December 13th, 2025 - You'd Better Circle Back 'Cause There's Nowhere to Hide!

 

Hallo and happy Saturday my rock and roll friends and hoppy craft beer lovers!  Your pal the Meista here again with another killer brew and killer album pairing for ya!  I'm spinning the wonderful and criminally underrated "Nowhere To Hide", the 6th studio album by the legendary Praying Mantis and a crisp and hoppy Circle Back West Coast IPA from Helper Beer!  Hell yeah!

Album Info: 

• Artist: Praying Mantis
• Title: "Nowhere To Hide"
• Recorded: 2000 at Fleetwood Recording Studio in Revere, Massachusetts
• Release date: November 21st, 2000 (6th studio album by Praying Mantis)
• Record company: Frontiers Records
• Production: Steve Mann and Tino Troy 
• Album cover art: Kazuo Hakamada (artwork), Taka Shibayama (design), Martin Valentine (concept)
• Personnel: Bruce Bisland (drums), Tony O'Hora (lead vocals), Dennis Stratton (guitars and backing vocals), Chris Troy (bass and backing vocals), Tino Troy (guitars and backing vocals)
• Musical style: Hard rock, heavy metal, AOR
• Sound: A wonderful rich and intricately textured album, at times it is soft and warm, and at times angry, aggressive, and decisive.  There are elements of metal, progressive rock, and AOR all tightly and masterfully woven into a fantastically engrossing and heavy tapestry!  As always with Praying Mantis, the songwriting and musicianship is utterly astounding!
• Major themes: Life, relationships, humanity, emotions, the future, darkness, mythology, hope, etc.
• Tracks:  

1. "Nowhere To Hide"
2. "Cruel Winter"
3. "The Clocktower"
4. "Can't Stop The Fire"
5. "Future Of The World"
6. "Whenever I'm Lost"
7. "You'll Never Know"
8. "River Of Hope"
9. "Naked" (bonus track)
10. "S.O.S."

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Helper Beer (Helper, Utah)
• Website: https://www.helperbeer.com/
• Brew: Circle Back West Cost IPA
• Style: West Coast Style India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 7.1% 
• Pour: The Circle Back pours a clear, bright, golden yellow with a frothy, bright white, 1+ finger head with great retention and lots of sticky, intricate lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, herbal, dank, and grainy.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, lemon zest, wild herbs, wet pine needles, pale grains, herbal and black tea, and very light caramel. 
• Taste: Following the nose, the taste of the Circle Back is citrusy, resinous, and grainy.  There are notes of pink grapefruit juice, unsweetened iced tea, light pine resin, lemongrass, and very soft caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Medium in body and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Circle Back is very crisp and a little bitter, yet refreshing with a clean, slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The crisp, citrusy, and hop-forward, flavors and aromas of Helper Beer's Circle Back West Coast IPA is a very crushable, yet complex beer, perfect for the intricate, open, honest, and compelling music on "Nowhere To Hide" of the legendary Praying Mantis!  The inviting citrus notes are great for the fantastic grooves and melodies, while the hoppy bite goes great with the more introspective and darker lyrics!  I highly recommend this wonderful gem of an album! 

And if you haven't done so already, check out my interviews with current and past Praying Mantis members: 

• Vocalist John Jaycee Cuijpers: https://youtu.be/kV9hG_Pdes8
• Former guitarist Dennis Stratton:  https://youtu.be/pLtFRF-7CZc
• Bassist Chris Troy: https://youtu.be/tNw1qVKsRoM
• Guitarist Tino Troy: https://youtu.be/sf7ZBkI3foI

Cheers!!  Rock on!!

