October 16th, 2026 - The Citrus Slayer Shows No Mercy

 

Hello and hails my metal brethren and beer-drinking friends!  Today I'm pairing Slayer's monumental and seminal album "Show No Mercy" and a tasty and hoppy Voodoo Ranger Citrus Slayer IPA from the fine folks at New Belgium Brewing!  Hell yeah!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Slayer
• Title: "Show No Mercy"
• Recorded: November 1983 at Track Record Studios in Los Angeles, California
• Release date: December 3rd, 1983 (1st studio album by Slayer)
• Record company: Metal Blade Records
• Production: Slayer and Brian Slagel
• Album cover art: Lawrence R. Reed
• Personnel: Tom Araya (bass and lead vocals), Jeff Hanneman (lead and rhythm guitar), Kerry King (lead and rhythm guitar), and Dave Lombardo (drums)
• Musical style: Thrash metal
• Sound: Raw, blisteringly fast, fiery, furious, and heavy as hell, the sound on "Show No Mercy" is not only defining, it is seminal and not just for Slayer, but for the genre!  This is a no-holds-barred heavy metal onslaught... just as it should be!
• Major themes: Satanism, evil, darkness, war, black magic, destruction, violence, etc.
• Tracks:  

1. "Evil Has No Boundaries"
2. "The Antichrist"
3. "Die By The Sword"
4. "Fight Till Death"
5. "Metalstorm/Face The Slayer"
6. "Black Magic"
7. "Tormentor"
8. "The Final Command"
9. "Crionics"
10. "Show No Mercy"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Company (Fort Collins, Colorado)
• Website: https://www.newbelgium.com/ 
• Brew: Voodoo Ranger Citrus Slayer IPA
• Style: Imperial India Pale Ale (IIPA)
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 9.0%
• Pour: The Voodoo Ranger Citrus Slayer IPA pours a clear, golden-orange hue with a frothy, off-white, 2+ finger head with great retention and lots of sticky, intricate, and layered lacing.
• Nose: The nose is very citrusy, floral, and slightly malty.  There are aromas of fresh squeezed orange juice, tangerine, pink grapefruit, a hint of mango, wildflowers, green hop flowers, caramel, and a hint of booze.
• Taste: The taste of the Voodoo Ranger Citrus Slayer IPA follows the nose with lots of citrusy, punchy, hop-forward, fruit flavors.  There are big notes of orange and tangerine along with more subtle notes of mango, peach, pineapple, pink grapefruit juice, and caramel/toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied and moderately carbonated, the Voodoo Ranger Juice Force IPA's mouthfeel is very crisp and juicy with a dry, slightly boozy, and slightly sweet finish.

Overall pairing: Well, the reason for the pairing is pretty evident, but apart from the name of the brew (Voodoo Ranger Citrus Slayer IPA), the flavors and aromas work really well with the power, originality, and sheer explosiveness of the mighty Slayer's wonderful "Show No Mercy" album!  'Nuff said!

Hails and cheers rivet-heads!!!!

October 11th, 2026 - Rocktoberfest Goddess

 

Hello there rockers, rollers, rivet-heads, and craft brew freaks!  Happy Sunday!  The Meista here today with a great pairing to finish out the weekend... Rock Goddess's debut, self-titled album and a delicious and crisp Rocktoberfest from the fine folks at Fisher Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!!

Album Info: 

• Artist: Rock Goddess
• Title: "Rock Goddess"
• Recorded: 1982 at Jacksons Studios in Rickmansworth, England
• Release date: February 1983 (1st full-length studio album by Rock Goddess)
• Record company: A&M Records
• Production: Vic Maile
• Album cover art: Barbara Reeves (photography and design) 
• Personnel: Tracey Lamb (bass and backing vocals), Jody Turner (guitars and lead vocals), and Julie Turner (drums, percussion, and backing vocals)
• Musical style: NWOBHM, heavy metal, hard rock
• Sound: Pure adrenaline, hard rocking metal in the vein of acts like Girlschool, Joan Jett, KISS, and Samson.  Characterized by sexually charged and emotive lyrics, catchy hard-rockin' riffs, Jody's powerful vocals and soaring guitars, Julie's driving drum work, and Lamb's thumpin' bass work, and wonderful harmonies, Rock Goddess' work is solid, 1980s rockin' goodness!  Songs like "Heartache", "My Angel", "Satisfied Then Crucified", and "Heavy Metal Rock 'n' Roll" are monster rockers in their own right. 
• Major themes: Independence, youth, rebellion, freedom, sex, desire, life, loss, betrayal, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Heartache"
2. "Back To You"
3. "The Love Lingers Still"
4. "To Be Betrayed"
5. "Take Your Love Away"
6. "My Angel"
7. "Satisfied Then Crucified"
8. "Start Running"
9. "One Way Love"
10. "Make My Night"
11. "Heavy Metal Rock 'n' Roll"

