March 7th, 2025 - Ambushed by Sweet Heat

 

Hello and happy Friday my metal and craft beer brethren!  Your drinking buddy the Meista here today getting your ready for the weekend with a pairing of Tygers Of Pan Tang's 2012 album "Ambush" and a sweet and spicy from !

Album Info:

• Artist: Tygers Of Pan Tang
• Title: "Ambush"
• Recorded: 2012 at Ecology Rooms in England
• Release date: September 24th, 2012 (10th studio album by Tygers Of Pan Tang)
• Record company: Rocksector Records
• Production: Chris Tsangarides
• Album cover art: Rodney Matthews
• Personnel: Craig Ellis (drums and percussion), Gavin Gray (bass guitar), Jacopo Meille (vocals), Dean "Deano" Robertson (guitars), and "Tyger" Robb Weir (guitars)
• Musical style: Heavy metal, hard rock
• Sound: Although guitarist Robb Weir is the only original member, the band does a fantastic job of channeling the early Tygers' sound!  Vocalist Jacopo Meille has attributes of both Jess Cox and Jon Deverill.  Songs like "Keeping Me Alive", "These Eyes", "Rock & Roll Dream", "She", "Man On Fire", and "Hey Suzie!", and "Speed" deliver in-your-face, explosive, perfectly executed NWOBHM rockin' goodness!  This my friends is how metal is supposed to sound!!  Killer riffs, thunderous drums and bass, great vocals, and just plain fun as hell!! It has the feel of their early 1980s albums, but with the punch and production mastery of modern-day albums.  The band is tight, and it is very evident through their playing that their having a helluva good time!  The guitar work of Deano and Tyger Robb alone is worth every penny! 
• Major themes: Bravery, survival, power, vengeance, rock and roll, attitude, deception, desire, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Keeping Me Alive"
2. "These Eyes"
3. "One Of A Kind"
4. "Rock & Roll Dream"
5. "She"
6. "Man On Fire"
7. "Play To Win"
8. "Burning Desire"
9. "Hey Suzie"
10. "Mr. Indispensable"
11. "Speed"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Prairie Artisan Ales (Oklahoma)
• Website: https://prairieales.com/
• Brew: Sweet Heat
• Style: Fruited Sour Ale
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Ingredients: "Sour ale with watermelon, strawberry, and natural watermelon, jalapeno, and coconut cream flavoring"
• Pour: The Sweet Heat pours a golden yellow-orange hue with a bubbly, bright white, very thin head that dissipates quickly, leaving a thin ring with virtually no lacing.
• Nose: The nose is very fruity, sour, spicy, and sweet.  There are aromas of freshly cut watermelon, watermelon rind, lemon, freshly picked strawberries, strawberry jam, light nutty coconut, sweet vanilla extract, honey, and sliced jalapenos.
• Taste: Following the nose, the taste of the Sweet Heat is juicy, fruity, tart, spicy, and sweet.  There are notes of watermelon Jolly Ranchers, watermelon juice and rind, lemon juice and zest, strawberry jam, French vanilla ice cream, coconut, fresh cream, spicy jalapenos, and a splash of honey.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium in body and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Sweet Heat is tart and spicy, yet smooth and somewhat creamy with a juicy and sweet finish.

Overall pairing: Along with the tiger imagery, the complex and unique, yet tasty Sweet Heat from Prairie Artisan Ales is a great beer to throw back whilst banging your head to Tygers Of Pan Tang's brilliant latest outing!  Those bright and spicy flavors and aromas are perfect for the upbeat and fiery rockin' intensity of Tyger Robb and the boys!!  You need to own this album!!  I ordered this metal gem from my buddy Kevin at the Heavy Metal Shop... and you should too (www.heavymetalshop.com)!!

Oh, and check out the interview I did with Tygers Of Pan Tang guitarist and founding member Robb Weir way back in 2014: http://brewsandtunes.blogspot.com/2014/02/february-16th-2014-tyger-tyger-burning.html

Cheers and hails!!  'Nuff said!