October 9th, 2026 - A Romulan Ale Live On Earth!

 

Hello and happy Friday beer freaks and space travelers!  The Meista here today pairing the brilliant "Live On Earth", a live album by Arjen A. Lucassen's Star One and a Romulan Ale from the long-gone Star Trek Experience in Las Vegas and brewed by Cervecería Centro Americana!  This one is dedicated to my friend Bill Dineen... cheers and thanks for the beers my friend!  And it is also dedicated to the memory of the late, great Mel Krusell... R.I.P.!

Album Info:

• Artist: Arjen A. Lucassen's Star One
• Title: "Live On Earth"
• Recorded: October 5th, 2002 live at Lucky & Co in Rijssen, Netherlands
• Release date: April 29th, 2003 (1st and only live album by Star One... thus far)
• Record company: Inside Out Music
• Production: Arjen Anthony Lucassen
• Album cover art: Mattias Norén and Vincent Difate
• Personnel: Russell Allen (vocals), Floor Jansen (vocals), Arjen Anthony Lucassen (guitars, synthesizer, and vocals), Robert Soeterboek (vocals), Joost van den Broek (keyboards), Peter Vink (bass), Ed Warby (drums), and Damian Wilson (vocals)
• Additional musicians: Ewa Albering (flute), Irene Jansen (backing vocals), and Edward Reekers (vocals)
• Musical style: Progressive metal, progressive rock, space metal, heavy metal
• Sound: Complex, inventive, imaginative, and totally rocking, "Live On Earth" is an amazing live performance that captures not only the brilliance of Lucassen's songwriting, but the vigor and intensity of these performers!
• Major themes: With songs from the first Star One album and various songs from the Ayreon catalog, the songs on "Live On Earth" deal with science fiction and fantasy concepts taken from movies, television, books, and Lucassen's own brilliant mind.  Themes include space travel, life and death, mythology, gods, aliens, violence, fear, adventure, survival, etc.
• Tracks:  

1. "Lift Off"
2. "Set Your Controls"
3. "High Moon"
4. "Dreamtime"
5. "Eyes Of Time"
6. "Songs Of The Ocean"
7. "Dawn Of A Million Souls"
8. "The Dream Sequencer"
9. "Into The Black Hole"
10. "Actual Fantasy"
11. "Valley Of The Queens"
12. "Isis And Osiris"
13. "Amazing Flight In Space"
14. "Intergalactic Space Crusaders"
15. "Castle Hall"
16. "The Eye Of Ra"
17. "Starchild"
18. "The Two Gates"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Cervecería Centro Americana (Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala)
• Brew: Romulan Ale
• Style: American Adjunct Lager
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: not listed
• Pour: The Romulan Ale pours a deep turquois, blue-green hue.
• I'm not going to post the usual tasting notes because this beer is over 20 years old and is basically undrinkable.  It has been sitting in my buddies closet since he bought it way back at the Star Trek Experience in Las Vegas.  It is completely flat and totally oxidized... but it looks cool!

Overall pairing: Although undrinkable, the look of the Romulan Ale is perfect for the complex, yet heavy-duty rockin' metal of Arjen A. Lucassen's Star One "Live On Earth" album!  'Nuff said!

Cheers!!  Salud!!  Gezondheid!!

October 4th, 2026 - A Couple of Troopers

 

Hey there metal maniacs!  Happy Sunday!  How about a double dose of Eddie to end the weekend the right way?  That's right... the Meista is here with Iron Maiden's "The Trooper" Maxi Single and a Trooper West Coast IPA from Lagunitas Brewing Company!!   Hell yeah!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Iron Maiden
• Title: "The Trooper" Maxi Single
• Recorded: 1983
• Release date: June 20th, 1983 (9th single released by Iron Maiden)
• Record company: EMI 
• Production: Martin Birch
• Album cover art: Derek Riggs 
• Personnel: Bruce Dickinson (lead vocals), Steve Harris (bass guitar), Nicko McBrain (drums), Dave Murray (guitars), and Adrian Smith (guitars)
• Musical style: Heavy metal
• Sound: Fast-paced and characterized by galloping bass work, soaring guitars, thunderous drums, and Dickinson's explosive vocals, "The Trooper" is not only definitive Maiden, but definitive early '80s metal in general!  And the cover of Jethro Tull's "Cross-Eyed Mary" is excellent!
• Major themes: Based on the Charge of the Light Brigade at the Battle of Balaclava in 1854, themes on "The Trooper" include war, violence, death, history, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "The Trooper"
2. "Cross-Eyed Mary" (Jethro Tull cover)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Lagunitas Brewing Company (Petaluma, California)
• Website: http://www.lagunitas.com/
• Brew: Trooper West Coast IPA
• Style: India Pale Ale (IPA) 
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 6.6%
• Pour: The Trooper West Coast IPA pours a fairly clear, bright golden-yellow hue with bright white, frothy, 1-finger head with great retention and lots of sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is nice blend of citrusy, herbal, and dank aromas.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, tangerine, wet pine, herbal tea, and soft toffee.
• Taste: The taste of the Trooper West Coast IPA follows the nose with lots of hop and more subtle malt flavors.  There are notes of pink grapefruit, tangerine, lemon zest, toasted biscuit, iced tea, and soft caramel/toffee. 
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is crisp and slightly oily with a dry, slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: Visually and theoretically speaking, this pairing is obvious.  And coming in at only 6.6% ABV, you can through back a few of these crisp and hoppy Trooper West Coat IPAs whilst pumping your fist and banging your head to the might and brilliance that is Iron Maiden's "The Trooper" Maxi Singl!!

