August 28th, 2026 - Postcards From the 119 Show in London

 

Buondì metal maniacs and beer freaks of all ages!  Happy Friday!  Your drinking buddy the Meista getting a little wild and a little aggressive with a Postcards Italian Style Pilsner from Lumberbeard Brewing and "The 119 Show - Live In London" 2CD & DVD Boxed Set, the kick-ass live album by mighty Italian goth metal band Lacuna Coil!  Hell yeah!!  Cheers!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Lacuna Coil
• Title: "The 119 Show - Live In London" 2CD & DVD Boxed Set
• Recorded: in London, England
• Release date: November 9th, 2018 (1st live album released by Lacuna Coil)
• Record company: Century Media Records
• Production: Fulvio Compagnucci
• Album cover art: Nora Dirkling
• Personnel: Diego Cavallotti (guitars), Andrea Ferro (vocals), Ryan Folden (drums), Cristina Scabbia (vocals), Marco Coti Zelati (bass)
• Guest musician: Silvia Zanaboni (piano)
• Musical style: Gothic metal, alternative metal/rock, metalcore with elements of groove metal and nu metal
• Sound: Interweaving their older, more gothic sound with the more hard-hitting metal aspects, Lacuna Coil once again produces a mesmerizing, heavy, dark, atmospheric, yet aggressive album!  As always, the vocal interplay between Ferro and Scabbia is absolutely stunning, coupled so very well with the band's dark musical vision!
• Major themes: Life, disconnection, darkness, hate, survival, anger, resentment, death, loss, connection, pain, isolation, sorrow, etc.  
• Tracks: 

CD 1:

1. "Intro"
2. "A Current Obsession"
3. "1.19"
4. "My Wings"
5. "End Of Time"
6. "Blood, Tears, Dust"
7. "Swamped"
8. "The Army Inside"
9. "Veins Of Glass"
10. "One Cold Day"
11. "The House Of Shame"
12. "When A Dead Man Walks"
13. "Tight Rope"
14. "Soul Into Hades"
15. "Hyperfast"

CD 2:

1. "I Like It"
2. "Heaven's A Lie"
3. "Senzafine"
4. "Closer"
5. "Comalies"
6. "Our Truth"
7. "Intermezzo"
8. "Falling"
9. "Wide Awake"
10. "I Forgive (But I Won't Forget Your Name)"
11. "Enjoy The Silence" (Depche Mode cover)
12. "Nothing Stands In Our Way"

DVD:

1. "Intro"
2. "A Current Obsession"
3. "1.19"
4. "My Wings"
5. "End Of Time"
6. "Blood, Tears, Dust"
7. "Swamped"
8. "The Army Inside"
9. "Veins Of Glass"
10. "One Cold Day"
11. "The House Of Shame"
12. "When A Dead Man Walks"
13. "Tight Rope"
14. "Soul Into Hades"
15. "Hyperfast"
16. "I Like It"
17. "Heaven's A Lie"
18. "Senzafine"
19. "Closer"
20. "Comalies"
21. "Our Truth"
22. "Intermezzo"
23. "Falling"
24. "Wide Awake"
25. "I Forgive (But I Won't Forget Your Name)"
26. "Enjoy The Silence" (Depche Mode cover)
27. "Nothing Stands In Our Way"
28. "Final Credits"
29. "Behind The Curtain"
30. "Enter The Coil"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Lumberbeard Brewing (Spokane, Washington)
• Website: https://lumberbeardbrewing.com/
• Brew: Postcards Italian Style Pilsner
• Style: Italian Pilsner
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Ingredients: Saphir and Saaz hops
• Pour: The Postcards pours a clear, golden yellow hue with a thin, yet frothy, bright white head with good retention and sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is grainy, grassy, toasty, and slightly citrusy.  There are aromas of cracked wheat, cereal grains, freshly cut hay, orange zest, lemongrass, lemon zest, a splash of honey, and a healthy dose of grassy and noble hops.
• Taste: The taste of the Postcards follows the nose with grassy, citrusy, biscuity, and grainy flavors.  There are notes of lightly toasted white bread, crackery biscuit, stoneground crackers, lemon zest, orange peel, and a hint of raw honey.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium-bodied and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Postcards is very crisp and smooth with a very dry, slightly bitter, yet clean finish.

