October 12th, 2024 - Some Big Bam Boom Sippin' on a Saturday Afternoon

 

Hello and happy Saturday rockers, rollers, and craft beer fans!  Something a little different musically for you today... I'm paring something poppy from my early teen years, "Big Bam Boom" (on its 40th birthday!) from Daryl Hall & John Oates and a tart and tasty Big Sippin' Imperial Sour Ale from Odell Brewing Company! 

Album Info:

• Artist: Daryl Hall & John Oates
• Title: "Big Bam Boom"
• Recorded: Summer 1984 at Electric Lady Studio in New York City, New York
• Release date: October 12th, 1984 (12th studio album by Daryl Hall & John Oates)
• Record company: RCA Records
• Production: Bob Clearmountain and Daryl Hall & John Oates 
• Album cover art: Mick Haggerty (artwork and design) and Jean Pagliuso (photography)
• Personnel: Daryl Hall (lead and backing vocals, synthesizers, guitars, percussion, and arrangements) and John Oates (lead and backing vocals, synthesizers, guitars, synth guitar, percussion, and arrangements)
• Additional musicians: Jimmy Bralower (LinnDrum programming), Jay Burnett (additional percussion), Wells Christy (Synclavier programming), Mickey Curry (drums), Charles DeChant (saxophone), Bashiri Johnson (percussion and timbales), Robbie Kilgore (keyboards and synthesizer programming), Coati Mundi (Spanish vocals), Clive Smith (Fairlight CMI), G.E. Smith (lead guitars), and Tom "T-Bone" Wolk (synthesizers, guitars, bass, and arrangements)
• Musical style: Pop rock with elements of R&B, soul, dance rock, and even a little new wave
• Sound: Employing some of the most sophisticated recording equipment synthesizers used in the music industry at the time, "Big Bam Boom" had a more electronic, urban, and experimental sound than the duo's previous pop albums. Of the record, Hall stated: "We embraced each new device on its merits as a tool to enhance and integrate into the recording process. For us, they were instruments to be used to achieve an end: service and enrich the songs."
• Major themes: Love, relationships, desire, sorrow, loss, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Dance On Your Knees"
2. "Out Of Touch"
3. "Method Of Modern Love"
4. "Bank On Your Love"
5. "Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid"
6. "Going Thru The Motions"
7. "Cold, Dark And Yesterday"
8. "All American Girl"
9. "Possession Obsession"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Odell Brewing Company (Fort Collins, Colorado)
• Website: https://www.odellbrewing.com/
• Brew: Big Sippin' Imperial Sour Ale 
• Style: Imperial Sour Ale / Fruited Sour
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 8.0%
• IBUs: 8
• Ingredients: Pineapple, guava, and tangerine
• Pour: The Big Sippin' pours a very cloudy caramel color with a bright white, very thin head that dissipates quickly to a thin ring with very little lacing.
• Nose: The nose is fruity, citrusy, tart, and slightly sweet.  There are aromas of tangerine, lemon zest, freshly cut pineapple, guava, passionfruit, light honey, cereal grains, cracked wheat, and a hint of booze.
• Taste: The taste of the Big Sippin' is tart, and slightly boozy.  There are notes of tangerine, orange juice, lemon juice, pineapple juice, bright guava, light grains, a splash of white rum, and a hint of honey. 
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Big Sippin' is very tart, crisp, and sharp with a lip puckering, yet clean finish.

Overall pairing: The Big Sippin' Imperial Sour Ale form Odell is a fruity and tart brew with lots of intense, yet inviting flavor!  The fruity, tart flavors go great with the upbeat, poppy vibe of the album while the bigger ABV and complexity works well with the technological approach and arrangements!  'Nuff said!

Cheers!

October 11th, 2024 - Cerveza Vermillion

 

Hello and happy Friday my rocking, rolling, and beer lovin' friends!  The Meister here today pairing "Vermillion", the 1st solo album by Epica vocalist Simone Simons and a tasty and easy-drinking Cerveza Roja from the fine folks at the Ogden Beer Company!  Oh, yeah!! 

