November 17th, 2024 - Boo Koo Bazooka

 

Hello and happy Sunday rockers, rollers, and hop lovers!  The Meista here today pairing a delicious Boo Koo IPA from Mother Earth Brewing Company and the heavy-duty rockin' "Bazooka" by Pat Travers and Carmine Appice!

Album Info:

• Artist: Pat Travers and Carmine Appice
• Title: "Bazooka"
• Recorded: 2005 at Sound Asylum in Canoga Park, California
• Release date: October 25th, 2005 (2nd studio album by Pat Travers and Carmine Appice)
• Record company: Purple Pyramid / Cleopatra Records
• Production: Pat Travers and Carmine Appice, and Lanny Cordola
• Album cover art: Wilma Hoogendoorn (photography)
• Personnel: Carmine Appice (drums, percussion, and vocals), Tony Franklin (fretless bass), Pat Travers (guitars, keyboards, and lead and backing vocals), and Chuck Wright (bass)
• Guest musicians: Rick Derringer (guitar solo on "Bazooka"), Bobby Kimball (lead vocals on "Last Child"), and Steve Lukather (guitar solo on "Last Child")
• Musical style: Hard rock, blues rock
• Sound: This is gritty, aggressive, funky, swinging, and wonderfully rocking stuff my friends!  Traver's guitar work is intense, emotional, bluesy, heavy, and honest.  I could listen to this man's work for hours!  He hits you right between the eyes, then gives you a kiss, then kicks you in balls!  And speaking of hitting you right between the eyes, get a load of Appice!  Always true to form, Appice is a mofo beast on the drum kit... intensely powerful, but always precise and always very musical!  I abosolutely LOVE this album!!  It is pure and honest hard rock in the tradition of bands like Humble Pie, Led Zeppelin, and Nazareth!
• Major themes: The blues, love, lust, heartbreak, life, power, music, joy, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Evil" (Willie Dixon cover)
2. "Disappear"
3. "Superstitious" (Stevie Wonder cover)
4. "Crash & Burn" (Pat Travers Band cover)
5. "Livin' Alone" (Beck, Bogert & Appice cover)
6. "Misfortunate One"
7. "Last Child" (Aerosmith cover)
8. "Snortin' Whiskey" (Pat Travers Band cover)
9. "Boom Boom (Out Go The Lights" (Pat Travers Band cover)
10. "Politician" (Cream cover)
11. "Babylon Baby"
12. "Bazooka"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Mother Earth Brewing Company (Vista, California)
• Website: https://www.motherearthbrewco.com/
• Brew: Boo Koo IPA
• Style: West Coast Style India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 6.5%
• IBUs: 65
• Pour: The Boo Koo IPA pours a fairly clear, straw-yellow hue with a bright white, half-finger, foamy head that dissipates to a thin ring with light lacing.
• Nose: The nose is a wonderful blend of citrus, floral and piney hops, dankness, and crackery grains.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, orange peel, a hint of lime peel, hop flowers, big, dank pine resin, grassy hops, tea leaf, pale malt, and light toffee.
• Taste: Like the nose, the taste of the Boo Koo IPA is citrusy, earthy, and malty.  There are notes of pink grapefruit, orange pith, dank pine, bitter herbs, green tea, mineral water, crackery biscuit, and very light caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is very crisp, smooth, slightly slick, and punchy with a little biting bitterness and a very dry finish.

Overall pairing: The Boo Koo IPA from the fine folks at Mother Earth Brewing Company is a delightfully tasty brew with loads of citrus and floral/pine notes... perfect for the heavy bluesy rockin' brilliance of the "Bazooka" album by iconic rockers Pat Travers and Carmine Appice!  'Nuff said!

Make sure to check out my interview with the legendary Carmine Appice here: https://youtu.be/eAe6LsdYIlc

Cheers!!  Rock on!!

November 16th, 2024 - I'm a Sucker for a Pretty Face... & a 9 Fiddy Cherry Pie

 

Hello and happy Saturday rockers, rollers, and craft brew freaks!  The Meista here today rocking the hell out with a pairing of "Sucker For A Pretty Face" Original Sessions, the wonderful album by American hard rocking outfit EMB (Eric Martin Band) and a tasty and tart 9 Fiddy Cherry Pie from Gossorino Brewing!  Hell yeah!  