Overall pairing: The crushable, inviting, yet complex flavors and aromas of the Lumberbeard Postcards Italian Style Pilsner is exactly the kind of beer you want when blasting the highly intense, emotive, sonic punch that is the mighty Lacuna Coil!  The bright, grainy flavors make a wonderful foil to the dark intensity of the Lacuna Coil's musical approach, while the subtly hoppy bite is perfect for the more aggressive elements.  I also think the "The 119 Show - Live In London" album artwork and the can label work really well together.  'Nuff said!

Salute and hails!!

August 23rd, 2026 - The Alchemy Project is Creating Flavor Nuggets

 

Hello and happy Sunday metalheads and craft beer fans!  The Meista here with another great pairing for ya... a deliciously crisp and crushable Flavor Nuggets Version Twenty Hazy IPA from Lumberbeard Brewing and Epica's the fantastic "The Alchemy Project" EP!

Album Info: 

• Artist: Epica
• Title: "The Alchemy Project" EP
• Recorded: 2022 at Sandlane Recording Facilities in Rijen, the Netherlands
• Release date: November 11th, 2022 (7th studio EP by Epica)
• Record company: Atomic Fire Records
• Production: Joost van den Broek
• Album cover art: Chantik Photography (photography), Stefan Heilemann (art direction), Simone Simons (photography), and Tim Tronckoe (photography)
• Personnel: Isaac Delahaye (lead guitars and backing vocals), Mark Jansen (rhythm guitars, orchestration, and growling vocals), Coen Janssen (keyboards, piano, and orchestration), Simone Simons (vocals), Rob van der Loo (bass), and Ariën van Weesenbeek (drums, spoken word, and additional growling vocals) 
• Guest and session musicians: Fabio Bartoletti (lead guitar on "The Great Tribulation"), Veronica Bordacchini (vocals on "The Great Tribulation"), Martha Bosch (choir vocals), Marcela Bovio (backing vocals), Adriaan Breunis (viola), Sven de Caluwé (vocals on "Human Devastation"), Martijn de Graaf Bierbrauwer (bass and choir vocals), Ian de Jong (violin), Marije de Jong (cello), Loes Dooren (violin), An Douwes (choir vocals), Guido Groenland (choir vocals), Henk Gunneman (choir vocals), Jan Hoffmann (choir vocals), Tommy Karevik (lead vocals on "Wake The World"), Frédérique Klooster (choir vocals), Karen Langendonk (choir vocals), Phil Lanzon (Hammond organ on "Wake The World"), Eilidh Martin (cello), Ben Mathot (violin), Mark Mulder (viola), Jørgen Munkeby (saxophone, guitar, and vocals on "The Final Lullaby"), Myrkur (vocals on "Sirens - Of Blood And Water"), Annemieke Nuijten (choir vocals), Francesco Paoli (vocals and orchestration on "The Great Tribulation"), Sabine Poiesz (violin), Cécile Roovers (choir vocals), Henri Sattler (guitars and vocals on "Human Devastation"), Frank Schiphorst (lead and rhythm guitars and orchestration on "Death Is Not The End (The Remnants Of War)"), Alfrun Schmid (choir vocals), Asim Searah (guitars and vocals on "The Minder"), Niilo Sevänen (vocals on "The Miner"), Björn "Speed" Strid (vocals on "Death Is Not The End (The Remnants Of War)"), Angus van Grevenbroek (bass and vocals), Roel van Helden (drums on "The Miner"), Maria van Nieukerken (conductor), Linda van Summeren (backing vocals), Joost van Velzen (choir vocals), René Veen (choir vocals), Annemarie Verburg (choir vocals), Annette Vermeulen (choir vocals), and Charlotte Wessels (vocals on "Sirens - Of Blood And Water")
• Musical style: Symphonic metal, gothic metal, progressive metal with elements of death metal
• Sound: Bombastic, uplifting, symphonic, theatrical, cinematic... the sound on Epica's wonderful "The Alchemy Project" is a powerful and stunning musical journey!  It blends beautiful orchestral movements with massive metal intensity... and of course Simone Simons' profoundly beautiful and amazing vocals! 
• Major themes: Themes on the album include solitude, death, destruction, oblivion, music, violence, war, sadness, chaos, etc. 
• Tracks: 

