September 2nd, 2018 - Castings Stones At One Ear

Hey there rockers and hop heads and happy Sunday!  Sorry for the two week absences... but your pal, the Meista is back and here today pairing "Casting The Stones" by the mighty Jag Panzer and a One Ear, A Naked Saison from Trinity Brewing Company!

Album Info:

• Artist: Jag Panzer
• Title: "Casting The Stones"
• Recorded: 2004 at Morrisound Studios in Tampa, Florida, Big Wilma's Temple of Bigass Sound in Rockrimmon, Colorado, and One Track Studios in Denver, Colorado
• Release date: October 19th, 2004 (8th studio album by Jag Panzer)
• Record company: Century Media
• Production: Jim Morris
• Album cover art: Mattisas Noren
• Personnel: Mark Briody (rhythm guitars and keyboards), Chris Broderick (lead guitars and keyboards), Harry "the Tyrant" Conklin (vocals), Rikard Stjernquist (drums), and John Tetley (bass)
• Additional musicians: Jim Morris (backing vocals), Bob Parduba (backing vocals), and the Symphony of Voices (choir)
• Musical style: Heavy metal, power metal
• Sound: Jag Panzer American power metal in the grandest sense of the style!  The tracks blend multiple elements of heavy metal and hard rock with strong, heartfelt songwriting, rich melodies, soaring harmonies, and that focused and masterful musicianship Jag Panzer is known for!  In the tradition of Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, the dual shredding guitar work of Briody and Broderick is soaring, paint-peeling, face-melting brilliance!  Their combined tone is perfect and the soloing is mind blowing!  Conklin's vocals sound as fresh, powerful, and youthful as they did 30+ years ago!  His range is huge, honest, and awe-inspiring!  And the combined thunder of rhythm section Stjernquist and Tetley hold it all together with machine-gun fire aggression, passion, and precision!! 
• Major themes: War, valor, vigilance, survival, power, might, mythology, darkness, good vs. evil, life and death, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Feast Or Famine"
2. "The Mission (1943)"
3. "Vigilant"
4. "Achilles"
5. "Tempest"
6. "Legion Immortal"
7. "Battered And Bruised"
8. "Cold"
9. "Starlight's Fury"
10. "The Harkening"
11. "Precipice"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Trinity Brewing Company (Colorado Springs, Colorado)
• Website: http://trinitybrew.com/
• Brew: One Ear, A Naked Saison
• Style: Saison / Farmhouse Ale
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 6.5%
• IBUs: 35
• Ingredients: Barley, grist, oats, rye, free-rise fermentation with proprietary yeast, and Styrian and Saaz hops  
• Pour: The One Ear pours a hazy straw-gold hue with a frothy and firm, bright white, 1+ finger head with good sustain and lots of intricate lacing.
• Nose: The nose is earthy, spicy, malty, herbal, and fruity.  There are aromas of banana chips, pink bubblegum, lemon, orange peel, pepper, Chardonnay, and hints of wet leather.
• Taste: The taste of the One Ear follows the nose with earthy, spicy, grainy, and fruity flavors.  There are notes of orange peel, white grape, bitter herbs, soft banana, grassy hops, and spicy rye.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel is crisp and very dry with a dry, slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: Both the complexity of flavors and the overall punchiness of Trinity's One Ear, A Naked Saison work perfectly with the bombast, musical prowess, and metal integrity of Jag Panzer's brilliant "Casting The Stones"!  As with the brew, the album provides its audience with sweet, bitter, and very complex notes.  I can't say enough about this album and this beer!  GET SOME!!

Cheers!! Rock on!!  Hails!!