Album Info:

• Artist: Simone Simons
• Title: "Vermillion"
• Recorded: 2024 at The Electric Castle in the Netherlands
• Release date: August 23rd, 2024 (1st solo studio album by Simone Simons)
• Record company: Nuclear Blast
• Production: Arjen Anthony Lucassen
• Album cover art: Hedi Xandt (artwork and design) and Lori Linstruth (photography)
• Personnel: Simone Simons (lead and backing vocals) with Arjen Anthony Lucassen (guitars, keyboards, and backing vocals)
• Additional musicians: John Jaycee Cuypers (backing vocals on "Aeterna"), Isaac Delahaye (choir vocals), Jasper Erkens (choir vocals), Koen Herfst (drums), Monique Hooft (choir vocals), Mark Jansen (growls and choir vocals), Coen Janssen (choir vocals),Peter Kettenis (choir vocals), Perttu Kivilaakso (cello on "Dark Night Of The Soul"), Lori Linstruth (choir vocals), Ben Mathot (violin), Joost van den Broek (piano and choir vocals on "Dark Night Of The Soul"), Rob van der Loo (bass and choir vocals), Johan van Stratum (choir vocals), Ariën van Weesenbeek (choir vocals), Jurriaan Westerveld (cello), and Alissa White-Gluz (vocals on "Cradle To The Grave")
• Musical style: Symphonic metal, progressive metal/rock
• Sound: Bombastic, symphonic, theatrical, cinematic... the sound on Simone Simons' "Vermillion" is a powerful and stunning musical journey!  It blends beautiful orchestral movements with rockin' progressive metal intensity... and of course Simons' amazingly beautiful vocals!
• Major themes: Life, death, relationships, memories, loss, sorrow, revolution, darkness, the passage of time, etc.
• Tracks:  
1. "Aeterna"
2. "In Love We Rust"
3. "Cradle To The Grave"
4. "Fight Or Flight"
5. "Weight Of My World"
6. "Vermillion Dreams"
7. "The Core"
8. "Dystopia"
9. "R.E.D."
10. "Dark Night Of The Soul"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Ogden Beer Company (Ogden, Utah) 
• Website: http://www.ogdenbeercompany.com/ 
• Brew: Cerveza Roja
• Style: Red Mexican Lager
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Pour: The Cerveza Roja pours a with a 1+ finger, bright white, light and frothy head with great retention and soapy, sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is a characterized by malty, crackery, grainy, and herbal aromas.  There are aromas of cracked wheat, toasted bread, grainy maze, a hint of lemon zest, light herbal hops.
• Taste: Well-balanced, the Cerveza Roja has a nice blend of bready, grainy, malty, and herbal flavors.  There are notes of toasted bread, bread crust, corn chips, a hint of lemon zest, light honey, soft caramel, and herbal hops.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium in body and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel is crisp and smooth with a dry, clean finish. 

Overall pairing: The Ogden Beer Company Cerveza Roja is a very crisp, delicious, and crushable brew... a great companion to the haunting beauty of Simone Simon's incredible voice and her amazing songs on "Vermillion"!  'Nuff said!

Cheers!!  Salud!!  Proost!!

October 7th, 2024 - Superdelic South Saturn Delta

 

Hello rockers, rollers, and hop heads!  Happy Monday!  Your drinking buddy the Meista here today rocking the hell out to "South Saturn Delta", a wonderful compilation (27 years old today) of the recordings Jimi Hendrix made throughout his short career and a hoppy and delicious Superdelic Pale Ale from the fine folks at Offset Bier Company!  Hell yeah!! 

Album Info:

• Artist: Jimi Hendrix
• Title: "South Saturn Delta"
• Recorded: July 1967 to August 1970 at various studios in Los Angeles, New York City, and London
  Release date: October 7th, 1997 (posthumous compilation album by Jimi Hendrix) 
• Record company: MCA Records
• Production: Janie Hendrix, Eddie Kramer, and John McDermott
• Album cover art: ?
• Personnel: Jimi Hendrix (guitars and vocals) with Billy Cox (bass guitar and backing vocals), Mitch Mitchell (drums), and Noel Redding (bass)
• Additional musicians: Larry Fallon (horn arrangement), Rocky Isaac (drums), Brian Jones (percussion), Larry Lee (guitar), Dave Mason (12-string guitar), Buddy Miles (drums and backing vocals), Juma Sultan (percussion), Jerry Velez (percussion)
• Musical style: Rock, blues rock, hard rock with elements of jazz, R&B, soul, and funk
• Sound: Although the production is a little too "bright" and "clean" from what was originally recorded and the overdubs were completely unnecessary, and "The New Rising Sun" album released in 1997 is probably a better representation of what Jimi's final album should have been, I think the importance of "South Saturn Delta" as an overview in the legacy of Hendrix and his final recordings cannot be overstated.  His guitar tone on these tracks is pure magic!
• Major themes: Life, freedom, rebellion, love, music, peace, joy, etc.
• Notes: The album consists of previous unreleased material such as demo tapes, unfinished takes and alternate mixes, and previously released material, most of which Hendrix had been working on prior to his death in 1970.
• Tracks: 