UP THE IRONS!!!  Cheers!!

October 3rd, 2026 - My Recurring Dream of New Zealand Pilsners

 

Hello and happy Saturday craft beer fans, and rock and rollers!  The Meista here on this sunny Saturday with a pairing of "Recurring Dream: The Very Best of Crowded House" and "Special Edition Live Album" by Crowded House and a crisp and delicious New Zealand Pilsner from the folks at Helper Beer! 

Album Info: 

• Artist: Crowded House
• Title: "Recurring Dream: The Very Best of Crowded House" and "Special Edition Live Album"
• Recorded: 1986 through 1993 at various studios and venues in Los Angeles, California, Melbourne, Australia, Newcastle, Australia, Atlanta, Georgia, and Karekare Beach, New Zealand
  Release date: June 24th, 1996 (1st compilation album by Crowded House)
• Record company: Capitol Records
• Production: Mitchell Froom, Neil Finn, and Tchad Blake
• Album cover art: Nick Seymour
• Personnel: Neil Finn (lead vocals, guitars, keyboards, and percussion), Tim Finn (piano, guitars, and backing vocals), Mark Hart (keyboards, electric and acoustic guitars, lap steel guitar, mandolin, and backing vocals), Paul Hester (drums and backing vocals), Peter Jones (drums), and Nick Seymour (bass, backing vocals, and keyboards)
• Musical style: Rock, pop, alternative rock
• Sound: Blending well-written, melodic songs with sharp, thoughtful lyrics, Crowded House's sound is totally engaging, upbeat, and richly textured pop rock sensibility with elements of Irish folk music and traditional Māori music.
• Major themes: Life, love, relationships, emotions, loss, hope, pain, freedom, reality, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Weather With You"
2. "World Where You Live"
3. "Fall At Your Feet"
4. "Locked Out"
5. "Don't Dream It's Over"
6. "Into Temptation"
7. "Pineapple Head"
8. "When You Come"
9. "Private Universe"
10. "Not The Girl You Think You Are"
11. "Instinct"
12. "I Feel Possessed"
13. "Four Seasons In One Day"
14. "It's Only Natural"
15. "Distant Sun"
16. "Something So Strong"
17. "Mean To Me"
    
18. "Better Be Home Soon"
19. "Everything Is Good For You"

Special Edition Live Album tracks: 

1. "There Goes God"
2. "Newcastle Jam"
3. "Love You Till The Day I Die"
4. "Hole In The River"
5. "Private Universe"
6. "Pineapple Head"
7. "How Will You Go"
8. "Left Hand"
9. "Whispers And Moans"
10. "Kill Eye"
11. "Fingers Of Love"
12. "Don't Dream It's Over"
13. "When You Come"
14. "Sister Madly"
15. "In My Command"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Helper Beer (Helper, Utah)
• Website: https://www.helperbeer.com/
• Brew: New Zealand Pilsner
• Style: New Zealand-style Pilsner
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Ingredients: 
• Pour: The New Zealand Pilsner pours a crystal clear, golden-yellow hue with a thin and bubbly bright white head that dissipates fairly quickly, leaving only light lacing.
• Nose: The nose is a blend of very mellow grainy, slightly musty, and grassy aromas.  There are notes of pale grains, very light cereal grains, crackery biscuit, a hint of summer grass, a hint of citrus and kiwi, and a touch of wildflowers. 
• Taste: Following the nose, the taste of the New Zealand Pilsner is grainy, slightly grassy, slightly fruity, and crackery.  There are notes of pale malts, toasted white bread, grassy hops, Saltine crackers, and a hint of lemongrass.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium in body with lots of bubbly carbonation, the mouthfeel is very crisp and smooth with a very clean, very dry finish.