1. "The Great Tribulation"
2. "Wake The World"
3. "The Final Lullaby"
4. "Sirens - Of Blood And Water"
5. "Death Is Not The End (The Remnants Of War)"
6. "Human Devastation"
7. "The Miner"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Lumberbeard Brewing (Spokane, Washington)
• Website: https://lumberbeardbrewing.com/
• Brew: Flavor Nuggets Version Twenty Hazy IPA
• Style: Hazy India Pale Ale (IPA) / New England IPA
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 6.8%
• Ingredients: Mosaic, El Dorado and Motueka hops
• Pour: The Flavor Nuggets pours a hazy, bright golden-yellow hue with a frothy, bright white, 1+ finger head with good retention and lots of sticky, layered lacing.
• Nose: The nose of the Flavor Nuggets is fruity, citrusy, and slightly sweet.  There are aromas of orange juice, grapefruit, lemon zest, freshly sliced kiwis, guava, passionfruit, fresh pineapple, light pale malts, and a hint of pine.
• Taste: Like the nose, the taste is citrusy, tropical, slightly sharp, and slightly sweet.  There are notes of orange juice, guava, passionfruit, pineapple, and kiwi along with lemon zest, pale malts, and a splash of honey.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Flavor Nuggets is crisp and smooth with a pillow soft, yet dry, clean finish.

Overall pairing: The Flavor Nuggets Version Twenty Hazy IPA from Lumberbeard Brewing is a bright, tasty, crisp, and inviting brew... a perfect for the complexities, intricacies, and beauty of  Epica's "The Alchemy Project"!  The flavors and aromas of this tasty brew blend wonderfully well with Simone's beautiful and soaring vocal prowess, the explosive guitars, soaring keyboards, and thunderous bombast of the bass and drums, as well as the amazing choir and orchestra!  'Nuff said!

Proost!!  And hails!!

August 22nd, 2026 - Hanging on the Telephone of Your Parallel Landlines

 

Hey there!  Time for some good old punky, poppy '70s rock and roll with your drinkin' buddy the Meista... today I'm here pairing the great "Parallel Lines" by Blondie and a Landline West Coast Double IPA from Red Rock Brewery!

Album Info:

• Artist: Blondie
• Title: "Parallel Lines"
• Recorded: June through July 1978 at the Record Plant in New York City, New York
  Release date: September 1978 (3rd studio album by Blondie)
• Record company: Chrysalis Records
• Production: Mike Chapman
• Album cover art: Ramey Communications (art direction and design) and Edo Bertoglio (photography)
• Personnel: Clem Burke (drums), Jimmy Destri (electronic keyboards), Nigel Harrison (bass guitar), Deborah Harry (lead vocals), Frank Infante (guitars), and  Chris Stein (guitars, E-bow, and backing vocals)
• Guest musician: Robert Fripp (guitar on "Fade Away And Radiate") and Mike Chapman (backing vocals)
• Musical style: Power pop, pop rock, proto New Wave, post-punk with elements of 1950s rock and roll, rockabilly, and disco
• Sound: In many ways, "Parallel Lines" defines the sound of the late '70s for me... and definitely defines my childhood.  Apart from the commercially viable, meticulously produced sound of the album and Harry's incredibly versatile voice, the guitar/bass work is really quite amazing and often overlooked in my opinion as is Clem's drum work.
• Major themes: Romantic, yet also fatalistic, themes on "Parallel Lines" include obsession, stalking, sex, lust, desire, love, beauty, vulnerability, anger, etc.
• Notes: Of the recording sessions, producer Chapman stated the following: "The Blondies were tough in the studio, real tough. None of them liked each other, except Chris and Debbie, and there was so much animosity. They were really, really juvenile in their approach to life—a classic New York underground rock band—and they didn't give a fuck about anything. They just wanted to have fun and didn't want to work too hard getting it."
• Tracks:  

