September 20th, 2019 - Clenched Fists, Black Eyes, and Wet Hops... Or... The Chinook Crew

Hello and happy Friday!  Your drinking buddy, the Meista here today with another great pairing for ya... a delicious Wet Hop Chinook Pale Ale from Desert Edge Brewery and "The Crew", the debut album by old-school punk band 7 Seconds!  This pairing goes out to Chad, the head brewer at Desert Edge Brewery and also my very good friend and brother-in-law!  Cheers bro... much love!!

Album Info:

• Artist: 7 Seconds
• Title: "The Crew"
• Recorded: 1984 in Reno, Nevada(?)
• Release date: 1984 (1st full-length studio album by 7 Seconds)
• Record company: Better Youth Organization (BYO) Records
• Production: Kevin Seconds
• Album cover art: Michelle Cernuto (photography)
• Personnel: Troy Mowat (drums and backing vocals), Dan Pozniak (guitar and backing vocals), Kevin Seconds (lead and backing vocals), and Steve Youth (bass, piano, and backing vocals)
• Additional musicians: The Heavy Duty Crew of 13 Boys Choir (backing vocals)
• Musical style: West Coat punk rock, hardcore punk
• Sound: Loose, fast, fiery, and catchy as hell, 7 Seconds' sound on "The Crew" is raw, unbridled early punk rock perfection... just an insanely enjoyable album to listen to whilst sipping a cold brew!
• Major themes: With angry and catchy socio-political lyrics, themes on "The Crew" include rebellion, friendship, youth power, racism, sexism, war, the punk scene, life, etc.
• Notes: I bought this wonderful album with Chad waaaaaay back in the late '80s at the origninal location of Raunch Records in Salt Lake City, Utah.
• Tracks:   

1. "Here's Your Warning"
2. "Definite Choice"
3. "Not Just Boys Fun"
4. "This Is The Angry (Part 2)"
5. "Straight On"
6. "You Lose"
7. "What If There's War In America"
8. "The Crew"
9. "Clenched Fists, Black Eyes"
10. "Colorblind"
11. "Aim To Please"
12. "Boss"
13. "Young Till I Die"
14. "Red & Black"
15. "Diehard"
16. "I Have A Dream"
17. "Bully"
18. "Trust"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Desert Edge Brewery (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://desertedgebrewery.com/
• Brew: Wet Hop Chinook Pale Ale
• Style: American Pale Ale (APA)
• Serving: 64 ounce growler
• ABV: 4.0%
• IBUs: 25
• Ingredients: Pale, Munich, and Crystal 45 malts with fresh Chinook hops added after the boil
• Pour: The Wet Hop Chinook pours a hazy, , 1+ finger, bright white head with great retention and lots of intricate and layered spider web lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, floral, earthy, piney, vegetal, and lightly bready.  There are aromas of freshly picked hops, pine resin, wild flowers, lemon zest, and a hint of honey.
• Taste: The taste of the Wet Hop Chinook follows the nose with lots of citrusy, piney, earthy, herbal, lightly vegetal, and toasty flavors.  There are notes of grassy hops, lemon zest, light grains, a little pineapple, soft caramel, and a little pepper in the finish.  
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Wet Hop Chinook is very crisp, yet smooth with light bitterness and a clean, dry finish.

Overall pairing: The seasonal Wet Hop Chinook Pale Ale from Master Chad at Desert Edge Brewery is a wonderfully flavorful and hoppy brew... perfect for the early '80s punk punch of 7 Seconds' "The Crew"!  And make sure you get into Desert Edge before they run out of this amazing brew!
 nd metal!!

Cheers!!