February 21st, 2025 - By My Spicy Watermelon Girlfriend Slave

 

Hey there rockers, rollers, metalheads, and craft brew lovers!  Happy Friday!  The Meista here rocking out with "Be My Slave / Damnation Alley", the debut EP and debut album by Bitch and a Spicy Watermelon Girlfriend from Prairie Artisan Ales!  Hell yeah!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Bitch
• Title: "Be My Slave / Damnation Alley"
• Recorded: 1982 at Backroom Recorders in Sherman Oaks, California and Hit City West in Los Angeles, California; May through June 1983 at Track Record in Hollywood, California
• Release date: "Damnation Alley": December 1st, 1982 (1st EP release by Bitch) and "Be My Slave": July 1st, 1983 (1st full-length studio release by Bitch)
• Record company: Metal Blade Records
• Production: Brian Slagel and Phil Pecora
• Album cover art: 
• Personnel: Betsy Bitch (lead vocals), David Carruth (guitars and backing vocals), Robby Settles (drums), Mark Anthony Webb (bass), and Richard Zussman (bass on EP)
• Musical style: Heavy metal, hard rock
• Sound: Engineered by the legendary Bill Metoyer, this album is straight-forward, trashy, and a little thrashy!  The sound on "The Bitch Is Back" is pure rock and roll goodness!  This is the kinda album that will get your feet moving and your fists pumping!
• Major themes: Sex, desire, lust, sexual torture, rock and roll, rebellion, heavy metal lifestyle, rebellion, violence, power, etc.
• Tracks: 
  

1. "Right From The Start"
2. "Be My Slave"
3. "Leatherbound"
4. "Riding In Thunder"
5. "Save You From The World"
6. "Heavy Metal Breakdown"
7. "Gimme A Kiss"
8. "In Heat"
9. "Make It Real (Make It Rock)"
10. "World War III"
11. "Saturdays"
12. "Never Come Home"
13. "Damnation Alley"
14. "He's Gone"
    
15. "Live For The Whip"
16. "Let's Go"

 Brew Info:

• Brewery: Prairie Artisan Ales (Oklahoma)
• Website: https://prairieales.com/
• Brew: Spicy Watermelon Girlfriend
• Style: Sour Ale with Watermelon and Hot Pepper flavor
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Pour: The Spicy Watermelon Girlfriend pours a hazy, pinkish-peach color hue with a frothy, bubbly, bright light pink-white head that dissipates fairly quickly, leaving only trace lacing.
• Nose: The nose is fruity, spicy, and somewhat tart.  There are aromas of watermelon rind, freshly cut spicy peppers, lemon juice and zest, and berries.
• Taste: The taste of the Spicy Watermelon Girlfriend is juicy, fruity, tart, and very spicy.  There are notes of freshly cut watermelon, watermelon juice, watermelon rind, watermelon Jolly Ranchers, lemon, hot peppers, and very subtle maltiness.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium in body and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel is very crisp, tart, very spicy, and juicy, yet smooth with a dry, spicy, and rather sweet finish.

Overall pairing: The fun, fast-paced, hard rock sound of Bitch deserves a bright, spicy, and crushable brew... thus the delightfully spicy and unique Spicy Watermelon Girlfriend from the fine folks at Prairie Artisan Ales!  Those spicy notes go great with Betsy's sultry vocals and the lyrical content while the fruity tartness goes great with the rock and roll punch!  'Nuff said!

Rock on!!

February 20th, 2025 - The Bambule of I Robot

 

Guten tag and happy Thursday my rock and roll friends and beer lovers!  You pal the Meista here on this snowy day pairing the wonderful "I Robot" by the Alan Parsons Project and a crisp and tasty Bambule Pilsener from ÜberQuell! 