December 12th, 2025 - Miso Sour After the Soaking Rites Ov Perversion

 

Hallo evil-doers, metal maniacs, and craft brew lovers!  Happy Friday!  The Meista here today getting the weekend off to the right start with a pairing of "Rites Ov Perversion", the hard-hitting 3rd album by Dutch death metal band Antropomorphia and a tart and citrusy Miso Sour After Soaking Tart Ale from Chappell Brewing!  Hells yes!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Antropomorphia
• Title: "Rites Ov Perversion"
• Recorded: February through May 2014 at Aftermath Studio in Kaatsheuvel, The Netherlands
• Release date: September 12th, 2014 (3rd studio album by Antropomorphia)
• Record company: Metal Blade Records
• Production: Marco Stubbe
• Album cover art: Madeleine Hoogkamer (artwork) and Ferry Damen (design and layout)
• Personnel: F (vocals and guitars), J (guitars), M (drums), and S (bass) 
• Guest musician: Twan van Geel (vocals on "Inanimatus Absqui Anima")
• Musical style: Death metal 
• Sound: With an uncompromising approach, Antropomorphia sounds as intense and aggressive as their early works from the 3 decades ago!  Along with their European death metal attack, they blend elements of black metal and doom with a healthy dose of sexual perversion and occultism!
• Major themes: Death, gore, perversion, ritual, the occult, necrophilia, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Temphioth Workings"
2. "Carved To Pieces"
3. "Inanimatus Absqui Anima"
4. "Crowned In Smoldering Ash"
   
5. "Nekrovaginal Secretions"
6. "Gospel Ov Perversion"
7. "Morbid Rites"
8. "Tevfelskvnst"
9. "Open Casket" (Death cover)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Chappell Brewing (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://chappell.beer/
• Brew: Miso Sour After Soaking Tart Ale
• Style: Sour Beer
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 7.0%
• Ingredients: White miso, umami, ginger, yuzu, and mineral salt
• Pour: The Miso Sour After Soaking pours a frothy, bright white, 1+ finger head that slowly dissipates quickly, leaving a thin ring with sticky, sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is tart, citrusy, slightly salty, slightly sweet, and slightly spicy.  There are aromas of freshly cut yuzu, lemon juice and zest, light miso, and a splash of wild honey.
• Taste: The taste follows the nose with lots of tart and fruity flavors along with more subtle savory, salty, and spicy flavors.  There are notes of lemon juice and zest, fresh yuzu, fresh ginger, hints of miso, a sprinkle of sea salt, and light honey.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium-bodied and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Miso Sour After Soaking is crisp and tart, yet very smooth with a dry, slightly sweet finish.

Overall pairing: Those unique fruity, tart, and very crushable flavors of Chappell Brewing's Miso Sour After Soaking are a great companion and foil to the death metal assault of the infernal Antropomorphia!  The bright juiciness is a nice foil to the band's aggression and the brutal vocals, while the tarter flavors go great with the crunch of the fiery guitars, the thunderous and intricate bass lines, and the hard-hitting, machine gun fire drumming!  'Nuff said!

Hails and prosit!!

December 11th, 2025 - A Mystical Misfit Trapped in the Halls of Silence

 

