September 24th, 2017 - Ticket To Rye The Lighting!

Good afternoon head-bangers and hop-heads! Your drinking buddy the Meista here today thrashing it out to Metallica's classic "Ride The Lightning" and a Ticket To Rye India Pale Ale from Magic Hat Brewing Company!
 
Album Info:

• Artist: Metallica
• Title: "Ride The Lightning"
• Recorded:  February 20th, 1984 through March 14th, 1984 at Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark
• Release date: July 27th, 1984 (2nd album by Metallica)
• Record company: Megaforce Records
• Production: Metallica and Flemming Rasmussen
• Album cover art: AD Artists
• Personnel: Cliff Burton (bass guitar), Kirk Hammett (lead guitar), James Hetfield (vocals, rhythm guitar, and acoustic guitar), and Lars Ulrich (drums)
• Musical style: Thrash metal, speed metal
• Sound: More ambitious, more mature, and more complex than their first album, with "Ride The Lightning", Metallica established themselves as not only leaders of the thrash metal movement, but flexed their musical prowess and songwriting skills.  One of my all-time favorite thrash metal albums, the guitar work (with Hammett's blistering arpeggios and riffs) stands as a testament to the brilliance, rebellion, passion, and raw talent of Metallica in their early years!
• Major themes: Nuclear war, death, destruction, aggression, anger, biblical mythos, ancient Egypt, betrayal by the powers that be of the common man, the horror and dishonor of warfare, monstorous evil, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Fight Fire With Fire"
2. "Ride The Lightning"
3. "For Whom The Bell Tolls"
4. "Fade To Black"
5. "Trapped Under Ice"
6. "Escape"
7. "Creeping Death"
8. "The Call Of Ktulu"

    Brew Info:

• Brewery: Magic Hat Brewing Company (South Burlington, Vermont)
• Website: http://www.magichat.net/
• Brew: Ticket To Rye India Pale Ale
• Style: American India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 7.1%
• IBUs: 80
• Ingredients: Pale, Rye, Wheat, Caramel, and Chocolate malts with Apollo and Nugget hops
• Pour: The Ticket To Rye pours an opaque, mahogany-bronze hue with a 1-finger, off-white, frothy head with good retention and soapy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is earthy, malty, sweet, spicy, bitter, and peppery.  There are aromas of freshly baked and toasted rye bread, herbs, grapefruit rind, lemon zest, cocoa, biscuit, caramel, and light raisin.
• Taste: The taste of the Ticket To Rye is nice blend of peppery rye, citrus, and sweet malt.  There are notes of rye bread, caramel/toffee, bitter grapefruit, roasted malt, light cocoa, and pine.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is smooth and crisp, yet slightly bitter with a dry, peppery finish. 

Overall pairing: The complex, yet biting and punchy flavors of Magic Hat's Ticket To Rye India Pale Ale is perfect for the aggression and musicianship of Metallica on their legendary and highly influential "Ride The Lightning"!

Cheers!!  Hails!!