October 15th, 2016 - Harvesting The Repentless

Good afternoon!  The Meista here today pairing the mighty Slayer's latest album, "Repentless" and Harvest Ale from the fine folks at Red Rock Brewing!  Hells yeah!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Slayer
• Title: "Repentless"
• Recorded: March 2014 and September 2014 through January 2015 at Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles, California
• Release date: September 11th, 2015 (12th studio album by Slayer) (1969-04-16)
• Record company: Nuclear Blast
• Production: Terry Date
• Album cover art: Marcelo Vasco
• Personnel: Tom Araya (bass guitar and vocals), Paul Bostaph (drums), Gary Holt (guitars), and Kerry King (guitars)
• Musical style: Thrash metal
• Sound: In the tradition of classic Slayer, "Repentless" is fast, furious, angry, and oh so powerful!  The dual guitar work of Holt and King is an aggressive blistering attack of fiery riffs and solos, the rhythm section of Araya and Bostaph is a thunderous and crushing juggernaut, and Araya's vocals are gritty, ferocious, and steeped in anger.
• Major themes: Alcoholism, destruction, death, grief, the end of the world, power, aggression, vengeance, hate, socio-political and religious criticism, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Delusions Of Saviour"
2. "Repentless"
3. "Take Control"
4. "Vices"
5. "Cast The First Stone"
6. "When The Stillness Comes"
7. "Chasing Death"
8. "Implode"
9. "Piano Wire"
10. "Atrocity Vendor"
11. "You Against You"
12. "Pride And Prejudice"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Red Rock Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: redrockbrewing.com      
• Brew: Harvest Ale
• Style: American Pale Ale (APA) 
• Serving: 16 ounce bottle
• ABV: 4.0%
• Ingredients: Freshly harvested Amarillo and Citra hops
• Pour: The Harvest Ale pours a slightly hazy golden-orange amber with fluffy 1+ finger, bright white head with good retention and intricate and sticky lacing.
• Nose: The nose is very hoppy, grassy, and citrusy with light malt notes.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, tangerine, orange zest, lemon zest, summer grass, lemongrass, light grains, and light caramel.
• Taste: The taste is hoppy, a bit bitter, slightly malty, slightly sweet, and very citrusy.  There are notes of pink grapefruit juice, tangerine, lemon zest, grassy and floral hops, light crackery grains, and hints of soft caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium in body and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Harvest Ale is very crisp, hoppy, and refreshing with a crisp, clean, and somewhat bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The straightforward crisp drinkability and sessionable qualities of Red Rock's Harvest Ale is a great beer for the ferocious metal attack of thrash metal gods Slayer!  Those punchy, citrus, and bitter flavors just scream for powerfully fast metal LP!

Cheers and hails!!