August 21st, 2024 - A Killer Hellcat Live!

 

Hey there metal maniacs and craft beer freaks!  It's my birthday, so how about a double dose of two of my favorite things... beer and heavy metal, and specifically Iron Maiden encompassing both?!  That's right... the Meista is here today with a pairing of the "Killer Live" bootleg by Iron Maiden and a hoppy Hellcat American India Pale Lager from BrewDog!!  Hell yeah!!  This pairing goes out to my very good friend Jerm!  Thanks for the tasty brews, your continued support of this page, and your friendship my man... Cheers brother!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Iron Maiden
• Title: "Killer Live"
• Recorded: Live at August 30th, 2000 at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado
• Release date: 2015 (live bootleg album of Iron Maiden)
• Record company: N.O.L.
• Production: N.O.L.
• Album cover art: ?
• Personnel: Bruce Dickinson (lead vocals), Steve Harris (bass guitar), Nicko McBrain (drums), Dave Murray (guitars), and Adrian Smith (guitars)
• Musical style: Heavy metal with elements of power metal and progressive metal
• Sound: This is he definitive Iron Maiden sound and just so wonderfully written, performed, and produced; truly astonishing! "Killer Live" is monster of live album!  This is high-octane, in-your-face, heavy fucking metal!!  With perfect renditions of songs like "Ghost Of The Navigator", "The Evil That Men Do", and "Hallowed By Thy Name" it is a wonderfully rich and captivating album in general!
• Major themes: Evil, war, life and death, power, perseverance, pride, mythology, the occult, the ancient world, torture, fear, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Ghost Of The Navigator"
2. "Brave New World"
3. "Wrathchild"
4. "Two Minutes To Midnight"
5. "The Trooper"
6. "The Evil That Men Do"
7. "Iron Maiden"
8. "The Number Of The Beast"
9. "Hallowed By Thy Name"
10. "Sanctuary"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: BrewDog (multinational brewery and pub chain based in Ellon, Scotland)
• Website: https://www.brewdog.com/usa
• Brew: Hellcat American India Pale Lager
• Style: American India Pale Lager (IPL) / Cold IPA (India Pale Ale)
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 6.0%
• IBUs: 65
• Pour: The Hellcat pours a hazy, golden yellow hue with a frothy, bright white, 1+ finger head that persists displays and intricate lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, floral, herbal, and slightly sweet.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, candied lemon, orange zest, lime, elderflower, light floral honey, hints of vanilla bean, and soft caramel. 
• Taste: Citrus forward, the Hellcat's taste is fruity, grainy, slightly bitter, yet somewhat sweet.  There notes of grapefruit, lime, tangerine, lemon curd, pale malts, a hint of vanilla, and toffee. 
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel is very crisp and dry, yet smooth with a clean and hoppy bitter finish.

Overall pairing: Visually and theoretically speaking, this pairing was a pretty obvious choice for me.  And coming in at only 6.0% ABV, you can crush a few of these easy drinking Hellcats whilst pumping your fist and banging your head to the might and brilliance that is Iron Maiden's "Killer Live"!!  'Nuff said!

Cheers... and UP THE IRONS!!!