June 12th, 2026 - Rockin' the Nation with Becker's

 

Hey there rockers, rollers, and hop freaks!  Happy Friday!  Your drinking buddy the Meista here kicking the weekend off the right way with another killer pairing for ya!  Today, I'm pairing "Rock The Nation" by the indelible Montrose and a delicious and very tasty Becker's Mellow Beer from Becker's Beer (brewed by the fine folks at Proper Brewing Company)!  This pairing is dedicated to my friend , the amazing Andrew Sample, lead vocalist of Colorado hard rock band the Dirty Kings!  Cheers brother!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Montrose
• Title: "Rock The Nation" (German edition)
• Recorded: 1973 
• Release date: 1974 (1st studio album by Montrose)
• Record company: Warner Bros.
• Production: Ted Templeman 
• Album cover art:  Peter Wandrey (illustration and design)
• Personnel: Denny Carmasi (drums), Bill Church (bass), Sammy Hagar (lead vocals), Ronnie Montrose (lead guitars)
• Musical style: Hard rock, rock and roll
• Sound: After making a name for himself in 1972 playing on Edgar Winter's "They Only Come Out At Night" with the blistering guitar work on "Free Ride" and "Frankenstein," Ronnie formed his own band, Montrose.  With Denny Carmasi on drums, Bill Church on bass, and then, unknown singer Sammy Hagar, the delivery, the passion, the intensity playing is everything you are looking for in truly American hard rock!  The tracks "Rock The Nation", "Bad Motor Scooter", "Space Station No. 5", and "Rock Candy" alone are truly genius rock masterpieces!  The guitar work (especially the solos), vocals, bass, and drums embody the passion this band had for great music!
• Major themes: , etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Rock The Nation"
2. "Bad Motor Scooter"
3. "Space Station #5"
4. "I Don't Want It"
5. "Good Rockin' Tonight"
6. "Rock Candy"
7. "One Thing On My Minde"
8. "Make It Last"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Becker's Beer brewed by Proper Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://www.beckersbeeroriginal.com/ and http://www.properbrewingco.com/ 
• Brew: Becker's Mellow Beer
• Style: American Lager
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Pour: The beer pours a clear, bright yellow hue with a thin, bright-white, 1+ finger, frothy head with great retention and layered sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by bready malts, light fruit aromas, and grassy hops.  There are notes of Pilsner malt, biscuit, light apple, a hint of corn, and light caramel.
• Taste: The taste, like the nose is grainy, and malty.  There are notes of grassy hops, crackery biscuit, light corn, a hint of apple, a hint of lemon zest, and baked bread. 
• Mouthfeel: Light-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is very smooth with a clean finish with very low bitterness.

Overall pairing: The Becker's Mellow Beer is a very crushable and easy drinking brew... a great beer for the classic heavy rock stylings of Montrose!  When I first saw the classic American name and label of the brew, the imagery from the album cover of "Rock The Nation" immediately popped in my head. Those bright, grainy notes go great with Ronnie's fiery guitar riffs and solos!  'Nuff said!

Cheers!!  Rock on!!