Album Info:

• Artist: EMB
• Title: "Sucker For A Pretty Face" Original Sessions
• Recorded: 1982 at Fantasy Studios in Berkley, California 
• Release date: 1982 / December 22nd, 2023 (1st studio album by EMB)
• Record company: Metallic Blue Records / Rewind
• Production: Richard Corsello
• Album cover art: Jim Welch (artwork) and Tyler Thorsted (album design)
• Personnel: Tom Duke (bass and backing vocals), David Jacobson (keyboards, saxophone, and backing vocals), Troy Luccketta (drums), Eric Martin (lead and backing vocals, and piano), John Nymann (lead and rhythm guitars, additional keyboards, and backing vocals), and Mark Ross (lead and rhythm guitars, and backing vocals)
• Musical style: Hard rock, arena rock
• Sound: Steeped in R&B and '70s rock, this hard rockin' album is an absolute joy to listen to inside and out!  The songwriting is very strong, the band is incredibly tight, the production quality is excellent, and Eric Martin's vocals are absolutely stellar!
• Major themes: Rock and roll, relationships, lust, love, heartbreak, energy, rebellion, passion, power, joy, youth, etc. 
• Tracks: 

1. "Sucker For A Pretty Face"
2. "Don't Stop" (Frankie Miller cover)
3. "Private Life"
4. "Letting It Out"
5. "Young At Heart"
6. "One More Time"
7. "Catch Me If You Can"
8. "Love Me"
9. "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You"
10. "Love In Question"
11. "Been Around And Back Again"
12. "King Of The Hill"
13. "Love Lines"
14. "Street Dance"
15. "Rock This Town"
16. "Stop In The Name Of Love" (The Supremes cover)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Gossorino Brewing (Ogden, Utah)
• Website: https://gossorinobrewing.com/
• Brew: 9 Fiddy Cherry Pie
• Style: Pastry Sour
• Serving: 22 ounce bottle
• ABV: 7.0%
• IBUs: 7
• Ingredients: Cherry pie pastry sour brewed with Pale, Pilsner, Victory, Biscuit malts, flaked oats, flaked wheat, and Acid malts with pie crust, lactose, vanilla, apple pie spices, and homegrown cherries. Hopped with East Kent Golding then fermented with Philly Sour.
• Pour: The 9 Fiddy Cherry Pie pours a deep crimson hue with a thin, bright white, frothy head that dissipates fairly quickly leaving only trace lacing.
• Nose: The nose is tart, fruity, sweet, and slightly spicy.  There are aromas of sweet cherry pie, fresh cherry syrup, flakey pastry, vanilla bean, whipped cream, and hints of cinnamon.
• Taste: The taste of the 9 Fiddy Cherry Pie follows the nose with notes of cherry pie, tart cherry juice, lemon, flakey pie crust, vanilla, fresh cream, and a hint of caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel of the 9 Fiddy Cherry Pie is very crisp and tart with a sweet, yet clean and lip-puckering finish.

Overall pairing: The Gossorino 9 Fiddy Cherry Pie is deliciously tart and easy drinking, unique, flavorful, and crushable brew... perfect for the richly textured, upbeat, and well-crafted rockin' tunes of EMB's killer album "Sucker For A Pretty Face"! 'Nuff said!

Cheers!!  Rock on!!

November 15th, 2024 - I Suggest You Don't Double Cross Me Because I Am The Weapon!

 

Hello and happy Friday my metalhead and artisan brew drinking friends!  The Meista here today pairing a bold Double Cross Ale from Epic Brewing Company and the legendary thrashers Flotsam And Jetsam with their killer 15th studio album, "I Am The Weapon"!  Hell yes!

Album Info:

• Artist: Flotsam And Jetsam
• Title: "I Am The Weapon"
• Recorded: 2023 through 2024 
• Release date: September 13th, 2024 (15th studio album by Flotsam And Jetsam)
• Record company: AFM Records  
• Production: Flotsam And Jetsam 
• Album cover art: Andy Pilkington 
• Personnel: Bill Bodily (bass), Steve Conley (guitars), Michael Gilbert (guitars), Eric "A.K." Knutson (vocals), and Ken Mary (drums) 
• Musical style: Thrash metal with elements of traditional metal and power metal
• Sound: Another fantastic album from the Arizona thrashers, the sound on "I Am The Weapon" is classic F&J yet is fresh and contemporary with excellent production!  These guys just keep getting better with every release!  Centered around Eric A.K.'s powerful vocal delivery and some really incredible riffing, this album offers a variety of well-balanced, melodic thrashers and hard rockin' goodness!
• Major themes: Death, violence, aggression, vengeance, darkness, deception, survival, etc. 
• Tracks: 

