July 4th, 2019 - Fruit Slave To The Grind

Hey there and happy Independence Day to all my U.S. readers... happy Thursday to all non-U.S. readers!  The Meista here today rocking out to a pairing of Skid Row's aggressive sophomore album "Slave To The Grind" and a Fruit Slave from Illuminated Brew Works!  Hell yeah!

  

Album Info:

• Artist: Skid Row
• Title: "Slave To The Grind"
• Recorded: 1990 through 1991 at New River Studios in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Scream Studios in Studio City, California
• Release date: June 11th, 1991 (2nd studio album by Skid Row)
• Record company: Atlantic Records
• Production: Michael Wagener
• Album cover art: David Bierk (Sebastian Bach's father)
• Personnel: Rob Affuso (drums and percussion), Sebastian Bach (lead vocals), Rachel Bolan (bass and backing vocals), Scott Hill (lead and rhythm guitar, and backing vocals), and Dave Sabo (rhythm and lead guitar, and backing vocals)
• Musical style: Heavy metal, hard rock, and hints of glam rock
• Sound: Hard-hitting, passionate, in-your-face metal, Skid Row's "Slave To The Grind" has that very early Skid Row '90s metal vibe, but edgier!  Bach's vocals are huge and his band is tight, talented, and fierce!
• Major themes: Fighting the good fight, anger, aggression, working for the man, rebellion, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Monkey Business"
2. "Slave To The Grind"
3. "The Threat"
4. "Quicksand Jesus"
5. "Pyscho Love"
6. "Get The Fuck Out"
7. "Livin' On A Chain Gang"
8. "Creepshow"
9. "In A Darkened Room"
10. "Riot Act"
11. "Mudkicker"
12. "Wasted Time"

    Brew Info:

• Brewery: Illuminated Brew Works (Chicago, Illinois)
• Website: http://www.ibw-chicago.com/
• Brew: Fruit Slave
• Style: New England India Pale Ale (NEIPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 7.5%
• IBUs: 
• Ingredients: Motueka, Citra, and Mandarina Bavaria hops
• Pour: The Fruit Slave pours a very murky, bright orange (it looks just like orange juice!) with a creamy, 1-finger head with good retention and sustained spider web lacing.
• Nose: Lots of great citrus and sweet malts in the nose of this one.   There are big aromas of juicy orange, lemon, grapefruit, caramel/toffee, and fresh bread.
• Taste: Like the nose, the flavor is a really well-balanced blend of huge juicy and hoppy citrus, tropical flavors, and sweet malts.  There are big citrusy notes of orange, tangerine, grapefruit, along with tropical notes of mango, pineapple, papaya, pear, melon, guava, and more subtle notes of soft caramel, butter toffee, cereal, and slight hints of herbal tea.
• Mouthfeel: Well-carbonated, this light to medium-bodied brew is crisp, smooth and refreshing with a clean finish.

Overall pairing: The tight hard-rockin' bad-assery of Skid Row's "Slave To The Grind" goes great with the crushable, yet complex deliciousness of the Fruit Slave!  The crisp, punchy fruity citrus/tropical flavors are the perfect accompaniment to Bach's fierce and powerful vocal range!

Cheers... and hails!!