September 14th, 2020 - The Sun & Steel That Is Maiden Japan

 

Hey there evildoers, headbangers, and craft brew lovers!  The Meista here today pairing the kick-ass, live EP "Maiden Japan" by NWOBHM legends Iron Maiden on this, its 39th birthday and a very refreshing, crisp, tasty, and unique Trooper Sun & Steel Sake Lager by Iron Maiden from Robinsons Brewery!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Iron Maiden
• Title: "Maiden Japan"
• Recorded: May 23rd, 1981 at Kosei Nenkin Hall in Nagoya, Japan
• Release date: September 14th, 1981 (2nd live EP by Iron Maiden)
• Record company: EMI / Harvest 
• Production: Iron Maiden and Doug Hall
• Album cover art: Derek Riggs
• Personnel: Clive Burr (drums), Paul Di'Anno (lead vocals), Steve Harris (bass and backing vocals), Dave Murray (guitars), and Adrian Smith (guitars and backing vocals)
• Musical style: Heavy metal, NWOBHM
• Sound: In-your-face, no-holds-barred, ass-kicking, classic Iron Maiden right here my friends!!  The band is tight, young, and hungry... this is just such a joy to hear!  
• Major themes: freedom, rebellion, murder, vengeance, etc.
• Tracks:  
1. "Running Free"
2. "Remember Tomorrow"
3. "Wrathchild"
4. "Killers"
5. "Innocent Exile"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Robinsons Brewery (Stockport, England)
• Website: https://www.robinsonsbrewery.com/ 
• Brew: Trooper Sun & Steel Sake Lager by Iron Maiden
• Style: Pilsner
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 4.8% 
• Ingredients: Pilsner, barley, and wheat malts with "authentic Japanese saké yeast from the award-winning Okunomatsu saké brewery in Japan" 
• Pour: The Sun & Steel pours a clear, pale yellow with a billowy bright white, 1+ finger head with lots of sticky, soapy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is grainy, grassy, fruity, and slightly sweet.  There are aromas of crackery grains, flowery hops, gooseberry, grapeseed oil, apple, pear, honey lychee, and light saké, which becomes more pungent as it warms.
• Taste: The taste of the Sun & Steel follows the nose with lots of delicious grassy, grainy, and fruity flavors.  There are notes of grassy hops, crackery biscuit, cracked wheat, apple, gooseberry, white grape, and a hint of saké in the finish.
• Mouthfeel: Light-bodied and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel is very crisp, very refreshing, and very smooth with a dry, clean finish.

Overall pairing: This pairing seemed pretty obvious... for both the imagery and flavors, the Trooper Sun & Steel Sake Lager by Iron Maiden from Robinson Brewery is the perfect brew in the steamy dog days of summer to accompany the classic, hard-hitting live NWOBHM onslaught that is the mighty Iron Maiden!  'Nuff said!  

Kanpai and hails headbangers!!  Up the Irons!!