September 24th, 2023 - From Secchi to Jupiter

 

Hello metal heads and beer freaks!  The Meista is here today pairing "Jupiter", the kickass 4th album by the mighty thrash/death metal band Atheist and a crisp and hoppy Secchi Hoppy Wheat Ale from Ecliptic Brewing in collaboration with Sierra Nevada Brewing Company!  

Album Info:

• Artist: Atheist
• Title: "Jupiter"
• Recorded: 2010 at Ledbelly Studios in Atlanta, Georgia
• Release date: November 8th, 2010 (4th full-length studio album by Atheist)
• Record company: Season of Mist
• Production: Jason Suecof and Matt Washburn
• Album cover art: Eliran Kantor
• Personnel: Chris Baker (guitars), Steve Flynn (drums), Kelly Shaefer (lead vocals), and Jonathan Thompson (guitars and bass)
• Additional musicians: Timmy St. John (cello on "Live And Live Again") and Jason Suecof (guitars)
• Musical style: Thrash metal with elements of technical death metal, jazz fusion and progressive metal
• Sound: Fast and furious, yet wonderfully complex, the sound on "Jupiter" blends aggressive thrash and progressive death metal with elements of jazz fusion and progressive rock/metal to present a truly unique and creative experience. 
• Major themes: Life, death, nature, introspection, corruption, destruction, aggression, resistance, anti-religion, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Second To The Sun"
2. "Fictitious Glide"
3. "Fraudulent Cloth"
4. "Live And Live Again"
5. "Faux King Christ"
6. "Tortoise The Titan"
7. "When The Beast"
8. "Third Person"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Ecliptic Brewing (Portland, Oregon) in collaboration with Sierra Nevada Brewing Company (Chico, California) 
• Website: https://eclipticbrewing.com/ and https://sierranevada.com/
• Brew: Secchi Hoppy Wheat Ale 
• Style: American Pale Wheat Ale 
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 6.5%
• IBUs: 55
• Ingredients: Strata, Amarillo, McKenzie, and Citra hops
• Pour: The Secchi pours a clear, golden-yellow color with a frothy, bright white, half-finger head with good retention and lots of sudsy, sticky lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, fruity, and grainy.  There are aromas of orange peel, grapefruit, tangerine, lemon zest, cracked wheat, and soft caramel/toffee.
• Taste: Hop-forward, the taste of the Secchi is citrusy, bright, grainy, and slightly malty.  There are notes of tangerine, orange peel, lemon zest, crackery biscuit, wheat bread, and caramel/toffee. 
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is very crisp and smooth with a dry, clean finish.

Overall pairing: The hoppy, complex, yet crushable flavors of the Secchi Hoppy Wheat Ale from Ecliptic Brewing in collaboration with Sierra Nevada Brewing Company is the perfect brew for the metal intensity and artistic integrity of Atheist's ass-kicking and thought provoking "Jupiter"!  Those crisp, punchy flavors are great for the thrash elements of the album, while the graininess works wonderfully with the more complex and more intricate elements.  I also like the look of the beer label next to the amazing artwork of the album cover.  

And if you haven't done so already, please check out my interview from 2021 with the very friendly and talented Kelly Shaefer here: https://youtu.be/CXlaoSze_2s

Cheers and hails head bangers!!