1. "A New Kind Of Hero"
2. "Primal"
3. "I Am The Weapon"
4. "Burned My Bridges"
5. "The Head Of The Snake"
6. "Beneath The Shadows"
7. "Gates Of Hell"
   
8. "Cold Steel Lights"
9. "Kings Of The Underworld"
10. "Running Through Fire"
11. "Black Wings"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Epic Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://www.epicbrewing.com/
• Brew: Double Cross Ale
• Style: Traditional Ale
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 9.0%
• Ingredients: 2-Row Brewers Malt, 2-Row Chocolate Malt, Caramunich, Crystal Extra Dark, Dextrin Malt, Light Candy Sugar, and Munich Malt with Cascade and Sterling hops
• Pour: The Double Cross Ale pours a fairly clear, deep mahogany red with an off-white, creamy, half-finger head with good retention and sticky, sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by aromas of roasted hazelnuts, walnuts, dark toasted bread, peppery rye, burnt sugar, sweet caramel, light citrus, varnish or lacquer, and booze. 
• Taste: The flavor of the Double Cross Ale is nutty, malty, toasty, sweet, and lightly citrusy.  There are notes of bready malts, dark toasted bread, roasted hazelnuts and walnuts, orange peel, rye whiskey, and burnt toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is s.  The finish is .

Overall pairing: The Double Cross Ale from Epic Brewing is a bold and flavorful brew with lots of kick... great for rocking the hell out to the metal might that is Flotsam And Jetsam's kick-ass "I Am The Weapon"!  'Nuff said!

Make sure to check out my interview with Flotsam and Jetsam guitarist Michael Gilbert here: https://youtu.be/CPq8gDVVzOE

Cheers!!  Rock on!!

November 11th, 2024 - A Space Cruz Into the Core Manifold

 

Hello and happy Monday my friends!  The Meister here today pairing the great self-title, debut album by melodic prog metal band The Core Manifold and a very tasty and crushable Space Cruze Cold India Pale Ale from the fine folks at the Ogden Beer Company!  

Album Info:

• Artist: The Core Manifold
• Title: "The Core Manifold"
• Recorded: 2024 at Wave-M Studio in Wauconda, Illinois
• Release date: 2024 (1st full-length studio album by The Core Manifold)
• Record company: Wave-M Studio
• Production: The Core Manifold
• Album cover art: 
• Personnel: Dave Heeman (bass), Michael Hickey (lead and rhythm guitars, classical, 6-string, and 12-string acoustic guitars, keyboards, and drum programming), Joe Reh (drums), Albert Rybka (vocals), and Matt Verden (lead and rhythm guitars) 
• Musical style: Heavy metal, progressive metal / rock
• Sound: Blending melodic heavy metal with more progressive elements, with their debut album, The Core Manifold presents a wonderfully engaging, complex, and cohesive album!  The 11 amazing tracks on this album provide a lesson in the art of strong songwriting, execution, and production.  Each song is a perfect microcosm of harmony, melody, and riffage.
• Major themes: Isolation, pain, introspection, humanity, , etc.
• Tracks:  

1. "Seven Thousand Days"
2. "The Hollow"
3. "Vanishing Point"
4. "Solvay Clan"
5. "Your Time Will Come"
6. "I Need Space"
7. "Darkhorse"
8. "Spoken Silence"
9. "Pressure"
10. "Pain"
11. "Silver"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Ogden Beer Company (Ogden, Utah)
• Website: http://www.ogdenbeercompany.com/
• Brew: Space Cruz Cold India Pale Ale
• Style: Cold India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• IBUs: 40
• Ingredients: Citra, Mosaic, and El Dorado hops
• Pour: The Space Cruz pours a hazy golden-yellow hue with 2-finger, bright white, frothy head with great retention and displays lots of sticky, intricate lacing.
• Nose: The nose is a characterized by citrusy, floral, dank, and grainy aromas.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, lemon zest, pine resin, cracked wheat, freshly cut hay, and grassy hops.
• Taste: Well-balanced, the Space Cruze has a nice blend of IPA and light lager flavors.  There are notes of grapefruit juice, lemon zest, orange pith, pine, grainy crackers, fresh herbs, and light honey.
• Mouthfeel: Medium in body and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel is very crisp and refreshing with a dry, slightly bitter finish, yet clean. 

Overall pairing: The Ogden Beer Company's Space Cruz is a crisp, hoppy, yet crushable brew... great for an evening of killer melodic metal tunes by The Core Manifold!  'Nuff said!

Make sure to check out my interview with the incredibly talented and friendly Albert Rybka, lead vocalist of The Core Manifold here: https://youtu.be/TKEe9YjeB_w

Cheers!!

