November 29th, 2025 - Lupulin Dew & Vertical Smiles

 

Hey there rockers, rollers, and hop freaks!  Happy !  The Meista here today pairing "Vertical Smiles", the killer 7th album by legendary southern rockers Blackfoot and a Lupulin Dew Wet Hopped Pale Ale from SaltFire Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Blackfoot
• Title: "Vertical Smiles"
• Recorded: 1984 at Eddy Offord Studios in Atlanta, Georgia
• Release date: October 1984 (7th studio album by Blackfoot)
• Record company: Atco
• Production: Al Nalli and Eddy Offord
• Album cover art: Gary Heery and Bob Defrin (photography, design and artwork)
• Personnel: Ken Hensley (keyboards and backing vocals), Rickey Medlocke (lead and rhythm guitars, lead and backing vocals, and guitar synthesizer), Jackson Spires (drums, percussion, and backing vocals), and Greg T. Walker (bass and backing vocals)
• Additional musician: Sherri Jarrel (backing vocals)
• Musical style: Rock and roll, hard rock, heavy blues rock, southern rock
• Sound: Although more commercial and poppier than earlier efforts, the sound on "Vertical Smiles" is still that heavy-hitting Blackfoot sound.  
• Major themes: Rock and roll, love, life, summer, desire, lust, the blues, etc. 
• Tracks: 

1. "Morning Dew" (Bonnie Dobson cover)
2. "Livin' in the Limelight" (Peter Cetera cover)
3. "Ride With You"
4. "Get It On"
5. "Young Girl"
6. "Summer Days"
7. "A Legend Never Dies" (RPM cover)
8. "Heartbeat And Heals"
9. "In For The Kill"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: SaltFire Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://www.saltfirebrewing.com/
• Brew: Lupulin Dew Wet Hopped Pale Ale
• Style: American Pale Ale (APA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Ingredients: 2-Row, Pilsner, Honey, Flake Oats, and Munich malts, and fresh hops
• Pour: The Lupulin Dew pours a hazy, golden-yellow with a 1-finger, off-white, frothy head that dissipates to a thin ring, but with sticky lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, floral, grassy, lightly bready, and slightly sweet.  There are aromas of wildflowers, summer grass, grapefruit rind, orange peel, pine resin, honey, and sweet caramel.
• Taste: The taste of the Lupulin Dew is bold, bitter, and hoppy, yet very drinkable.  There are notes of green and grassy hops, orange and lemon zest, grapefruit juice, soft caramel, freshly baked bread, and light pine.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Lupulin Dew is crisp with a slightly bitter and dry finish.

Overall pairing: The punchy, grassy, bitter, and hoppy flavors and aromas of the SaltFire Lupulin Dew is perfect for the rock and roll punch of Blackfoot's underrated "Vertical Smiles" album!  Those crisp flavors enhance the precision and depth of Medlocke's melodic, yet fiery guitars and Hensley's amazing keys, while the breadier notes are perfect for the powerful rhythms and grooves of Spires and Walker!  'Nuff said!

Make sure to check out my interview with legendary Blackfoot bassist Greg T. Walker here: https://youtu.be/bMYjlAMwDoc

Cheers!  Rock on!