February 15th, 2026 - Over the Top Craft Beer Sucks

 

Hello and happy Sunday my friends!  Today I'm rocking out with a pairing of the fantastic "Over The Top", the debut solo album by the legendary drummer Cozy Powell and a delightfully tasty Craft Beer Sucks Pub Ale from Chappell Brewing!  Yes!

Album Info:

• Artist: Cozy Powell
• Title: "Over The Top"
• Recorded: "This album was recorded without a safety net" in 1979 at Central Sound Studios in Manchester, England and Townhouse Studios in London, England
• Release date: October 19th, 1979 (1st full-length solo studio album released by Cozy Powell)
• Record company: Polydor
• Production: Martin Birch
• Album cover art: Bob Carlos Clarke (photography) and Ian Murray/Acrobat Design Ltd. (art direction and artwork)
• Personnel: Cozy Powell (drums and percussion) with Don Airey (keyboards), Jack Bruce (bass guitar), Clem Clempson (guitar on "Sweet Poison" and "The Loner"), Bernie Marsden (guitar on "El Sid"), Max Middleton (keyboards on "The Loner"), and Gary Moore (guitar on "Killer")
• Musical style: Rock with elements of jazz fusion and progressive rock
• Sound: Upbeat, highly energetic, 
• Major themes: As this album's tracks consist of all instrumentals, thematic meaning is entirely interpretive to the listener.  
• Tracks: 

1. "Theme One"
2. "Killer"
3. "Heidi Goes To Town"
4. "El Sid"
5. "Sweet Poison"
6. "The Loner"
7. "Over The Top"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Chappell Brewing (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://chappell.beer/
• Brew: Craft Beer Sucks
• Style: Heavy Pub Ale
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 7.0%
• Ingredients: Pilsner malt, corn, and CLS-X14 hops
• Pour: The Craft Beer Sucks pours a clear golden-yellow with a frothy, 1+ finger, bright white head with great sustain and lots of sticky, intricate lacing.
• Nose: The nose is grainy, malty, and slightly sweet.  There are aromas of freshly baked wheat bread, corn chips, crackery biscuit, June grass, lemongrass, lemon zest, and light honey.
• Taste: The taste of the Craft Beer Sucks follows the nose with bright, malty, grainy, and slightly sweet flavors.  There are notes of crackery biscuit, corn, lemon zest, light and grassy hops, and a splash of honey.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Craft Beer Sucks is very smooth with a crisp, slightly sweet, but clean finish.

Overall pairing: The Craft Beer Sucks from Chappell Brewing is a complex, yet inviting, drinkable, and flavorful brew... perfect for the of the late, great Cozy Powell!  Those sweeter malt flavors go great with Powell's amazing rhythms, while the grainy flavors go great with the overall musical prowess of these master musicians!  'Nuff said!  

Cheers!!  Rock on!!