November 9th, 2024 - Damp & Waysted

 

Good evening rockers, rollers, metal maniacs, and hop heads!  Happy Saturday!  Your drinking buddy the Meista here today rocking the hell out to "Waysted", the self-titled, kick-ass EP by Waysted and a hoppy and delicious Damp 24.01 Fresh Hop LIPA from the fine folks at Offset Bier Company!  Hell yeah!! 

Album Info:

• Artist: Waysted
• Title: "Waysted"
• Recorded: 1984
  Release date: September 1984 (1st studio EP by Waysted) 
• Record company: Music for Nations
• Production: Leo Lyons
• Album cover art: Mez
• Personnel: Paul Chapman (guitar), Fin Muir (vocals), Andy Parker (drums), Neil Shepard (guitar), and Pete Way (bass guitar)
• Musical style: Hard rock, heavy metal
• Sound: Raw, heavy as hell, and pure rock and roll, although a short EP, "Waysted" packs a punch!
• Major themes: Rebellion, danger, rock and roll, desire, life, death, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Won't Get Out Alive"
2. "Price You Pay"
3. "Rock Steady"
4. "Hurt So Good"
5. "Cinderella Boys"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Offset Bier Company (Park City, Utah)
• Website: https://offsetbier.com/
• Brew: Damp 24.01
• Style: Fresh Hop LIPA
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Ingredients: Wet Amarillo, freshly kilned Amarillo, Organic Citra, and Centennial T-90 hops
• Pour: The Damp 24.01 pours a hazy, bright golden-yellow hue with a frothy, bright white, half finger head with good sustain and lots of sticky lacing. 
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, fruity, and slightly malty.  There are aromas of tangerine, grapefruit rind, stone fruit (peach and apricot), watermelon, cantaloupe, pine resin, and crackery biscuit.
• Taste: The taste is like the nose: fruity, citrusy, hoppy, and slightly sweet.  There are notes of pink grapefruit juice, honeydew melon, fresh peaches, light mango, pine, and soft sweet toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Damp 24.01 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 Damp 24.01from Offset Bier Company are perfect for the rockin' genius of the late, great Pete Way's Waysted!  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 of Muir!

Cheers!!

November 8th, 2024 - The Dirty King's Imperial Crown Jewel

 

Hello and happy Friday rockers, rollers, and hop freaks!  Your drinkin' buddy the Meista here pairing "Crown Jewel" the kick-ass, sophomore album by Colorado Springs hard rock band the Dirty Kings and a Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA from New Belgium Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Dirty Kings
• Title: "Crown Jewel"
• Recorded: 2021 at Avalanche Recording Studio in Northglenn, Colorado
• Release date: October 1st, 2021 (2nd full-length studio album by Dirty Kings)
• Record company: Plexi Dragon Music
• Production: Dirty Kings
• Album cover art: Chris Bishop
• Personnel: Jameson Becker (drums and backing vocals), Wade Cleaton (bass guitar and backing vocals), Shawn "Diggler" Fallahi (lead and rhythm guitars), John Gaster (lead and rhythm guitars, and backing vocals), and Andrew Sample (lead and backing vocals)
• Musical style: Hard rock, rock and roll, and a little heavy metal
• Sound: With influence from '70s hard rockers like AC/DC, Kiss, and UFO, the sound on "Crown Jewel" is pure, high octane, in-your-face rock and roll!  And if you thought their debut album was great, this is a step beyond!
• Major themes: Rebellion, rock and roll, danger, life, relationships, desire, foolishness, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Yes Man Alive"
2. "Locomotive Heart (Bloody Marie)"
3. "Crown Jewel"
4. "Let It Lie"
5. "Nowhere Fast"
6. "Trip Of Fools"
7. "Marquee Lady"
8. "Diggler's Delight"
9. "Shot To The Sky"
10. "Strangerous Ways"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Company (Fort Collins, Colorado)
• Website: http://www.newbelgium.com/
• Brew: Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA
• Style: American Double / Imperial IPA 
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 9.0%
• IBUs: 70
• Pour: The Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA pours a slightly hazy copper-amber with a frothy and creamy, bright white head that displays lots of intricate and layered lacing throughout.
• Nose: The nose is dank, earthy, citrusy, and malty.  There are aromas of strong pine resin, grapefruit rind, tangerine peel, orange peel and juice, herbal tea, alight stone fruit, graham cracker, and caramel".
• Taste: The taste is characterized by piney, citrusy, and malty flavors.  There are notes of fresh cut pine, pink grapefruit juice, tangerine, orange zest, black tea, burnt toffee,
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is crisp, yet oily with a bittersweet and slightly boozy finish.

