December 22nd, 2020 - Pump Up The Valuum! Let's Get This Sweater Party Started!

Hey there punkers, hoodlums, hop-heads, and craft beer lovers!  The Meista here jumping in the circle pit with a pairing of the classic "Pump Up The Valuum" by NOFX and a tasty and crushable Sweater Party Pale Ale from Fisher Brewing Company!  

Album Info: 

• Artist: NOFX
• Title: "Pump Up The Valuum"
• Recorded: late 1999 through early 2000 at Motor Studios in San Francisco, California
  Release date: June 13th, 2000 (8th studio album by NOFX)
• Record company: Epitaph Records
• Production: Ryan Greene and Fat Mike
• Album cover art: Danny Burton 
• Personnel: Aaron "El Hefe" Abeyta (guitars), "Fat" Mike Burkett (bass and vocals), Eric Melvin (guitars and accordion), Erik "Smelly" Sandin (drums)
• Additional musicians: Bill Hansson (accordion) and Spike Slawson (additional vocals)
• Musical style: Punk rock, hardcore punk, skate punk
• Sound: Raw, ballsy, raunchy, funny, and bold, "Pump Up The Valuum" is a monster of a punk album!  It is fast, fiery, and fun as hell!  
• Major themes: With their irreverent sense of humor and sarcasm, as well as their criticism of  social mores, politics, and the music industry, themes on the album include drugs, dishonesty, egos, sex, rebellion, etc.
• Notes: According to Fat Mike, the "title track 'Pump Up the Valuum' got cut from the album. That's weird. We gave it to Epitaph for Punk O Rama 5."
• Tracks:  

1. "And Now For Something Completely Similar"
2. "Take Two Placebos And Call Me Lame"
3. "What's The Matter With Parents Today?"
4. "Dinosaurs Will Die"
5. "Thank God It's Monday"
6. "Clams Have Feelings Too (Actually They Don't)"
7. "Louise"
8. "Stranger Than Fishin'"
9. "Pharmacist's Daughter"
10. "Bottles To The Ground"
11. "Total Bummer"
12. "My Vagina"
13. "Herojuana"
14. "Theme From A NOFX Album"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Fisher Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://www.fisherbeer.com//
• Brew: Sweater Party Pale Ale
• Style: American Pale Ale (APA) 
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Ingredients: Cashmere, Cascade, and Citra hops
• Pour: The Sweater Party pours a hazy golden-orange hue with a frothy and billowy, 1+ finger, bright white head with great retention and lots of sticky, intricate, and layered lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, floral, herbal, slightly earthy, and malty  There are notes of grapefruit rind, orange peel and pith, lemon zest, tangerine, summer grass, wild flowers, herbal tea, light onion, a hint of honey, and pale and toasty malts.
• Taste: The taste follows the nose with lots of citrusy, herbal, and toasted malty flavors.  There are notes of grapefruit juice, orange peel, bitter herbs, herbal tea, grassy hops, crackery biscuit, and a hint of soft caramel. 
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is very crisp, refreshing, slightly bitter, yet smooth with a dry, clean finish.

Overall pairing:  The bold, rockin', punk kick of NOFX's wonderfully fun "Pump Up the Valuum" deserves nothing less than a punchy and very drinkable brew... and the Sweater Party has just the right depth and hoppy punch to make an afternoon/evening of rockin' with Fat Mike and the boys just about perfect! 

Cheers!!  Happy holidays to you and yours!!