1. "Look Over Yonder"
2. "Little Wing"
3. "Here He Comes (Lover Man)"
4. "South Saturn Delta"
5. "Power Of Soul"
6. "Message To The Universe (Message To Love"
7. "Tax Free"
8. "All Along The Watchtower" (Bob Dylan cover)
9. "The Stars That Play With Laughing Sam's Dice"
10. "Midnight"
11. "Sweet Angel (Angel)"
12. "Bleeding Heart"
13. "Pali Gap"
14. "Drifter's Escape" (Bob Dylan cover)
15. "Midnight Lightning"
    Brew Info:

• Brewery: Offset Bier Company (Park City, Utah)
• Website: https://offsetbier.com/
• Brew: Superdelic Pale Ale
• Style: Pale Ale 
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Ingredients: Superdelic and Zumo hops
• Pour: The Superdelic Pale Ale pours a murky, dull golden-yellow hue with a frothy, off-white, 2-finger head with great sustain and lots of sticky lacing. 
• Nose: The nose is tropically fruity, citrusy, and malty.  There are aromas of melon, lemon zest, light kiwi, stone fruit, and crackery biscuit.
• Taste: The taste is like the nose: fruity, citrusy, hoppy, and slightly sweet.  There are notes of lemon juice, lemon drop candy, kiwi, light pineapple, honeydew melon, fresh peaches, mango, and soft sweet toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Superdelic Pale Ale is very crisp, yet soft and smooth with a dry, clean, and slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The punchy and aggressive, yet fruity and complex flavors and aromas of Superdelic Pale Ale from Offset Bier Company are perfect for the genius of the late, great Jimi Hendrix!  Those big, bright, and hoppy citrus notes are great for the straightforward rocking depth, while the sweeter tropical and malt notes are great for the fast, melodic rhythms and vocal prowess!

Cheers!!

October 5th, 2024 - Go [to Ogtoberfest] and Live...

 

Hello and happy Saturday rockers, rollers, and craft beer freaks!  The Meista here today rocking the hell out with a pairing of "Go And Live... Stay And Die" the criminally underrated debut album by German thrashers Vendetta and a crisp and tasty Ogtoberfest from Roosters Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!  

Album Info:

• Artist: Vendetta
• Title: "Go And Live... Stay And Die"
• Recorded: August through September 1987 at Musiclab Studios in Berlin, Germany
• Release date: September 1987 (1st studio album by Vendetta)
• Record company: Noise Records / Metal Command Records
• Production: Harris Johns
• Album cover art: Phil Lawvere
• Personnel: Daxx (guitars and vocals), Heiner (bass), Micky (guitars and vocals), and Samson (drums)
• Musical style: Thrash metal
• Sound: Fast and furious, yet intricately crafted songs with interesting tempo changes characterize the tracks on this wonderful and criminally underrated album!   
• Major themes: Politics, corruption, death, war, violence, death, vengeance, etc. 
• Note: Sadly, Vendetta drummer Samson (aka Andreas Samonil) passed away earlier this month.
• Tracks:  

1. "Suicidal Lunacy"
2. "Go And Live... Stay And Die"
3. "Traitor's Fate"
4. "System Of Death"
5. "Drugs And Corruption"
6. "Revolution Command"
7. "On The Road"
8. "And The Brave Man Fails" (bonus track)
9. "Brain Damage" (live bonus track)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Roosters Brewing Company (Ogden, Utah)
• Website: https://www.roostersbrewingco.com/
• Brew: Ogtoberfest
• Style: German Lager / Märzen
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Pour: The Ogtoberfest pours a clear, copper hue with a billowy, 1-finger, bright white head with good retention and sticky, sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is malty, bready, grainy, slightly nutty, and slightly grassy.  There are aromas of barley, crackery biscuit, light grassy hops, cereal grains, roasted hazelnuts, and soft caramel
• Taste: The taste of the Ogtoberfest follows the nose with malty, crackery, light grassy, and hearty bready flavors.  There are notes of toasted barley, biscuit, toasted bread, light herbs, and soft caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Ogtoberfest is very crisp and smooth with a dry, clean finish.

Overall pairing: The Roosters Ogtoberfest is a very crushable and flavorful brew with great notes and aromas of crackery biscuit and sweet malts... perfect for a Fall afternoon of rocking the hell out with the Vendetta's killer "Go And Live... Stay And Die" album! 'Nuff said!