Album Info: 

• Artist: Alan Parsons Project
• Title: "I Robot"
• Recorded: December 1976 through March 1977 at Abbey Road in London, England
• Release date: July 8th, 1977 (2nd studio album by the Alan Parsons Project)
• Record company: Arista
• Production: Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson
• Album cover art: Hipgnosis
• Personnel: Alan Parsons (Projectron ,Synthi-A Sequencer Programming, vocoder, acoustic guitar, tape loops and effects, and backing vocals) with Ian Bairnson (electric and acoustic guitars, and backing vocals), Stu Calver (backing vocals), Allan Clarke (lead vocals on "Breakdown"), B.J. Cole (steel guitar), The English Chorale (chorus vocals), Jack Harris (lead vocals on "Day After Day (The Show Must Go On)"), John Leach (cimbalom and kantele), Duncan Mackay (keyboards), The New Philharmonia Chorus (chorus vocals), David Paton (bass, acoustic guitar, and backing vocals), John Perry (backing vocals), Andrew Powell (Hammond B-3 organ, and choir and orchestra arrangements and conducting), Tony Rivers (backing vocals), Peter Straker (lead vocals on "Some Other Time"), Stuart Tosh (drums, percussion, and water gongs), David Townsend (lead vocals on "Don't Let It Show"), Hilary Western (soprano vocals on "I Robot"), Jaki Whitren (lead vocals on "Some Other Time"), Eric Woolfson (clavinet, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer organ, piano, keyboards, and backing vocals), and Lenny Zakatek (lead vocals on "I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You")
• Musical style: Rock, pop, progressive rock, art rock, soft rock
• Sound: Richly textured, cohesive, 
• Major themes: A concept album based on the Isaac Asimov book of the same name, themes on the album include the future, self-awareness, autonomy, artificial intelligence, technology, robotics, the rise of machines, the fall of humanity, creation, destruction, etc.
• Tracks:  

1. "I Robot"
2. "I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You"
3. "Some Other Time"
4. "Breakdown"
5. "Don't Let It Show"
6. "The Voice"
7. "Nucleus"
8. "Day After Day (The Show Must Go On)"
   
9. "Total Eclipse"
10. "Genesis Ch. 1 V. 32"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: ÜberQuell (Hamburg, Germany)
• Website: https://ueberquell.com/en/brewery/our-beers/bambule-pils/
• Brew: Bambule Pilsener
• Style: German Pilsener
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• IBUs: 38
• Ingredients: Pilsner malt, barley, and Tettnanger and Polaris hops
• Pour: The Bambule pours a clear, straw-yellow hue with a frothy, half-finger, bright white head with good retention and lots of soapy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is bready, grainy, musty, and slightly sweet and fruity.  There are aromas of cracked wheat, pale grains, cereal grains, crackery biscuit, apple, light pear, grapeseed, lemon zest, and summer grass. 
• Taste: Following the nose, the taste of the Bambule is grainy, grassy, fruity, slightly tart, and semi-sweet.  There are notes of wheat bread, grapeseed, lemon zest, apple, light pear, and noble and grassy hops.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium in body with lots of bubbly carbonation, the mouthfeel is very crisp and smooth with a rather clean, slightly sweet finish.

Overall pairing: The crisp, grainy, and sweet, and very crushable flavors and aromas of the ÜberQuell Bambule Pils is the perfect companion to the mellow, yet captivating sound of the Alan Parsons Project "I Robot" for a leisure afternoon watching the snow fly!  'Nuff said!

Prost!! 

"I Robot... The story of the rise of the machine and the decline of man, which paradoxically coincided with his discovery of the wheel... and a warning that his brief dominance of this planet will probably end, because man tried to create robot in his own image."

February 16th, 2025 - "Rolling Like Thunder": An Interview with Guitarist & Vocalist Paul Britton of Scarab

 

Hey there rockers, rollers, and heavy metal maniacs!  It's your metal beer drinking friend the Meista here with another killer interview for you!  This one is with the very friendly and very talented Paul Britton, guitarist, vocalist and founding member of classic NWOBHM band Scarab!  We chatted about the history and legacy of Scarab, the release of their "Every Studio Track", "Rolling Like Thunder", and "The Brofest Tapes (One Drunken Weekend)" albums, Paul's other projects: Trappazat and The Battle of Britton, his rich history as a musician in general, and much more!  Here's a link to that video interview: https://youtu.be/1f0FusUwrOA

Enjoy!!

