In this beer blog, we are going to get into a two-year old fall seasonal from Redhook Brewery. It is their Out Of Your Ground Pumpkin Porter. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their brews, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know this brewery. Let us get into beer.
It has a black and brown color without a head on this fall seasonal. The smell is chocolate cover pumpkin. The taste of this light to medium body beer is chocolate cover pumpkin with a fade smokey pumpkin aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.
Out of Your Gourd Pumpkin Porter is dark chestnut-brown in color and is made with pureed pumpkin. Cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger are added to the whirlpool and maple syrup is added during fermentation. This full-bodied, rich roasty porter makes you want to eat turkey and watch football, or build a bonfire.
Here is their website and twitter addresses:Website: www.redhook.com
Twitter: @redhook_brewery
Ending, I am a huge fan of Redhook as many of you know by reading on this blog. This is not one of my favorite beer from this brewery or fall seasonal. This brew is still a really good brew. It has a nice balance from the pumpkin and porter. It has taste of chocolate cover pumpkins. This is a great sessional fall beer. This is a beer you can drink during fall cook out or bonfire without having something too heavy. This is a great brew and Redhook brewery did a great job on this brew. I recommend you trying this brew. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
In this beer blog, we are going to get into a brewery I have been wanting to try in a very long time. I am talking about Epic Brewery from New Zealand. The beer is their Armageddon India Pale Ale. Epic Brewing was started in 2006 by the founder, who is Luke Nicholas. In 2007, Steam Brewing Company sold all the Epic Brewing and the brands to Luke Nicholas. The brewery started to sell their beers to Australia in 2009. The United States and Sweden in 2010 and Belgium and Italy in 2011. They brew several different beer styles. Let us get into the beer.
It has a clear copper color with pure white head on this India Pale Ale. The smell is grapefruit. The taste of this medium body beer is a carbonated grapefruit notes with a slight dry hop aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.
In the beginning, there was nothing. Then an impish brewer piled a ludicrous amount of hops into a batch of beer. This zymurgical big bang is Epic Armageddon, an apocalyptic assault on your preconceptions and taste buds. It may be too huge for this fragile planet so enjoy this beer like it was the last one on Earth.
Closing, I am not disappointed with this beer after a long wait of wanting to try it. I will be hunting down the rest of their brews. This brewmaster did a great job on this brew. He and his company put some thought behind this brew. The beer is nice balance with some great hop notes and character. It is pretty drinkable for the beer style. I will be looking for more of this beer in Detroit beer market. Thanks Luke for giving the United States craft beer drinker a good import IPA. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! \m/
In this Unknown Music Thursday Blog, we are going to get into another newer and upcoming band. The band is called Black Wizard and the record is their self titled. There is not much on the history of this band. They were formed before 2009 or 2010 because of their Facebook joining date. I do not know about you but I am looking forward to get into this music. I love how they label themselves. Let us get into the music.
Track List:
Spacer
There is a nice acoustic guitar at the beginning of the opening track. There is some nice drumming and bass playing. It is pretty calming at first. I love how they worked the second guitar playing over the top of everything. I love the effects on the guitar. The music is pretty strong so far on this song. The singing is pretty good and it fits the music. The effects on his vocals are perfect mix and haunting. I love the back up vocals. There is some pretty good lyrics on “Spacer.” I love the guitar break and time changes about the mid-point of the song. It sounds like time changes. There is a pretty solid guitar solo but short towards the end of the song. I love the ending.
Young Wisdom
I love the music at the beginning. The singer is singing pretty good. There is some pretty good lyrics too. I love the drumming on this song. The bass playing has been pretty solid so far on this record. I love the guitar playing on this song. I love music change half way through with the acoustic guitar and then enters a short guitar solo. It enters a slower part of the song. This is a pretty dark song. There is a nice guitar break towards the end of the song that turns into a pretty good guitar solo.
Midnight
I love the drumming and guitar playing. The singer is singing like all the rest of the tracks and it is pretty good. I love how they used the back up vocals on this song. This song has a nice pace to it and a little different from the rest of the songs thus far. There is some nice music on this song. I have to say this is one of my favorite songs so far on this record.
H.U.G.H
This song might come off being heavy but it has some weird influence in it that I cannot figure out. I love the singing and the music is pretty good. I love faster pace towards the back half of the song. The drumming and bass playing is solid for being the backbone of this band. They have a really good rhythm selection. I love the guitar solo that is short and to the point. I love how they are using the back up vocals on this song. I love the ending to this song.
