February 21st, 2026 -Shades of Sorrow & Death

 

Hello and hails metal maniacs and craft beer freaks!  The Meista here with another kick-ass pairing for ya today: "Shades Of Sorrow", the kick-ass sophomore album by Brazilian death metal band Crypta and a bold and delicious Shades of Death German Style Schwarzbier from Heavy Reel Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Crypta
• Title: "Shades Of Sorrow"
• Recorded: February 2023 at Family Mob Studio in São Paulo, Brazil 
• Release date: August 4th, 2023 (2nd full length album by Crypta)
• Record company: Napalm Records 
• Production: Gabriel Bonilha, Leeo Hanna, and Rafael Augusto Lopes 
• Album cover art: Raul Campos 
• Personnel:  Tainá Bergamaschi (guitars), Luana Dametto (drums), Jéssica di Falchi (guitars), and Fernanda Lira (bass and vocals) 
• Guest musician: Pablo Greg (keyboards)
• Musical style: Death metal, thrash metal
• Sound: Aggressive, heavy, and intense, the sound on Crypta combines bone-crushing rhythms with fiery shredding riffs and brutal vocals.  There are elements reminiscent to Possessed, Sodom, and of course Nervosa, but "Shades Of Sorrow" is its own unique and wonderful sonic journey!
• Major themes: Death, darkness, evil, horror, terror, mythology, rage, violence, deception, seeking knowledge, freedom, rebellion, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "The Aftermath"
2. "Dark Clouds"
3. "Poisonous Apathy"
4. "The Outsider"
5. "Stronghold"
6. "The Other Side Of Anger"
7. "The Limbo"
8. "Trial Of Traitors"
9. "Lullaby For The Forsaken"
10. "Agents Of Chaos"
11. "Lift The Blindfold"
12. "Lord Of Ruins"
13. "The Closure"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Heavy Reel Brewing Company (Seaside Heights, New Jersey)
• Website: https://www.heavyreelbrewing.com/
• Brew: Shades of Death
• Style: German Style Schwarzbier
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Pour: The Shades of Death pours an opaque, very dark brown (almost black) hue with a light mocha, 1-finger head that slowly dissipates to a thin ring with sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose of the Shades of Death is toasty, roasty, slightly fruity (dark fruits), and malty.  There are aromas of dark toasted bread, roasted malts, roasted coffee beans, hints of dark chocolate, light plum, and hints of burnt toffee.
• Taste: Like the nose, the taste is roasty, toasty, grainy, and slightly sweet.  There are notes of bready malts, cacao, dark roasted coffee, hints of dark fruits (plum and raisin), and very light sweet caramel/toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Shades of Death is crisp and very smooth with a dry, clean finish.

Overall pairing: The very crushable, yet wonderfully complex and flavorful characteristics of the Heavy Reel Shades of Death German Style Schwarzbier makes a great companion to the death/thrash metal aggression of Crypta's excellent sophomore offering!  The dark, roasty, and malty notes really pop when you've got Crypta blasting from your speakers!  I highly recommend both the album and brew!  'Nuff said!

Salud and hails!! 

February 20th, 2026 - Hey Donna, Grab My Pickle for a Second

 

