September 5th, 2021 - A Wild Snowcat

 

Hello and hails metal maniacs and hop freaks!  Your drinking buddy the Meista here today rocking the hell out with a couple favorites of mine... "Wild Cat", the debut album by NWOBHM monsters Tygers Of Pan Tang and a crisp and tasty Snowcat India Pale Ale from UTOG Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Tygers Of Pan Tang
• Title: "Wild Cat"
• Recorded: 1980 at Morgan Studios in Willesden, North London, England
• Release date: August 23rd, 1980 (1st studio album by Tygers Of Pan Tang)
• Record company: MCA Records 
• Production: Chris Tsangarides
• Album cover art: Cream 
• Personnel: Jess Cox (vocals), Brian "Big" Dick (drums and gong), Richard "Rocky" Laws (bass and backing vocals), and "Tyger" Robb Weir (guitars and backing vocals)
• Musical style: Heavy metal, hard rock
• Sound: Fast, fiery, and powerful, the mighty Tygers Of Pan Tang encapsulated the sound of the NWOBHM early 1980s sound, but with the punch and .  The band is tight and it is very evident through their playing that their having a helluva good time!  The guitar work of  Weir Tyger Robb alone is worth every penny!  
• Major themes: Aging, murder, rebellion, freedom, death, life, speed, desire, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Euthanasia"
2. "Slave To Freedom"
3. "Don't Touch Me There"
4. "Money"
5. "Killers"
6. "Fireclown"
7. "Wild Catz"
8. "Suzie Smiled"
9. "Badger Badger"
10. "Insanity"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: UTOG Brewing Company (Ogden, Utah)
• Website: https://www.utogbrewing.com/
• Brew: Snowcat India Pale Ale
• Style: American India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• IBUs: 49
• Ingredients: 2-Row and Caramunich malts and Magnum, Simcoe, and Amarillo hops
• Pour: The Snowcat pours a hazy, copper-amber with a frothy, off-white 1+ finger head with good retention and lots of intricate, sticky, and layered lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by citrusy, tropical, dank, malty, and sweet notes.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, orange peel, tangerine, light mango, pineapple, herbal tea, light pine resin, fresh bread, and soft caramel.
• Taste: The taste of the Snowcat follows the nose with hoppy, fruity, and malty flavors.  There are notes of pink grapefruit juice, tangerine, lime, mango, pineapple, light pine, herbal tea, crackery biscuit, and sweet toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and moderately carbonated, the Snowcat is crisp, smooth, and refreshing with a clean, dry finish. 

Overall pairing: The crisp, hoppy, well-balanced and very drinkable flavors of UTOG's Snowcat India Pale Ale is a great beer for the power, might, and intensity of Tygers Of Pan Tang!  The crispness of the brew is great for the dual guitar precision of Weir, while the malty and citrusy notes work really well with the powerful rhythm section of  Rocky and Big Dick, and it is all tied together beautifully by Cox's amazing vocal prowess!


Cheers!!  Hails!!

Oh, and check out the email interview I did with Tygers Of Pan Tang guitarist and founding member Robb Weir way back in 2014: http://brewsandtunes.blogspot.com/2014/02/february-16th-2014-tyger-tyger-burning.html!