August 30th, 2026 - Do You Think the Headless Children Have Separation Anxiety?

 

Good evening rivet-heads and hopheads!  Let's get back to the metal!  The Meista here tonight with one more pairing for ya today... W.A.S.P.'s killer 4th album "The Headless Children" and a wonderfully juicy and hoppy Separation Anxiety Hazy IPA from the fine folks at Mother Earth Brewing!  Hell yeah!  This pairing goes out to my friend Ollie!  Cheers buddy!

Album Info:

• Artist: W.A.S.P.
• Title: "The Headless Children"
• Recorded: 1988 in Hollywood, California
• Release date: March 21st, 1989 (4th album by W.A.S.P.)
• Record company: Capitol Records
• Production: Blackie Lawless
• Album cover art: John Kosh
• Personnel: Frankie Banali (drums), Chris Holmes (lead guitar), Blackie Lawless (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), and Johnny Rod (bass) 
• Additional musicians: Diana Fennel (backing vocals), Lita Ford (backing vocals), and Ken Hensley (keyboards)
• Musical style: Heavy metal, hard rock
• Sound: The release of "The Headless Children" marked a huge shift in style for the band, more lyrically than musically.  The rather juvenile sexual themes of Blackie Lawless' lyrics from the previous 3 albums were replaced with songs with a much darker and social-political focus... which is also reflected on the album's cover art.  Quite possibly my favorite album by the band, several of the all-time best W.A.S.P. tracks are included on this album: "The Heretic (The Lost Child)", the title track, "Mean Man", "Rebel In The F.D.G.", and classic cover (also of darker themes): "The Real Me" by the Who.  
• Major themes: Violence, poverty, addiction, children of the streets, depression, aggression, rage, madness, war, corruption, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "The Heretic (The Lost Child)"
2. "The Real Me" (The Who cover)
3. "The Headless Children"
4. "Thunderhead"
5. "Mean Man"
6. "The Neutron Bomber"
7. "Mephisto Waltz"
8. "Forever Free"
9. "Maneater"
10. "Rebel In The F.D.G."

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Mother Earth Brewing Company (Vista, California and Nampa, Idaho)
• Website: https://www.motherearthbrewco.com/
• Brew: Separation Anxiety Hazy IPA 
• Style: New England-style Hazy India Pale Ale (NEIPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 7.2%
• IBUs: 25
• Pour: The Separation Anxiety 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), melon, wildflowers, freshly picked and cut strawberries, grassy hay, and soft caramel/toffee.
• Taste: Fruit-forward and very juicy, the taste of the Separation Anxiety Hazy IPA is citrusy, fruity, and slightly sweet.  There are notes of tangerine, orange juice, orange pith, juicy melon, mango, a hint of pineapple, cantaloupe, 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 bold, juicy, punchy hop blast of Separation Anxiety Hazy IPA is perfect for the fast-paced sonic metal attack of W.A.S.P.'s classic and definitive "The Headless Children"!  After drinking a can or two of , the songs become your battle anthems!  So get on over to your favorite LOCAL heavy metal record store, pick up a copy of "The Headless Children," and grab a can of Mother Earth's Separation Anxiety Hazy IPA ... and prepare yourself for an evening of intensity, big flavour, big guitars, big hair, and unadulterated fun!  And if you down a few cans all by yourself in the time it takes the album to play through, you can relive Chris Holms' appearance in the movie "The Decline of Western Civilization!"  Ha! 

Cheers!!  Hails!!

August 30th, 2026 - Rotating IPA Tries to Look on the Bright Side of the Special Beat Service

 

Hey there rockers, rollers, rudeboys, skankers, and hop freaks!  Happy Sunday!  The Meista here today with a pairing dedicated to my friends Greg and Theresa Evans... "Special Beat Service" by the English Beat and a hoppy and very tasty Fisher Rotating India Pale Ale from the fine folks at Fisher Brewing Company!  Cheers you crazy kids!

Album Info:

• Artist: The English Beat (aka The Beat)
• Title: "Special Beat Service"
• Recorded: 1982 at Roundhouse Studios in London, England
• Release date: October 1st, 1982 (3rd full-length album by The English Beat)
• Record company: Go-Feet / I.R.S. Records
• Production: Bob Sargeant, Ranking Roger, and Mike Hedges
• Album cover art: Martyn Atkins (art direction) and Bruce Fleming (photography)
• Personnel: Andy Cox (guitar and mandolin), Wesley Magoogan (clarinet, lyricon, saxophone, sax FX unit), Everett Morton (drums), Ranking Roger (toasting, lead and backing vocals, and percussion), Saxa (saxophone), David Steele (bass and banjo), Dave Wakeling (guitars, and lead and backing vocals), and Dave "Blockhead" Wright (keyboards and piano)
• Guest musician: Pato Banton (toasting), Jack Emblow (accordion), Marc Fox (percussion), Dave Lord (trumpet), Markandey Mishra (tabla), Bob Sargeant (telephone and marimba), Steve Sidwell (trumpet), and Vince Sullivan (trombone) 
• Musical style: Ska, 2-tone, new wave, pop rock
• Sound: Blending ska, pop, soul, rock, reggae, new wave, and a bit of punk rock, with "Special Beat Service", The English Beat produced an upbeat, inviting, yet compelling and artistic album.  For me, this ablum is a paradox of both being nostalgic and also timeless.  And it will definitely get you bouncing! 
• Major themes: Life, love, relationships, loss, music, joy, etc.
• Tracks:  

