January 22nd, 2022 - 2 Minutes To A Day Of The Dead

 

Hello and happy Saturday metal maniacs!  How about a double dose of Eddie this weekend?  That's right... the Meista here today with a pairing of the mighty Iron Maiden's amazing "2 Minutes To Midnight" picture disc 12" single I purchased from my good friends at Lavender Vinyl and a sessionable and crushable Trooper Day Of The Dead from Robinson Brewery!!  Hell yeah!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Iron Maiden
• Title: "2 Minutes To Midnight" picture disc 12" single
• Recorded: 1984
• Release date: August 6th, 1984 (10th single released by Iron Maiden)
• Record company: EMI / Capitol Records
• Production: Martin "Jah" Birch
• Album cover art: Derek Riggs
• Personnel: Bruce Dickinson (lead vocals), Steve Harris (bass guitar), Nicko McBrain (drums), Dave Murray (guitars), and Adrian Smith (guitars)
• Musical style: Power metal, heavy metal
• Sound: The definitive Iron Maiden sound and just so wonderfully written, performed, and produced; truly astonishing!  'Nuff said! 
• Major themes: Nuclear war, death, the commercialization of war, an argument, etc.
• Tracks:  

1. "2 Minutes To Midnight"
2. "Rainbow's Gold" (Beckett cover)
3. "Mission To 'Arry" (a recording made by Bruce Dickinson of an argument between bassist Steve Harris and drummer Nicko McBrain)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Robinson Brewery (Stockport, England)
• Website: robinsonsbrewery.com 
• Brew: Trooper Day Of The Dead (with the "2 Minutes To Midnight" bottle cap)
• Style: Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB) 
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 4.7%
• IBUs: 
• Ingredients: Brewed with roasted malts along with Bobec, Goldings, and Cascade hops
• Pour: Trooper pours a clear, deep copper hue with a 1-finger, frothy off-white head with good retention and lacing.
• Nose: The nose is both malty and hoppy and slightly fruity with notes of freshly baked bread, roasted nuts, apple and a slight hint of lemon zest. 
• Taste: The Trooper Day Of The Dead is definitely a true English ale with a good balance of hops and malts and true "depth of character."  Flavors include bready malts, apple, black tea, lemon zest, and sweet caramel.
• Mouthfeel: It is medium-bodied and moderately carbonated.  It is very smooth and easy drinking with a nice, clean and hoppy finish.

Overall pairing: Visually and theoretically speaking, this pairing is pretty obvious.  And coming in at only 4.7% ABV, you can through back a few of these easy drinking Trooper Day Of The Dead brews whilst pumping your fist and banging your head to the might, brilliance and aggression that is Iron Maiden's "2 Minutes To Midnight" EP!

UP THE IRONS!!!