July 13th, 2024 - Straight Up California Love

 

Hello and happy Saturday rockers, rollers, and craft brew freaks!  The Meista here today rocking the hell out with a pairing of "Straight Up", the wonderful new solo album by American hard rocking legend Steve Plunkett and a tasty California Love from Gossorino Brewing!  Hell yeah!  

Album Info:

• Artist: Steve Plunkett
• Title: "Straight Up"
• Recorded: 2024 in California
• Release date: July 19th, 2024 (2nd solo studio album by Steve Plunkett)
• Record company: Cleopatra Records
• Production: Steve Plunkett
• Album cover art: ?
• Personnel: Steve "Plunk" Plunkett (rhythm and lead guitars, bass, keyboards, drums, programming, and lead vocals)
• Musical style: Heavy metal, glam metal, hard rock
• Sound: Like his early work with Autograph and his first solo album in 1991, Steve Plunkett's "Straight Up" is high-energy, high-octane rockin' goodness filled with loads of killer hooks, riffs, and melodies, and is a solid, sleek rocker of an album!  Of the album, Plunkett stated: "With 'Straight Up', I wanted to get back to rock basics. No parameters or targets — just the kind of real rock that got me excited back in the day. Fast, fun and loud!" 
• Major themes: Rock and roll, energy, rebellion, passion, power, joy, etc. 
• Tracks: 

1. "Rock Machine"
2. "Here We Go"
3. "First Step"
4. "Six String Hero"
5. "Rock Star"
6. "We're Gonna Jam"
7. "Knock Out Punch"
8. "On The Stage"
9. "Gotta Jump"
10. "Start It Up"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Gossorino Brewing (Ogden, Utah)
• Website: https://gossorinobrewing.com/
• Brew: California Love
• Style: California Common
• Serving: 22 ounce bottle
• ABV: 4.6%
• IBUs: 40
• Ingredients: 2 Row, Munich, Caramel 40, Carapils, Victory, Chocolate, and Acid malts, with Northern Brewer and Imperial Cable Car hops
• Pour: The California Love pours a fairly clear, bright copper-amber hue with a off-white head with great retention and sticky, soapy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is malty, grainy, and floral.  There are aromas of freshly baked bread, toasted barley, light floral hops, June grass, and soft caramel.
• Taste: The taste of the California Love follows the nose with notes of biscuity malts, toasted wheat bread, light caramel/toffee, and light floral hops with very low bitterness.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel of the California Love is very smooth and creamy with a clean, crisp finish.

Overall pairing: The California Love is deliciously easy drinking, flavorful, and crushable brew... perfect for the richly textured, upbeat, and well-crafted rockin' tunes of Plunkett's killer new album "Straight Up"! 'Nuff said!

Make sure to check out my interview with legendary vocalist and guitarist Steve Plunkett here: https://youtu.be/mybn48_8ESM 

Cheers!!  Rock on!!