Canadian melodic punks Pkew Pkew Pkew have created one of the most fun records of the year with Optimal Lifestyles. Rather than the traditional track-by-track breakdown of the album, but asked them to give us a unique insight into the record: by telling us which beer they’d pair each track with.
Want to drink along? Load up the album on Spotify – it’s was released on March 1st via Big Scary Monsters an Dine Alone Records. Enjoy this choice shopping list of Canadian ales to pair with the record!
1. Still Hangin’ Out After All These Years
This best pairs with any of the ones listed at the end of the track—take your pick!
2. I Don’t Matter At All
This is a pretty tasty track if you ask us. It’s kind of reminiscent of The Strokes so we’ll go with Brooklyn Lager for this one. Brooklyn Brewery is one of the only NYC breweries that we get up in Canada.
3. Point Break
This pairs best with a bottle of Corona with a wedge of lime jammed into it and two meatball sandwiches. Even better if you’re on or near a surfboard.
4. Drinking Days
This one’s about drinking, but more about the ugly side of it. When you get a bit older and your lifestyle stays the same, you start to question your own sanity. We think Two-Hearted from Michigan’s own Bell’s Brewery is a good representation of this two-hearted tune.
5. 65 Nickels
Pairs best with something that costs 65 nickels. The closest thing we’ve seen is beer in a German supermarket, but do they have nickels?
6. The Polynesian
The Polynesian was written about a lovely place in Wisconsin that we stopped in on a long drive one time. Milwaukee is obviously home to some pretty famous beers, but we think this song pairs best with High Life cause the song’s about living your best life.
7. Skate 2
Skate 2’s namesake is a skateboarding video game but the song is kind of the third part to our songs Mid 20’s Skateboarder and Blood Clot from the first record. That record is drenched in PBR goo. We didn’t want to do that again, so let’s pair our more sophisticated skating song with a more sophisticated beer, the Canuck Pale Ale from Great Lakes Brewery here in Toronto.
8. Passed Out
When you’re in a band that hasn’t quite “made it” yet, you still need to work shitty jobs when you’re not on tour. That’s what this song is about. Mike talks about destroying beers in the intro, so it probably pairs best with All Day IPA, another great Michigan brewski from Founders.
9. I’m Not Getting Through To You
Pairs best with Pabst Blue Ribbon 5.9 because it’s kind of about touring, and that is a beer that we end up drinking on tour a fair bit.
10. Mt. Alb
Obviously this song is supposed to bring you back to you and your friends drinking underage in a basement. Bohemian was a weird, shitty beer that Molson brewed (and might still) in Canada when we were kids. It was cheap and palatable, at the time.
11. The Pit
The Pit is about a very specific event that only we know about it, so it’s one of our favourite songs on the record. Let’s pair it with one of our favourite beers that not enough people know about, Sour Monkey by Victory Brewing in Pennsylvania. If you’re reading this, we love sour beer.
12. Everything’s The Same
Pairs best with a Molson Canadian Cold Shot because it’s quick, refreshing and easy-drinkin’.
13. I Wanna See A Wolf
There’s a really great brewery in Edmonton, Alberta called Sea Change. They have a beer called The Wolf that we haven’t tried, but it’s a hazy IPA so it’s probably pretty good.
14. Adult Party
Adult Party is about going to a party where everyone is just a little bit better than you. Like, as a human. Mike talks about bringing 12 beers to the party, so let’s pair Adult Party with a 12-pack of Steamwhistle, which is a beer you will know if you’ve been to Toronto.
15. Thirsty & Humble
We’ll pair the last song on the record with the beer that we’d drink if we could only have one more, Pilsner Urquell. Thank goodness that’s not the case.
If you want to drink along with Pkew Pkew Pkew‘s latest album Optimal Lifestyles, you can pick up a copy from Big Scary Monsters (UK) or Dine Alone Records (CAN).
Follow Pkew Pkew Pkew on Facebook, Spotify or Instagram. They are currently out on tour with Eat Defeat, squeezing in a couple of dates around the UK, and they’re coming back for a full tour of the UK and Europe with Spanish Love Songs in May.
07.05.19 – Brighton – The Hope & Ruin
08.05.19 – Manchester – Soup Kitchen
09.05.19 – Birmingham – The Flapper
10.05.19 – Bristol – The Exchange
11.05.19 – London – New Cross Inn
SHOUT LOUDER 
This was awesome! Can I share it with my friend Boob? He loves skateboarding, drinking beers, and punk rock. I think it would be in his wheelhouse.
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Of course you can! Sharing is always encouraged 😀
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