September 6th, 2023 - The Beach Eagle Has Landed

 

Hello and happy Wednesday my friends!  The Meista here today with a pairing of a deliciously crisp and smooth Beach Eagle Mexican Lager from Fort George and the classic, kickass "The Eagle Has Landed - Live" by the mighty Saxon!  Hell yes!

Album Info:

• Artist: Saxon
• Title: "The Eagle Has Landed - Live"
• Recorded: 1981 at various venues in the U.K. and Europe
• Release date: 1982 (1st live album by Saxon); 2014 reissue Original Album Series boxset
• Record company: Carrere Records /  Parlophone
• Production: Saxon
• Album cover art: George Bodnar (photography)
• Personnel: Biff Byford (vocals), Steve Dawson (bass guitar), Nigel Glockler (drums), Graham Oliver (guitars), and Paul Quinn (guitars)
• Musical style: Heavy metal, hard rock, proto-speed metal
• Sound: Not only an essential Saxon album, but an essential NWOBHM album... actually an essential metal album!  "The Eagle Has Landed - Live" is solid, heavy-duty, straight-forward rock and roll!  It is dramatic, fiery, fast-paced, rhythmic, and wonderfully engaging!
• Major themes: Motorcycles, biker culture, speed, power, the law, fear, aggression, life in the fast lane, rock and roll, flight, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Motorcycle Man"
2. "747 (Strangers In The Night)"
3. "Princess Of The Night"
4. "Strong Arm Of The Law"
5. "Heavy Metal Thunder"
6. "20,000 Feet"
7. "Wheels Of Steel"
8. "Never Surrender"
9. "Fire In The Sky"
10. "Machine Gun"
11. "And The Band Played On" (bonus track)
12. "See The Light Shining"(bonus track)
13. "Frozen Rainbow" (bonus track)
14. "Midnight Rider" (bonus track)
15. "Dallas 1 P.M." (bonus track)
16. "Hungry Years" (bonus track)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Fort George Brewery (Astoria, Oregon)
• Website: https://fortgeorgebrewery.com/
• Brew: Beach Eagle
• Style: Mexican Lager
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 4.7%
• Ingredients: Hallertauer, Mittelfrüh, Tettnanger, and Motueka hops, Great Western 2-Row, Briess Flaked Corn, Briess Carapils malts, and Mexican Lager yeast
• Pour: The Beach Eagle pours a clear, bright yellow hue with a billowy and fluffy, bright white, 1-finger head with good retention and sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by floral, grainy, and slightly sweet/citrusy notes.  There are aromas of floral hops, freshly cut hay, lemongrass, corn chips, maize, cereal grains, lemon zest, and mellow, light toffee. 
• Taste: The taste of the Beach Eagle follows the nose with flavors.  There are notes of doughy grains, floral and grassy hops, corn, lemon zest, and light caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium-bodied and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Beach Eagle is very crisp, effervescent, and very smooth with a dry, clean finish.

Overall pairing: The Beach Eagle is a smooth, crisp, and very tasty brew with lots of great flavors and aromas... perfect for the metal might and brilliance of Saxon's quintessential "The Eagle Has Landed - Live"!  'Nuff said!

Cheers!!  Hails!!