April 9th, 2017 - Loading 2 X 4s

Good afternoon rockers and hop lovers!  The Meista here today pairing a delicious and award winning 2 x 4 DIPA from Melvin Brewing Company with Metallica's "Load"!

Album Info:

• Artist: Metallica
• Title: "Load"
• Recorded: May 1st, 1995 through February 1st, 1996 at The Plant Studios in Sausalito, California
• Release date: June 4th, 1996 (6th studio album by Metallica)
• Record company: Elektra Records
• Production: Bob Rock, James Hetfield, and Lars Ulrich
• Album cover art: Andres Serrano
• Personnel: Kirk Hammett (lead guitar), James Hetfield (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Jason Newsted (bass and backing vocals), and Lars Ulrich (drums)
• Musical style: Alternative metal, heavy metal, hard rock, heavy blues rock
• Sound:  As an avid thrash metal fan, I actually hated this album when it was originally released.  And I mean HATED!  Over the years I've actually grown to not only tolerate it, but like it (I don't love it) and I've grown to somewhat respect the experimentation and reinvention the band tried at the time.  The album has a very dark and gloomy post-grunge '90s catchy rock vibe with down-tuned guitars and slower grooves.  Hammett's guitar work is the shining star on this album!  Of his guitar work on the album, Hammett stated, "I started tuning to E-flat for my riff tapes because I copied a lot of the Hendrix stuff. You know I used to try to figure out Jimi Hendrix solos, Stevie Ray Vaughan solos, Thin Lizzy solos and those three bands tune to E-flat. And so a lot of my riffs were in E-flat, and I guess when James would hear the riffs tuned in E-flat and he'd try to sing to 'em, I think he kind of liked it. He liked the break it kind of gave his voice. He didn't have to pitch that extra half step."
• Major themes: Anger, hate, pain, isolation, cancer, death, relationships, etc.
• Tracks:  

1. "Ain't My Bitch"
2. "2 X 4"
3. "The House Jack Built"
4. "Until It Sleeps"
5. "King Nothing"
6. "Hero Of The Day"
7. "Bleeding Me"
8. "Cure"
9. "Poor Twisted Me"
10. "Wasting My Hate"
11. "Mama Said"
12. "Thorn Within"
13. "Ronnie"
14. "The Outlaw Torn"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Melvin Brewing Company (Alpine, Wyoming)
• Website: http://www.melvinbrewing.com/
• Brew: 2 x 4 DIPA
• Style: Double India Pale Ale (DIPA) / Imperial IPA (IIPA)
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 10.0%
• Pour: The 2 x 4 DIPA pours a slightly hazy golden amber with a bubbly, bright white, 2-finger head with great sustain and lots of intricate and layered spider web lacing.
• Nose: The nose is dank, earthy, citrusy, and slightly sweet.  There are aromas of pine resin, grapefruit rind, tangerine, pineapple, herbs, and underlying biscuit and caramel malt. 
• Taste: The taste is floral, citrusy, malty, earthy, and clean.  There are notes of grapefruit, tangerine, pineapple, light pine, sweet biscuit, toffee, and some spicy pepper.  The higher ABV is masked really well by the citrus and pine notes.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the 2 x 4 DIPA is very smooth and crisp with a clean finish.

Overall pairing: The bold, hoppy flavors and aromas of Melvin's 2 x 4 DIPA makes for a very good companion to the power and rockin' punch of the mighty Metallica's "Load"!

Cheers!!  Rock on!!