1. "Hanging On The Telephone"
2. "One Way Or Another"
3. "Picture This"
4. "Fade Away And Radiate"
5. "Pretty Baby"
6. "I Know But I Don't Know"
7. "11:59"
8. "Will Anything Happen?"
9. "Sunday Girl"
10. "Heart Of Glass"
11. "I'm Gonna Love You Too"
12. "Just Go Away"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Red Rock Brewery (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://redrockbrewing.com/
• Brew: Landline West Coast Double IPA
• Style: West Coast India Pale Ale (IPA) / Double IPA
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 8.8%
• Ingredients: Mosaic, Simcoe, Nectaron and Strata hops
• Pour: The Landline pours a hazy, bright golden-yellow hue with a frothy, bright white, half-finger head with good retention and sudsy, soapy lacing
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, floral, earthy, and dank.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind and juice, orange and lemon zest, tangerine, a splash of mango, light melon, wet pine needles, wildflowers, fresh herbs, and light caramel/toffee.
• Taste: The taste of the Landline follows the nose with bright citrus, floral, resinous, and toasted malt flavors.  There are notes of pink grapefruit juice, orange juice, pineapple juice, pine, toasted barley, pale malt, light herbs, and soft caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel is characterized by a "clean, resinous hop profile and a firm malt backbone".  It is crisp, yet smooth a slighly boozy with a dry, slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The bold, citrusy and floral hoppy notes of the Red Rock Landline West Coast Double IPA work well as both a companion and as a foil to the sometimes loving and sometimes harsh notes of Blondie's defining "Parallel Lines".  There is a timeless resonance in both the album and the brew that intertwines in a beautiful and aggressive dance!

Cheers!!

August 21st, 2026 - That Double IPA Hits Like a Led Zeppelin!

 

Hello and happy Friday rockers, rollers, and hopheads!  Your pal the Meista here today on my 55th birthday (yikes!) pairing one of my all-time favorite beers from one of my all-time favorite breweries with one of my all-time favorite bands!  I'm pairing the self-titled boxed set from the mighty Led Zeppelin and bold and hoppy Fisher Double IPA from the fine folks at Fisher Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!! 

This pairing is lovingly dedicated to the late, great Lloyd Laws!  This boxed set belonged to Lloyd, and his lovely widow Connie kindly gave to me recently.  Much love to Lloyd and Connie!  Rest in power Lloyd!!  We miss you my friend!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Led Zeppelin
• Title: "Led Zeppelin" Boxed Set
• Recorded: October 1968 through December 1978 at various studios
• Release date: October 23rd, 1990 (3rd compilation album and 1st boxed set album by Led Zeppelin)
• Record company: Atlantic Records
• Production: Yves Beauvais, Peter Grant, Jeff Griffin, Jimmy Page, and John Walters
• Album cover art: Richard Hutchinson (design)
• Personnel: John Henry "Bonzo" Bonham (drums, percussion, and backing vocals), John Paul Jones (bass, mandolin, mellotron, organ, keyboards, synthesizer bass, and backing vocals), Jimmy Page (acoustic, electric and pedal steel guitars, theremin, backing vocals, and production), and Robert Plant (lead and backing vocals, and harmonica)
• Additional musicians: Sandy Denny (vocals on "The Battle of Evermore") John Mahoney (programming on "Moby Dick"/"Bonzo's Montreux"), and Ian Stewart (piano on "Rock and Roll")
• Musical style: Hard rock / heavy blues rock with elements of progressive rock, heavy metal, reggae, funk, R&B, and folk rock
• Sound: I won't insult your intelligence by even attempting to describe the monster sound on this boxed set.  Definite, seminal, vast, expansive, important, and brilliant, it definitely stands the test of time and definitely is a masterpiece on so many levels:  a masterpiece in songwriting, performance/execution, and in production!  It's the mighty Zep for Chis' sake!!
• Major themes: Mysticism, fantasy, the blues, pain, sorrow, love, loss, sex, desire, power, valor, mythology, life, death, rebellion, joy, music, relationships, friendship, etc.
• Tracks: 

Disc 1:

1. "Whole Lotta Love"
2. "Heartbreaker"
3. "Communication Breakdown"
4. "Babe I'm Gonne Leave You"
5. "What Is And What Should Never Be"
6. "Thank You"
7. "I Can't Quit You Baby" (Live at the Royal Albert Hall, London, England, 9 January 1970)
8. "Dazed And Confused"
9. "Your Time Is Gonna Come"
10. "Ramble On"
11. "Travelling Riverside Blues" (Live at the BBC 23 June 1969)
12. "Friends"
13. "Celebration Day"
14. "Hey, Hey What Can I Do"
15. "White Summer/Black Mountain Side" (Live at the BBC 27 June 1969)