Learn more about Scarab here: 

• https://scarab.bandcamp.com/music
• https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100062984691269
• https://www.facebook.com/symboloflife.recordingstudio

Check out The Battle of Britton here: 

• https://www.facebook.com/RequiemOfWar

And check out Trappazat here:

• https://trappazat.bandcamp.com/album/from-dusk-till-dawn-2

*Special thanks to Jamie Winters for designing the Brews and Tunes logo, Jerry Howard for creating the Brews and Tunes intro video, and to DiseNgaged for the use of their song "The Real Me" (copyright 2020)

February 15th, 2025 - Put on Your Boogie Shoes & Get on the Boogie Bus 'Cause it's Saturday Night Sesame Street Disco Fever!

 

Hello and happy Saturday my friends!  The Meista here tonight with a double whammy and something a bit silly for ya... my wife's copies of "The Original Movie Sound Track Saturday Night Fever" and "Sesame Street Fever" from her childhood, and a delicious and hoppy Boogie Bus NE-Style Hazy India Pale Ale from the fine folks at Revision Brewing Company!

Albums Info:

• Artist: Various
• Title: "The Original Movie Sound Track Saturday Night Fever"
• Recorded: 1975 through 1977 at various studios
• Release date: November 15th, 1977
• Record company: RSO Records
• Production: Various
• Album cover art: ?, Bee Gees photo by Francesco Scavullo
• Personnel: Various (see track list)
• Musical style: Disco, pop, rock, soul
• Sound: Pure late '70s disco!
• Major themes: Disco culture, dancing, love, lust, life, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Stayin' Alive" (Bee Gees)
2. "How Deep Is Your Love" (Bee Gees)
3. "Night Fever" (Bee Gees)
4. "More Than A Woman" (Bee Gees)
5. "If I Can't Have You" (Yvonne Elliman)
6. "A Fifth Of Beethoven" (Walter Murphy)
7. "More Than A Woman" (Tavares)
8. "Manhattan Skyline" (David Shire)
9. "Calypso Breakdown" (Ralph MacDonald)
10. "Night On Disco Mountain" (David Shire)
11. "Open Sesame" (Kool & the Gang)
12. "Jive Talkin'" (Bee Gees)
13. "You Should Be Dancing" (Bee Gees)
14. "Boogie Shoes" (KC and the Sunshine Band)
15. "Salsation" (David Shire)
16. "K-Jee" (MFSB)
17. "Disco Inferno" (The Trammps)

