August 1st, 2025 - Going into Top Gear with WTFortyFive?

 

Hey there rockers, rollers, headbangers, and craft beer freaks!  Happy Friday!  The Meista here rocking the hell out and getting the weekend off to the right start with a pairing of the brilliant "WTFortyFive?", the most recent kick-ass, studio album by the legendary Girlschool and a Top Gear Imperial Pilsner frm Salt Flats Brewing Company!  Oh yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Girlschool
• Title: "WTFortyFive?"
• Recorded: 2023 at Sonic One Studio in Carmarthenshire, South Wales
• Release date: July 28th, 2023 (14th studio album by Girlschool)
• Record company: Silver Lining Music 
• Production: Tim Hamill
• Album cover art: Jonathan Noor
• Personnel: Denise Dufort (drums), Jackie "Jax" Chambers (guitars and backing vocals), Tracy Lamb (bass and backing and lead vocals), and Kim McAuliffe (guitars, and lead and backing vocals) 
• Guest musicians: Biff Byford (vocals on "Born To Raise Hell"), Phil Campbell (guitars on "Born To Raise Hell"), Duff McKagan (bass on "Born To Raise Hell"), and Joe Stump (guitars on It Is What It Is")
• Musical style: Heavy metal / hard rock with elements of punk and heavy blues
• Sound: This album freakin' rocks!!  The fiery guitars of Chambers and McAuliffe harken back to the early era of band's albums!  Dufort's drumming is heavy-duty machine gun fire coupled by thunderous artillery!  Lamb's bass is a Lemmy inspired thunderclap of goodness!  And McAuliffe's vocals?  Like butta (whiskey infused butter that is)!  And how's about that guest list?! 
• Major themes: Life, independence, rock and roll, rebellion, humanity, disease, death, partying, darkness, terror, etc. 
• Tracks: 

1. "It Is What It Is"
2. "Cold Dark Heart"
3. "Bump In The Night"
4. "Barmy Army"
5. "Invisible Killer"
6. "Believing In You"
7. "It's A Mess"
8. "Into The Night"
9. "Are You Ready?"
10. "Up To No Good"
11. "Party"
12. "Born To Raise Hell" (Motörhead cover)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Salt Flats Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://saltflatsbeer.com
• Brew: Top Gear Imperial Pilsner
• Style: Imperial Pilsner
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: %
• Ingredients: 2-Row and Pilsner malts with New Zealand hops
• Pour: The Top Gear pours a clear, golden yellow hue with a frothy, 1-finger, bright white head with good sustain and sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is bready, malty, grainy, and slightly sweet and fruity. There are aromas of bready malts, crackery grains, grassy hops, light lemon, light pear, light vanilla bean, a hint of booze, and soft honey.
• Taste: The taste of the Top Gear follows the nose with grainy, light, fruity, and malty flavors.  There are notes of crackery biscuit, bready malt, light lemon zest, lemongrass, a little booze, and a splash sweet honey.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel is very crisp and smooth with a clean, yet slightly boozy finish.

Overall pairing: With the killer heavy-duty rock and roll aggression of "WTFortyFive?", you need a brew that has the same bold bite, but with refreshing drinkability!  Thus... the bright, malty flavors of the Salt Flats Brewing Top Gear Imperial Pilsner is a great complimentary beverage to the fun, fast, and rockin' style of Girlschool! 

And if you haven't done so already, make sure to check out my interview with Jackie "Jax" Chambers from a few years ago here: https://youtu.be/5bccrh9Dngo  and check out my interview with former Girlschool bassist Tracy Lamb here: https://youtu.be/r83HrVKTq1w.  Keep an eye out for an interview with another Girlschool legend in the coming days!!

Cheers and hails!!