Hello and happy Friday rockers, rollers, and beer fans!  The Meista here today rocking out with Golden Earring's underappreciated and excellent "Grab It For A Second " album and a Donna's Pickle Beer!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Golden Earring
• Title: "Grab It For A Second"
• Recorded: 1978 at DMC Baarn in the Netherlands and the Record Plant in New York City, New York
  Release date: September 22nd, 1978 (13th studio album by Golden Earring)
• Record company: Polydor Records
• Production: Jimmy Iovine
• Album cover art: Barry Hay (art concept), Mick Rock (art direction and photography), Ernst Thormahlen (art design and illustration)
• Personnel: Eelco Gelling (guitar and slide guitar), Rinus Gerritsen (bass and Moog Bison synth bass), Barry Hay (vocals), George Kooymans (guitar, Arp synthesizer guitar, and vocals), and Cesar Zuiderwijk (drums)
• Additional musician: Lani Groves (backing vocals), Jimmy Maelen (percussion), Kevin Nance (keyboards), and John Zangrando (saxophone on "Against the Grain")
• Musical style: Hard rock, rock and roll, power pop with elements of new wave
• Sound: Wonderfully complex, yet straightforward and rocking, "Grab It For A Second" is one of those great unsung rock albums of the late 1970s.  The songwriting is incredibly solid, the band's musicianship is fantastic (as always), and the execution is flawless!  It will get your feet moving and your fists pumping!
• Major themes: Love, lust, desire, isolation, the passage of time, rock and roll, relationships, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Movin' Down Life"
2. "Against The Grain"
3. "Grab It For A Second"
4. "Cell 29"
5. "Roxanne"
6. "Leather"
7. "Temptin'"
8. "U-Turn Time"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Donna's Pickle Beer (contract brewery)
• Website: https://www.donnaspicklebeer.com/
• Brew: Donna's Pickle Beer
• Style: Lager / Pickle Beer
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 4.4%
• Pour: The Donna's Pickle Beer pours a cloudy, golden yellow hue with a bright white, frothy, thin head that slowly dissipates to the thin ring with soapy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by bold pickle aromas along with more subtle graininess and maltiness.  There are aromas of a freshly opened pickle jar, white vinegar, dill and other pickling spices, freshly sliced cucumbers, light Pilsner malt, freshly cut hay, and black pepper.
• Taste: Following the nose, the taste of the Donna's Pickle Beer is very pickled cucumber and pickle spice forward with more subtle graininess.  There are notes of kosher pickles, pickle brine, fresh dill, black and white pepper, and light grains. 
• Mouthfeel: Light-bodied, well-carbonated, and delightfully refreshing, the mouthfeel is crisp and tart with a dry, clean finish.

Overall pairing: The bright, tasty, crushable pickle-forward flavors and aromas of the Donna's Pickle Beer are great for the big and punchy rock and roll prowess of Golden Earring's definitive "Grab It For A Second" album!  Those crushable, straightforward lager notes go great with Hay's powerful vocals, while the pickled bite go great with the licks of the late, great Kooymans's guitar work coupled with the rest of the band's eloquence and style!  'Nuff said! 

Proost!!  Gezondheid!! 

February 19th, 2026 - The Lucha Libre Vampiro

Hails and happy Thursday evening headbangers and worshippers of craft beer!  I don't work tomorrow, so, the Meista here starting off the weekend the right way by rocking the hell out to a pairing of Helstar's fantastic "Vampiro" and a dark and delicious Big Bad Baptist Lucha Libre from the fine folks at Epic Brewing Company!  Oh, hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Helstar
• Title: "Vampiro"
• Recorded: 2016 at Mob Hits Studios in Missouri City, Texas and Hombre Malo Studios in Houston, Texas 
• Release date:  ( studio album by Helstar)
• Record company: Massacre Records / Hellion Records
• Production: Helstar
• Album cover art: John Fossum
• Personnel: Andrew Atwood (guitars), Larry Barragán (guitars), Michael Lewis (drums), James Rivera (vocals), and Garrick Smith (bass)
• Additional musicians: Imelda Barragán (backing vocals), Chris Cannella (guitar), Michael Heald (cello), Christina Pumarejo-Urbieta (backing vocals), and Nathan Salazar (backing vocals) 
• Musical style: Heavy metal with elements of speed metal, thrash metal, and power metal
• Sound: "Vampiro" is powerful and fast-paced musical delivery.  Combining the aggression and punch of speed metal with the complexity and melody of traditional metal, Helstar creates a wonderfully rich musical tapestry!
• Major themes: Folklore, mythology, horror, life and death, good vs. evil, darkness, violence, vampires, the occult, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Awaken Unto Darkness"
2. "Blood Lust"
3. "To Dust You Will Become"
4. "Off With His Head"
5. "From The Pulpit To The Pit"
6. "To Their Death Beds They Fell"
7. "Malediction"
8. "Repent In Fire"
9. "Abolish The Sun"
10. "Black Cathedral"
11. "Dreamless Sleep"

Brew Info:

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

Overall pairing: The Epic Big Bad Baptist Lucha Libre is a bold and flavorful imperial stout... perfect for the high-octane metal brilliance of the mighty Hellstar!  Those roasty and toasty notes got great with heavy duty rhythm section of Lewis and Smith, while the boozier and sweeter elements go great with the soaring and biting guitars of Atwood and Barragán, and Rivera's stellar vocals!

