Saturday, December 7, 2024

December 7th, 2024 - The Trooper is Rockin' in Rio!

 

Hey there metal maniacs!  With the announcement of Nicko McBrain's retirement from Iron Maiden, I thought I would do a pairing from this incredible band today.  How about a double dose of Eddie to start the weekend off?  That's right... the Meista is here with Iron Maiden's killer "Rock In Rio" DVD and CD and a Trooper Premium British Beer, an ale created by Iron Maiden and brewed by Robinson Brewery!!  Hell yeah!!

Album Info:

  • Artist: Iron Maiden
  • Title: "Rock In Rio"
  • Recorded: January 19th, 2001, live at the Rock in Rio festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Release date: March 25th, 2002 (audio) and June 10th, 2002 (video) (5th official live album released by Iron Maiden)
  • Record company: EMI / Sanctuary
  • Production: Kevin Shirley and Arthur Gorson
  • Album cover art: Mick Hutson (photography) and Peacock (art design and concept)
  • Personnel: Bruce Dickinson (lead vocals), Janick Gers (lead and rhythm guitars), Steve Harris (bass guitar and backing vocals), Nicko McBrain (drums), Dave Murray (lead and rhythm guitars), and Adrian Smith (lead and rhythm guitars, and backing vocals)
  • Musical style: Heavy metal, NWOBHM with elements of power metal and progressive metal
  • Sound: This is high-octane, in-your-face, heavy fucking metal!!  With excellent renditions of songs like "Ghost Of The Navigator", "Brave New World", "Sign Of The Cross", "The Evil That Men Do", "Hallowed Be Thy Name", and of course, "The Trooper" (among others), this is a wonderfully rich and captivating DVD and album in general... that captures the power and intensity of Maiden live and the unbridled energy of the Brazilian audience!
  • Major themes: Evil, war, life and death, power, perseverance, pride, mythology, the occult, the ancient world, torture, fear, etc.
  • Tracks: 
  1. "Intro"
  2. "The Wicker Man"
  3. "Ghost Of The Navigator"
  4. "Brave New World"
  5. "Wrathchild"
  6. "2 Minutes To Midnight"
  7. "Blood Brothers"
  8. "Sign Of The Cross"
  9. "The Mercenary"
  10. "The Trooper"
  11. "Dream Of Mirrors"
  12. "The Clansman"
  13. "The Evil That Men Do"
  14. "Fear Of The Dark"
  15. "Iron Maiden"
  16. "The Number Of The Beast"
  17. "Hallowed Be Thy Name"
  18. "Sanctuary"
  19. "Run To The Hills"


Brew Info:

  • Brewery: Robinson Brewery (Stockport, England)
  • Website: robinsonsbrewery.com    
  • Brew: Trooper Premium British Beer
  • Style: Extra Special / Strong Bitter (ESB)  
  • Serving: 16 ounce can
  • ABV: 4.7%
  • Ingredients:  Brewed with roasted malts along with Bobec, Goldings, and Cascade hops
  • Pour: Trooper pours a clear, deep copper hue with a 1-finger white head.
  • 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 is definitely a true English ale with a good balance of hops and malts and true "depth of character."  
  • Mouthfeel: It is medium-bodied and moderately carbonated.  It is very smooth and easy drinking with a nice, clean and hoppy finish.
  • Notes: Trooper Premium British Beer was not only inspired by Iron Maiden's song "The Trooper," but vocalist Bruce Dickinson played a major role in the development of this classic English ale.  "I'm a lifelong fan of traditional English ale; I thought I'd died and gone to heaven when we were asked to create our own beer. I have to say that I was very nervous: Robinsons are the only people I have had to audition for in 30 years. Their magic has been to create the alchemical wedding of flavour and texture that is TROOPER. I love it."

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 Troopers whilst pumping your fist and banging your head to the might and brilliance that is Iron Maiden's "
Rock In Rio"!!

UP THE IRONS!!!  Cheers!!

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