Disc 2: 

1. "Black Dog"
2. "Over The Hills And Far Away"
3. "Immigrant Song"
4. "The Battle Of Evermore"
5. "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp"
6. "Tangerine"
7. "Going To California"
8. "Since I've Been Loving You"
9. "D'yer Mak'er"
10. "Gallows Pole"
11. "Custard Pie"
12. "Misty Mountain Hop"
13. "Rock And Roll"
14. "The Rain Song"
15. "Stairway To Heaven"

Disc 3: 

1. "Kashmir"
2. "Trampled Under Foot"
3. "For Your Life"
4. "No Quarter"
5. "Dancing Days"
6. "When The Levee Breaks"
7. "Achilles Last Stand"
8. "The Song Remains The Same"
9. "Ten Years Gone"
10. "In My Time Of Dying"

Disc 4: 

1. "In The Evening"
2. "Candy Store Rock"
3. "The Ocean"
4. "Ozone Baby"
5. "Houses Of The Holy"
6. "Wearing And Tearing"
7. "Poor Tom"
8. "Nobody's Fault But Mine"
9. "Fool In The Rain"
10. "In The Light"
11. "The Wanton Song"
12. "Moby Dick/Bonzo's Montreux"
13. "I'm Gonna Crawl"
14. "All My Love"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Fisher Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://www.fisherbeer.com//
• Brew: Fisher Double IPA
• Style: Double India Pale Ale (DIPA) 
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 9.5%
• Ingredients: Amarillo and Centennial hop flowers
• Pour: The Fisher Double IPA pours a very hazy, deep bronze hue with a creamy, half finger, off-white head with great retention and lots of sticky, intricate, and layered lacing.
• Nose: The nose is dank, citrusy, floral, herbal, slightly earthy, and malty.  There are notes of grapefruit rind, lemon zest, tangerine, wildflowers, black tea, light onion, hearty bread, a hint of honey, and pale and toasty malts.
• Taste: The taste follows the nose with lots of citrusy, herbal, earthy, and toasted malty and slightly boozy flavors.  There are notes of pink grapefruit juice, orange pith and zest, tangerine, bitter herbs, black tea, grassy, floral, and dank hops, toasted barley, crackery biscuit, and a hint of soft caramel/toffee. 
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is crisp, moderately bitter, yet smooth with a dry, slightly bitter and boozy finish.

Overall pairing: Although I'm not sure any brew can truly do this box set justice, the Fisher Brewing Company's bold and delicious Fisher Double IPA does a pretty fine job of accompanying the swinging grooves, the swing, the heaviness, the fiery guitars, the multilayered depth, the power, and the sheer brilliance of the rock and roll gods known as Led Zeppelin!  'Nuff said!

Cheers!!  Rock on!!  "From Lloyd's heart to your ears"

August 20th, 2026 - Lita & Her Cougar Juice

 

Hey there rockers, rollers, and craft brew lovers!  Happy Thursday!  The Meista here rocking out with "Lita", the 3rd studio album by Lita Ford and a citrusy, crushable, and tasty Cougar Juice American Wheat Ale with Tangerine from my friends at Ogden Beer Company!  Rock on!

Album Info:

• Artist: Lita Ford
• Title: "Lita"
• Recorded: 1987 at Record One in Los Angeles, California
• Release date: February 2nd, 1988 (3rd full-length album by Lita Ford)
• Record company: RCA Records
• Production: Mike Chapman
• Album cover art: Moshe Brakha (photography) and Ria Lewerke (art direction)
• Personnel: Lita Ford (guitars and vocals) with David Ezrin (keyboards), Don Nossov (bass guitar), and Myron Grombacher (drums)
• Additional and guest musicians:  Mike Chapman (backing vocals), Craig Krampf (additional drums and percussion), Llory McDonald (backing vocals), and Ozzy Osbourne (duet vocals on "Close My Eyes Forever")
• Musical style: Hard rock, heavy metal, glam metal
• Sound: Lita's most commercially successful album, "Lita" is riff-driven, energetic, and steeped in '80s bombast!  It highlights her talent as not only a great guitarist and songwriter, but a versatile vocalist as well. 
• Major themes: Rock and roll, sex, desire, love, partying, loss, rebellion, the heavy metal lifestyle, etc.
• Tracks: 
  

