June 14th, 2026 - In Remembrance of Pliny the Elder

 

Hey there rockers, proggers, and hop freaks!  Happy Sunday!  Your drinking pal the Meista here with another great pairing for you... "Remembrance", the wonderfully complex and melodic album by Iron Maiden tribute band Maiden uniteD and a punchy and bold Pliny the Elder from Russian River Brewing Company!  Yes!

Album Info:

• Artist: Maiden uniteD
• Title: "Remembrance"
• Recorded:  2015 at 6 DC Studio in Tilburg, The Netherlands, De Lokatie, Larger Than Live Studio in Tilburg, The Netherlands, and Sandlane Recording Facilities in Rijen, The Netherlands
• Release date: 2015 (5th studio album by Maiden uniteD)
• Record company: Zomba Music Publishers Ltd.
• Production: Ruud Jolie
• Album cover art: ?
• Personnel: Stef Broks (drums), Joey Bruers (bass), Ruud Jolie (guitars and mandolin), Thijs Schrijnemakers (Hammond organ), Huub van Loon (piano and lead vocals on " Burning Ambition"), and Damian Wilson (lead vocals)
• Additional musicians: Blaze Bayley (lead vocals on "Futureal"), Marcela Bovio (backing vocals on "Aces High" and violin on "Still Life '15"), Paul Di'Anno (lead vocals on "Prowler"), Marco Kuypers (piano on "Prowler"), Barry 'Thunderstick' Purkis (drums on "Burning Ambition"), and Wudstik (lead vocals on "Aces High")
• Musical style: Acoustic rock with elements of progressive rock and metal with elements of jazz fusion
• Sound: Atmospheric, lush, emotive, complex, melodic, and totally engrossing, the sound on "Remembrance" is a fitting tribute to the mighty Iron Maiden with hauntingly beautiful interpretations performed by master musicians.
• Major themes: Life, death, relationships, freedom, introspection, suffering, sorrow, war, the past, harmony, the future, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Strange World"
2. "Charlotte The Harlot"
3. "Killers"
4. "Remember Tomorrow"
5. "Burning Ambition"
6. "Futureal"
7. "Aces High"
8. "Prowler"
9. "Still Life '15"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Russian River Brewing Company
• Website: http://russianriverbrewing.com/
• Brew: Pliny The Elder
• Style: American Double India Pale Ale (DIPA)/ Imperial IPA
• Serving: 22 ounce bottle
• ABV: 8.0%
• Original gravity: 1.070
• Ingredients: Amarillo, Centennial, CTZ, and Simcoe hops
• Pour: Pliny the Elder pours a clear, bright golden yellow hue with a big, billowy white head that displays excellent and sustained lacing throughout
• Nose: Like sticking you face in "a box of hops", the nose of Pliny the Elder is big, bold pine resin and grapefruit rind aromas along with bready malts, herbal tea, and burnt toffee.
• Taste: About as good as it gets, Pliny The Elder is an incredibly well-balanced DIPA.  The flavor follows the nose with BIG citrus, melon, and pine flavors followed by more subtle Tootsie-pop/caramel notes. 
• Mouthfeel: Crisp and bubbly, Pliny The Elder is crisp and refreshing with a little dryness along with lingering grapefruit and bittern hops.  There's a bit of booziness as well.

Overall pairing:  The punchy, fruity, complex, yet refreshing flavors of the Russian River Pliny the Elder is an excellent beer to accompany the brilliance that is  and their fantastic album "Remembrance"!  'Nuff said!

Make sure to check out my interview with the amazing Ruud Jolie here: https://youtu.be/qbD4PE3vvs4

Proost!!