August 29th, 2014 - Forcing It With An IPX

Good afternoon and happy Friday friends!  You ready to rock?!  The Meista here today pairing UFO's "Force It" and an IPX Single Hop - Ahtanumus Prime from Hopworks Urban Brewing (HUB) out of Portland, Oregon!  This pairing goes out to friend and fellow UFO fan Brad Barker (vocalist of Victims Willing)!  Cheers buddy!!

Released in July of 1975, "Force It" is the 4th studio album by English hard rock act UFO.  It is also their first album to chart in the U.S.  The controversial cover (at the time) was designed by London-based art design group Hipgnosis.  The classic line-up of Phil Mogg (vocals), Michael Schenker (guitars), Pete Way (bass), and Andy Parker (drums) made this album one of (if not) their best!  Chick Churchill of Ten Years After provided guest keyboards.  This is heavy duty rock and roll my friends!  UFO launches it right out of the gate with "Let It Roll" and never lets up!  Sure, there's one mellow track ("High Flyer"), but it still has that UFO depth and musical intensity.  Songs like "Shoot Shoot", "Love Lost Love", "Out In The Street", "Too Much Of Nothing", and "This Kid's/Between The Walls" highlight the sheer adrenaline intensity and technical prowess of this great band!  This is a MUST own album for any true rocker!

And speaking of a must... the IPX Single Hop - Ahtanumus Prime is part of the breweries Single Hop Series.  From the HUB website: "This series highlights signature aromas and flavors of specific hop varieties that are further multiplied through our unique dry hop process."  This 60% ABV, 60 IBU American IPA uses Ahtanum hops, a very citrusy and floral hop variety with less bitterness.  It pours a dull caramel gold with a thin, but sustained head.  The nose is characterized by big citrus and floral aromas.  There are scents of orange, tangerine, lemon, and grapefruit along with herbs, summer grass, and pine.  The flavor really highlights the grassy/citrus flavor of the Ahtanum hops.  There is very little malt/grain flavor... just a hint of caramel sweetness and pale malt.  It really is all about that grassy, lemony, herbal hop flavor!

Cheers!!