February 24th, 2017 - Whiz! Bang! Crash And Burn With a Hoppy Blonde!

Good evening rockers, rollers, and hop lovers!  The Meista here tonight pairing a Whizbang Hoppy Blonde Ale from New Belgium Brewing Company and "Crash And Burn" by the Pat Travers Band!


Album Info:

• Artist: Pat Travers Band
• Title: "Crash And Burn"
• Recorded: June 1979 through January 1980
• Release date: 1980
• Record company: Polydor Records
• Production: Dennis Mackay and Pat Travers
• Album cover art: Bob Heimall (art design and direction) and Bill Crump (photography) 
• Personnel: Tommy Aldridge (drums and percussion), Peter "Mars" Cowling (bass guitar), Pat Thrall (lead and rhythm guitars, and backing vocals), and Pat Travers (lead and backing vocals, lead and rhythm guitars, and keyboards)
• Additional musicians: Dawn Shahan (backing vocals) and Michael Shrieve (percussion)
• Musical style: Hard rock, blues rock
• Sound: Loud, amped up, raucous, and rambunctious, "Crash And Burn" is a heavy duty rock and roll album like only Pat Travers can produce!  Each track is a rocker!
• Major themes: Heartbreak, love, booze, drugs, sex, rock and roll, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Crash And Burn"
2. "(Your Love) Can't Be Right"
3. "Snortin' Whiskey"
4. "Born Under A Bad Sign"
5. "Is This Love?"
6. "The Big Event"
7. "Love Will Make You Strong"
8. "Material Eyes"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Company (Fort Collins, Colorado)
• Website: http://www.newbelgium.com/
• Brew: Whizbang Hoppy Blonde Ale
• Style:American Blonde Ale 
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 5.7%
• IBUs: 45
• Ingredients: Ale yeast; Pale, Caramel 80, and Munich malts; and Nugget, Simcoe, UK Admiral, Mosaic, and Centennial hops
• Pour: The Whizbang pours a golden, straw-colored hue with a billow and foamy 2-finger head with great retention and lots of inctricate and layered lacing.
• Nose: The nose is very hop-forward (floral, tropical, and citrusy) followed by subtle sweet malt.  There are aromas of Centennial pellets, tangerine, orange peel, freshly cut hay, guava, kiwi, light pine resin, pineapple, and light grains.
• Taste: The taste (like the nose) is fruity, grainy, and hoppy.  There are notes of lime, guava, mango, subtle tangerine, subtle grapefruit, light lemon juice and zest, summer grass, Mosaic hops, light grains, and a hint of pepper in the finish.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium-bodied with mild carbonation, the Whizbang is crisp, thirst-quenching, smooth, and refreshing with a clean, slightly dry finish.

Overall pairing: The very crisp, refreshing, and easy drinking characteristics of New Belgium's tasty Whizbang Hoppy Blonde Ale is perfect for the straight-forward rockin' songs of the wonderful Pat Travers and gang!  The smooth flavor is great for the wonderful guitar tones of Travers and Thrall and the malty backbone is reminiscent of the powerful rhythm of the legendary Tommy Aldridge and Mars Cowling!

Cheers!!  Rock on!!