Danger Dances
I love the acoustic guitar and the slightly distorted guitar at the beginning. I can hear some Radiohead influence on this song. This might be the shortest song on the record, however, it is one of the best songs as far as it comes to the music side. They wrote some great music on “Danger Dances.”
Somethin’ Sweet
I love the classic hard rock sounding guitar at the beginning. The drumming and bass playing are pretty solid. I love the bass playing in the main part of the song. I really not a fan of bass players playing with a pick. The drumming is pretty crazy on this song. The lead singer is singing is solid with some great lyrics. The lead singer’s screaming singing is well placed and not over the top. I love the guitar players trading off on the guitar break.
Appetite
I love the guitar playing along with the bass and drumming. I love the singing on this song. I am not a fan of all the effects on his vocals in some parts. I love the guitar playing at the mid-point of the song. There is a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song.
Wicked Wanderer
The last song on this record is “Wicked Wanderer.” The guitars remind me of something that Megadeth would do on their songs. The drumming and bass playing is solid. I love the bass playing before the singer starts to sing. I love the build up to the main part of the song. This is a pretty solid ending track to this record. There is a nice guitar solo towards the end of the song. I love how the guitar players are playing the same riff to give that double-sided sound. I love the ending to this song.
Closing, this is a pretty good band with a heavier side that you do not want to mess with anytime. I love the music and the singing. There are some parts of the singing that I just feel the band needs to get away from with the effects on the vocals. Overall, the music is pretty solid and lyrics are pretty good. They wrote a nice first record and I highly recommend you to check this band out. You will not be disappointed. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
In this beer blog, we are going to get into the first brew from O’Fallen Brewery from Missouri. It is their Fall Seasonal, which is Pumpkin Beer. O’Fallen Brewery was founded in 2000 by Fran and Tony Caradonna. The brewery was sold to Jim Gorczyca in 2011. Fran Caradonna is still part of the company to this day. They brew several different beer styles. Let us get into the beer.
It has a light amber color without a head on the beer. The smell is a heavy cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin to this fall seasonal. The taste of this light to medium beer is heavy pumpkin with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg notes. It is pretty drinkable beer.
Like pumpkin pie in a bottle…we add 136 pounds of real pumpkin to the three-barley mash and then season the finished beer with cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Available September 1.
Style: Herb and Spice Beer Alcohol: 5.6% ABV Bitterness: 11 IBUs Color: 8.7 SRM Grain: Pale, White Wheat, Caramel 90L Hops: Cluster
In closing, I have had a few of their beer over the years. I have to say they are average to slightly above average. I love my fall beers but over the years I have been disappointed. This Pumpkin Beer I have been wanting to try it. I had a chance this season to get a bottle from my local liquor store. It is a really good brew and I believe they did a great job brewing it. The problem like many beers coming out-of-state I believe it is overpriced. I am not saying it is bad because it is overpriced. I just would pick up one six-pack in the season but that is a maybe it. There is so many newer seasonals and breweries hitting the market everyday. It makes it harder and harder for the breweries that have been in the market for years to have their brews sell well. I recommend you trying this beer and try rest of their brews. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
In this beer blog, we are going to get into the new Fall Seasonal from New Belgium Brewery. It is their Pumpkick Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog on their Imperial IPA, you will know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read that beer blog post to get to know this Colorado brewery. Let us get into the beer.
It has a light copper color with a constant white head on this fall seasonal beer. The smell is heavy pumpkin with slight cranberry notes. The taste of this light to medium body is a cranberry and pumpkin notes with a pumpkin aftertaste. It is pretty drinkable beer.
Here is a description from the beer bottle:
What’s that bite of tartness doing in a pumpkin beer? Adding the unexpected kick of cranberry juice to brighten this traditionally spiced seasonal ale. Pumpkick is brewed with plenty of pumpkin juice cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, but it’s the cranberries and touch of lemongrass that send your taste buds sailing.
What’s that bite of tartness doing in a pumpkin beer? Adding the unexpected kick of cranberry juice to brighten this traditionally spiced seasonal ale. PUMPKICK is brewed with plenty of pumpkin juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, but it’s the cranberries and touch of lemongrass that send your taste buds sailing.
