November 12th, 2014 - A Citra For The Journey

Good evening rockers and hop heads!  The Meista here tonight pairing the latest from Threshold, "For The Journey" and a Citra Session India Pale Ale (IPA) from Green Flash Brewing Company!  This pairing goes out to my good buddy JT and his awesome power metal/prog metal page Progressive Power... cheers my friend!!  (Check out the mighty Progressive Power page here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Progressive-Power/205541442875714!!) 

Released in September 2014, "For The Journey" is the 10th studio album by the brilliant English progressive rock/metal band Threshold.  As with everything this band produces, the "For The Journey" album is pure prog metal magic!  Threshold is: Damian Wilson (vocals), Karl Groom (guitars), Richard West (keyboards), Steve Anderson (bass), Johanne James (drums), and Pete Morten (guitars).  Of the album, keyboardist West considers has stated that this album is "a more personal record than ever.  We’re older and mellow and less prone to ranting about injustices. Rather than pointing our fingers at the world we're asking questions of ourselves. On this album you’ll find songs about honesty, perseverance and forgiveness. That’s where the title comes from; it’s songs for the journey of life." Themes on the album include science, politics, the environment, religion, and life in general.  Here's the full track list:
1. "Watchtower on the Moon"
2. "Unforgiven"
3. "The Box"
4. "Turned to Dust"
5. "Lost in your Memory"
6. "Autumn Red"
7. "The Mystery Show"
8. "Siren Sky"

The Citra Session IPA is a wonderfully crisp and juicy IPA that goes great with the depth and artistic integrity of "For The Journey".  It is perfectly balanced with high-quality Marris Otter and Vienna malts and an abundance of Citra hops, both in the boil and in the dry-hopping process for big aroma!  The Citra pours a hazy lemon-yellow with a big, 2-finger fluffy white head with great retention that leaves lots of sticky spider web lacing.  The nose is a big blast of citrus and tropical fruit along with more subtle malt aromas.  There are great aromas of grapefruit juice, lime, lemon, mango, pineapple, and orange peel.  The mouthfeel is crisp, sharp, and tingly... very refreshing!  The taste is a wonderful blend of pine resin, big citrus and tropical fruit coupled nicely with subtle sweet caramel malts.  Like the nose, the taste displays lots of grapefruit, lemon, tangerine, and mango notes.  Incredibly refreshing and tasty, the 5% ABV makes the Citra Session IPA very drinkable and a great brew to couple with the refreshingly powerful music of Threshold!!

Cheers!!