August 1st, 2015 - On[eida] Through The Night

Good afternoon!  Your pal the Meista here celebrating Joe Elliot's birthday with a pairing of "On Through The Night", the debut album by the NWOBHM band Def Leppard and an Oneida Summer Seasonal Pale Ale from Modern Times Beer!
 
Album Info:

• Artist: Def Leppard
• Title: "On Through The Night"
• Recorded: December 1979 at Startling Studios, Ascot, Berkshire, England
• Release date: March 14th, 1980 (debut album by Def Leppard)
• Record company: Mercury Records
• Production: (Colonel) Tom Allom
• Album cover art: Alan Schmidt
• Personnel: Rick Allen (drums), the late Steve Clark (guitars), Joe Elliot (vocals), Rick Savage (bass), and Pete Willis (guitars)
• Additional musicians: Dave Cousins (spoken voice on "When the Walls Came Tumblin' Down") and Chris M. Hughes (synthesizer on "Hello America")
• Musical style: Heavy metal/hard rock with elements of glam rock and power pop
• Sound: Combining working-class English metal/hard rock with early '70s glam rock in the vein of the Sweet and T. Rex, "On Through The Night" is a fast-paced, electrifying rock album.  Somewhat raw and simple at times, Def Leppard's debut album epitomizes the furious middle-class hard rockin' sound of the NWOBHM!
• Major themes: Rock and roll, fame, women, sorrow and loss, power, drinking, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Rock Brigade"
2. "Hello America"
3. "Sorrow Is A Woman"
4. "It Could Be You"
5. "Satellite"
6. "When the Walls Came Tumblin' Down"
7. "Wasted"
8. "Rocks Off"
9. "It Don't Matter"
10. "Answer To The Master"
11. "Overture"

    Brew Info:

• Brewery:  Modern Times Beer (San Diego, California)
• Website: http://moderntimesbeer.com/tasting-room/point-loma
• Brew: Oneida Summer Seasonal Pale Ale
• Style: American Pale Ale (APA)
• Serving: pint off the tap at Modern Time Flavordome
• ABV: 5.8%
• IBUs: 50
• Ingredients: California Ale yeast; Carapils, Cascade, Experimental Hop 05256, and Hallertau Blanc hops; and Pale malt
• Pour: Slightly cloudy golden yellow with a huge, billowy bright white head that holds its form well and produces intricate spider web lacing.
• Nose: The nose is a blend of tropical fruit, citrus, and grassy/earthy hops with lighter caramel notes. There are aromas of mango, grapefruit, melon, lemongrass, pine resin, and soft caramel.
• Taste: The taste is initially marked by a big burst of juice grapefruit and mango that leads into more subtle grain flavors in the mid-range with a bitter, oily finish.  There are notes of grapefruit, mango, melon, lemon, light cracker, light caramel, and pine.
• Mouthfeel: Light-bodied with well-carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Oneida is very crisp and refreshing with a somewhat aggressive hop presence and a dry, somewhat bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The crisp and citrusy easy-drinking character of the Oneida Summer Seasonal Pale Ale from Modern Times Beer is perfect for the hard-rocking fun of Def Leppard's "On Through The Night"!  Those hoppy notes of the Oneida seem to scream, "Watch out for the rock brigade"!

Cheers!!