January 4th, 2026 - Friends of Helles

 

Hello and happy Sunday rockers, rollers, metalheads, evil-doers, and artisan beer freaks!  The Meista here today with a pairing of "Friends Of Hell", the sophomore album by NWOBHM band Witchfinder General and a crisp, crushable, and delicious Munich Style Helles from T.F. Brewing Company!  Hells yeah!

Album Info: 

• Artist: Witchfinder General
• Title: "Friends Of Hell"
• Recorded: 1983 at Horizon Studios in Coventry, UK
• Release date: 1983 (2nd full-length studio album by Witchfinder General)
• Record company: Heavy Metal Records / High Roller Records 
• Production: Robin George
• Album cover art: David Bonham (photography), Brett Prestige (photography), and Garry Underhill (artwork and layout)
• Personnel: Phil Cope (guitars), Graham Ditchfield (drums), Rod Hawks (bass), and Zeeb Parkes (vocals)
• Musical style: New Wave of British Heavy Metal, traditional metal, hard rock
• Sound: 1983's "Friends Of Hell" is a fun, flavorful album with a bit of wickedness and whim.  Witchfinder General hails from England and the NWOBHM movement with a sound similar to Diamond Head, Satan, and Tygers of Pan Tang.  With such songs as "Love On Smack, " "Shadowed Images," and "Friends of Hell," Witchfinder General combines Black Sabbath-esque, doom with a bit of tongue-in-cheek misogyny and "cheeky," 1960s, English horror, as their name denotes.  If you are not familiar with late '70s and early '80s NWOBHM, this is definitely a band you should check out!
• Major themes: Love lust, sex, music, evil, rebellion, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Love On Smack"
2. "Last Chance"
3. "Music"
4. "Friends From Hell"
5. "Requiem Of Youth"
   
6. "Shadowed Images"
7. "I Lost You"
8. "Quietus Reprise"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: T.F. Brewing (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: www.tfbrewing.com
• Brew: Munich Style Helles
• Style: German Lager / German Helles
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0% 
• IBUs: 17
• Pour: The Munich Style Helles pours a clear golden-yellow with a billowy, bright white, 2+ finger head with great sustain and lots of sticky, layered lacing.
• Nose: The nose is grainy, bready, toasty, and slightly sweet.  There are aromas of toasted bread, cereal, summer grass, bready malt, and a touch of caramel.
• Taste: The taste of the Munich Style Helles follows the nose with lots of grainy, bready, and grassy flavors.  There are notes of crackery biscuit, toasted bread, a hint of toffee, and light grassy and floral hops.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium in body and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Munich Style Helles is very crisp, yet smooth, and with a clean, dry finish.

Overall pairing: The T.F. Munich Style Helles is a crisp, refreshing, and very crushable beer... a perfect brew (or three) to throw back whilst blasting the very rockin' "Friends Of Hell" from the mighty Witchfinder General!  Those light, but flavorful malt notes make for a great foil to the darker lyrical subject matter and the intense guitar work while the easy-drinking nature of the beer goes well with the joyous nature of the music!

CHEERS... HAILS!!

January 3rd, 2026 - Game, Blouses... Before Pancakes in the Purple Rain

 

Hello and happy Saturday rockers, rollers, and craft beer fans!  Your drinkin' buddy the Meista here today pairing my stepson's copy of "Purple Rain", the fantastic and defining early '80s album from the indelible and wildly talented Prince and the Revolution and a Brewers Select: Game Blouses Hazy IPA from Roha Brewing Project!  This pairing is dedicated to my friends William and Jason and to my stepson, Griffin!  Cheers boys!  