Closing, I am not a really huge fan of this brewery, however, the last few new brews that they have release. They are winning me over pretty quick. I love their Rampant Imperial IPA and Shift Pale Lager. This beer that is being feature is really good gives me hope more for this brewery and all fall seasonals. This pumpkin beer is pretty well balance with the complex favors in it. There is a ton going on in this brew. It is not over the top from the pumpkin and cranberry. I highly recommend this brew. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
In this New Music Monday Blog, we are going to get into a band I wish I had a chance to see them way back in the day. I am talking about the band called Anvil. This is their new record that is called “Hope In Hell.” This record is their fifteenth studio record. This band has went through several line up changes but Lips and Robb are the only original members. Anvil has been known to influence several big names in the Metal, Speed Metal, and Thrash Metal world. They never made it until their movie hit the air a few years back. We are going to get into the history and then the music. Let us get into the history.
History:
Anvil started in Toronto, Canada back in 1973. A few high school friends who are Steve “Lips” Kudlow, who is the lead singer and guitar player, and Robb Reiner, who is the drummer. Marty Hoffman, who is a guitarist and neighbor, was in the band for one show but left shortly after it. In 1978, Dave “Squirrely” Allison, who was the second guitar player and Ian “Dix” Dickson, who was the bassist joined and the band called themselves Lips. The band released their first record which was independent release called “Hard N’ Heavy.” The band was signed to Attic Records and they changed their name to Anvil. David Krebs and Paul O’Neil signed Anvil as their management team. They had Attic Records to release them from their contract because they could get them on a major label. David stop returning phone calls and did not get the band a major label contract. His management team release the band from their contract. In 1987, the band signed with Metal Blade Records by William Howell. Metal Blade Records re-release their first three records and their fourth record, which is called “Strength Of Steel” in the United States. “Strength Of Steel” was the most commercially success in the United States. It reached 191 on the Billboard 200. The band was picked up by Maximum Records and then from 1996 on the band was signed to Hypnotic Records and Massacre Records, which is from Germany. Anvil will say to this day if it was not for Germany for buying their records. There would not an Anvil today. In 2001, the band put out “Plenty Of Power.” They toured and toured and there would be gigs where no one was there to watch them play. In 2006, the band decided to record a record called “This Is Thirteen” with Chris Tsangarides, who is the producer from “Metal On Metal” record. It was released in 2007. The band was filmed in a movie called “Anvil! The Story Of Anvil” This movie put the band back in the public mind. They released a book on the band author by Lips and Robb. They appear on “The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien” which was the first time the band was on TV. They supported AC/DC, which was in the United States, and Saxon, which was in United Kingdom, on their tours. The band went on headline tour of Europe in 2010 and sell out each place they played. In 2011, the band release their fourteen studio record, which is called Juggernaut of Justice. Also in 2011, the band release their second greatest hits record and all their old records under their new record label. Glenn Gyorffy in 2012 quit the band and was replaced by Sal Italiano. In 2013, Anivl put out their fifteen studio record, which is “Hope In Hell.” They are out on tour supporting this record. Let us get into the music.
Track List:
Hope In Hell
The opening and title track of the record is “Hope In Hell.” The beginning has some sound effects and the guitar, bass, and drums jump into the song. The drums and bass has a nice groove and pace to them. I love the guitar playing from Lips. Lips’ singing is pretty solid. I love the lyrics he has written on this song. There is a nice guitar solo from Lips about the half way point of the song. I have always love his guitar playing through all their records. This song has elements from the first few records. I love the ending to the song with the sound effects.
Eat Your Words
I love the fast pace and the drumming is insane on this song. The bass playing is simple but it fits the song and it is perfect. I love the guitar riff on this song. I love the lyrics. It is classic Anvil lyrics. Robb is playing out of his mind on this song. Lips is killing it with the a guitar solo half way through “Eat Your Words.” This is a classic Anvil song. I love the exiting guitar solo at the end of the song.
Through With You
I love the distortion on Lips guitar . I love the drums and bass. “Through WIth You” has a nice driving feeling. Lips wrote some great lyrics and he is singing is pretty average. I love it. I love the melody. I also love the guitar playing during the chorus. This record so far has a nice pace to it. This song is not as fast as the last few songs but it has a nice pace and groove. I love the guitar break half way through the song. It turns into a nice guitar solo. I love the build up guitar solo towards the end that ended the song.