Good evening and happy Thursday metal maniacs, evil-doers, and craft beer freaks!  The Meista here starting the weekend off right with a pairing of "In The Halls Of Silence", the latest, wonderfully kick-ass album by the indelible Absolon and a hoppy, juicy, and citrusy Mystical Misfit Hazy IPA from Mother Earth Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Absolon
• Title: "In The Halls Of Silence" 
• Recorded: 2024 at Everywhere Studios
• Release date: October 31st, 2025 (4th full-length studio album by Absolon)
• Record company: No Life 'til Metal Records / Roxx Records
• Production: Bill Bafford and Ken Pike 
• Album cover art: 
• Personnel: Marc Muchnik (keyboards), Wayne Noon (drums), Ken Pike (lead vocals), and Alex Repetti (guitars, bass, and backing vocals)
• Musical style: Heavy metal, progressive metal, symphonic power metal
• Sound: Led by visionary Ken Pike (vocals, songwriting, production), Absolon blends traditional heavy metal with more progressive elements. If you are a fan of bands like Dio, Fates Warning, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Queensrÿche, etc., then you will totally dig this album! Ken is joined by three incredibly talented musicians: guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, and sound engineer Alex Repetti, (Infinite Spectrum, Severed Angel, and Tension Rising) and monster drummer Wayne Noon (Project Resurrect and Severed Angel). The sound on "In The Halls Of Silence" is thoughtful, dynamic, and complex, yet totally rocking!  It is characterized by soaring and fiery guitars, thunderous and powerful drumming, and Pike's amazing vocal acrobatics!  Every track really packs a punch!
• Major themes: Darkness, the paranormal, good vs. evil, death, the passage of time, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Stand In The Spotlight"
2. "Kill The Lights"
3. "In The Halls Of Silence"
4. "Light The Flame"
5. "House On The Hill"
6. "Til Death Do Us Part"
7. "No Goodbyes"
8. "Turn Back Time"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Mother Earth Brew Company (Vista, California)
• Website: http://motherearthbrewco.com/
• Brew: Mystical Misfit Hazy IPA
• Style: New England India Pale Ale (NEIPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 7.2%
• IBUs: 25
• Ingredients: Pale 2-Row, Wheat malt, and oats with Galaxy, Nelson Sauvin, and Vic Secret hops
• Pour: The Mystical Misfit Hazy IPA pours a very hazy, bright golden yellow hue with a half-finger, bright white head with good retention and soapy lacing.
• Nose: Fruit forward, the nose is citrusy, tropical, floral, herbal, dank, and malty.  It is chalk full of notes of orange juice and zest, grapefruit rind, nectarine, stone fruit (peach and apricot), lime, pineapple, fresh mango, cannabis, wet pine needles, soft caramel malt, and a hint of booze.
• Taste: The taste of the Mystical Misfit Hazy IPA follows the nose with tropical fruit and citrus, and lighter floral and dank hops, and sweet malt flavors.  There are big notes of orange juice and zest, nectarine, mango, passionfruit, grapefruit juice, tangerine, dried apricot, a hint of strawberry, light pine, resin, and a hint of booze with a strong, malty backbone with mild bitterness.
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Mystical Misfit Hazy IPA is crisp and juicy, yet soft, pillowy, and creamy with smooth, slightly bittersweet finish.

Overall pairing: The Mystical Misfit Hazy IPA from Mother Earth Brewing Company is a great brew to accompany the amazing metal onslaught that is Absolon's "In The Halls Of Silence"!  Those bright, tropical flavors go great with the soaring vocals, guitar solos, and ethereal keys, while the hoppier notes go great with the darker elements and the malty backbone is right in line with the powerful rhythm section!  'Nuff said! 

Make sure to check out my interview with Absolon from last year here: https://youtu.be/9C7H4vBxjbs 

Cheers and hails!!

December 7th, 2025 - Following the Blind... into Hell!

 