Album Info:

• Artist: Prince and the Revolution
• Title: "Purple Rain"
• Recorded: May 1983 through March 1984 at Kiowa Trail Home Studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota and The Warehouse in St. Louis Park, Minnesota
• Release date: June 25th, 1984 (6th studio album by Prince and 2nd studio album with the Revolution)
• Record company: Warner Bros.
• Production: Prince and the Revolution
• Album cover art: Doug Henders (painting), Laura LiPuma (design), Prince (art direction), Ron Slenzak (photography), and Ed Thrasher and Associates (photography)
• Personnel: Prince (electric and acoustic guitars, bass, Yamaha CP-80, synthesizers,  Oberheim OB-SX, Yamaha DX7, programming, Linn LM-1,  LinnDrum, Simmons SDS-V, drums, electronic drums, percussion, tambourine, lead and backing vocals, and spoken word) with Brownmark (bass and backing vocals), Lisa Coleman (synthesizers, lead and backing vocals, and spoken word), Doctor Fink (Yamaha CP-70, synthesizers, Memorymoog, Linn LM-1, and backing vocals), Wendy Melvoin (electric guitars, lead and backing vocals, and spoken word), and Bobby Z. (Linn LM-1, Simmons SDS-V, drums, percussion, and backing vocals)
• Additional musicians: Apollonia (backing vocals), David Coleman (cello and finger cymbals), Jill Jones (backing vocals), Suzie Katayama (cello), and Novi Novog (violin and electric violin)
• Musical style: Rock, pop, R&B, funk rock, with a touch of psychedelia 
• Sound: An enormous commercial success, "Purple Rain" is a profoundly culturally historical pop delivery!  The sound on each track is energetic, soulful, grandiose, and wonderfully produced and executed!  What I always found impressive and amazing about this album is that although it is a hugely produced '80s album with loads of synthesizers, programming, and electric drums, it is still a boldly emotive, soulful, and cohesive sonic journey with a rock and roll approach.
• Major themes: Life, love, sex, desire, loss, heartbreak, music, partying, etc.
• Tracks:

1. "Let's Go Crazy"
2. "The Beautiful Ones"
3. "Computer Blue"
4. "Darling Nikki"
5. "When Doves Cry"
6. "I Would Die 4 U"
7. "Baby I'm A Star"
8. "Purple Rain"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Roha Brewing Project (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://rohabrewing.com/
• Brew: Brewers Select: Game, Blouses Hazy IPA
• Style: Hazy India Pale Ale (IPA) / New England Style IPA
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 7.0%
• Ingredients: Citra and Mosaic hops
• Pour: The Game, Blouses Hazy IPA pours a hazy, golden-yellow hue with a bright white, half-finger head that dissipates to the thin ring, displaying light, sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is fruity (tropical and citrusy), malty, and sweet.  There are aromas of freshly squeezed orange juice, freshly sliced melon (cantaloupe and honeydew), mango, light pineapple, tangerine, light grapefruit rind, berries, toasted malts, and soft caramel/toffee.
• Taste: Following the nose, the taste of the Game, Blouses Hazy IPA is a well-balanced blend of fruity, citrusy, and malty flavors.  There are notes of tart orange juice, fresh cantaloupe, honeydew, mango, light pineapple juice, orange herbal tea, lemon zest, toasted malts, and soft caramel/toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel is very crisp, juicy, and smooth with a dry, clean finish with low bitterness. 

Overall pairing: Grab a couple Roha Game, Blouses Hazy IPAs, drop the needle on the "Purple Rain" vinyl, and prepare for the perfect afternoon/evening to get your weekend started right!!  'Nuff said!

Cheers!! 

January 2nd, 2026 - Worlds Colliding in Fresh Water

 

Hey there headbangers and craft beer freaks... and happy Friday to you!  The Meista here today with another pairing for you... the "Worlds Collide Tour Live In Amsterdam" album by the masterful Dutch symphonic metal band Within Temptation and juicy, fruity, and slightly tart Agua Fresca Pineapple from By All Means Brewing!  Hell yeah! 

