November 15th, 2024 - I Suggest You Don't Double Cross Me Because I Am The Weapon!

 

Hello and happy Friday my metalhead and artisan brew drinking friends!  The Meista here today pairing a bold Double Cross Ale from Epic Brewing Company and the legendary thrashers Flotsam And Jetsam with their killer 15th studio album, "I Am The Weapon"!  Hell yes!

Album Info:

• Artist: Flotsam And Jetsam
• Title: "I Am The Weapon"
• Recorded: 2023 through 2024 
• Release date: September 13th, 2024 (15th studio album by Flotsam And Jetsam)
• Record company: AFM Records  
• Production: Flotsam And Jetsam 
• Album cover art: Andy Pilkington 
• Personnel: Bill Bodily (bass), Steve Conley (guitars), Michael Gilbert (guitars), Eric "A.K." Knutson (vocals), and Ken Mary (drums) 
• Musical style: Thrash metal with elements of traditional metal and power metal
• Sound: Another fantastic album from the Arizona thrashers, the sound on "I Am The Weapon" is classic F&J yet is fresh and contemporary with excellent production!  These guys just keep getting better with every release!  Centered around Eric A.K.'s powerful vocal delivery and some really incredible riffing, this album offers a variety of well-balanced, melodic thrashers and hard rockin' goodness!
• Major themes: Death, violence, aggression, vengeance, darkness, deception, survival, etc. 
• Tracks: 

1. "A New Kind Of Hero"
2. "Primal"
3. "I Am The Weapon"
4. "Burned My Bridges"
5. "The Head Of The Snake"
6. "Beneath The Shadows"
7. "Gates Of Hell"
   
8. "Cold Steel Lights"
9. "Kings Of The Underworld"
10. "Running Through Fire"
11. "Black Wings"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Epic Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://www.epicbrewing.com/
• Brew: Double Cross Ale
• Style: Traditional Ale
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 9.0%
• Ingredients: 2-Row Brewers Malt, 2-Row Chocolate Malt, Caramunich, Crystal Extra Dark, Dextrin Malt, Light Candy Sugar, and Munich Malt with Cascade and Sterling hops
• Pour: The Double Cross Ale pours a fairly clear, deep mahogany red with an off-white, creamy, half-finger head with good retention and sticky, sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by aromas of roasted hazelnuts, walnuts, dark toasted bread, peppery rye, burnt sugar, sweet caramel, light citrus, varnish or lacquer, and booze. 
• Taste: The flavor of the Double Cross Ale is nutty, malty, toasty, sweet, and lightly citrusy.  There are notes of bready malts, dark toasted bread, roasted hazelnuts and walnuts, orange peel, rye whiskey, and burnt toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is s.  The finish is .

Overall pairing: The Double Cross Ale from Epic Brewing is a bold and flavorful brew with lots of kick... great for rocking the hell out to the metal might that is Flotsam And Jetsam's kick-ass "I Am The Weapon"!  'Nuff said!

Make sure to check out my interview with Flotsam and Jetsam guitarist Michael Gilbert here: https://youtu.be/CPq8gDVVzOE

Cheers!!  Rock on!!