&B, even a little rap, and rockabilly into their sound coupled by politically charged lyrics.  The album opens with the wonderful bitter and sarcastic "Know Your Rights."  This is followed by the rather punchy "Car Jamming" and then the two hits of the album: "Should I Stay Or Should I Go" and the wonderfully fun "Rock The Casbah."  "Red Angel Dragnet" was inspired by the shooting death of Frank Melvin, a New York member of the Guardian Angels.  The song also contains several quotes from the 1976 movie Taxi Driver delivered by Joe Strummer.  Probably my favorite track on the album, "Straight To Hell," was inspired musically and lyrically by the band's travels through Asia, which is also echoed on the jazzier "Sean Flynn."  This is followed by the rather humorous "Overpowerd By Funk," a catchy, foot-stomping blast of funk!  "Ghetto Defenders" includes readings from beat poet Allen Ginsberg.  The album ends with two slower songs, "Inoculated City" and "Death Is A Star."  Sadly, this would be the last album to feature guitarist/vocalist Mick Jones.  He was released during their next album,"Cut The Crap" sessions due to tension between he and Strummer. 

I'm pairing "Combat Rock" with the Latitude 48 IPA for two simple reasons... bitterness and intensity!  The Latitude 48 IPA is a new 2013 release.  It features German, English, and American hops that are all grown in the 48th Latitude... also called the "hop belt" in some brewing circles.  One of those hops used in this tasty beverage is Mosaic hops, a newly developed hop from the American Pacific Northwest.  The Latitude 48 pours a transparent, deep copper with a frothy, off-white head that displays very strong spider web lacing and great sustainability.  The nose is malty and piney with strong notes of juniper and summer grass with a hint of sweet toffee.  Medium-bodied, the carbonation is moderate.  Crisp and dry, there's a bit of stickiness to the mouthfeel... something a bit unexpected from an IPA.  The flavor is somewhat sharp and biting (great for the sarcasm of English punk!), with notes of the bitter Mosaic hops, piney resin, summer grass, and just a hint of sweet caramel malts.  Crisp and refreshing, the Latitude 48 IPA was pleasantly not what I was expecting from this ale.

Cheers and good night!!