The Fight Is Never Won
I love the guitar, bass, and drum action at the beginning of the song. The drumming is pretty insane on this song. I love Lips’ singing and lyrics. He has a nice melody on this song. The drums are something else on this song. There is awesome guitar solo towards the middle of the song. The bass playing has been pretty solid throughout this record so far. The last few songs has had some nice guitar solos ending the song. This is yet another pretty solid ending.
Pay The Toll
I love the groove and pace so far on this song. The guitar, bass, and drums are awesome. I love the music on “Pay The Toll.” I am not a fan of the lyrics but it is classic Anvil. Lips’ singing is pretty good. There is a nice guitar solo towards the middle of the song. I have to say this guitar solo just seemed a little forced into the song. This is a quick and to the point song. I love some of Anvil’s short songs.
Flying
I love the drumming at the beginning and the guitar and bass enters the song. There is a nice guitar solo before singer starts to sing. I love the lyrics and singing on this song. This song has some meaning for the band that is one thing I love about this band. They put some feelings and emotion behind their lyrics. There is a nice guitar break and guitar solo towards the end of the song. I love the build up to end the song. Nice guitar solo to end the song with the drums and bass going nuts too.
Call Of Duty
I love the music at the beginning of the song. I love the lyrics. I love the pace and rhythm of the music. I will have to look it up. It seems Anvil wrote a song for the Video Game franchise. It just seems like they wrote a song for the video game. It is not the case. There is a killer guitar solo towards the middle to the back half of the song. Anvil wrote some awesome music and lyrics on “Call Of Duty.” The ending on this song is one of the best ending for a song so far on this record.
Badass Rock N Roll
I love the start to this song. It has that old school classic hard rock meets speed metal to metal. I love the drumming on this song. I love how Lips is singing on this song. This song sounds like a song that Kiss of Gene Simmons would have been singing if he wrote it. Hey Kiss, here is your next cover song. There is a nice and well placed guitar solo towards the middle of the song. I really love how the guitar and the rest of the band re-enter the back into the main part of the song. I love the lyrics and the ending to this song.
Time Shows No Mercy
I love the drumming at the beginning with some well place highlighting from the guitar and bass player. I love the short guitar solo before they enter the main part of the song. I love the lyrics and the singing is pretty solid. The music is pretty song. There is an awesome guitar solo towards the middle of the song. The drumming is crazy during the guitar solo. Most drummers would sit in the pocket because they do not want the song sound thin. I will have to say this song does not sound thin. I love the build up to end the song.
Mankind Machine
The song starts with some sound effects. The guitar and drums come in to start the music part. The bass is shortly after that with the singer coming in strong. I love the singing and the lyrics on this song. The music sounds like a bunch of robots or machines. There is a nice guitar break to a solo towards the back half of the song. There is a nice drumming break just after the guitar solo.
Shut The Fuck Up
The last song of the record before the bonus tracks. It starts how as a fast pace to the music. I love the lyrics and the singing. This is a pretty solid record so far. This is classic Anvil. The music is so good on this song. This is a perfect song to finish this great and soon to be classic Anvil record.
Hard Wired
I love the drumming, bass, and guitar playing at the beginning of the song. There is a nice short guitar solo at the beginning just before Lips starts to singing. I love the melody he wrote for his singing. There is some nice lyrics. The guitar solo towards the middle of this song is good but it just feels a little forced into the song. I love the ending to the song.
Fire At Will
The song starts out with some strong music with everyone playing at the same time. Lips singing is pretty solid with some great lyrics. I love singing before the chorus and then in the chorus. I love how they set up the guitar solo and the well placed solo in this song. This guitar solo feels right in the song. This is a perfect ending with the bonus tracks for “Hope In Hell” record. I love how the song ends.
Fuel the fire, Anvil keeps on going and they are still writing some great music and records. Anvil puts out yet another classic record. I know I was not their at the beginning but I wish was to see Anvil at the beginning of their career. I discover them before their movie came out. I heard some of their tunes. I had a hard time finding their records. I overpaid for their first greatest hits because I wanted to play it on my radio show, which is www.stfu.fm. I wanted to support this great band. I had a chance to meet the whole band outside of their Chicago show. I was able to get all their records from www.ebay.com and some release. I have to say this record “Hope In Hell” as lived up to the rest of their records. This record is solid from start to finish. I highly recommend you checking out this record and this band. I would go see the movie if you have not. If you are not a metal fan, I would go see it. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/
DJ Weiser 