Overall pairing: The crisp and smooth flavors of the Helper New Zealand Pilsner make it a great, drinkable beer!  It has lots of flavor and a slightly hoppy kick... perfect for the rock and roll stylings of the great Crowded House on their wonderful "Recurring Dream: The Very Best of Crowded House" and "Special Edition Live Album" compilation album!  'Nuff said! 

Cheers!

October 2nd, 2026 - Eine Kleine Nachtmusik and an Oktoberfest for Master Cronos!

 

Guten abend evil-doers!  With the news of Conrad "Cronos" Lant's passing earlier this week, let's all do some heavy duty headbangin' with Venom's classic live album, "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" and a crisp smooth, and refreshing Oktoberfest from Pipeworks Brewing!  Hells yeah!

Album Info: 

• Artist: Venom
• Title: "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik"
• Recorded: October 8th, 1985 at Hammersmith Odeon in London, England and April 4th and 5th, 1986 at The Ritz in New York City, New York 
• Release date: December 1986 (2nd live album released by Venom)
• Record company: Neat Records 
• Production: Keith Nichol, Cronos, and Venom
• Album cover art: Abaddon (art design and layout), Fin Costello (photography), Pete Cronin (photography), Tony Mottran (photography), and Tony Gray (artwork and layout)
• Personnel: Anthony "Abaddon" Bray (drums), Jeff "Mantas" Dunn (guitars), and Conrad "Cronos" Lant (bass and vocals) 
• Musical style: Thrash metal, speed metal, black metal
• Sound: This is it... the ultimate, classic live Venom album!  Fast, furious, raw, and aggressive, the tracks convey the pure, classic, unadulterated sound of the original Venom lineup!  Although all the elements are fantastic, for me the strength of the album lies squarely with the incredibly powerful guitar work of Mantas!  It is a sheer joy to behold!
• Major themes: Death, violence, the occult, Satan, Hell, evil, darkness, horror, heavy metal, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Intro"
2. "Too Loud (For The Crowd)"
3. "7 Gates Of Hell"
4. "Leave Me In Hell"
5. "Nightmare"
6. "Countess Bathory"
7. "Die Hard"
8. "Schizo"
9. "Guitar Solo Mantas"
10. "In Nomine Satanas"
11. "Witching Hour"
12. "Black Metal"
13. "The Chanting Of The Priests"
14. "Satanachist"
15. Flytrap"
16. "Warhead"
17. "Buried Alive"
18. "Love Amongst The Dead"
19. "Bass Solo Cronos"
20. "Welcome To Hell"
21. 'Bloodlust"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Pipeworks Brewing Company (Chicago, Illinois)
• Website: https://pdubs.net/
• Brew: Oktoberfest
• Style: Festbier / Märzen / German Lager
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.3%
• Pour: The Oktoberfest pours a fairly clear, golden orange-copper hue with an off-white, frothy, 1+ finger head with good retention and lots of sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is grainy, bready, earthy, and floral.  There are aromas of toasted bread, cracked wheat, honey, and very light, grassy hops.
• Taste: The taste of the Oktoberfest follows the nose with bready, grainy, malty, and earthy flavors.  There are notes of toasted white bread, earthy honey, crackery biscuit, light floral hops, and light caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium-bodied with moderate carbonation and low bitterness, the mouthfeel of the Oktoberfest is very crisp and smooth with a dry, crackery, and clean finish.

Overall pairing: I think the Pipeworks Oktoberfest is the perfect brew to throw back while listening to the bold and aggressive heavy metal beast that is Venom's "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik"!  Those light, bready, and malty flavors make for a great foil to the darker lyrical subject matter and the intense wails of Cronos, while the crisp body is great for the fiery guitar licks of Mantas!

And if you haven't done so already, check out my interviews with Mantas and Abaddon from a few years back: 

• Anthony "Abaddon" Bray: https://youtu.be/DqzpXhJ6vSo
• Jeff "Mantas" Dunn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgQa6i1R91E

Raise a pint or two tonight to the memory of Conrad "Cronos" Lant... HAILS!!