Album Info:

• Artist: Within Temptation
• Title: "Worlds Collide Tour Live In Amsterdam"
• Recorded: November 30th, 2022 at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam, The Netherlands
• Release date: June 21st, 2024 (6th live album released by Within Temptation)
• Record company: Force Music Recordings
• Production: Within Temptation
• Album cover art: Frank Burghout
• Personnel: Mike Coolen (drums), Sharon den Adel (lead vocals), Stefan Helleblad (guitars and backing vocals), Ruud Jolie (guitars), Martijn Spierenburg (keyboards), Jeroen van Veen (bass guitar), and Robert Westerholt (guitars)
• Guest musician: Amy Lee (co-lead vocals on "The Reckoning")
• Musical style: Symphonic metal, gothic metal with pop, electronic, and industrial influence
• Sound: Up-tempo, but with complex and dark symphonic and gothic elements, the sound on "" is a mix of classic Within Temptation with more modern elements.  
• Major themes: Emotive, honest, and socio-politically charged, themes on the album include the dangers and advantages of modern technology, the loss of individuality, rebellion, revolution, protest, loss, hope, forgiveness, inner strength, freedom, courage, etc.  
• Tracks:

1. "Our Solemn Hour"
2. "Faster"
3. "Paradise (What About Us?)"
4. "Stand My Ground"
5. "Angels"
6. "Iron"
7. "Raise Your Banner"
8. "Entertain You"
9. "The Reckoning"
10. "Supernova"
11. "Don't Pray For Me"
12. "All I Need"
13. "Ice Queen"
14. "Mother Earth"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: By All Means Brewing (Billings, Montana)
• Website: https://byallmeansbeer.com/
• Brew: Agua Fresca Pineapple
• Style: Fruited Beer / Sour Beer
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 4.2%
• Pour: The Agua Fresca Pineapple pours a hazy, pale-yellow hue with a 1-finger, bright white, bubbly head that slowly dissipates to a very thin ring with sticky, layered lacing.
• Nose: The nose is very fruity, slightly tart, floral, and grainy.  There are aromas of freshly cut pineapple, pineapple juice, lime zest and juice, light pale grains, a hint of wildflowers, and a splash of honey.
• Taste: The taste of the Agua Fresca Pineapple follows the nose with lots of bright, fruity, and tart flavors.  There are big notes of pineapple juice, along with more subtle notes of lime juice, lemon zest, pale grains, and a hint of honey.
• Mouthfeel: Light-bodied and well carbonated, the mouthfeel is very crisp, refreshing, and slightly tart with a dry, clean finish.

Overall pairing: The Agua Fresca Pineapple from By All Means Brewing is a very bright, very flavorful, fruity, and crushable brew that is a perfect companion to the brilliance that is Within Temptation's "Worlds Collide Tour Live In Amsterdam"!  And I like the look of the can design with the album artwork!  'Nuff said!

Cheers and hails!!

Make sure to check out my interview with Within Temptation guitarist Ruud Jolie here: https://youtu.be/qbD4PE3vvs4

January 2nd, 2026 - From the Pacific Northwest to The Regent Theatre in New England

 

Hello and happy Friday craft beer freaks and rockers and rollers!  The Meista here with another killer pairing for ya... I'm pairing New England's stellar "Live At The Regent Theatre" and a bold and punchy Pacific Northwest IPA from Rogue Ales!  Hell yeah!

  
Album Info: 

• Artist: New England
• Title: "Live At The Regent Theatre"
• Recorded: 2016 live at the Regent Theatre in Arlington, Massachusetts
• Release date: 2016 (2nd live album by New England)
• Record company: GBMusic
• Production: New England
• Album cover art: ?
• Personnel: John Fannon (guitar, harmonica, piano, and lead vocals), Hirsch Gardner (drums and backing vocals), Gary Shea (bass guitar, ukelele, and backing vocals), and Jimmy Waldo (keyboards, rhythm guitar, and backing vocals)
• Musical style: Hard rock, pop rock, AOR with elements of progressive rock 
• Sound: Upbeat, straightforward rockin' goodness, the live performances on this album are not only a testament to the talent, musicianship, and staying power of New England, but to the individual artists as well! This is an excellent recording of what must have been an amazing live experience... truly fantastic!
• Major themes: Life, love, relationships, desire, loss, hope, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Seal It With A Kiss"
2. "L5"
3. "Hello Hello Hello"
4. "Alone Tonight / Shoot"
5. "Holdin' Out On Me"
6. "Conversation"
7. "Shall I Run Away"
8. "Turn Out The Light"
9. "Honey Money"
10. "Explorer Suite"
11. "Hope"
12. "Nothing To Fear"
13. "Don't Ever Wanna Lose Ya"
14. "You'll Be Born Again"
    