1. "Back To The Cave"
2. "Can't Catch Me"
3. "Blueberry"
4. "Kiss Me Deadly"
5. "Falling In And Out Of Love"
6. "Fatal Passion"
7. "Under The Gun"
8. "Broken Dreams"
9. "Close My Eyes Forever"

 Brew Info:

• Brewery: Ogden Beer Company (Ogden, Utah)
• Website: http://www.ogdenbeercompany.com/ 
• Brew: Cougar Juice American Wheat Ale with Tangerine
• Style: Fruited Wheat Beer
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Pour: The Cougar Juice pours a clear, bright, golden-yellow hue with a bright white, half-finger head that dissipates to a thin ring with light, soapy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is a characterized by citrusy, bready, and slightly sweet aromas.  There are aromas of juicy tangerine, orange zest, a hint of lemon zest, freshly baked doughy wheat bread, cracked wheat, and a splashy of honey.
• Taste: Well-balanced and very drinkable, the Cougar Juice is a nice blend of fruity and bready flavors.  There are notes of freshly sliced tangerines, orange zest, light lemon, cracked wheat crackers, and light honey.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium in body and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel is crisp and smooth with a dry, clean finish. 

Overall pairing: The fun, fast-paced, hard rock sound of "Lita" deserves a bright and crushable brew... thus the delightfully tasty and easy-drinking Cougar Juice American Wheat Ale with Tangerine from Ogden Beer Company!  Those citrusy tangerine notes work great with Ms. Ford's sultry vocals, soaring guitars, and the lyrical content while the bready malts go great with the rock and roll punch!  'Nuff said!

Cheers!!  Rock on!!

August 16th, 2026 - Liquid Spectrum of the Infinite Illumination

 

Hello and happy Sunday metal maniacs, evil-doers, and hop freaks!  Your pal the Meista here rocking the hell out with another great pairing for ya... "Infinite Illumination" the most recent and sadly, last album from the phenomenal doom metal band Spirit Adrift and a delicious, juicy, and hoppy Liquid Spectrum Hazy IPA from the fine folks at Mother Earth Brewing Company!  Yes!!  

Album Info:

• Artist: Spirit Adrift
• Title: "Infinite Illumination"
• Recorded: Late 2025 in Texas
• Release date: April 10th, 2026 (6th studio album by Spirit Adrift)
• Record company: 20 Buck Spin
• Production: Jeff Henson
• Album cover art: Lee Guentert (inner sleeve) and Arik Roper (outer sleeve)
• Personnel: Michael Arellano (drums), Jason Dahlke (guitars), Sonny DeCarlo (bass), and Nate Garrett (guitars and vocals)
• Additional musicians: Steve Jansson (lead guitar on "White Death"), James Murphy (lead guitar on "I Am Sustained"), and Arthur Rizk (lead guitar on "Where Once There Was An Ocean")
• Musical style: Doom metal, stoner rock/metal 
• Sound: In the tradition of bands like Black Sabbath, Candlemass, and Trouble, Spirit Adrift wonderfully blends old school doom metal with traditional metal/rock in a fresh and unique way and lays down some heavy duty riffage in the process!  Garrett's vocals are honest, emotive, and powerful, while his and Dahlke's guitar work (along with the guests on the last 3 tracks) is other worldly!  DeCarlo and Arellano bring the heaviness with finesse and artistry!
• Major themes: Death, doom, existentialism, transcendence, history, mythology, philosophy, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Infinite Illumination"
2. "Window Within"
3. "You Will Never Hold The Key"
4. "Born In A Bad Way"
5. "Buried In The Shadow Of The Cross"
6. "White Death"
7. "I Am Sustained"
8. "Where Once There Was An Ocean"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Mother Earth Brewing Company (Vista, California and Nampa, Idaho)
• Website: https://www.motherearthbrewco.com/
• Brew: Liquid Spectrum Hazy IPA 
• Style: New England-style Hazy India Pale Ale (NEIPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 7.2%
• IBUs: 25
• Ingredients: Strata, Galaxy, Mosaic, and Nelson hops
• Pour: The Liquid Spectrum 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, grapefruit rind, bright mango, stone fruit (soft peach and dried apricot), wildflowers, freshly picked and cut strawberries, bubblegum, and soft caramel/toffee.
• Taste: Fruit-forward and very juicy, the taste of the Liquid Spectrum Hazy IPA is citrusy, fruity, and slightly sweet.  There are notes of tangerine, orange juice, orange pith, lime, mango, a hint of pineapple, sweet peach, ripe strawberries, 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: The Liquid Spectrum Hazy IPA from Mother Earth Brewing is a punchy, yet very smooth, drinkable, and refreshing hoppy brew... great for pairing with the heavy hitting doom metal punch that was the legendary Spirit Adrift!  The citrusy and sweet fruit elements of the beer work well as a foil to the heaviness of the band's performance, and the hoppy bitterness fits well with fantastic lyricism and intricate note progressions!  And I love the look of the cool beer can label with the amazing album art of Roper and Guentert! 

