September 5th, 2016 - Exhausting Fire, Citra, And Rye

Good afternoon and happy Labor Day!  The Meista here today pairing Kylesa's most recent album, "Exhausting Fire" with a Rye Pale Ale from Deseret Edge Brewery at the Pub!  This pairing lovingly is dedicated to Chad and Scott!

Album Info:

• Artist: Kylesa
• Title: "Exhausting Fire"
• Recorded: February 2015 through March 2015 at The Jam Room in Columbia, South Carolina
• Release date: October 2nd, 2015 (7th studio album by Kylesa) (1969-04-16)
• Record company: Season Of Mist
• Production: Philip Cope
• Album cover art: Shaun Beaudry
• Personnel: Philip Cope (vocals, guitar, bass, and keys), Carl McGinley (drums), and Laura Pleasants (vocals and guitar)
• Additional musicians: Jay Matheson (bass on "Moving Day", "Night Drive", "Growing Roots", "Out of My Mind", Shaping the Southern Sky", "Blood Moon", and "Lost and Confused") and Andrew J. Ripley (oboe on "Blood Moon")
• Musical style: Sludge metal, stoner rock, doom metal, experimental and psychedelic rock, post punk
• Sound: Blending multiple styles, the sound on "Exhausting Fire" is immediately mesmerizing.  The rhythm section lays down an almost unmatched driving force that is layered with fiery and trippy guitars and vocals. 
• Major themes: Abstract in approach, the lyrical content examines mental states (states of sanity), life and death, emotions, fate, loss, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Crusher"
2. "Inward Debate"
3. "Moving Day"
4. "Lost And Confused"
5. "Shaping The Southern Sky"
6. "Falling"
7. "Night Drive"
8. "Blood Moon"
9. "Growing Roots"
10. "Out Of My Mind"
11. "Paranoid" (Black Sabbath cover)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Deseret Edge Brewery at the Pub (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://desertedgebrewery.com/  
• Brew: Rye Pale Ale
• Style: American Pale Ale (APA)
• Serving: Growler
• ABV: 4.0%
• IBUs: 42
• Ingredients: Pale, rye, Munich, and CaraMunich malts with Columbus, Cascade, and Citra in the boil and dry-hopped with Citra.
• Pour: It pours a hazy golden amber with a frothy 1-2 finger, off-white head with good retention and lots of intricate spider web lacing.
• Nose: The nose is a wonderful blend of citrusy, grassy, peppery, and earthy aromas.  There are big, dank notes of grapefruit rind, tangerine, pine resin, musty basements, fresh rye bread, and soft caramel.
• Taste: The taste of the Rye Pale Ale is malty, bready, citrusy, somewhat bitter, herbal, and slightly sweet.  There are notes of juicy grapefruit and tangerine, orange zest, peppery rye bread, lemongrass, spicy and bitter herbs, soft caramel, and hearty bread.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and well carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Rye Pale Ale is very crisp, refreshing, and biting with a dry, bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The Rye Pale Ale and Kylesa are both very special to me.  The Rye Pale Ale is the newest beer from Deseret Edge and the first new release from their brand new Master Brewer, Chad Krusell.  Not only is Chad an excellent brewer, I'm fortunate enough to say that he is also one of my best friends... a brotha from anotha motha, a man I've known for 30+ years.  I was turned on to Kylesa by Chad's late brother, Scott, who died a little over 2 years ago from a brain tumor.  The punch and aggression of both the brew and the album seem to have been made for one another... a perfect match and a great way to spend a sunny Labor Day afternoon!

Cheers and hails!!