August 2nd, 2014 - Outlaw Ale To The Throne

Good afternoon my metal and brew brethren!  The Meista here with another rockin' pairing for you.  Today I'm going with Jag Panzer's "Thane To The Throne" and an Outlaw India Pale Ale (IPA) from Payette Brewing Company!

An ambitious concept album based on Shakespeare's Macbeth, "Thane To The Throne" is the 5th album by Colorado-based power metal band Jag Panzer and was released on May 9th 2000.  At the time of the release, the band was made up of Harry "Tyrant" Conklin on vocals; Chris Broderick (who would later leave the band in 2008 to join Megadeth) on lead and acoustic guitars and keyboards; Mark Briody on rhythm and acoustic guitars and keyboards; John Tetley on bass; and Rikard Stjernquist on drums.  Songs like "King For A Price", "Bloody Price", "Treachery's Stain", "Three Voices Of Fate", "Insanity's Mind", and "Face Of Fear" are bombastic, intense, rockers with a sound steeped in traditional power metal flavor, similar to tracks by bands like Iced Earth, Helloween, and Riot.  Most definitely an underrated group, Jag Panzer is a band you need to check out... especially "Thane To The Throne"!

The Outlaw IPA is a very sessionable 6.5% ABV / 65 IBU American IPA brewed with a healthy dose Pacific Northwest hops against a solid malt backbone.  It pours a murky orange-copper with a thick, 2-finger cream-colored head that leaves big, billowing lacing throughout.  The nose is characterized by citrusy hops, earthy herbs, and biscuity malts.  There are aromas of fresh grapefruit, pine, a hint of spices, and caramel.  Medium-bodied, the mouthfeel is rather creamy for an IPA mixed with a bitter bite... quite nice!  The taste of the Outlaw IPA is characterized by a stronger maltiness than I'm used to with an IPA, but this lends itself to more drinkability.  There are big caramel/toffee notes along with malty biscuit.  The hop notes are on the citrusy side with notes of grapefruit, lemon, and tangerine.  The finish is clean and crisp.  The Outlaw IPA makes for a great companion to the complex power metal stylings of Jag Panzer!

Cheers!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFFRg08VW6s