October 1st, 2026 - Hymns of Dissension for a Spiritual Gangster

 

Hello and happy Thursday, metal brethren!  The Meista here today getting some "religion" with a pairing of "Hymns Of Dissension" by Katagory V and a bright and juicy Spiritual Gangster Hazy IPA from the fine folks at Revision Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Katagory V
• Title: "Hymns Of Dissension"
• Recorded: February through April 2007 at Streamline Sound Studios (a.k.a. the K5 dungeon) in Salt Lake City, Utah
• Release date: October 16th, 2007 (4th full-length studio album by Katagory V)
• Record company: Nightmare Records / Burning Star Records
• Production: Mike Fowkes
• Album cover art: Mattias Norén
• Personnel: Lynn Allers (lead vocals), Marc Hanson (guitars), Dustin Mitchell (bass and backing vocals), Curtis Morrell (guitars, keyboards, and backing vocals), and Matt Suiter (drums)
• Guest musician: Gregg "Grog" Bock (vocals on "Forlorn Child")
• Musical style: Heavy metal, progressive metal, power metal
• Sound: With soaring vocals and guitars, a thunderous rhythm section, and intricate, yet engaging melodies, the sound on "Hymns Of Dissension" is emotive, passionate, powerful, and complex... and definitely rockin'!  Another stellar album by the Katagory V boys!
• Major themes: Life, struggles, knowledge, self-reliance, loss, deception, acceptance, freedom, rebellion, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Listen To You, Listen To Me"
2. "The Workforce"
3. "Do Feelings Remain"
4. "Lies And Illusions"
5. "Apologetic Heart"
6. "Kings Of The Valley"
7. "Forlorn Child"
8. "Can You Hear Them"
9. "No Matter What"
10. "Enemy" (bonus track)
11. "Evil Princess"
12. "Sands Of Time" (2007 version)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Revision Brewing Company (Sparks, Nevada) 
• Website: https://revisionbrewing.com/
• Brew: Spiritual Gangster Hazy IPA
• Style: New England-style Hazy India Pale Ale (NEIPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 6.5%
• IBUs: 35
• Pour: The Spiritual Gangster Hazy IPA 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 citrusy ant tropical with more subtle floral and malt elements.  There are aromas of bright tangerine, mandarin oranges, lemon zest, lime juice and peel, grapefruit rind, bright mango, freshly cut melon, wildflowers, light pine resin, freshly cut hay, and soft caramel/toffee.
• Taste: Hop-forward and very juicy, the taste of the Spiritual Gangster Hazy IPA is citrusy, fruity, and slightly sweet.  There are notes of bright tangerine, mandarin orange juice, cantaloupe, lime, mango, light pineapple, guava, resiny pine, and light toffee.
• 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, and mildly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The Revision Spiritual Gangster Hazy IPA is very crushable, yet a very punchy and flavorful brew ... a perfect beer to accompany the aggressive guitar attack, and thought-provoking riffs and themes of Katagory V's killer "Hymns Of Dissension" album!  And those colors on the beer label look great juxtaposed with the wonderful album artwork!  'Nuff said! 

And make sure to check out my interview with the boys from Katagory V here: https://youtu.be/J8Xqo9Yn7ok 

Cheers and hails!! 

September 27th, 2026 - A Sol-Fest in the Womb Ov Borealis

 

Hello there headbangers, evil-doers, and craft brew freaks!  Happy Sunday!  The Meista here today pairing "The Womb Ov Borealis", the killer sophomore album by Tucson death metal project King Ov Wyrms and a delicious and crisp Sol-Fest from the fine folks at Fisher Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!!

Album Info: 

• Artist: King Ov Wyrms 
• Title: "The Womb Ov Borealis"
• Recorded: 2026 at Oneirous Odyssey Sound Studios in Tucson, Arizona
  Release date: October 6th, 2023 (2nd studio album released by King Ov Wyrms)
• Record company: Oneirous Odyssey Records 
• Production: Michael "Oneirous" Sanchez 
• Album cover art: Kristen Georgia
• Personnel: Michael "Oneirous" Sanchez (guitars, bass, and vocals) and Ricky Williams (drums) 
• Guest musician: Derrek Page (bass on "Sulphur", "Desolation Fog", and "To March From Darkness")
• Musical style: Blackened death metal
• Sound: With a nod to classic American death metal like Morbid Angel and the European blackened approach, on "The Womb Ov Borealis", King Ov Wyrms creates a powerful and compelling musical journey into darkness.  It is heavy and aggressive as hell, and is chalk full of killer riffs, powerfully driving rhythms, and infernal growls, and thought-provoking lyrics!  Absolutely stellar!
• Major themes: Death, darkness, desolation, sorrow, mythology, time, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "In Aeons We Spoke"
2. "Grave Ov Birth"
3. "Sulphur"
4. "Desolation Fog"
5. "To March From Darkness"
6. "Illusory Veil"
7. "Sightless Vision"
8. "What Time Has Wrought"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Fisher Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://www.fisherbeer.com/
• Brew: Sol-Fest
• Style: German Lager / Oktoberfest
• Serving: 32 ounce crowler can
• ABV: 5.0% 
• IBUs: 10
• Ingredients: Locally grown and malted Pilsner and Munich barley from Solstice Malting
• Pour: The Sol-Fest pours a clear, deep copper hue with a billowy, halft finger, bright white head that dissipates rather quickly to a thin ring with light lacing.
• Nose: The nose is malty, bready, grainy, slightly nutty, and slightly grassy.  There are aromas of toasted barley, crackery biscuit, light grassy hops, cereal grains, roasted hazelnuts, and toasted bread crust. 
• Taste: The taste of the Sol-Fest follows the nose with lots of malty, crackery, light grassy, and hearty bready flavors.  There are notes of toasted barley, biscuit, toasted bread, and a hint of grassy hops.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium-bodied and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel is very crisp, yet smooth with a very dry, crackery, and clean finish.

