September 6th, 2020 - The Sour Joke's On You

Hey there thrashers and craft brew freaks!  Happy Sunday!  The Meista here today pairing a tasty and tart Sour Ale: Blackberry from 2 Row Brewing Company and the killer "The Joke's On You" by the California crossover band Excel!  Hell yeah!

Album Info: 

• Artist: Excel
• Title: "The Joke's On You"
• Recorded: April 1988 through March 1989 at Music Grinder Studio and EQ Sound in Hollywood, California
• Release date: June 20th, 1989 (2nd full-length studio album by Excel); vinyl re-released on November 16th, 2016
• Record company: Caroline Records; re-release by Southern Lord Recordings
• Production: Randy Burns
• Album cover art: Michael Seiff 
• Personnel: Dan Clements (vocals), Shaun Ross (bass), Greg Saenz (drums), and Adam Siegel (guitars)
• Musical style: Thrash metal, crossover
• Sound: Fiery, furious, and fun as hell, with their sophomore album, Excel built on the thrash/punk sound of their debut album and earlier EPs and splits.  The songs are fast, catchy, and filled with a wonderful sonic punch from the opening notes of "Drive" to the final stanza of "The Stranger"! 
• Major themes: Life, anger, society, angst, rebellion, humor, etc. .
• Tracks:   

1. "Drive"
2. "Shadow Winds"
3. "Fired "You're)"
4. "Tapping Into The Emotional Void"
5. "Affection Blends With Resentment"
6. "Seeing Insane"
7. "My Thoughts"
8. "I Never Denied"
9. "Message In The Bottle" (Police cover)
10. "Given Question"
11. "The Stranger"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: 2 Row Brewing (Midvale, Utah)
• Website: http://2rowbrewing.com/
• Brew: Sour Ale: Blackberry
• Style: Sour Ale
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 6.1% 
• Pour: The Sour Ale: Blackberry pours a clear, violet-red hue with a frothy, bright white (with hints of pink), 1-finger head that dissipates quickly, leaving a very thin cap with trace lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by tart, fruity, sweet aromas of fresh blackberry, plum, tart cherry juice, lemon juice, cereal grains, and a hint of honey.
• Taste: The taste is like the name denotes... lots and lots of wonderfully tart and fruity flavors.  There are notes of fresh blackberries, blackberry jam, plum, lemon juice and zest, cherry juice, and honey.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium-bodied and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Sour Ale is very crisp, rather tart, and very refreshing with a dry, lip-puckering finish.

Overall pairing: The crisp, tart, fruity, and easy drinking characteristics of the wonderful Sour Ale: Blackberry from 2 Row Brewing is a great beer to throw back on a hot summer day whilst rocking the hell out to the thrash/punk joy that is Excel's "The Joke's On You"!  'Nuff said!

    

Cheers... rock on!!