15. "I Know There's Something Here" (bonus track)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Rogue Ales
• Website: http://www.rogue.com/
• Brew: Pacific Northwest IPA
• Style: West Coast Style India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 6.9%
• IBUs: 66 
• Ingredients: Chinook, Simcoe, Strata, and 102 Hop Lines Experimental hops, and Pacman Yeast 
• Pour: The Pacific Northwest IPA pours a clear, golden amber hue with a frothy, 2+ finger, eggshell white head with great sustain and lot of layered and intricate soapy lacing throughout.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by lots of dank, piney, and citrusy aromas along with bold malty notes.  There are big resinous pine notes, orange peel, tangerine, grapefruit rind, herbal tea, toasted barley, and hints of soft caramel.
• Taste: The taste of the Pacific Northwest IPA follows the nose with lots of citrusy, herbal, and earthy flavors along with lighter sweet malts.  There are notes of grapefruit juice, orange pith, tangerine, black tea, barley, biscuit, and soft caramel/toffee in the finish.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied with moderate carbonation, the Pacific Northwest IPA is crisp, smooth, yet hearty and bold with a slightly bitter and dry finish.
• Notes: Sadly, Rogue Ales has shut down due to financial issues.  If you find some Pacific Northwest IPAs, I suggest you grab them while you still are able.

Overall pairing: Rogue's Pacific Northwest IPA's bold and intricate flavors and aromas go great with the power, melody, and intensity of "Live At The Regent Theatre"!  The soaring guitar work and vocals of Fannon and Waldo's intricate keys shine even brighter with the sweeter, citrusy notes of the brew, while that bitterness is right in line with the rock and roll punch, and the sweet and hearty malt backbone is great for Gardner's thunderous drumming and Shea's excellent bass work!

And make sure to check out my interview with the delightfully friendly and incredibly talented Gary Shear, bassist of New England here: https://youtu.be/tR2K0ZEN33Q

Cheers!!  Rock on!!

January 1st, 2026 - Chop it, Slice it, and Dice it Up!

 

Hails and happy New Year artisan beer drinkers and evil-doers!  The Meista here today rocking the hell out to a pairing of Blood Feast's more recent EP "Chopped, Sliced And Diced" and a Chop It Up Pale Ale from Talisman Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Blood Feast
• Title: "Chopped, Sliced And Diced"
• Recorded: 2018 at Cornholio Sound Works in Virginia Beach, Virginia
• Release date: December 21st, 2018 (2nd studio EP by Blood Feast)
• Record company: Hells Headbangers Records
• Production: Adam Tranquilli and CJ Scioscia
• Album cover art: Drew Elliot
• Personnel: Adam Kieffer (drums), Tom Lorenzo (bass), Chris Natalini (vocals), CJ Scioscia (guitars), and Adam Tranquilli (guitars) 
• Guest musician: Shawn Helsel (guitar solo on "Concubine")
• Musical style: Thrash metal with elements of death metal
• Sound: Wonderfully aggressive and raw, yet very tight, the band's sound on this EP is classic Blood Feast, but with modern production!  Of the EP, Tranquilli stated: "I felt early on that we should keep the pattern that was set back in the day – an album, followed by an EP with a brand-new track. However, unlike the Face Fate EP, this time, we went with re-recordings rather than remixes for the other tracks. These new studio versions of classic songs from the first two albums mark the recording debut of Adam Kieffer behind the kit and are ferocious beyond words. Plus, having a warts-and-all live track helps convey our live energy, while honoring our fans and friends in Osaka."
• Major themes: Sex, lust, violence, murder, horror, death, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Concubine"
2. "Hunted, Stalked And Slain"
3. "Darkside"
4. "Chopping Block Blues"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Talisman Brewing Company (Ogden, Utah)
• Website: https://www.talismanbrewingco.com/home
• Brew: Chop It Up Pale Ale 
• Style: American Pale Ale (APA)
• Serving: 32 ounce crowler can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Pour: The Chop It Up pours a somewhat hazy, golden-yellow color with a frothy, 2+ finger, off-white head with good sustain and sticky, layered lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, herbal, floral, and malty.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, tangerine peel, orange herbal tea, barley, fresh herbs, crackery biscuit. and a hint of burnt toffee.
• Taste: The taste of the Chop It Up follows the nose with herbal and sharp, citrusy flavors and more subtle malty and grainy flavors.  There are notes of grapefruit juice, orange pith, black tea, hearty barley, and white pepper. 
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full in body and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Chop It Up is very crisp and hoppy with a dry, bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The Talisman Chop It Up Pale Ale is a hoppy and punchy, yet very drinkable brew... great for the wonderfully entertaining and powerful metal onslaught that is the mighty Blood Feast!  The hoppy elements work great with fiery guitars of Scioscia and Tranquilli and Natalini's brutal vocals, while the malty backbone is great for thunderous rhythm section of Kieffer and Lorenzo!