Guten morgen and happy Sunday!  In celebration and anticipation of tonight's Blind Guardian show, I am pairing another Blind Guardian classic, the fantastic "Following The Blind" and a Weltenburger Kloster Hell from Klosterbrauerei Weltenburg GmbH!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Blind Guardian
• Title: "Following The Blind"
• Recorded: January through February 1989 at Karo Studios in Munster, West Germany
• Release date: April 14th, 1989 (2nd studio album by Blind Guardian)
• Record company: No Remorse Records
• Production: Kalle Trapp and Charly Rinne 
• Album cover art: Detlev van Ravenswaay
• Personnel: Hansi Kürsch (bass and lead vocals and bass), André Olbrich (lead, rhythm, and acoustic guitars, and backing vocals), Marcus Siepen (rhythm and acoustic guitars, and backing vocals), and Thomas "Thomen" Stauch (drums)
• Additional and guest musicians: Thomas Hackmann (backing vocals), Kai Hansen (vocals on "Valhalla" and lead guitar on "Hall Of The King" and "Valhalla"), Rolf Köhler (backing vocals and lead vocals on ""Barbara Ann" / "Long Tall Sally""), Aman Malek (backing vocals), Kalle Trapp (backing vocals and lead guitar on "Barbara Ann" / "Long Tall Sally"), and Mathias Wiesner (keyboards)
• Musical style: Speed metal, thrash metal, power metal, progressive metal
• Sound: "Following The Blind" is powerful and fast-paced musical journey.  Combining the aggression of speed metal with the complexity of progressive metal, and the punch of power metal, Blind Guardian creates a wonderfully rich tapestry!
• Major themes: Folklore, mythology, life and death, valor, dreams, quests, wizardry, power, war, magic, good vs. evil, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Inquisition"
2. "Banish From Sanctuary"
3. "Damned For All Time"
4. "Follow The Blind"
5. "Hall Of The King"
6. "Fast To Madness"
7. "Beyond The Ice"
8. "Valhalla"
9. "Barbara Ann" (The Regents cover) / "Long Tall Sally" (Little Richard cover)"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Klosterbrauerei Weltenburg GmbH ( Weltenburg / Regensburg, Germany)
• Website: https://www.weltenburger.de/
• Brew:  Weltenburger Kloster Hell
• Style: German Helles / German Lager
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 4.9%
• IBUs: 20
• Ingredients: Light barley malt and Hercules and Pearl hops
• Pour: The  Weltenburger Kloster Hell pours a clear golden-yellow hue with a billowy and frothy, 2+ finger, eggshell white, firm head with great retention and lots of sticky, soapy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is filled with lots of bready malts, hints of fruit ester, and light, grassy hops.  There are aromas of crackery biscuit, summer grass, freshly cut hay, light apple, and a touch of honey. 
• Taste: The flavor of the Weltenburger Kloster Hell follows the nose with light bready and malty, hoppy, and fruity flavors.  There are notes of crackery biscuit, wheat bread, barley, a splash of apple, light honey, and a hint of white pepper in the finish.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium in body and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel is crisp, smooth, and refreshing with a dry, clean finish.

Overall pairing: The  Weltenburger Kloster Hell is a brew made in that classic German style... perfect for the classic power metal/speed metal brilliance of German metallers Blind Guardian!  Those crisp and bready notes got great with heavy duty rhythm section while the sweeter elements go great with the soaring guitars and Hansi's amazing vocals!  'Nuff said!

Prost!!  Hails!!

December 6th, 2025 - A Grand Night at the Bavarian Opera

 

Guten morgen!  In anticipation of tomorrow night's Blind Guardian show in Salt Lake, your drinking pal the Meista here bringing you "A Night At The Opera", the bold and adventurous 7th album by German metal legends Blind Guardian and a delicious and spicy Grand Bavaria Bavarian Style Hefeweizen from Red Rock Brewery!  Holle ja!

Album Info:

