March 24th, 2018 - Seasons Of Mother Earth In The Spring Abyss

Hey there evildoers, headbangers, and hop lovers!  The Meista here today pairing Slayer's essential "Seasons In the Abyss"and a Seasons Of Mother Earth: Spring 2018 - Imperial India Pale Ale from Mother Earth Brew Company in collaboration with Melvin Brewing Company!

Album Info:

• Artist: Slayer
• Title: "Seasons In the Abyss"
• Recorded: March through June 1990 at Hit City West, Hollywood Sound, and the Record Plant in Los Angeles, California
• Release date: October 9th, 1990 (5th studio album by Slayer)
• Record company: Def American Records
• Production: Rick Rubin, Andy Wallace, and Slayer
• Album cover art: Larry Carroll
• Personnel: Tom Araya (bass and lead vocals), Jeff Hanneman (lead and rhythm guitar), Kerry King (lead and rhythm guitar, and backing vocals on "Seasons in the Abyss" and "Skeletons of Society"), and Dave Lombardo (drums)
• Musical style: Thrash metal
• Sound: In-your-face, aggressive, and fist-pumping power describe some of the elements of this masterpiece album!  Araya's brutal and honest vocal performance is accompanied by whiplash fast guitar work, machine gun drumming, and thunderclap bass!
• Major themes: Mostly departing from their earlier lyrical subject matter of the occult, the afterlife, and Hell, Slayer became more socially and politically conscious with "Seasons In the Abyss".  Themes include various horrors of life: war, gang violence, wasted youth, the threat of a nuclear apocalypse, human suffering, destruction, and weakness.
• Tracks:  
1. "War Ensemble"
2. "Blood Red"
3. "Spirit In Black"
4. "Expendable Youth"
5. "Dead Skin Mask"
6. "Hallowed Point"
7. "Skeletons Of Society"
8. "Temptation"
9. "Born Of Fire"
10. "Seasons In the Abyss"

    Brew Info:

• Brewery: Mother Earth Brew Company (Vista, California) in collaboration with Melvin Brewing Company (Alpine, Wyoming)
• Website: https://www.motherearthbrewco.com/
• Brew: Seasons Of Mother Earth: Spring 2018 - Imperial India Pale Ale
• Style: Imperial India Pale Ale (IIPA)
• Serving: 22 ounce bottle
• ABV: 8.5% 
• IBUs: 100
• Ingredients: PNW Lupulin Powder. Hops: Columbus, So Dorado, Nelson, Centennial, Citra and Mosaic. Grain Bill: Pale 2-Row, Munich, Carapils, and Dextrose
• Pour: The Seasons Of Mother Earth: Spring 2018 - Imperial India Pale Ale pours a hazy golden-orange hue with a firm and creamy 1-finger, off-white head with great sustain and lots of intricate, sticky, soapy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is very dank (almost skunky), earthy, herbal, and citrusy.  There are aromas of pine resin, cedar, pink grapefruit rind, lemon zest, tangerine, bitter root, a hint of burnt toffee, and your grandmother's cellar.  ;)
• Taste: The taste of the Seasons Of Mother Earth: Spring 2018 - Imperial India Pale Ale is dank, earthy, citrusy, and slightly sweet.  There are notes of pine, pink grapefruit, tangerine, pineapple, tangerine, bitter herbs, black tea, onion, and subtle caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is sharp, sticky, bitter, and biting with a dry, bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The Seasons Of Mother Earth: Spring 2018 - Imperial India Pale Ale is an in-your-face, bitter, complex, and aggressive brew... perfect for the thrash metal onslaught of the mighty Slayer's "Seasons In The Abyss"!  This is face-melting stuff... on both counts!  

Cheers and hails headbangers!!