Cheers!!  Hails!!

If you haven't done so already, check out my interview from 2022 with Tom Lorenzo, former bassist of Blood Feast!  Here's a link to that video interview: https://youtu.be/n_nPMziFdHE

December 31st, 2025 - Like the Grinch, Erebos Has All the Tender Sweetness of a Seasick Crocodile

 

Hello and happy New Year metal maniacs, and craft beer lovers!  The Meista here with one last 2025 holidays pairing for ya... "Erebos" by the indelible Venom Prison and a tart and spicy Seasick Crocodile from Prairie Artisan Ales!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Venom Prison
• Title: "Erebos"
• Recorded: 2021 at Grindstone Studios in Ipswich, United Kingdom 
  Release date: February 4th, 2022 (4th full-length studio album by Venom Prison)
• Record company: Century Media Records
• Production: Scott Atkins 
• Album cover art: Eliran Kantor 
• Personnel: Joe Bills (drums), Ash Gray (guitars), Mike Jefferies (bass), Larissa Stupar (vocals), and Ben Thomas (guitars)
• Musical style: Death metal, melodic death metal, metalcore
• Sound: Blending old school death metal with more modern melodic death and metalcore elements, the sound on "Erebos" is 
• Major themes: With lyrics exploring socio-political subject matter, themes on the album include misogyny, feminism, chaos, vengeance, violence, war, death, loss, sorrow, mythology, etc.
• Note: I think the album cover art is probably the most hauntingly compelling and disturbing pieces Mr. Kantor has produced.... absolute genius!
• Tracks:  

1. "Born From Chaos"
2. "Judges Of The Underworld"
3. "Nemesis"
4. "Comfort Of Complicity"
5. "Pain Of Oizys"
6. "Golden Apples Of the Hesperides"
7. "Castigated In Steel And Concrete"
8. "Gorgon Sisters"
9. "Veil Of Night"
10. "Technologies Of Death"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Prairie Artisan Ales (Oklahoma)
• Website: https://prairieales.com/
• Brew: Seasick Crocodile
• Style: Fruited Sour Ale
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 6.3%
• Ingredients: Sour ale brewed with cranberries, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg
• Pour: The Seasick Crocodile pours a very cloudy, muted deep ruby hue with a frothy, 1-finger bright pinkish white head that slowly dissipates to a thin ring with little lacing.
• Nose: The nose is tart, fruity, and spicy.  There are aromas of freshly sliced ginger, cranberry juice, lime and lemon juice and zest, nutmeg, cinnamon, and a hint of honey.
• Taste: The taste of the Seasick Crocodile follows the nose with fruity, spicy, and tart flavors.  There are notes of ginger beer, , and very subtle graininess.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium in body and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel is very effervescent, spicy, and crisp, as well as juicy and refreshing, yet smooth with a spicy and tart finish.