1. "I Confess"
2. "Jeanette"
3. "Sorry"
4. "Sole Salvation"
5. "Spar Wid Me"
6. "Rotating Head"
7. "Save It For Later"
8. "She's Going"
9. "Pato And Roger Ago Talk"
10. "Sugar And Stress"
11. "End Of The Party"
12. "Ackee 1-2-3"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Fisher Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: 
• Brew: Fisher Rotating India Pale Ale
• Style: West Coast Style India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 7.0% 
• Ingredients: Galaxy and Comet hops
• Pour: The Fisher Rotating India Pale Ale pours a slightly cloudy, bronze-amber color with frothy and billowy, 2+ finger off-white head with great retention and lots of sticky, intricate lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, dank, floral, herbal, and slightly bitter.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, tangerine, wildflowers, pine resin, crackery grains, and soft caramel.
• Taste: The taste of the Fisher Rotating India Pale Ale follows the nose with big notes of pink grapefruit juice, orange zest and pith, tangerine, pine, black tea, white pepper, and light toffee/caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Fisher Rotating India Pale Ale is very crisp, yet smooth with a dry, slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The Fisher Rotating India Pale Ale is very crushable, yet a very punchy, complex, and flavorful brew ... a perfect brew to accompany the classic "Special Beat Service" album by the indelible The English Beat!  I also thought the colors of the beer label and the album art look rather nice together.  'Nuff said! 

Cheers!!

August 29th, 2026 - The Conquering Darkness of an Offset Porter

 

Hey there evil-doers, headbangers, and craft brew freaks!   Your drinkin' buddy the Meista here on this rainy Saturday here in Utah with another killer pairing for ya... "The Conquering Darkness", the full-length debut album by the infernal and indelible death metal band Malefic Throne and a bold and flavorful Offset Porter from the fine folks at Offset Bier Company!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Malefic Throne
• Title: "The Conquering Darkness"
• Recorded: 2025 at Menegroth, the Thousand Caves
• Release date: November 28th, 2025 (1st full-length studio album by Malefic Throne)
• Record company: Agonia Records
• Production: Colin Marston and Malefic Throne
• Album cover art: Daniel Valeriani (artwork) and Christophe Szpajdel (band logo)
• Personnel: John Longstreth (drums), Gene Palubicki (guitars), and Steve Tucker (bass and vocals)
• Musical style: Death metal with elements of black metal and thrash metal
• Sound: Heavy and aggressive as hell, the album is chalk filled with killer riffs, powerfully driving rhythms, and infernal growls, and thought-provoking lyrics!  I love how each band member brings their own signature sound to the band and how well it all works together.  You can hear elements of Morbid Angel, Angelcorpse, Perdition Temple, and Hate Eternal intertwined, but with a freshness and relevance that is all encompassing!  And this is some of Palubicki's best and most intense and powerful riffing in my humble opinion. 
• Major themes: Death, violence, the occult, evil, darkness, horror, sickness, anti-religion, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Blasphémait Desecration"
2. "The Voice Of My Ghost"
3. "A Thirst For Dissonance"
4. "Born Of Plague"
5. "Divine Tragedy"
6. "Carnage Of The Forgotten"
7. "When Our Shadows Align"
8. "Forged Of Stone"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Offset Bier Company (Park City, Utah)
• Website: https://offsetbier.com/
• Brew: Offset Porter
• Style: American Style Brown Porter
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 4.8%
• Ingredients: Cascade hops
• Pour: The Offset Porter pours a s with a creamy and frothy, light mocha, 2+ finger head with great retention and lots of soapy, sudsy lacing. 
• Nose: The nose is malty, toasty, roasty, and earthy.  There are aromas of dark toasted bread, roasted barley, dark roasted espresso beans, light cocoa, fresh herbs, and burnt toffee.
• Taste: The taste is like the nose: malty, toasty, roasty, and slightly hoppy.  There are notes of dark toasted bread crust, roasted barley, dark roasted coffee, a hint of black pepper, and sweet toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Offset Porter is soft and smooth, yet also slightly crisp and dry with a fairly clean finish.

Overall pairing: The Offset Porter is a very bold and solid, yet crushable offering of the style... great to pair with the intensity and heavy metal punch that is the infernal and brutally powerful ""!  Those bold, roasty notes go great with the darker lyrics and overall aggressive death metal attack, while the crushable maltiness is great for the overall metal attack!!   I highly recommend both the album and the brew!  'Nuff said!

Make sure to check out my interview with legendary guitarist Gene Palubicki here: https://youtu.be/Qtyx--uD8Ik !

Me with Gene Palubicki and the legendary Reed St. Mark of Celtic Frost fame
 at the Carolina Chainsaw Massacre Fest in 2023

Cheers and hails!! 

Side note: This album was a bit of a chore obtaining, but well worth the money and the wait time!  I pre-ordered it in August 2025.  When I hadn't received it by January 2026, I reached out to Agonia Records and found out they are in Poland. They informed me that do not currently ship to the U.S. because of the stupid fucking tariffs.  So I had them ship it to my friend JC in the Netherlands.  There was a mix up with the address and it got sent back to Poland, then resent to the Netherlands.  And finally shipped to me here in the States by JC.  So after paying shipping 3 times, I finally received it last month.  Phew!  

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"