July 5th, 2025 - The Reckoning of a Double ESB Anniversary Ale

 

Hey there craft brew and heavy rock fans!  Happy Saturday!  Your drinking buddy the Meista here today pairing the brilliant 5th album (a double album) "The Reckoning" from the amazing Texas / Oklahoma progressive rock band Pangaea and a bold and complex Double ESB Anniversary Ale (2025 Release) from the fine folks at Bewilder Brewing Company!  Oh yeah!

Album Info: 

• Artist: Pangaea
• Title: "The Reckoning"
• Recorded: Pre-production February through May 2003 at Barking Dog Productions in Houston, Texas, June 14th through 25th 2003 at Soundtek Studios in Campbell, California, October 22nd through 28th, 2003 and May 22nd through 28th, 2004 at Westlake Studios in Hollywood, California, July at 21st through 26th, 2004 and December 3rd through 6th, 2004 at Chillsville Studio in Santa Monica, California, and June 17th through 20th, 2005 at The Vortex in Hollywood, California
• Release date: 2025 (5th studio album by Pangaea)
• Record company: BMI / Hargadein Music Group Records 
• Production: Robert Berry and Dito Goodwin, and James Schenck and Andi Schenck
• Album cover art: Rainer Kalwitz (artwork) and Mattias Norén (band logo)
• Personnel: Darrell Masingale (lead guitars and lead and backing vocals), Steve Osborn (lead and backing vocals and rhythm guitars), Ron Poulson (bass and backing vocals), Andi Schenck (drums and percussion), and Corey Schenck (keyboards and guitars, and backing vocals)
• Guest musicians: Campbell Ave Horns (brass)
• Musical style: Alternative rock with elements of progressive rock and classic rock,
• Sound: Shelved for 20+ years, the music on "The Reckoning" is a bit of a departure from their earlier and later progressive approach.  While those progressive elements still exist, the album's tracks have more of a 1990s / early 2000s alternative rock vibe.  This sound is more straight-forward, yet still very emotive, honest, and complex!  As with all of their music, the songs on "The Reckoning" are totally engrossing, passionate, and display the musical prowess of these amazing musicians!
• Major themes: Life, loss, relationships, desire, isolation, pain, , etc.
• Tracks: 

Disc 1: Featuring Steve Osborn

1. "Hold On"
2. "So Long (So Far Away)"
3. "Lost In A Day"
4. "Cigarette"
5. "Wall Of Stone"
6. "C'est La Vie (Why?)"
7. "All I Want"
8. "Tomorrow's Gone"
9. "On Top Of The World"
10. "San Jose (Free)"
11. "Sun God"
12. "Happy Ending"
13. "So Long (So Far Away)" Alt Mix
14. "Tomorow's Gone" Alt Mix
15. "On Top Of The World" Alt Mix
16. "San Jose (Free)" Alt Mix

Disc 2: Featuring Darrell Masingale and the Campbell Ave Horns

1. "Hold On"
2. "So Long (So Far Away)"
3. "Lost In A Day"
4. "Cigarette"
5. "C'est La Vie (Why?)"
6. "All I Want"
7. "Tomorrow's Gone"
8. "On Top Of The World"
9. "San Jose (Free)
10. "Happy Ending"
11. "Cigarette" Acoustic Version
12. "C'est La Vie (Why?)" Acoustic Version
13. "All I Want" Acoustic Version
14. "On Top Of The World" Acoustic Version
15. "Happy Ending" Acoustic Version
    

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Bewilder Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://bewilderbrewing.com/
• Brew: Double ESB Anniversary Ale (2025 Release)
• Style: Extra Special Bitter (ESB) / Strong ESB
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 10.5%
• IBUs: 32
• Ingredients: Barrel-aged 5th anniversary ale with Kent Golding hops and English yeast
• Pour: The Double ESB pours a deep, mahogany with a frothy, half-finger, light mocha head that dissipates to a thin ring with light lacing.
• Nose: The nose is a robust blend of hearty malts, floral and earthy hops, and woody and rich bourbon.  There are aromas of doughy bread, biscuit, floral hops, fresh herbs, burnt toffee, woody oak, and bourbon.
• Taste: Malt forward, the taste of the Double ESB follows the nose with bold, roasty, toasty, malty, and earthy flavors.  There are notes of bready malts, roasted malts, rich bourbon, and burnt toffee, and all balanced with light hops.
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Double ESB is smooth with a dry, somewhat bittersweet and boozy finish.

Overall pairing: The Bewilder Double ESB Anniversary Ale (2025 Release) is the perfect brew for the brilliant textures of Pangaea's music! Those rich, malty elements make for a great companion to Masingale's and Osborn's amazing vocals and the overall vibe, while the oaky and boozy notes go great with the stellar musicianship!  And Kalwitz's stellar album cover art looks great with the beer label!  I highly recommend this fantastic album and this tasty brew!

Make sure to check out my recent interview with Andi and Corey Schenk: https://youtu.be/B6_ryAM0tNI 

Cheers!!  Rock on!!