July 17th, 2021 - Getting Tart 'N' Hazy In The Metal City

 

Hey there headbangers and craft brew lovers!  The Meista here today rocking the hell out with another great pairing for ya.... Today I'm going with "Metal City" the latest kick-ass album by the legendary Raven and a bright and tasty Tart 'N' Hazy from Epic Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Raven
• Title: "Metal City"
• Recorded: 2020 at Wireworld Studios in Nashville, Tennessee and at Heaven and Heller Studios East
• Release date: September 18th, 2020 (14th full-length studio album by Raven)
• Record company: Steamhammer
• Production: Raven 
• Album cover art: Alan Robinson 
• Personnel: John Gallagher (bass and vocals), Mark Gallagher (guitars), and Mike Heller (drums)
• Musical style: Speed metal, heavy metal
• Sound: The Gallagher boys have been producing outstanding speed metal albums for 4 decades now and their latest offering is no exception.  The sound on "Metal City" is unapologetically fast, aggressive, and steeped in that classic Raven speed metal punch, but with a fresh, modern, and relevant vibe.  Simply put, this album shreds!!
• Major themes: Heavy metal, power, valor, fighting the good fight, speed, rebellion, etc.
• Tracks:  
1. "The Power"
2. "Top Of The Mountain"
3. "Human Race"
4. "Metal City"
5. "Battlescarred"
6. "Cybertron"
7. "Motorheadin'"
8. "Not So Easy"
9. "Break"
10. "When Worlds Collide"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Epic Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://www.epicbrewing.com/
• Brew: Tart 'N' Hazy
• Style: Barrel-aged Sour/Wild Ale blended with an American India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 22 ounce bottle
• ABV: 7.0% 
• Ingredients: Simcoe and Citra hops
• Pour: The Tart 'N' Hazy pours a very hazy pale gold with a bright white, billowy, 1+ finger head with good retention and soapy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by fruity, hoppy, tart, slight sweet, and slightly funky and woody elements.  There are aromas of pink grapefruit, tangerine, apricot, peach, mango, fresh berries, lemon, a hint of Brett, oak, and very soft caramel.
• Taste: The taste follows the nose with lots of citrusy, fruity, tart, slightly funky, and lightly malty flavors.  There are notes of tangerine, orange, lemon juice, mango, dried apricot, white wine, a little Brett, sweet biscuit, caramel, and a little pine as well.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with good carbonation, the mouthfeel of the is rather crisp, juicy, tart, and a little funky with a dry, clean finish.

Overall pairing: Epic's Tart 'N' Hazy is a very complex, punchy, and flavorful ale that demands your full attention... a perfect companion to the thrash metal onslaught that is the mighty Raven!  Those big, bold, hoppy notes go great with the intricate guitar work and musical prowess of the band, while the sweetness, bitterness, and slightly tart bite go great with the more aggressive passages! 

And if you haven't done so already, check out my interview with John Gallagher!  You can access it here: https://youtu.be/H5y0FIs3_VM 

Cheers!!  Rock on!!