March 25th, 2017 - Hidden Pacific Gems In Forbidden Places

Good evening!  The Meista here tonight pairing a Pacific Gem Single Hop Pale Ale from Green Flash Brewing Company and "Forbidden Places" by the Meat Puppets!


Album Info:

• Artist: Meat Puppets
• Title: "Forbidden Places"
• Recorded: 1990 through 1991
• Release date: July 1st, 1991 (8th studio album by the Meat Puppets)
• Record company: London Records
• Production: Pete Anderson
• Album cover art: Cris Kirkwood(?)
• Personnel: Derrick Bostrom (drums), Cris Kirkwood (bass and backing vocals), and Curt Kirkwood (guitars and lead vocals)
• Musical style: Alternative rock / indie pop with elements of country, punk, and folk rock
• Sound: More experimental than previous albums, "Forbidden Places" is a wonderfully richly textured album with brilliant guitar work, whimsical and thoughtful lyrics, and amazing melodies! 
• Major themes: Life, relationships, music, states of being, abstract images, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Sam"
2. "Nail It Down"
3. "This Day"
4. "Open Wide"
5. "Another Moon"
6. "That's How It Goes"
7. "Whirlpool"
8. "Popskull"
9. "No Longer Gone"
10. "Forbidden Places"
11. "Six Gallon Pie"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Green Flash Brewing Company (San Diego, California)
• Website: http://www.greenflashbrew.com/
• Brew: Pacific Gem Single Hop Pale Ale
• Style: American Pale Ale (APA)
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 5.5%
• IBUs: 40
• Ingredients: Pacific Gem hops and Golden Promise, 2-Row malted barley, and Caramalt
• Pour: It pours a hazy honey-gold amber with bubbly, bright white, 1-finger head with good sustain and soapy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by dank and earthy hop notes along with citrus, some tropical fruit, and pale malts.  There are aromas of pine resin, floral hops, grapefruit rind, guava, mango, and sourdough.
• Taste: The taste is very citrusy and fruit up front, followed by sweet malt flavors.  There are notes of pink grapefruit juice, tangerine, guava, light pine, and sweet caramel/toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Pacific Gem is very crisp, somewhat oily, and bitter with a dry finish.

Overall pairing: The crisp and very drinkable flavors of Green Flash's Pacific Gem Single Hop Pale Ale is perfect for the upbeat, fantastically crafted harmonies of the tracks on the Meat Puppet's very underrated and sadly overlooked brilliant album, "Forbidden Places"!  The citrus notes really enhance the sheer brilliance of Curt's songwriting!

Cheers!!