December 23rd, 2022 - Oi To The Christmas Cheer!

 

Alright my friends... the Meista here with a very special collaborative pairing for ya in celebration of the holidays!  I'm teaming up with my friend The Underwater Boozer (https://www.instagram.com/underwaterboozer/) and we are going with the Vandals and their "holiday" album, "Oi To The World!" along with a punchy and very crushable Christmas Cheer Munich Lager with Juniper Berries from Uinta Brewing Company and purchased from our friends at Salt & Hops (https://www.instagram.com/saltandhops/)!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: The Vandals
• Title: "Oi To The World!"
• Recorded: 1996 at Formula One Studios in La Habra, California
• Release date: October 8th, 1996 (6th studio album by The Vandals)
• Record company: Kung Fu Records
• Production: Warren Fitzgerald
• Album cover art: Adam Swinbourne
• Personnel: Joe Escalante (bass guitar, backing vocals, and lead vocals on "Here I Am Lord"), Warren Fitzgerald (guitars, backing vocals, lead vocals on "Hang Myself From The Tree", and string arrangements on "Christmas Time For My Penis"), Josh Freese (drums), and Dave Quackenbush (vocals)
• Additional musicians: Jason Freese (saxophone), Stan Freese (tuba), Vidal Hulbert (violin), Elizabeth Johnson (violin), Suzanne LaRoque (cello), Christina Placilla (viola), Erik Sandin (drums), Rat Scabies (drums), and Brooks Wackerman (drums and traps)
• Musical style: Punk rock, pop punk, Christmas music
• Sound: Poppy, fast-paced, and fun, the sound on "Oi To The World!" marries the Vandals' usual zany punk stylings with irreverent Christmas cheer!
• Major themes: Steeped in irreverent holiday-themed humor, lyrical content on the album includes Christmas, death, sexuality, rebellion, violence, suicide, etc.
• Tracks:

1. "A Gun For Christmas"
2. "Grandpa's Last Xmas"
3. "Thanx For Nothing"
4. "Oi To The World"
5. "Nothing's Going To Ruin My Holiday"
6. "Christmas Time For My Penis"
7. "I Don't Believe In Santa Clause"
8. "My First Xmas (As A Woman)"
9. "Dance Of The Sugarplum Fairies"
   
10. "Here I Am Lord"
11. "C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S"
12. "Hang Myself From The Tree"
    
    
    

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Uinta Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://uintabrewing.com/
• Brew: Christmas Cheer Munich Lager with Juniper Berries
• Style: German Lager
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• IBUs: 15
• Ingredients: Munich, Munich 3, Pilsner, and Toasted Blonde Oats malts, Tettnang hops, and juniper berries
• Pour: The Christmas Cheer pours a fairly clear deep bronze amber with an off-white, 1-finger head with good retention and sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is toasty, piney, and malty.  There are aromas of pine resin, juniper berries, cedar, herbal tea, crackery biscuit, toasted bread, and soft caramel/toffee.
• Taste: The taste of the Christmas Cheer follows the nose with lots of toasty, malty, and herbal/earthy flavors.  There are notes of juniper, pine, toasted oats, crackery biscuit, and light caramel/toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with good carbonation, the mouthfeel is crisp, yet smooth with a dry, slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The Christmas Cheer Munich Lager with Juniper Berries from Uinta Brewing is a punchy, yet smooth and crushable holiday brew... great for the humorous punk punch of the Vandals!  'Nuff said! 

And make sure to check out subscribe to my friend the Underwater Boozer on her great page: https://www.instagram.com/underwaterboozer/!

Cheers!!  Happy holidays!!