Overall pairing: The Fisher Sol-Fest is a crushable, easy drinking, yet very flavorful brew... a great foil to the intense death metal onslaught of King Ov Wyrms!  Those bright and crackery flavors work great with the overall heaviness of the album, while the maltier notes go great with the aggression! 

Cheers!!  Prost!!  Salud!!  Hails!!

September 26th, 2026 - Odin's Ally, Tyr

 

Hello and happy Saturday headbangers and artisan brew fans!  The Meista here today pairing Black Sabbath's very underrated, excellent "Tyr" and a very delicious, hoppy, and crushable Odin's Ally Hazy IPA from the fine folks at Mother Earth Brew Company!  

Album Info:

• Artist: Black Sabbath
• Title: "Tyr" 
• Recorded: February through June 1990 at Monnow Valley Studios in Rockfield, Monmouthshire, Wales and Woodcray Studios in Wokingham, Berkshire, England 
• Release date: August 20th, 1990 (15th studio album by Black Sabbath)
• Record company: I.R.S. Records
• Production: Tony Iommi and Cozy Powell
• Album cover art: Andie Airfix aka Satori 
• Personnel: Tony Iommi (guitar), Tony Martin (vocals), Neil Murray (bass), Geoff Nicholls (keyboards), and Cozy Powell (drums) 
• Musical style: Heavy metal, doom metal
• Sound: A criminally underrated album, the sound on "Tyr" follows a similar pattern to the Sabbath vibe in the late '80s and early '90s with Martin's powerful vocals masterfully blended with a compelling heavy metal tapestry.  Iommi's riffs are as stellar as ever and Murray and Powell lay down a face-melting and thunderous rhythm!
• Major themes: Power and might, good vs. evil, darkness, mythology, the occult, paganism, etc.
• Tracks:  

1. "Anno Mundi (The Vision)"
2. "The Law Maker"
3. "Jerusalem"
4. "The Sabbath Stones"
5. "The Battle Of Tyr"
6. "Odin's Court"
7. "Valhalla"
8. "Feels Good To Me"
9. "Heaven In Black"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Mother Earth Brewing Company (Vista, California and Nampa, Idaho)
• Website: https://www.motherearthbrewco.com/
• Brew: Odin's Ally Hazy IPA 
• Style: New England-style Hazy India Pale Ale (NEIPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 7.2%
• IBUs: 25
• Ingredients: Elani, Nelson, Strata, and Citra Cryo hops 
• Pour: The Odin's Ally Hazy IPA pours a very hazy, pale golden-yellow hue with a frothy, bright white, 1-finger head with good retention and sudsy, sticky lacing.
• Nose: The nose is very citrusy and tropical with more subtle floral and malt elements.  There are aromas of tangerine, freshly squeezed orange juice, orange zest, lemon zest, lime juice and zest, grapefruit rind, bright mango, stone fruit (soft peach and dried apricot), light pine, wildflowers, freshly picked and cut strawberries, grassy hay, and light caramel/toffee.
• Taste: Fruit-forward and very juicy, the taste of the Odin's Ally Hazy IPA is citrusy, fruity, and slightly sweet.  There are notes of tangerine, orange juice, orange pith, juicy lime, Sprite, mango, passion fruit, guava, a hint of pineapple, sweet peach, ripe strawberries, a hint of pine resin, 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, slightly boozy, pillowy-soft finish.

Overall pairing: Those intricate and bold, yet very drinkable flavors of Odin's Ally are perfect for the complex sound, depth of songwriting, and musical prowess of the mighty Sabbath boys!  The boldness and complexity of the brew is a wonderful companion the power of each member of Black Sabbath and their amazing performances on "Tyr"!  'Nuff said!

Cheers and hails!!