• Artist: Blind Guardian
• Title: "A Night At The Opera"
• Recorded:  at Karo Studios in Germany
• Release date: February 21st, 2002 (7th studio album by Blind Guardian)
• Record company: Virgin Records / Century Media
• Production: Charlie Bauerfeind
• Album cover art: Paul Raymond Gregory
• Personnel: Hansi Kürsch (lead and backing vocals), André Olbrich (lead, rhythm, and acoustic guitars, and backing vocals), Marcus Siepen (rhythm guitars), and Thomas "Thomen" Stauch (drums and percussion)
• Additional musicians: Pad Bender (keyboards and sound effects), Thomas Hackmann (choir vocals), Oliver Holzwarth (bass), Billy King (choir vocals), Rolf Köhler (choir vocals), Sascha Pierro (keyboards and sound effects), Boris Schmidt (keyboards and sound effects), Michael Schüren (piano on "Age Of False Innocence"), Olaf Senkbeil (choir vocals), and Mathias Wiesner (keyboards and orchestration)
• Musical style: Power metal, progressive metal with elements of speed metal
• Sound: Taking a bit of a different direction from previous releases, "A Night At The Opera" is powerful and fast-paced musical delivery.  Blending overlaid vocals, choirs, orchestral keys, and soaring guitar leads with the complexity of progressive metal, and the punch of power metal, Blind Guardian creates a wonderfully rich tapestry!
• Major themes: Folklore, mythology, life and death, valor, dreams, quests, wizardry, power, war, magic, good vs. evil, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Precious Jerusalem"
2. "Battlefield"
3. "Under The Ice"
4. "Sadly Sings Destiny"
5. "The Maiden And The Minstrel Knight"
6. "Wait For An Answer"
7. "The Soulforged"
8. "Age Of False Innocence"
9. "Punishment Divine"
10. "And Then There Was Silence"
11. "Mies Del Dolor"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Red Rock Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://redrockbrewing.com/
• Brew: Grand Bavaria Bavarian Style Hefeweizen
• Style: German Hefeweizen / Bavarian Weissbier
• Serving: ounce bottle
• ABV: 5%
• Ingredients: German malted wheat, German yeast strain, and premium two row barley
• Pour: It pours a hazy, rather pale golden-yellow with a medium sized, creamy white head that dissipates quickly and displays only trace lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by aromas of hearty wheat, soft vanilla, banana esters, and citrus (orange and lemon). 
• Taste: A classic Hefeweizen flavor in the German tradition, the Grand Bavaria is full of clove, banana, citrus, bready dough, and apple/pear rind flavor.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium-bodied with good carbonation, the mouthfeel is smooth, creamy, and somewhat spicy with a slightly dry finish.

Overall pairing:  The spicy, fruity, and refreshing flavor of the Grand Bavaria from Red Rock Brewing Company is an excellent beer to throw back with the mighty, rockin' progressive prowess of the indelible Blind Guardian! Those spicy notes go great with the fiery guitar solos while smooth drinkability goes great with all the wonderful melodies!

Prost!!  Hails!!

December 5th, 2025 - A Christmas Bombenhagel!

 

Guten abend evil-doers, metal maniacs and craft beer lovers! Tis the season, so your pal the Meista here tonight pairing a bold and delicious Christmas Bomb Imperial Stout Brewed with Spices from Prairie Artisan Ales and "Bombenhagel", the latest EP from the mighty Sodom!  Hell yeah!

Album Info: 

• Artist: Sodom
• Title: "Bombenhagel"
• Recorded: March 2021 at Staudio-Studios in Altenessen, Germany
• Release date: August 20th, 2021 (10th studio EP by Sodom)
• Record company: Steamhammer
• Production: Sodom
• Album cover art: Raphael Gabrio
• Personnel: Tom Angelripper (bass and vocals), Frank Blackfire (guitars), Toni Merkel (drums), and York (guitars)
• Additional musician: Harris Johns (guitars on "Bombenhagel")
• Musical style: Thrash metal
• Sound: This is classic Sodom... fast, fiery, aggressive as hell, and just as angry!  Sodom is a juggernaut... Angelripper's vocals are gripping and wonderfully harsh!  The guitar work of Blackfire and York is fiery, crushing, and furious!  And Merkel's machine gun drumming coupled with Angelripper's thunderous bass is the embodiment of thrash metal perfection!!
• Major themes: War, death, violence, anti-fascism, history, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Bombenhagel"
2. "Coup de Grace"
3. "Pestiferous Posse"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Prairie Artisan Ales (Oklahoma)
• Website: https://prairieales.com/
• Brew: Christmas Bomb Imperial Stout Brewed with Spices 
• Style: Imperial Stout
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 13%
• Ingredients: Imperial stout made with cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg
• Pour: The Christmas Bomb pours an opaque, deep, dark brown (almost ink black) with a creamy, light mocha, half-finger head that slowly dissipates to a thin ring with virtually no lacing.
• Nose: The nose is very spicy, chocolaty, and earthy.  There are big aromas of gingerbread, cinnamon, nutmeg, anise, along with more subtle notes of dark chocolate, cocoa, toffee, tobacco, and rich booze.
• Taste: The taste of the Christmas Bomb is characterized by spicy, earthy, and rich flavors.  There are notes of spicy gingerbread, cinnamon, nutmeg, black licorice, vanilla bean, cream, dark chocolate, sweet toffee, and a boozy finish of rum or bourbon.
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with low carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Christmas Bomb is thick, chewy, and velvety smooth with a dry, spicy and somewhat boozy finish.

