December 20th, 2025 - Giants, Monsters, & Super Apes

 

Guten tag and happy Saturday!  The Meista here today pairing a hoppy and tasty Super Ape Hazy Double IPA from the fine folks at Red Rock Brewing and "Giants & Monsters", the latest kick-ass album from the mighty German power metal gods Helloween!  Oh, hell yeah!!

 
Album Info:

• Artist: Helloween
• Title: "Giants & Monsters"
• Recorded: 2024 through early 2025 at Mi Sueño Studio, Spain
• Release date: August 27th, 2025 (17th studio album by Helloween)
• Record company: Reigning Phoenix Music
• Production: Charlie Bauerfeind and Dennis Ward
• Album cover art: Eliran Kantor
• Personnel: Andi Deris (lead and backing vocals), Sascha Gerstner (lead and rhythm guitars), Markus Grosskopf (bass guitar), Kai Hansen (lead and rhythm guitars, and lead and backing vocals), Michael Kiske (lead and backing vocals), Dani Löble (drums), and Michael Weikath (lead and rhythm guitars)
• Guest and additional musicians: Oliver Hartmann (acoustic guitar on "Into The Sun"), William "Billy" King (backing vocals), Andrew Skrabutenas (programming and orchestration on "Into The Sun"), Matthias Ulmer (keyboards), Maria Valiskova (backing vocals), and Dennis Ward (backing vocals)
• Musical style: Heavy metal, power metal, speed metal
• Sound: Blending the old-school, classic '80s Helloween power metal sound with speed metal and a more modern vibe, Helloween's latest is a wonderfully powerful heavy metal album with explosive drumming, thunderous bass, blisteringly fast and soaring guitars, and amazing vocals!
• Major themes: Life, mythology, heroism, honesty, bravery, peace, music, touring, taking chances, Japan, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Giants On The Run"
2. "Savior Of The World"
3. "A Little Is A Little Too Much"
4. "We Can Be Gods"
5. "Into The Sun"
6. "This Is Tokyo"
7. "Universe (Gravity For Hearts)"
8. "Hand Of God"
9. "Under The Moonlight"
10. "Majestic"
11. "Out Of Control"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Red Rock Brewery (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://redrockbrewing.com/
• Brew: Super Ape
• Style: New England Style Double India Pale Ale (DIPA) / Imperial IPA (IIPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 8.2%
• Pour: The Super Ape pours a very hazy golden yellow hue with a thin, bright white, bubbly head that dissipates to a thin ring with light lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, fruity, floral, earthy, and malty.  There are aromas of freshly squeezed orange juice, grapefruit rind and juice, tangerine, fresh mango, pineapple, wildflowers, light pine resin, biscuity malts, and soft caramel/toffee. 
• Taste: Like the nose, the taste is characterized by big citrus and tropical fruit flavors and more subtle earthy and malty flavors.  Notes of orange juice, tangerine, mango, pineapple, bitter grapefruit juice, light pine, and softer, more subtle sweet malts intertwine for a well-balanced and flavorful brew. 
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is not as dry and a bit "creamier" than most IPAs, but you definitely get that hop oily feel on the tongue, which leaves a nice, lingering bitterness.

Overall pairing: The bright, bold, complexity, and drinkability of the Super Ape from Red Rock Brewery is perfect for the bombast, driving power, and sheer joy that Helloween conveys on their most excellent "Giants & Monsters" album!  I cannot think of anything I'd rather be doing right now than rockin' out to Helloween and sipping a tasty IPA!

Prost... Zum Wohl!!