And make sure you check out my interview with very talented and friendly Helstar guitarist Larry Barragán here: https://youtu.be/72xGjV8ClUI 

Salud!!  Hails!!

February 15th, 2026 - Over the Top Craft Beer Sucks

 

Hello and happy Sunday my friends!  Today I'm rocking out with a pairing of the fantastic "Over The Top", the debut solo album by the legendary drummer Cozy Powell and a delightfully tasty Craft Beer Sucks Pub Ale from Chappell Brewing!  Yes!

Album Info:

• Artist: Cozy Powell
• Title: "Over The Top"
• Recorded: "This album was recorded without a safety net" in 1979 at Central Sound Studios in Manchester, England and Townhouse Studios in London, England
• Release date: October 19th, 1979 (1st full-length solo studio album released by Cozy Powell)
• Record company: Polydor
• Production: Martin Birch
• Album cover art: Bob Carlos Clarke (photography) and Ian Murray/Acrobat Design Ltd. (art direction and artwork)
• Personnel: Cozy Powell (drums and percussion) with Don Airey (keyboards), Jack Bruce (bass guitar), Clem Clempson (guitar on "Sweet Poison" and "The Loner"), Bernie Marsden (guitar on "El Sid"), Max Middleton (keyboards on "The Loner"), and Gary Moore (guitar on "Killer")
• Musical style: Rock with elements of jazz fusion and progressive rock
• Sound: Upbeat, highly energetic, 
• Major themes: As this album's tracks consist of all instrumentals, thematic meaning is entirely interpretive to the listener.  
• Tracks: 

1. "Theme One"
2. "Killer"
3. "Heidi Goes To Town"
4. "El Sid"
5. "Sweet Poison"
6. "The Loner"
7. "Over The Top"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Chappell Brewing (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://chappell.beer/
• Brew: Craft Beer Sucks
• Style: Heavy Pub Ale
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 7.0%
• Ingredients: Pilsner malt, corn, and CLS-X14 hops
• Pour: The Craft Beer Sucks pours a clear golden-yellow with a frothy, 1+ finger, bright white head with great sustain and lots of sticky, intricate lacing.
• Nose: The nose is grainy, malty, and slightly sweet.  There are aromas of freshly baked wheat bread, corn chips, crackery biscuit, June grass, lemongrass, lemon zest, and light honey.
• Taste: The taste of the Craft Beer Sucks follows the nose with bright, malty, grainy, and slightly sweet flavors.  There are notes of crackery biscuit, corn, lemon zest, light and grassy hops, and a splash of honey.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Craft Beer Sucks is very smooth with a crisp, slightly sweet, but clean finish.

Overall pairing: The Craft Beer Sucks from Chappell Brewing is a complex, yet inviting, drinkable, and flavorful brew... perfect for the of the late, great Cozy Powell!  Those sweeter malt flavors go great with Powell's amazing rhythms, while the grainy flavors go great with the overall musical prowess of these master musicians!  'Nuff said!  

Cheers!!  Rock on!!

February 14th, 2026 - On a Need to Know Basis for the Ob(Servant)

 