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 Rock Goddess!  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! 

And make sure to check out my interview with sisters Jody and Julie Turner here: https://youtu.be/LJPCvrLJKMk and my interview with former bassist Tracey Lamb here: https://youtu.be/r83HrVKTq1w

Cheers!!  Hails!!

October 10th, 2026 - The Freedom of a Paper Airplane at Point Zero

 

Good evening rockers, rollers, and hop-lovers!  The Meista here rockin' out with Jefferson Starship's "Freedom At Point Zero" and a Paper Airplanes Double IPA from the fine folks at Red Rock Brewing Company!

Album Info:

• Artist: Jefferson Starship
• Title: "Freedom At Point Zero"
• Recorded: 1979 at the Record Plant in Los Angeles and Sausalito, California
• Release date: November 1st, 1979 (5th album by Jefferson Starship)
• Record company: Grunt / RCA
• Production: Ron Nevison
• Album cover art: Gary Regester (photography) and Ria Lewerke-Shapiro (art direction)
• Personnel: Craig Chaquico (lead and rhythm guitar), Aynsley Dunbar (drums and percussion), David Freiberg (bass, keyboards, and vocals), Paul Kantner (rhythm guitar, keyboards, and vocals), Pete Sears (bass, keyboards, organ, electric rhythm guitar, and vocals), and Mickey Thomas (vocals)
• Additional musicians: Steven Schuster (horns) and Tower of Power (horns)
• Musical style: Rock and roll, hard rock
• Sound: The sound on "Freedom At Point Zero" is very 1970s big arena rock and roll... and it is damn good and very underrated!  It is melodic, filled with great harmonies and hooks, and rockin'!  The guitar work by Chaquico and vocal range by Thomas is worth the album's price alone!  And it has one of my favorite childhood songs... "Jane"!
• Major themes: Relationships, love, desire, hope, rock and roll, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Jane"
2. "Lightning Rose (Carry the Fire)"  
3. "Things To Come"
4. "Awakening"
5. "Girl With The Hungry Eyes"
6. "Just The Same"
7. "Rock Music"
8. "Fading Lady Light"
9. "Freedom at Point Zero (Climbing Tiger Mountain Through The Sky)"  

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Red Rock Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: www.redrockbrewing.com
• Brew: Paper Airplanes Double IPA 
• Style: West Coast Style Double India Pale Ale (DIPA) / Imperial IPA
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 8.8%
• Ingredients: Citra, Mosaic, Riwaka, and Krush hops
• Pour: The Paper Airplanes Double IPA pours a clear golden yellow hue with a 1+ finger, frothy bright white head with good retention and layered, soapy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, dank, herbal, hoppy, malty, and floral.  There are aromas of wet pine resin, fresh herbs, floral hops, caramel / toffee, passion fruit, kumquat, orange peel, and tangerine.
• Taste: The taste of the Paper Airplanes Double IPA is hoppy, malty, citrusy, herbal, earthy, slightly sweet, and slightly boozy.  There are notes of pine, grapefruit rind, orange peel and pith, black tea, a hint of booze, and a peppery bite.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to ful-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel of Paper Airplanes Double IPA is surprisingly smooth for a bigger IPA, yet it still has some good bite with a slightly bitter and dry finish.

Overall pairing: The straight-forward rockin' goodness that is found on the grooves of "Freedom At Point Zero" LP deserves a delicious, complex, and punchy brew... thus the Paper Airplanes Double IPA from Red Rock Brewing Company!  'Nuff said!

Cheers!!  Rock on!!

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!!