April 26th, 2014 - Maybe The End Of Heartache, But It's The Start Of Mass Rising!

Good evening and hails metal / craft beer legions!  The Meista here with a pairing that goes out to my good buddy Rick... "The End Of Heartache" by Killswitch Engage and a Mass Rising Double Imperial Pilsner Lager (IPL) from Jack's Abby Brewery!  Cheers my friend!!

Released on May 11, 2004 through Roadrunner Records, "The End Of Heartache" is the 3rd studio album by Massachusetts metalcore band Killswitch Engage.   It is the first album to feature the dynamic vocal talents of lead vocalist Howard Jones.  (Sadly, Jones left the band in 2012 due to his battle with type 2 diabetes.)  Ranked number 401 in Rock Hard magazine's book of The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time, "The End Of Heartache" is as aggressive as a Double IPL!  The profoundly heavy dual guitar work of Adam Dutkiewicz and Joel Stroetzel along with the heart-stopping prowess of the bass work of Mike D'Antonio and drumming of Justin Foley is the stuff of metal dreams!  From the opening notes of "A Bid Farewell" to the finality of "Hope Is...", this is one aggressive and intense ride.  This album will kick your ass into next year... especially if you've gotta Mass Rising in hand to go with you!!

Hailing from Framingham, Massachusetts, the craftsmen/women of Jack's Abby Brewery have really outdone themselves with the Great American Beer Festival gold medal-winning Mass Rising IPL!  This is one of the best beers I've ever had the pleasure of enjoying... period!  Amping this pilsner up with a healthy dose of American hops in the kettle, hopback, and dry-hopping process, the Mass Rising redefines the lager in a huge way!  It is biting, aggressive, and downright mean, but with a beautifully sweet and robust backbone.  This beer goes so well with the metal power of Killswitch Engage it isn't even funny!  Here's the Mass Rising's brew breakdown:

ABV: 8.00%
IBU: 100
Pour: Opaque, beautiful clover honey gold with a 1-2 finger bright, white head with lots of spider web lacing and perfect retention.
Nose: Big, floral, hoppy, and brilliant!  Notes of sweet pine, sharp lemon, tart grapefruit, crackery Pilsner malt, and lemony herbs.
Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied, sharp, dry, crisp.
Flavor: World-class!  Initially, malty and crackery notes that are beautifully overcome by perfect notes of citrusy and piney goodness.  Notes of fresh pine, freshly cut herbs, citrus and tropical fruits like grapefruit, lemon, pineapple, and mango abound!  Perfection! 
Finish: Very dry, very crisp, very refreshing... 'nuff said!

Fuckin' metal and artisan ales my friends... cheers!!