September 5th, 2014 - Fit For Fight... And/Or A Ripstop!

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the killer pairing of "Fit For Fight" by Witch Cross and a Ripstop Rye Pils from Base Camp Brewing Company (Portland, Oregon)!

There's a great trend currently in the American micro brew world of amping up Pilsners.  Base Camp's Ripstop Rye Pils is a German-style Pilsner with a big, bold rye bite!  It pours a slightly hazy, honey-gold with a big, fluffy white head that displays incredibly intricate and layered spider web lacing.  The nose is marked by huge rye, floral, honey, citrus, and crisp lager notes.  Crisp, clean, and refreshing, the mouthfeel is dry and prickly (high carbonation).  The taste is characterized by those wonderfully spicy rye flavors as well as crackery grains, floral and grassy hops, lemon, and a hint of honey sweetness.  The finish is clean... apart from a nice peppery note that lingers.  Check out all the great brews from Base Camp: http://basecampbrewingco.com!

Okay, so cheesy album cover art aside, Witch Cross's "Fit For Fight" is a raucous and rockin' good time... great to accompany the bite of a Ripstop Rye Pils!  Released in 1984, "Fit For Fight" is the first full-length album by the NWOBHM-influenced Danish heavy metal band Witch Cross.   The album was recorded by Henrik Lund (the same engineer of Mercyful Fate's "Melissa" and "Don't Break The Oath") at Easy Sound Recordings in Copenhagen.  The recording is a bit on the lo-fi end, but musically speaking, "Fit For Fight" is a fantastically energetic and masterful heavy metal ride!  Thematically, the album explores fantasy and historical motifs as well as social issues.  Songs like "Night Flight To Tokyo", "Rocking The Night Away", "Fight The Fire", "Light Of A Torch", and "Alien Savage" are electrifying, explosive, and very underrated.  Witch Cross was: Alex "Savage" Nyborg Madsen (lead vocals), Cole Hamilton (guitars), Mike "Wlad" Kock (guitars, backing vocals), Jan "Little John Field" Normark (bass), and Anders "A.C." Hjort (drums).   Check this band out... and do so with the amped up bite of a Ripstop Rye Pils!!

Skål... Bunden i vejret eller resten i håret!!