April 28th, 2022 - Better Put On Your Pink Boots If You Are Going Out Into The Elements

 

Good evening metal heads and hop heads!  Your drinking buddy the Meista here tonight pairing "Elements", the kickass 3rd and criminally underrated album by thrash/death metal band Atheist and a Strawberry IPA Pink Boots Brew from Kiitos Brewing Company!  Hell yes!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Atheist
• Title: "Elements"
• Recorded: May 1993 at Pro Media Studios in Gainesville, Florida
• Release date: August 30th, 1993 (3rd full-length studio album by Atheist)
• Record company: Music For Nations
• Production: Mark Pinske and Atheist
• Album cover art: Kristian Wåhlin
• Personnel: Rand Burkey (lead guitars), Tony Choy (bass), Josh Greenbaum (drums and congas), Frank Emmi (lead guitars), and Kelly Shaefer (rhythm guitars and vocals)
• Guest musician: David Smadbeck (piano)
• Musical style: Thrash metal, technical death metal with elements of jazz fusion and progressive metal
• Sound: Fast and furious, yet very complex and inventive, the sound on "Elements" blends aggressive thrash and death metal with wonderful elements of traditional jazz, jazz fusion, Latin jazz, and progressive rock to present a truly unique and creative experience!
• Major themes: Nature, life and death, creation, destruction, science, weather, elements, survival, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Green"
2. "Water"
3. "Samba Briza"
4. "Air"
5. "Displacement"
6. "Animal"
7. "Mineral"
8. "Fire"
9. "Fractal Point"
10. "Earth"
11. "See You Again"
12. "Elements"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Kiitos Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://kiitosbrewing.com/
• Brew: Strawberry IPA Pink Boots Brew 
• Style: Fruited India Pale Ale 
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0% 
• Ingredients: Pink Boots Society hop blend
• Pour: The Strawberry IPA pours a hazy, golden-yellow hue with a frothy 1+ finger, bright white head with good retention and lots of sticky, soapy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is fruity, citrusy, floral, and slightly sweet.  There are aromas of fresh strawberries, strawberry jam, orange juice, orange zest, tangerine, freshly cut pineapple, flowery soap, crackery malt, and sweet caramel.
• Taste: The taste of the Strawberry IPA blends the hoppiness of an IPA and the sweetness of a fruited ale.  It is sweet, fruity, citrusy, and malty.  There are notes of strawberries, tangerine, light pineapple, light peach, floral and grassy hops, biscuit, and sweet caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Strawberry IPA is crisp, juicy, and sweet with a dry, slightly bitter, yet sweet finish.

Overall pairing: The complex, yet very drinkable and crushable flavors of the Kiitos Brewing Strawberry IPA Pink Boots Brew is perfect for the metal intensity and artistic integrity of Atheist's ass-kicking "Elements"!  Those punchy hop flavors are great for the thrash elements of the album, while the sweet and tart fruity flavors and malty backbone work wonderfully with the complex and more intricate jazz elements.  

Cheers and hails head bangers!!

And if you haven't done so already, please check out my interview with the very friendly and talented Kelly Shaefer here: https://youtu.be/CXlaoSze_2s