Overall pairing: The Christmas Bomb Imperial Stout Brewed with Spices from Prairie Artisan Ales is a bold, rich, boozy, very complex, yet inviting brew... perfect for the aggression and power of the mighty Sodom!  The flavors and aromas of this tasty brew blend wonderfully well with Angelripper's aggressive vocal prowess, as well as the explosive guitars and thunderous intensity and depth of the bass and drums!

And make sure to check out my interview with Andy Brings of Sodom fame here: https://youtu.be/QzmN0eWnIqU

PROST!!  HAILS!!

November 30th, 2025 - Did You See the Size of That Bat?! You'd Better Spend the Night Indoors From Dusk till Dawn

 

Hello and happy Sunday craft beer freaks and my metal brethren!  The Meista here today with another killer pairing for ya... I'm pairing "From Dusk Till Dawn" by English metal band Trappazat and a bold and chocolaty Night Indoors Imperial Stout from the fine folks at Helper Beer!  Hells yeah!

Album Info: 

• Artist: Trappazat 
• Title: "From Dusk Till Dawn"
• Recorded:1990 at Sine Wave in Birmingham, UK  
• Release date: March 19th, 2012 (1st full-length studio album by Trappazat)
• Record company: High Roller Records 
• Production: Paul Briton
• Album cover art: Markus Vesper 
• Personnel: Paul Britton (lead vocals), Andrew Deans (guitars), Max McKee (bass), Brian Meacham (lead guitar), and Shane Spencer (drums)
• Musical style: Heavy metal
• Sound: With a nod to early Iron Maiden and English punk rock, the sound on "From Dusk Till Dawn" is s pure sonic attack!  Wonderfully written and executed, the tracks here will get your fists pumping and your head banging!
• Major themes: Life, death, evil, horror, darkness, rebellion, violence, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "From Dusk Till Dawn"
2. "1 Am D.O.A."
3. "Can't Stand The Heat"
4. "Breakout"
5. "Soldiers"
6. "Possessed"
7. "First Born"
8. "Prisoners"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Helper Beer (Helper, Utah)
• Website: https://www.helperbeer.com/
• Brew: Night Indoors Imperial Stout
• Style: Imperial Stout
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 12.0% 
• Pour: The Night Indoors pours a deep, dark brown (almost ink black) with a thick and creamy, 2+ finger, mocha head with great retention and lots of sticky, intricate spider web lacing.
• Nose: The nose is rich, chocolatey, malty, and earthy.  There are aromas of baker's dark chocolate, cocoa, milk chocolate, loam, espresso beans, light pipe tobacco, oak, and burnt toffee. 
• Taste: Following the nose, the taste of the Night Indoors is bold, rich, earthy, and chocolatey.  There are notes of dark chocolate, dark roasted coffee, dark roasted malts, rye bread, light toffee, and rich bourbon. 
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with low carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Night Indoors is thick, velvety smooth, and boozy with a dry, slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: Helper's Night Indoors Imperial Stout bold and intricate flavors and aromas go so great with the heavy rockin' punch of "From Dusk Till Dawn"!  These two ass-kickers were made for one another!  The fiery and soaring guitar work of Deans and Meacham shines even brighter with the sweeter notes of the brew, while that dark, bitter punch is right in line with the darker lyrics and powerful vocals of Britton, and the rich and hearty malt backbone is great for the thunderous drumming and bass grooves of McKee and Spencer! I highly recommend this fantastic album and this tasty brew!  'Nuff said!

Make sure to check out my interview with Paul Britton from earlier this year here:  https://youtu.be/1f0FusUwrOA

Cheers and hails!!