Cheers!!  Hails!!

October 4th, 2024 - Expect No Mercy From Clan Logan

 

Hello and happy Friday rockers, rollers, and craft beer lovers!  The Meista here today pairing a bold and delicious Clan Logan Wee Heavy from Gossorino Brewing and "Expect No Mercy", the killer 9th album from Scottish hard rock outfit Nazareth!  Hells yeah!

  He

Album Info:

• Artist: Nazareth’s
• Title: "Expect No Mercy"
• Recorded: 1977 at Le Studio in Morin Heights, Quebec, Canada
• Release date: November 1977 (9th studio album by Nazareth)
• Record company: A&M Records
• Production: Manny Charlton
• Album cover art: Frank Franzetta
• Personnel: Pete Agnew (bass guitar and guitars), Manny Charlton (guitars), Dan McCafferty (lead vocals), and Darrell Sweet (drums)
• Musical style: Hard rock with elements of heavy blues rock, Southern rock, and heavy metal
• Sound: With churning bass lines, thunderous drums, fiery guitars, and fierce vocals, "Expect No Mercy" saw Nazareth return to the heavier sound that had been missing since "Hair Of The Dog"! 
• Major themes: Revenge, anger, aggression, life's cruelties, dominance, sorrow, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Expect No Mercy"
2. "Gone Dead Train"
3. "Shot Me Down"
4. "Revenge Is Sweet"
5. "Gimme What's Mine"
6. "Kentucky Fried Blues"
7. "New York Broken Toy"
8. "Busted"
9. "Place In Your Heart"
10. "All The King's Horses"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Gossorino Brewing (Ogden, Utah)
• Website: https://gossorinobrewing.com/
• Brew: Clan Logan
• Style: Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy
• Serving: 22 ounce bottle
• ABV: 9.8%
• IBUs: 24
• Ingredients: Golden Promise, Caramel 60, Roasted Barley, Belgian Biscuit, Crystal 75, and Acid malts, and hopped with Challenger and EKG hops then fermented with Imperial Tartan
• Pour: The Clan Logan pours a deep, dark mahogany brown hue with a thin, off-white head with good retention and light lacing.
• Nose: The nose is malty, bready, sweet and boozy.  There are aromas of dark toasted bread, roasted malts, oak, a hint of smokiness, rich bourbon, and burnt toffee.
• Taste: The taste of the Clans Logan follows the nose with big notes of sweet caramel / toffee, and rich bourbon or rum.
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Clan Logan is thick, yet crisp with a slightly sweet and boozy finish.

Overall pairing: The heavy-duty, rich and boozy flavors of Gossorino's Clan Logan Wee Heavy make for a great companion to the aggressive, in-your-face, hard rockin' goodness of Nazareth's wonderful "Expect No Mercy"!" 

Cheers!!  And hails to Nazareth!!

September 28th, 2024 - Escaping to Nowhere 'Til the Streetlights Come On

 

Hello metal maniacs and beer freaks of all ages!  Happy Saturday!  Your drinking buddy the Meista getting a little wild and a little aggressive with a hoppy and delicious 'Til the Streetlights Come On Retro IPA from Bolero Snort Brewery and "Escape To Nowhere", the kick-ass, 4th album by the mighty Omen!  Hell yeah!!  Cheers!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Omen
• Title: "Escape To Nowhere"
• Recorded: 1988 at Record Plant Studios in New York City, New York
• Release date: October 1988 (4th studio album by Omen)
• Record company: Metal Blade Records
• Production: Paul O'Neill
• Album cover art: Gary Smith
• Personnel: Jody Henry (bass), J.D. Kimball (vocals), Coburn Pharr (vocals), Kenny Powell (guitars), and Steve Wittig (drums)
• Guest musicians: Robert Kinkel (keyboards) and Paul Silver (guitar on "Radar Love")
• Musical style: Heavy metal, power metal with elements of speed metal
• Sound: Aggressive, fast, powerful, just a few words to describe the heavy metal intensity that is Omen's metal stylings!  Along with bands such as Jag Panzer, Manilla Road, and Virgin Steele, Omen is definitive 1980s U.S. power metal at its best!  It is bold, inventive, unapologetic, and always a joy to hear at maximum volume!
• Major themes: Life, danger, power, violence, rebellion, heavy metal, perseverance, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "It's Not Easy"
2. "Radar Love" (Golden Earring cover)
3. "Escape To Nowhere"
4. "Cry For The Morning"
5. "Thorn In Your Flesh"
6. "Poisoned"
7. "Nomads"
8. "King Of The Hill"
9. "No Way Out"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Bolero Snort Brewery (Carlstadt, New Jersey)
• Website: https://bolerosnort.com/
• Brew: 'Til the Streetlights Come On Retro IPA
• Style: Session India Pale Ale (IPA
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Pour: The 'Til the Streetlights Come On Retro IPA pours a cloudy, golden yellow hue with a frothy, half-finger, bright white head with good retention and sticky, sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, floral, earthy, and malty.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, tangerine, wildflowers, light pine resin, doughy bread, and light caramel.
• Taste: The taste of the 'Til the Streetlights Come On Retro IPA follows the nose with citrusy, herbal, and earthy flavors.  There are notes of pink grapefruit juice, tangerine, orange, light pine, herbal tea, and soft caramel/toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel of the 'Til the Streetlights Come On Retro IPA is very crisp and smooth with a dry, slightly bitter, yet clean finish.

