February 13th, 2021 - She's Got My Balls To the Wall And She's Layin' On A German Kiss!

Guten tag!!  The Meista here on this snowy Saturday rockin' the hell out to Accept's classic "Balls To The Wall" and a German Kiss Kölsch from Talisman Brewing Company in collaboration with UTOG Brewing Company... the perfect pairing for a rockin' Valentines weekend!

Album Info: 

• Artist: Accept
• Title: "Balls To The Wall"
• Recorded: July through August 1983 at Dierks Studios in Cologne, Germany
• Release date: December 5th, 1983 (5th studio album released by Accept)
• Record company: RCA / Portrait
• Production: Accept
• Album cover art: Dieter Eikelpoth
• Personnel: Peter Baltes (bass guitar), Udo Dirkschneider (vocals), Herman Frank (guitars), Wolf Hoffmann (guitars), and Stefan Kaufmann (drums)
• Musical style: Heavy metal
• Sound: "Balls To The Wall" is just such a definitive, kick-ass metal monster!!  Ty Tabor of King's X once stated the album "set a new bar for what heavy rock could sound like on a record".  It is characterized by powerful, thunderous drumming, amazing guitar and bass work, and Udo's distinctive and intense voice.
• Major themes: Themes on the album include oppression, prejudice, standing for what's right, aggression, rebellion, sex, power, loss, etc.  Drummer Stefan Kaufmann explained that many of the themes on the album were about oppressed minorities in general. "London Leatherboys" was really about bikers, for example: "They're normal people, they just look different and they behave different. But they're normal people, another minority. And 'Love Child' was about gays, true, but it's basically about people who are suppressed."
• Tracks:  

1. "Balls To The Wall"
2. "London Leatherboys"
3. "Fight It Back"
4. "Head Over Heels"
5. "Losing More Than You've Ever Had"
6. "Love Child"
7. "Turn Me On"
8. "Losers And Winners"
9. "Guardian Of The Night"
10. "Winterdreams"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Talisman Brewing Company (Ogden, Utah) in collaboration with UTOG Brewing Company (Ogden, Utah)
• Website: https://www.talismanbrewingco.com/home  https://www.utogbrewing.com/  
• Brew: German Kiss
• Style: German Kölsch 
• Serving: 32 ounce crowler can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Ingredients: Two row and Carapils malts with raspberry purée and cocoa nibs sourced from Ghana
• Pour: The German Kiss pours a clear, pinkish amber with a bright white, half-finger head that dissipates to a thin ring with soapy lacing. 
• Nose: The nose is a wonderful blend of crackery, grassy, earthy, and fruity aromas.  There are notes of subtle grassy hops, light toasted grains, crackery biscuit, cocoa, chocolate covered raspberries, and a hint of lemon zest. 
• Taste: The taste of the German Kiss follows the nose with grassy, crackery, earthy, slightly sweet, and tart flavors.   There are notes of grassy hops, crackery biscuit, light cocoa powder, fresh raspberries, and a hint of raspberry jam. 
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium in body and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel is incredibly crisp, effervescent, smooth, and refreshing with a dry, slightly sweet finish.

Overall pairing: German-style brew and German metal?  Yes, please!  The very bright, aromas and flavors and wonderful drinkability of the German Kiss make for a great pairing with the sonic explosion that is Accept's definitive "Balls To The Wall"!!  Those sweet and slightly tart notes go great with the amazing guitar work of Frank and Hoffmann while the is hops tandem with Udo's gravely vocals!

And you better get down to either Talisman or UTOG and grab this unique, tasty, and very limited brew for your sweetheart before it is gone!  Prost, Zum Wohl, and hails metal heads!!