Overall pairing: The punchy and aggressive, yet complex flavors and aromas of New Belgium's great Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA is perfect for the power and energy of the Dirty Kings!  Those big pine and citrus notes are great for the straightforward rocking aggression, while the sweeter malt notes are great for the wonderful harmonies and overall grooves!

Cheers!!  Rock on!!

November 7th, 2024 - We Don't Fear Your God, Big Bad Baptist... But We Do Want His Coquito!

 

Good evening and happy Thursday evil-doers, metal maniacs, and craft beer freaks!  The Meista here tonight paying homage to our brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico with a pairing of a bold and boozy Big Bad Baptist Coquito from Epic Brewing Company and "We Don't Fear Your God", the 4th kick-ass album by the mighty Puerto Rican metal band Dantesco!  Hell yeah!  This pairing is dedicated to the memory of the late Erico La Bestia... rest in power Erico!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Dantesco
• Title: "We Don't Fear Your God"
• Recorded: 2013 at Black Cat Studios, Rua Studios, Casitas de la Selva, and Guavate in Puerto Rico
• Release date: June 28th, 2013 (4th full length album by Dantesco)
• Record company: Inframundo Records / Barbarian Wrath
• Production: Eric Morales and Dennis Torres
• Album cover art: Dimitar Nikolov
• Personnel: Joel Carrasquillo (lead guitars), Ramón de Jesús (lead and classical guitars, and bass), Erico La Bestia (lead vocals), Enrique ov Khaos (drums), and Raly Vega (bass)
• Guest musicians: Dennis Torres (lead guitars)
• Musical style: Doom metal, traditional metal, power metal
• Sound: In the tradition of doom metal bands like Candlemass, Sorcerer, and Trouble, and traditional metal bands like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, yet fresh and original, the sound on "We Don't Fear Your God" is wonderfully powerful, dark, and engaging, and highlights the prowess of these master musicians!  Erico La Bestia's unique vocal approach seems, at times to channel Messiah Marcolin and at other times, Graham Bonnet.
• Major themes: Darkness, death, history, mythology, survival, freedom, deception, evil, etc.
• Notes: Sadly, Erico La Bestia passed away in 2021, so the band's future is currently unknown.
• Tracks: 
1. "Intro: Tambores De Guerra"
2. "We Don't Fear Your God"
3. "Betrayer"
4. "...Of Darkness"
5. "At The Hill Of The Ravens"
6. "Blood Of The Saints"
7. "Consolament"
8. "A Brother Has Fallen"
   
9. "Strange Fruit Sonata"
10. "Burnt"
11. "The Conqueror Worm"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Epic Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://www.epicbrewing.com/
• Brew: Big Bad Baptist Coquito
• Style: Imperial Stout
• Serving: 22 ounce bottle
• ABV: 12.8%
• Ingredients: "Inspired by the classic Puerto Rican cocktail, Coquito is aged in rum and whiskey barrels with rum-soaked coconut, then finished with cinnamon and vanilla."  Made with Marris Otter, 2-Row, Light Munich, Chocolate Malt, Black Malt, and Roasted Barley, along with Nugget, Chinook, and Cascade hops, and cinnamon and vanilla extract
• Pour: The Big Bad Baptist Coquito pours a beautiful black... black as hell, black as the night sky, black as mud with a very thin mocha head with good retention and lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by aromas of bittersweet cooking chocolate, rich planting soil, dark roasted espresso beans, black licorice, rich vanilla, spicy cinnamon, oak, spiced rum and rich bourbon, coconut, along with sweet toffee. 
• Taste: The flavor is characterized by huge notes of dark and milk chocolate, cinnamon, vanilla, black coffee, and bourbon and rum, with more subtle notes of dark toasted bread, fresh cream, burnt toffee, and molasses.
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with minimal carbonation, the Big Bad Baptist Coquito's mouthfeel is sticky, velvety, and chunky.  The finish is nice and chewy and velvety smooth with a dry mocha goodness that lingers.

Overall pairing: If you are going to pair anything with the mighty Dantesco, it has to make a statement and a bold statement at that!  I think the Big Bad Baptist Coquito from Epic fits that bill quite nicely... don't you?  The huge, complex flavors are perfect for the musical depth, intensity, and aggression found on "We Don't Fear Your God" while the higher ABV and bitter coffee notes lend themselves well to the darker thematic elements of the album!

Salud and hails!!