Overall pairing: The Prairie Seasick Crocodile is a bright, spicy, tart, and crushable brew that works well as a foil to the unbridled rage that is Venom Prison's excellent fourth album "Erebos"!  Those complex fruit flavors work well with the intricate guitar work, while those spicy notes go great with the blast beats, the overall aggression, and Stupar's stellar vocals!

Cheers and hails!!  Be safe out there!

December 30th, 2025 - A Flashback to When We Were Young and Free

 

For those of you that have been reading this blog for a while now, you can attest to the fact that I'm a sucker for the music of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) from the late 1970s and early 1980s.  As such, I'm rocking out today with the great "Young And Free (The Lost Album)" by the legendary Rock Goddess and a bold and tasty Flashback Double India Pale Ale from the fine folks at 2 Row Brewing!

Album Info:

• Artist: Rock Goddess
• Title: "Young And Free (The Lost Album)"
• Recorded: September through October 1985 at Music Works Studios in London, England
• Release date: 1987 (3rd full-length studio album by Rock Goddess)
• Record company: Just'In Distribution / Thunderbolt
• Production: Jo Julian and Paul Samson 
• Album cover art: Igor Mac Rams (photography and design) 
• Personnel: Dee O'Malley (bass and backing vocals), Jody Turner (guitars and lead vocals), and Julie Turner (drums and backing vocals)
• Additional musician: Jo Julian (keyboards and programming)
• Musical style: NWOBHM, heavy metal, hard rock, pop rock
• Sound: A little more commercial and poppy than previous works, with "Young And Free", Rock Goddess is still definitely pure adrenaline hard rock in the vein of acts like Girlschool, Joan Jett, KISS, and Samson.  Characterized by sexually charged and emotive lyrics, catchy hard-rockin' riffs, Jody's powerful vocals and soaring guitars, Julie's driving drum work, and O'Malley's thumpin' bass work, and wonderful harmonies, Rock Goddess' work is solid, 1980s rockin' goodness!  Songs like "Young And Free", "So Much Love", "Love Is A Bitch", and "Turn Me Loose" are monster rockers in their own right. 
• Major themes: Independence, youth, rebellion, freedom, sex, desire, life, loss, etc.
• Tracks:

1. "Young And Free"
2. "Hello"
3. "So Much Love"
4. "Jerry"
5. "Streets Of The City"
6. "The Party Never Ends"
7. "Love Has Passed Me By"
8. "Raiders"
9. "Love Is A Bitch"
10. "Boys Will Be Boys"
11. "Sexy Eyes"
12. "Rumour"
13. "Turn Me Loose"
14. "Hey Lover" (bonus track)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: 2 Row Brewing (Midvale, Utah)
• Website: http://2rowbrewing.com/
• Brew: Flashback Double India Pale Ale
• Style: Double India Pale Ale (DIPA) / Imperial IPA
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 8.0% 
• Pour: The Flashback pours a clear with frothy, 1-finger, eggshell white head with good retention and lots of soapy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, earthy, floral, and malty.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, , wildflowers, toasted barley, dank pine resin, and sweet caramel.
• Taste: The taste of the Flashback is characterized by bright citrusy and tropical flavors along with more subtle herbal notes and sweet maltiness.  There are notes of pink grapefruit juice, orange pith, pine, fresh herbs, barley, and soft caramel/toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Flashback is crisp and hearty, yet smooth and creamy with a slightly bitter, but fairly clean finish.

Overall pairing: The 2 Row Flashback DIPA is a bold and hoppy IPA with great flavors and aromas... perfect for an evening of rocking out with the mighty Rock Goddess and their killer "Young And Free" album!  'Nuff said!

Cheers and hails!

And make sure to check out my interview with sisters Jody and Julie Turner here: https://youtu.be/LJPCvrLJKMk and my interview with former bassist Tracey Lamb here: https://youtu.be/r83HrVKTq1w