Hello and happy Saturday evil-doers, metal maniacs, hopheads, and craft beer lovers!  The Meista here with another great pairing for you... a hoppy and delicious Need To Know Basis Hoppy Ale from Offset Brewing and "Ob(Servant)", the 4th studio album by Tasmanian technical death metal band Psycroptic!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Psycroptic
• Title: "Ob(Servant)"
• Recorded: March through May 2008 at Crawlspace Studios and Red Planet Studios
• Release date: September 26th, 2008 (4th full-length studio album by Psycroptic)
• Record company: Nuclear Blast Records
• Production: Psycroptic
• Album cover art: Raymond Swanland
• Personnel: Cameron Grant (bass), David Haley (drums), Joe Haley (guitars), Jason Peppiatt (vocals)
• Musical style: Technical death metal with elements of blackened death metal
• Sound: Blending insane riffage with wonderful counter-rhythmic intensity and brutal vocals, the sound on "Ob(Servant)" is both intense and mesmerizing.  As always, Joe's guitar work is awe-inspiring, while David and Cameron lay down an impressively powerful rhythm for Peppiatt's fierce vocals.
• Major themes: Death, destruction, metaphysics, mythology, science fiction, politics, ignorance, corruption, fantasy, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Ob(Servant)"
2. "A Calculated Effort"
3. "Slaves Of Nil"
4. "The Shifting Equilibrium"
5. "Removing The Common Bond"
6. "Horde In Devolution"
7. "Blood Stained Lineage"
8. "Immortal Army Of One"
9. "Initiate"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Offset Bier Company (Park City, Utah)
• Website: https://offsetbier.com/
• Brew: Need To Know Basis Hoppy Ale
• Style: American Pale Ale
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Ingredients: ?
• Pour: The Need To Know Basis Hoppy Ale pours a clear, bright, golden-yellow hue with a frothy, bright white, thin head with good sustain and soapy lacing. 
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, dank, floral, and malty.  There are aromas of tangerine, grapefruit rind, stone fruit (apricot), yuzu, lemon zest, light pine resin, a hint of toffee, and light, crackery biscuit.
• Taste: The taste is like the nose: citrusy, hoppy, grainy and malty.  There are notes of pink grapefruit juice, yuzu, lemon zest, hints of dank pine, white pepper, and soft, sweet toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Need To Know Basis Hoppy Ale is very crisp, yet smooth with a dry, clean, and slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The mysterious Need To Know Basis Hoppy Ale from the folks at Offset is a delightfully hoppy and very drinkable brew with loads of bright citrusy notes... perfect to crush whilst pumping your fists and banding your head to the intricate, intense, and intoxicating metal attack of Psycroptic's excellent "Ob(Servant)" album!  'Nuff said! 

Cheers and hails!

February 13th, 2026 - The Pyscho Killer Has a Taste For the Kill

 

Hey there metal maniacs, rockers, rollers, and hop freaks!  Happy Friday the 13th!  The Meista here today pairing "A Taste For The Kill", the killer debut album by Ohio metallers Rip Ryde and a Pyscho Killer Juicy Pale Ale from the folks at SaltFire Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Rip Ryde
• Title: "A Taste For The Kill"
• Recorded: June 2020 at Mercinary Studios in Cleveland, Ohio
• Release date: March 30th, 2022 (1st studio album by Rip Ryde)
• Record company: King Of Sting Records
• Production: Rip Ryde and Noah Buchanan
• Album cover art: HF (layout) and Barbara Merritt (photography), and ModBlackMoon (band logo)
• Personnel: Wayne Richards (guitars), Brad Skinner (vocals), Matt Sorg (guitars), Ryan Steigerwald (drums), and Ed Stephens (bass)
• Musical style: Heavy metal, hard rock
• Sound: Blending '80s metal with influence from bands like Dokken, Kiss, and the Scorpions with hard rock sensibility, the sound on "A Taste For The Kill" is a straightforward, high-octane sonic attack!  I'm always impressed by Sorg's guitar work, but it really shines here... some of his most emotive and melodic solos!  And the band as a whole is incredibly tight!  This album is an absolute joy to spin!
• Major themes: Life, death, darkness, rock and roll, desire, sex, power, violence, etc. 
• Tracks: 

1. "Stop, Rip And Roll"
2. "My Oh My"
3. "Legends For The End"
4. "Sweet Rocket Girl"
5. "Into The Darkness Again"
6. "Meat's Meat"
7. "Codex Gigas"
8. "Dance For The Massacre"
9. "Jack Of Spades"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: SaltFire Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://www.saltfirebrewing.com/
• Brew: Psycho Killer Juicy Pale Ale
• Style: New England Pale Ale / Hazy Pale Ale
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Pour: The Psycho Killer pours a hazy, pale, straw-yellow hue with a thin, bright white, head that dissipates to a thin ring, but with sticky lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, floral, lightly bready, and slightly sweet.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, orange peel, fresh berries, wildflowers, honey, and sweet caramel.
• Taste: The taste of the Psycho Killer is bold, citrusy, somewhat bitter and hoppy, yet very drinkable.  There are notes of orange and lemon zest, grapefruit juice, strawberry, soft caramel, freshly baked wheat bread, and light pine.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Psycho Killer is crisp with a slightly bitter and dry finish.

