February 23rd, 2024 - Elkupine, the Master of Disguise

 

Hey there headbangers and hop freaks!  Happy Friday!  Your rockin' drinkin' buddy the Meista here today getting the weekend off to the right start with a pairing of a tasty Elkupine West Coast Style IPA from the fine folks at Proper Brewing Company and Savage Grace's kickass debut album, "Master Of Disguise"!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Savage Grace
• Title: "Master Of Disguise"
• Recorded: August through October 1984 at Sutton Place
• Release date: September 12th, 1985 (1st studio album by Savage Grace)
• Record company: Important Records / No Remorse Records
• Production: Savage Grace and James Sutton
• Album cover art: Cory Brandon
• Personnel: Brian East (bass), Dan Finch (drums), Christian Logue (lead guitars), Mark Marshall (lead guitars), and Mike Smith (lead vocals)
• Musical style: Speed metal
• Sound: With high-caliber musicianship, strong songwriting, and excellent production, the sound on "Master Of Disguise" is pure, high-adrenaline, classic speed metal the way it should be!  The tracks are fast, furious, and fiery with some really stellar guitar work and vocal acrobatics! 
• Major themes: Freedom, anger, rebellion, crime, fear, murder, sin, betrayal, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Lions Roar"
2. "Bound To Be Free"
3. "Fear My Way"
4. "Sins Of The Damned"
5. "Into The Fire"
6. "Master Of Disguise"
7. "Betrayer"
8. "Sons Of Iniquity"
9. "No On Left To Blame"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Proper Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://www.properbrewingco.com/
• Brew: Elkupine West Coast Style IPA 
• Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• IBUs: 32
• Pour: The Elkupine IPA pours a slightly hazy golden yellow hue with a frothy, bright white, 1+finger head with great retention and sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, floral, herbal, and malty.  There are aromas of orange juice, orange peel, and orange pith, tangerine, grapefruit rind, lemon zest, wildflowers, herbal tea, toasted barley, and soft caramel.
• Taste: The taste is citrusy, herbal, and malty.  There are notes of orange peel, tangerine, lemon zest, black tea, and burnt toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Elkupine IPA is very crisp, yet smooth with a dry, slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The Proper Elkupine IPA is a very tasty, hoppy, and crushable brew... perfect for banging your head and pumping your fists to the hard-rockin' punch of Savage Grace's killer "Master Of Disguise"!  'Nuff said!

Raise those horns!!  Cheers rockers!!