September 4th, 2025 - PLOP, PLOP... Pieces of Eight in My Hands

Good evening rockers, rollers, and adventurous drinkers!  Your drinkin' buddy the Meista here tonight with another rockin' pairing for ya... a sweet and tasty Legend of the Lost PLOP: Tiki-Colada from Drekker Brewing Company and the classic "Pieces Of Eight" by the mighty Styx!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Styx
• Title: "Pieces Of Eight"
• Recorded: 1978 at Paragon Recording Studios, and St. James Cathedral in Chicago, Illinois
  Release date: September 1st, 1978 (8th studio album by Styx)
• Record company: A&M Records
• Production: Styx
• Album cover art: Hipgnosis
• Personnel: Dennis DeYoung (keyboards, synthesizers, pipe organ, and vocals), Chuck Panozzo (bass guitar and vocals), John Panozzo (drums and vocals), Tommy Shaw (guitar, mandolin, and vocals), and James Young (guitar and vocals)
• Musical style: Hard rock, progressive rock
• Sound: Although still rockin', "Pieces Of Eight" has some significant progressive leanings and stronger use of keyboards and synthesizers. 
• Major themes: Somewhat of a concept album, DeYoung described the major theme of the album as "not giving up your dreams just for the pursuit of money and material possessions".  Some of the songs include themes about life, death, survival, rebellion, music, fantasy, etc. 
• Tracks: 

1. "Great White Hope"
2. "I'm O.K."
3. "Sing For The Day"
4. "The Message"
5. "Lords Of The Ring"
6. "Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)"
7. "Queen Of Spades"
8. "Renegade"
9. "Pieces Of Eight"
10. "Aku-Aku"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Drekker Brewing Company (Fargo, North Dakota) 
• Website: https://drekkerbrewing.com/ 
• Brew: Legend of the Lost PLOP: Tiki-Colada
• Style: Spiked Smoothie / Hard Seltzer
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0% 
• Pour: The Legend of the Lost PLOP: Tiki-Colada pours an opaque, very bright, golden yellow hue with a thin, yet frothy and sustained light yellow head with great retention and lots of sticky, intricate lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by sweet and fruity tropical notes.  There are big aromas of freshly cut pineapple and nutty coconut, along with a hint of passionfruit and guava, orange, and a slight hint of honey.
• Taste: The taste of the Legend of the Lost PLOP: Tiki-Colada follows the nose with sweet and very fruity tropical flavors.  There are refreshing notes of juicy pineapple, nutty coconut, passionfruit, coconut, orange juice and zest, and a light splash of honey.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Legend of the Lost PLOP: Tiki-Colada is crisp, yet very creamy, thick, and smooth with sweet, fruity finish.

Overall pairing: The Drekker Legend of the Lost PLOP: Tiki-Colada's fruity sweetness and drinkability make for a great pairing with the progressive rock and roll stylings on Styx's "Pieces Of Eight"!  The bold flavors are particularly great for "Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)" and "Renegade"!

Cheers!!  Rock on!!