Overall pairing: The crushable, yet complex flavors and aromas of the 'Til the Streetlights Come On Retro IPA is sure to get you all charged up for the pit!  And that my friends is exactly the kind of beer you want when blasting the highly intense, powerfully rockin' sonic punch that is Omen's ""!  I also think the album artwork and the can label work really well together.  'Nuff said!

Cheers and hails!!

September 27th, 2024 - Rocktoberfest 'N' Roll

 

Hello there rockers, rollers, rivet-heads, and craft brew freaks!  Happy Friday!  The Meista here today with a great pairing to start the weekend... Motörhead's kick-ass 9th studio album, "Rock 'N' Roll" and a delicious and crisp Rocktoberfest from the fine folks at Fisher Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!!

Album Info: 

• Artist: Motörhead 
• Title: "Rock 'N' Roll"
• Recorded: 1987 at Master Rock and Redwood in London, England
  Release date: September 5th, 1987 (9th studio album released by Motorhead)
• Record company: GWR Records
• Production: Guy Bidmead and Motörhead 
• Album cover art: Joe Petagno
• Personnel: Michael "Würzel" Burston (guitars), Phil Campbell (guitars), Lemmy Kilmister (lead vocals and bass), and Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor (drums) 
• Guest musicians: Michael Palin (narration)*
• Musical style: Hard rock, heavy blues rock, heavy metal, rock and roll 
• Sound: Loud, fast, heavy, and honest... come on... this is pure heavy-duty rock and roll as it should be!  It's fucking Motörhead... and they play rock and roll!! 
• Major themes: Rock and roll, rebellion, greed, lust, darkness, touring, danger, fear, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Rock 'N' Roll"
2. "Eat The Rich"
3. "Blackheart"
4. "Stone Deaf In The USA"
5. "The Wolf"
6. "Traitor"
7. "Dogs"
8. "All For You"
9. "Boogeyman"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Fisher Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://www.fisherbeer.com/
• Brew: Rocktoberfest
• Style: German Lager / Oktoberfest
• Serving: 32 ounce crowler can
• ABV: 5.0% 
• Pour: The Rocktoberfest pours a clear, deep copper hue with a billowy, 1+ finger, bright white head with great retention and sticky, sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is malty, bready, grainy, slightly nutty, and slightly grassy.  There are aromas of barley, crackery biscuit, light grassy hops, cereal grains, roasted hazelnuts, and soft caramel. 
• Taste: The taste of the Rocktoberfest follows the nose with lots of malty, crackery, light grassy, and hearty bready flavors.  There are notes of toasted barley, biscuit, toasted bread, and soft caramel/toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium-bodied and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel is very crisp, yet smooth with a dry, crackery, and clean finish.

Overall pairing: The Rocktoberfest is a crushable, easy drinking, yet very flavorful brew... great for the hard rockin' punch that is the mighty Motörhead!  Those bright and crackery flavors work great with the overall heaviness of the album, while the maltier notes go great with the heavier bluesy elements of the "Rock 'N' Roll" album! 

Cheers!!  Hails!!

*"Oh Lord, who art on high, who hast made the blades of grass, and the little tiny things that creep therein, that hath made the cricket bats, who has made hankies, who has made... all things, bless thou these people from Motörhead, that they may so verily endow the people of this planet with pleasure and enjoyment that yea, they may verily increase fourfold their already large sums of loot and enable them here in this life to purchase maybe one other pair of trousers each. Oh Lord, thou who hast seen the trouserless and had compassion, look down upon them. Thank you."