• Artist: Various
• Title: "Sesame Street Fever"
• Recorded: May 1978 at CBS 30th Street in New York City and Mediasound in New York City
• Release date: August 1978
• Record company: Children's Television Workshop
• Production: Joe Raposo
• Album cover art: ? 
• Personnel: Herb Bushler (bass guitar), Jack Cavari (guitar), Richard Crooks (drums), George Devons (percussion), Paul Gershman (strings), Robbin Gibb (vocals), Jim Henson (vocals), David Horowitz (keyboards), Harold Kohon (strings), Jeff Layton (guitar), Jesse Levy (cello), Yvonne Lewis (vocals), Jimmy Maelen (conga), Joe Malin (strings), Lou Marini (single reed instruments), Ullanda McCullough (vocals), Kermit Moore (cello), Cliff Morris (guitar), Jerry Nelson (vocals), Gene Orloff (strings), Frank Oz (vocals), Matt Raimondi (strings), Alan Raph (trombone), Pat Rebillot (keyboards), Joe Shepley (trumpet), Maeretha Stewart (vocals), Gerald Tarack (strings), and Dave Tofani (baritone saxophone)
• Musical style: Disco, pop, children's music
• Sound: In a word, brilliant!
• Major themes: Dancing, disco, friendship, pigeons, rubber ducks, garbage, cookies, dogs, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Sesame Street Fever" (Robin Gibb, Bert, Count von Count, Big Bird, Ernie, and Cookie Monster)
2. "Doin' The Pigeon" (Bert and The Girls)
3. "Rubber Duckie" (Ernie)
4. "Trash" (Robin Gibb)
5. "C Is For Cookie" (Cookie Monster and The Girls)
6. "Has Anybody Seen My Dog?" (Marty and Grover)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Revision Brewing Company (Sparks, Nevada) 
• Website: https://revisionbrewing.com/
• Brew: Boogie Bus NE-Style Hazy India Pale Ale 
• Style: New England-style Hazy India Pale Ale (NEIPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 6.0%
• IBUs: 35
• Ingredients: Citra, Mosaic, and Nelson Sauvin hops
• Pour: The Boogie Bus pours a very hazy golden-yellow hue with a frothy, bright white, half-finger head with good retention and sudsy, sticky lacing.
• Nose: The nose is very tropical and citrusy with more subtle floral and malt elements.  There are aromas of tangerine, lemon zest, lime juice and peel, orange juice, grapefruit rind, bright mango, freshly cut melon, wildflowers, very light pine resin, and soft caramel/toffee.
• Taste: Hop-forward and very juicy, the taste of the Boogie Bus is citrusy, fruity, and slightly sweet.  There are notes of tangerine, orange juice, honeydew, cantaloupe, lime, mango, pineapple, guava, pine, and light honey.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is very crisp and very juicy, yet smooth and creamy with a dry, slightly sweet finish.

Overall pairing: The Boogie Bus from Revision Brewing is a punchy, yet very drinkable and refreshing, hoppy brew... great for a night of pulsating lights, butterfly collars, gold chains, platform shoes, tiny spoons, cookies, and puppets!  'Nuff said!

Cheers!!  Party on!!

February 14th, 2025 - A Pleasure to Kill this Pils!

 

Guten abend metal maniacs and beer lovers!  Your pal the Meista here today getting the weekend off to the right start with a pairing of a crisp and tasty Original Pils from Schlossbrauerei Rheder and "Pleasure To Kill", the fantastic sophomore album by the mighty Kreator!  Hells yeah!

Album Info: 

• Artist: Kreator
• Title: "Pleasure To Kill"
• Recorded: 1986 at Musiclab Studio in West Berlin, Germany
• Release date: April 1st, 1986 (2nd full-length studio album by Kreator)
• Record company: Noise Records
• Production: Harris Johns and Karl-U. Walterbach
• Album cover art: Phil Lawvere
• Personnel: Roberto Fioretti (bass), Mille Petrozza (vocals and guitars), and Jürgen "Ventor" Reil (drums and vocals)
• Musical style: Thrash metal
• Sound: This is classic Teutonic thrash metal... fast, fiery, aggressive as hell, and just as angry!  Kreator is an unstoppable juggernaut on this album... Mille's vocals are gripping and wonderfully harsh!  The guitar work of Mille is fiery, crushing, and furious!  And the Ventor's machine gun drumming coupled with Fioretti's thunderous bass is the embodiment of thrash metal perfection!!
• Major themes: War, death, violence, murder, history, pestilence, rot, etc.  Of the album's lyrics, Mille was apparently inspired by the film Faces of Death (1978).  He claims that every song on the album is concerning death and different ways to die.
• Tracks: 

1. "Choir Of The Damned"
2. "Ripping Corpse"
3. "Death Is Your Saviour"
4. "Pleasure To Kill"
   
5. "Riot Of Violence"
6. "The Pestilence"
7. "Carrion"
8. "Command Of The Blade"
9. "Under The Guillotine"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Schlossbrauerei Rheder (Brakel, Germany)
• Website: schlossbrauerei-rheder.de
• Brew: Original Pils 
• Style: German Pilsner  
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 4.7%
• Pour: The Original Pils pours a clear, bright golden yellow hue with a frothy, bright white, 2-finger head with good retention and sticky, intricate lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by crackery and slightly sweet malt, floral hops, light fruit, and spicy yeast.  There are aromas of toasted biscuit, light pear and apple, honey, and spicy and grassy hops.
• Taste: The taste is toasty, hoppy, and slightly sweet.  There are notes of crackery biscuit, noble and grassy hops, zesty yeast, light apple, and light caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Original Pils is crisp and zesty with a dry, clean finish.

