October 28th, 2022 - Life's A Bitch, So Give It The Bird

 

Hey there headbangers and craft brew lovers!  Happy Friday!  The Meista here today rocking the hell out and getting the weekend off the right way with another great pairing for ya... I'm going with "Life's A Bitch" by the legendary Raven and a tasty and hoppy The Bird West Coast Style IPA from the fine folks at Revision Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!   And this pairing goes out to my very good friends Jason and Sonia... thanks so very much for the tasty beer, buddies!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Raven
• Title: "Life's A Bitch"
• Recorded: November through December 1986 at Bearsville Studios in Bearsville, New York
• Release date: 1987 (6th full-length studio album by Raven)
• Record company: Atlantic Records
• Production: Raven and Chris Isca
• Album cover art: Bob Defrin (art direction), John Gallagher (cover artwork), and Tony Incigeri (cover artwork) 
• Personnel: John Gallagher (bass and vocals), Mark Gallagher (guitars), and Rob "Wacko" Hunter (drums)
• Musical style: Speed metal, heavy metal
• Sound: Criminally underrated, the Gallagher boys have been producing outstanding speed metal albums for 4 decades now and their 1987 offering was no exception.  The sound on "Life's A Bitch" is unapologetically fast, aggressive, and steeped in that classic Raven speed metal punch... truly a return to form!
• Major themes: Heavy metal, aggression, power, fighting the good fight, rebellion, etc.
• Note: This would be the last album to feature co-founding member Rob Hunter.
• Tracks: 
1. "The Savage And The Hungry"
2. "Pick Your Window"
3. "Life's A Bitch"
4. "Never Forgive"
5. "Iron League"
6. "On The Wings Of An Eagle"
7. "Overload"
8. "You're A Liar"
9. "Fuel To The Fire"
10. "Only The Strong Survive"
11. "Juggernaut"
12. "Playing With The Razor"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Revision Brewing Company (Sparks, Nevada)
• Website: https://revisionbrewing.com/
• Brew: The Bird West Coast Style IPA 
• Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 6.6%
• IBUs: 38
• Ingredients: HBC 586, Mosaic, and Cryo Mosaic hops 
• Pour: The Bird pours a clear, golden-yellow hue with a thin, eggshell white, half-finger head with minimal lacing.
• Nose: The nose is very piney, citrusy, and tropical with more subtle floral and malt elements.  There are aromas of pine resin, cedar, grapefruit rind, tangerine, peach, apricot, pineapple, mango, guava, wildflowers, a hint of cannabis, and soft caramel/toffee.
• Taste: Hop-forward, the taste of The Bird is piney, citrusy, fruity, and malty.  There are notes of pine, orange juice, tangerine, peach, light grapefruit juice, mango, pineapple, guava, black tea, sweet caramel, and an ever so slight hint of booze.  
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is very crisp, somewhat bitter, and earthy, yet smooth and creamy with a dry, slightly sweet finish.

Overall pairing: Revision's The Bird is a very complex, hoppy, and flavorful ale that demands your full attention... a perfect companion to the metal onslaught that is the mighty Raven!  

Cheers!!  Rock on!!

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