December 3rd, 2020 - The Time Of The Original Pils

Guten abend rockers and beer lovers!  Your pal the Meista here tonight pairing a crisp and tasty Original Pils from Schlossbrauerei Rheder and the amazing and underrated "The Time Of The Oath" from German metallers Helloween!  Hell yeah!

Album Info: 

• Artist: Helloween
• Title: "The Time Of The Oath"
• Recorded: 1995 at Chateau du Pape in Hamburg, Germany 
• Release date: March 1996 (7th studio album by Helloween)
• Record company: Raw Power 
• Production: Tommy Hansen
• Album cover art: Martin Zeissler 
• Personnel: Andi Deris (vocals), Roland Grapow (guitars), Markus Grosskopf (bass), Uli Kusch (drums), and Michael Weikath (guitars)
• Additional musicians: Jörn Ellerbrock (keyboards) and Tommy Hansen (keyboards)
• Musical style: Power metal, speed metal with elements of neo-classical metal and progressive metal
• Sound: Guitar and vocally driven, "The Time Of The Oath" is probably one of Helloween's more powerful albums!  The band is incredibly tight, the song structure is complex, yet fast and rocking!  And they explore a range of metal styles while still staying true to form.  Deris displays his vocal prowess over a canvas of soaring guitars, thunderous bass, and machine gun fire drumming!
• Major themes: A concept album based on the prophecies of Nostradamus, themes on the album include good vs. evil, war, prophecy, fantasy, choice, freedom, religion, the soul, glory, etc.
• Notes: The album is dedicated to the memory of former drummer Ingo Schwichtenberg, who committed suicide the previous year.
• Tracks: 

1. "We Burn"
2. "Steel Tormentor"
3. "Wake Up The Mountain"
4. "Power"
5. "Forever And One (Neverland)"
6. "Before The War"
7. "A Million To One"
8. "Anything My Momma Don't Like"
9. "Kings Will Be Kings"
10. "If I Knew"
11. "The Time Of The Oath"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Schlossbrauerei Rheder (Brakel, Germany)
• Website: schlossbrauerei-rheder.de
• Brew: Original Pils 
• Style: German Pilsner  
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 4.7%
• Pour: The Original Pils pours a clear, bright golden yellow hue with a frothy, bright white, 2-finger head with good retention and sticky, intricate lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by crackery and slightly sweet malt, floral hops, light fruit, and spicy yeast.  There are aromas of toasted biscuit, light pear and apple, honey, and spicy and grassy hops.
• Taste: The taste is toasty, hoppy, and slightly sweet.  There are notes of crackery biscuit, noble and grassy hops, zesty yeast, light apple, and light caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Original Pils is crisp and zesty with a dry, clean finish.

Overall pairing: The spicy, hoppy, and toasty flavors of the Schlossbrauerei Rheder Original Pils works great with the complex, yet incredibly fun metal punch of Helloween's wonderful "The Time Of The Oath"!  The slightly bitter hops go well with the fiery guitars, while the sweeter notes are perfect for Deris' amazing vocals!

PROST!!  HAILS!!