September 26th, 2020 - Thrashing And Destroying Grid City With An Imperial Pale Ale

 

Hello and hails thrashers and craft beer freaks!  The Meista here with a kick-ass pairing for ya today with Hirax's amazing double live album "Thrash And Destroy" and the bold and aggressive flavors of Grid City Beer Works' Imperial Pale Ale!  Hell yeah!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Hirax
• Title: "Thrash And Destroy"
• Recorded: Live on November 3rd, 2007 at the Keep It True Festival #9 in Germany  
• Release date: June 30th, 2008 (1st full-length live album by Hirax)
• Record company: Deep Six Records 
• Production: Fabian Schwarz
• Album cover art: Bill Hauser 
• Personnel: Katon W. de Pena (vocals), Lance Harrison (guitars), Steve Harrison (bass), Fabricio Ravelli (drums), and Timothy Thomas (guitars)
• Musical style: Thrash metal, speed metal
• Sound: Fast, fiery, aggressive, and full of piss and vinegar, with "Thrash And Destroy", Hirax prove they are a true thrash metal band in every sense of the genre!  The sonic guitar attack of  Harrison and Thomas coupled by the machine gun fire rhythm juggernaut of Harrison and Ravelli is the perfect backdrop to the heavy metal might and prowess of de Pena's explosive vocals! 
• Major themes: Aggression, violence, evil, death, power, war, heavy metal, horror, rebellion, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "(Intro) El Día De Los Muertos"
2. "100,000 Strong"
3. "Lucifer's Inferno"
4. "Blind Faith"
5. "The New Age Of Terror"
6. "Chaos And Brutality"
7. "Hate, Fear And Power"
8. "Hostile Territory"
9. "Destroy"
10. "Broken Neck"
11. "Bombs Of Death"
12. "El Diablo Negro"
13. "Barrage Of Noise"
14. "Walk With Death"
15. "The Plague"
16. "Mouth Sewn Shut"
17. "Assassins Of War"
18. "Unleash The Dogs Of War"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Grid City Beer Works (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://gridcitybeerworks.com/
• Brew: Grid City Imperial Pale Ale
• Style: Imperial American Pale Ale (APA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 8.5%
• Pour: The Grid City Imperial Pale Ale pours a bronze amber with an eggshell white, 1+ finger, frothy head with great retention and lots of sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is very aromatic... citrusy, dank, earthy, herbal, malty, and floral.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, crackery biscuit, hearty bread dough, pine resin, black tea, light onion, wild flowers, and caramel.
• Taste: The taste of the Grid City Imperial Pale Ale follows the nose with lots of punchy, citrusy, herbal, and malty flavors.  There are notes of grapefruit rind, pine, biscuit, black tea, black pepper, and caramel/toffee. 
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied and moderately-carbonated, the mouthfeel is very crisp, with a very dry, bitter, and spicy finish.

Overall pairing: Those straightforward, punchy, hoppy, crushable flavors of the Grid City Imperial Pale Ale pair perfectly with the fast-paced, aggressive, thrashingly good metal prowess of live Hirax!  "Thrash And Destroy" is a must own for any neck wrecker!  And if you live in or find yourself in Salt Lake City, definitely go check out the Grid City tap room... great beers, delicious food, great atmosphere, and super friendly and knowledgeable staff!  Tell 'em the Meista sent ya!   'Nuff said!

Cheers and hails!!