My wife and I were fortunate enough to see Spirit Adrift play their final live show on May 28th, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada (opening for the mighty Cryptopsy)!

Cheers and hails!! 

August 15th, 2026 - Conventional Wisdom Would Confirm the Passage of Existence

 

Hello, hails, and happy Saturday evil-doers, metal maniacs, and hopheads!  The Meista here today pairing a hoppy and delicious Conventional Wisdom Pale Ale from my friends at Fisher Brewing Company and "The Passage Of Existence", the kick-ass 5th album from the indelible Florida death metal band Monstrosity!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Monstrosity
• Title: "The Passage Of Existence"
• Recorded: 2018 at Audiohammer Studios in Sanford, Florida, Ascension Sound in Tampa, Florida, and Obituary's Redneck Studios in Gibsonton, Florida  
• Release date: September 7th, 2018 (5th studio album by Monstrosity)
• Record company: Metal Blade Records
• Production: Lee Harrison
• Album cover art: Timbul Cahyono
• Personnel: Matt Barnes (guitars), Mark English (guitars), Lee Harrison (drums and additional keyboards), Mike Hrubovcak (vocals), and Michael Poggione (bass) 
• Guest musician: Chris Ellison (keyboards and effects)
• Musical style: Death metal
• Sound: 
• Major themes: Death, suffering, oblivion, evil, darkness, horror, violence, science fiction, mythology, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Cosmic Pandemia"
2. "Kingdom Of Fire"
3. "Radiated"
4. "Solar Vacuum"
5. "The Proselygeist"
6. "Maelstrom"
7. "Eyes Upon The Abyss"
8. "Dark Matter Invocation"
9. "The Hive"
10. "Eternal Void"
11. "Century"
12. "Slaves To The Evermore"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Fisher Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://www.fisherbeer.com/
• Brew: Conventional Wisdom Pale Ale
• Style: West-Coast Pale Ale 
• Serving: 32 ounce crowler can
• ABV: 5.0%
• IBUs: 45
• Ingredients: Nectaron and Lupulin Amarillo hops
• Pour: The Conventional Wisdom Pale Ale pours a cloudy, light bronze-amber hue with a billowy and frothy, off-white, 1+ finger head with great sustain and lots of sudsy, sticky, and layered lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by citrusy, piney, and slightly fruity aromas along with floral, earthy, dank, and herbal hops, and more subtle sweeter malts.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, tangerine zest, orange zest, wet pine needles, fresh berries, orange herbal tea, wildflowers, doughy bread, toasted malts, and a hint of soft, sweet caramel/toffee.
• Taste: The taste of the Conventional Wisdom Pale Ale is very citrusy, fruity, earthy, and herbal along with crackery maltiness.  There are notes of grapefruit juice, orange pith, tangerine, pine resin, hints of strawberry, black tea, crackery biscuit, and soft caramel/toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is crisp, slightly bitter, yet smooth with a dry, bitter finish

Overall pairing: The bold, hoppy, yet very crushable flavors and aromas of the delightful Conventional Wisdom from Fisher Brewing is a great ale to pair with the intense, crushing power and depth of Monstrosity's "" album!  Those citrusy and herbal hop flavors go well with the aggressive rage while the malty backbone is perfect for the overall heaviness of Harrison and van Erp's powerful rhythms! 

Make sure to check out my interview from a few years ago with Lee Harrison: https://youtu.be/9YBn3gNFyBU !

Hails!!  Cheers!!