Overall pairing: The spicy, hoppy, and toasty flavors of the Schlossbrauerei Rheder Original Pils works great with the brilliant "Pleasure To Kill"!  The slightly bitter hops go well with the fiery guitars, while the sweeter notes are a perfect foil for the aggressive vocals and violent lyrical themes!  I also think the can label looks pretty good next to the album art and the very cool splatter vinyl!

PROST!!  HAILS!!

February 12th, 2025 - After The Fall From Grace... We Climax and Ride into the Night!

 

Hey there headbangers and hop freaks!  Happy Wednesday!  Your rockin' drinkin' buddy the Meista here tonight rocking the hell out to a pairing of a tasty Climax Horchata Vanilla & Cinnamon Cream Ale from the fine folks at Chappell Brewing Company and Savage Grace's kickass sophomore album, "After The Fall From Grace / Ride Into The Night"!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Savage Grace
• Title: "After The Fall From Grace / Ride Into The Night"
• Recorded: 1986 at Wayne Cook Studios in Los Angeles, California and 1987 at West Hills Recording in Los Angeles, California
• Release date: "After The Fall From Grace": July 2nd, 1986 (2nd full-length studio album released by Savage Grace) and "Ride Into The Night": 1987 (2nd EP released by Savage Grace); compilation released February 18th, 2022
• Record company: Black Dragon Records / Hammerhead Records
• Production: Savage Grace
• Album cover art: Cory Brandon
• Personnel: Brian "Beast" East (bass), Chris Logue (lead guitars and vocals), Mark Marcum (drums), Mark "Chase" Marshall (lead guitars), and Derek Peace (bass)
• Musical style: Speed metal, heavy metal
• Sound: With high-caliber musicianship, strong songwriting, and excellent production, the sound on "After The Fall From Grace / Ride Into The Night" is pure, high-adrenaline, classic speed metal the way it should be!  The tracks are fast, furious, and fiery with some really stellar guitar work and vocal acrobatics! 
• Major themes: Freedom, anger, rebellion, power, crime, fear, violence, sin, betrayal, valor etc.
• Tracks: 

Disc 1: Remixed and Remastered

1. "Call To Arms"
2. "We Came, We Saw, We Conquered"
3. "After The Fall From Grace"
4. "Trial By Fire"
5. "Palestinia"
6. "Age Of Innocence"
7. "Flesh And Blood"
8. "Destination Uknown"
9. "Tales Of Mystery"
10. "Ride Into The Night"
11. "We March On"
12. "The Healing Hand"
13. "Burn" (Deep Purple cover)
14. "Mainline Lover"
15. "Bare Bottom Blues" (live)
16. "Such A Dirty Mind" (live)

Disc 2: Original Recording (No Remix, No Remaster)

1. "Call To Arms"
2. "We Came, We Saw, We Conquered"
3. "After The Fall From Grace"
4. "Trial By Fire"
5. "Palestinia"
6. "Age Of Innocence"
7. "Flesh And Blood"
8. "Destination Uknown"
9. "Tales Of Mystery"
10. "Ride Into The Night"
11. "We March On"
12. "The Healing Hand"
13. "Burn" (Deep Purple cover)
14. "Mainline Lover"
15. "Bare Bottom Blues" (live)
16. "Such A Dirty Mind" (live)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Chappell Brewing (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://chappell.beer/
• Brew: Climax Horchata Vanilla & Cinnamon Cream Ale
• Style: Cream Ale
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Pour: The Climax Horchata Vanilla & Cinnamon Cream Ale pours a lacing.
• Nose: The nose is spicy, and malty, and slightly sweet.  There are aromas of vanilla bean, fresh cream, cinnamon sticks, rice pudding, cracked wheat, light hops, and soft caramel.
• Taste: The taste of the Climax Horchata Vanilla & Cinnamon Cream Ale follows the nose with lots of spicy, malty, and sweet flavors along with more subtle maltiness.  There are notes of milk sugar, spicy cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, a hint of rice, crackery biscuit, and soft caramel/toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Climax Horchata Vanilla & Cinnamon Cream Ale is very creamy and smooth, yet crisp with a dry, sweet and spicy finish.