Overall pairing: The punchy, citrusy, bittersweet and hoppy flavors and aromas of the SaltFire Psycho Killer is perfect for the heavy-duty metal punch of Rip Ryde!  Those crisp, juicy flavors enhance the precision and depth of melodic and fiery guitars of Richards and Sorg, while the maltier notes are perfect for the powerful rhythms and grooves of Steigerwald and Stephens!  'Nuff said!

Make sure to check out my interview with Rip Ryde guitarist Matt Sorg from a few years back right here: https://youtu.be/bMYjlAMwDoc

Cheers!  Rock on!

February 8th, 2026 - My Obsession With Charlotte Wessels' Amazing Voice Got Me Excommunicated!

 

Goedemiddag and happy Sunday!  Today I'm rocking out with a pairing of the fantastic "The Obsession", the most recent studio album by Dutch vocalist Charlotte Wessels and a delightfully tasty and hoppy Excommunicated NW India Pale Ale from Chappell Brewing!  Yes!

Album Info:

• Artist: Charlotte Wessels
• Title: "The Obsession"
• Recorded: 2024 
• Release date: September 2024 (3rd full-length studio album released by Charlotte Wessels)
• Record company: Napalm Records
• Production: Charlotte Wessels
• Album cover art: Marnix de Klerk (graphics and illustrations) and Tim Tronckoe (photography)
• Personnel: Charlotte Wessels (lead vocals) with Elianne Anemaat (cello), Joey Marin de Boer (drums), Timo Somers (guitars and backing vocals), Otto Schimmelpenninck van der Oije (bass and backing vocals)
• Additional and guest musicians: Vikram Shankar (keyboards and orchestral arrangements), Simone Simons (vocals on "Dopamine"), Sophia Vernikov (piano and Hammond organ), and Alissa White-Gluz (vocals on "Ode To The West Wind")
• Musical style: Rock, power pop with elements of symphonic metal, melodic metal, and progressive metal/rock
• Sound: Upbeat, highly energetic, and rather poppy, Charlotte Wessels' latest, "The Obsession" furthers the sound they've been developing over the past few years... guitar and keyboard driven melodic metal with synth-pop influence.  As always, Wessels' vocals soar!  And those incredibly upbeat bass, guitars, and drum rhythms make you want to bounce!
• Major themes: Relationships, life, death, loss, pain, sorrow, yearning, perseverance, love, lust, hope, truth, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Chasing Sunsets"
2. "Dopamine"
3. "The Exorcism"
4. "Soulstice"
5. "The Crying Room"
6. "Ode To The West Wind"
   
7. "Serpentine"
8. "Praise"
9. "All You Are"
10. "Vigor + Valor"
11. "Breathe;"
12. "Soft Revolution"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Chappell Brewing (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://chappell.beer/
• Brew: Excommunicated NW India Pale Ale
• Style: Double India Pale Ale (DIPA) / Imperial IPA
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 8.0%
• Ingredients: HBC-522, HBC-638, and Spectrum hops
• Pour: The Excommunicated NW India Pale Ale pours a clear golden-yellow with a thin, bright white head with good sustain and light, sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, dank, herbal, floral, and earthy.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, tangerine, orange peel, melon, dried mango, summer pine, juniper, wildflowers, herbal tea, toasted bread, and light toffee.
• Taste: The taste of the Excommunicated NW India Pale Ale follows the nose with bright, citrusy, tropical, floral, and piney flavors.  There are notes of pink grapefruit juice, orange juice and zest, lime, mango, cantaloupe, pine resin, black tea, and soft caramel/pine.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Excommunicated NW India Pale Ale is with a crisp and biting with resinous and slightly oily finish.

Overall pairing: The Excommunicated NW India Pale Ale from Chappell Brewing is a complex and hoppy, yet inviting, drinkable, and flavorful brew... perfect for the depth, honesty, and beauty of Charlotte Wessels' fantastic "The Obsession" album!  Those complex hop flavors go great with Wessels' amazing vocals, while the malty flavors go great with the soaring and powerful music of these outstanding musicians!  'Nuff said!  

Proost!!  Gezondheid!!