Oktober 18th, 2017 - The Virgin Killer Goes To Helles!

Guten abend !  Der Meista here tonight pairing the wonderful "Virgin Killer" by the Scorpions and a Helles Lager from Copper Kettle Brewing Company!

Album Info:

• Artist: Scorpions
• Title: "Virgin Killer"
• Recorded: 1976 at Dierks Studios in Stommeln, West Germany
• Release date: October 9th, 1976 (4th studio album by the Scorps)
• Record company: RCA Records
• Production: Dieter Dierks
• Album cover art: Steffan Böhle
• Personnel: Francis Buchholz (bass and backing vocals), Rudy Lenners (drums and percussion), Klaus Meine (lead vocals), Ulrich Jon Roth (lead guitar, backing vocals, and lead vocals on "Hell-Cat" and "Polar Nights"), and Rudolf Schenker (rhythm guitar and backing vocals)
• Additional musicians: Achim Kirschning (synthesizer and keyboards)
• Musical style: Hard rock, heavy metal
• Sound: Sonically and emotionally intense, the sound on "Virgin Killer" is the first of their albums to really introduce that seminal, definitive Scorps sound!  With Roth on lead guitar, any trace of the band's early psychedelic sound is gone as they embrace a much more straight-forward, enthusiastic, hard-rocking sound! 
• Major themes: Sex, death of innocence, time, relationships, love, heartache, desire, rock and roll, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Pictured Life"
2. "Catch Your Train"
3. "In Your Park"
4. "Backstage Queen"
5. "Virgin Killer"
6. "Hell-Cat"
7. "Crying Days"
8. "Polar Nights"
9. "Yellow Raven"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Copper Kettle Brewing Company (Denver, Colorado)
• Website: http://www.copperkettledenver.com/
• Brew: Helles Lager
• Style: Munich Helles Lager
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 4.8%
• Pour: The Helles Lager pours a light, clear golden, honey yellow with a frothy, bright white 1-finger head that dissipates quickly and leaves virtually no lacing.
• Nose: The nose is fruity, sweet, malty, and grassy.  There are aromas of apple, pear, melon, summer grass, a honey wheat bread, and caramel.
• Taste: The taste of the Helles Lager is grainy, grassy, and malty.  There are notes of wheat bread, cereal grain, light pear juice, apple, grassy hops, sweet malt, and soft caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Light in body with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is very smooth, refreshing, and crisp with a clean, dry, slightly peppery finish.

Overall pairing: The very drinkable, refreshing, and smooth character of Copper Kettle's tasty Helles Lager is a great companion to the fast-paced, hard-rockin' goodness, and very original sound of the Scorpions' "Virgin Killer"!

PROST!!