Overall pairing: The Climax Horchata Vanilla & Cinnamon Cream Ale is a uniquely flavorful and crushable brew... perfect for banging your head and pumping your fists to the hard-rockin' punch of Savage Grace's absolute killer "After The Fall From Grace / Ride Into The Night" album!  'Nuff said!

Raise those horns!!  Cheers rockers!!

February 8th, 2025 - I'm Alone in My Consumption / Denial / Repentance

 

Hello and happy Saturday evil-doers, headbangers, and craft brew freaks!  The Meista here today rocking the hell out with a pairing of "Consume / Deny / Repent", the wonderful full-length debut album by D.C. grindcore/death metal band No/Más and a very tasty and crisp Estoy Solo Mexican Lager from my friend Dwight at Gossorino Brewing!  Hell yeah! 

Album Info:

• Artist: No/Más
• Title: "Consume / Deny / Repent"
• Recorded: June 2021 at The Pit Recording Studio in Van Nuys, California
• Release date: April 29th, 2022 (1st full-length studio album by No/Más)
• Record company: Closed Casket Activities
• Production: Taylor Young
• Album cover art: Ethan Lee McCarthy
• Personnel: Henry Everitt (drums), John Letzkus (guitars), Patrick Merson (bass), and Roger Rivadeneira (vocals)
• Musical style: Death metal, grindcore
• Sound: Blending the old school death metal and grindcore elements with a more modern take on the styles, with "Consume / Deny / Repent", No/Más lays down an intensely brutal sonic attack that is relentless from the opening track "Manipulate-Consume" through to "Hypothermia"!  Rivadeneira powerful vocals are perfect for the death/grind tapestry flawlessly created and executed by Everitt, Letzkus, and Merson!
• Major themes: Socio-politically charged, the themes on "Consume / Deny / Repent" include abuse of power, corruption, death, violence, suffering, pain, etc. 
• Tracks: 

1. "Manipulate-Consume"
2. "Sin Vergüenza"
3. "Exile"
4. "Interrogation"
5. "Sudor Frío"
   
6. "Mal De Ojo"
7. "Arson-Repent"
8. "Ciego"
9. "Ausencia De Luz"
10. "Refugio"
11. "Deny-Disgrace"
12. "Against My Will"
13. "Rabia"
14. "Police Brutality"
15. "Hypothermia"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Gossorino Brewing (Ogden, Utah)
• Website: https://gossorinobrewing.com/
• Brew: Estoy Solo
• Style: Mexican Lager
• Serving: 22 ounce bottle
• ABV: 5.0%
• IBUs: 24
• Ingredients: Traditional Mexican style lager brewed with Motueka hops
• Pour: The Estoy Solo pours a fairly clear, bright golden-yellow hue with a bright white, frothy, 1-finger head with good retention and sudsy, sticky lacing.
• Nose: The nose is malty, grainy, and slightly citrusy.  There are aromas of corn chips, lemongrass, light lime juice and zest, and a hint of honey.
• Taste: The taste of the Estoy Solo follows the nose with notes of biscuity malts, toasted wheat bread, corn chips, lime zest and juice, light honey, and light floral hops with very low bitterness.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium-bodied and well carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Estoy Solo is very crisp and very smooth with a clean, crisp finish.

Overall pairing: The Gossorino Estoy Solo is deliciously easy drinking, flavorful, and crushable brew... a perfect foil to the brutal death metal/grindcore intensity of No/Más' wonderfully powerful musical statement in "Consume / Deny / Repent"!  'Nuff said!

Cheers!!  Hails!!