October 18th, 2026 - I Am the Witch and This is My Heathen Cross

 

Hey there hellions, rockers, and craft brew lovers!  Your pal the Meista is here today with a pairing of I Am The Witch Golden Ale with Pumpkin and Spices from Proper Brewing Company and rocking out to "Heathen Cross", the 10th album by the amazing New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) band Cloven Hoof!  Hell yeah!

Album Info: 

• Artist: Cloven Hoof
• Title: "Heathen Cross"
• Recorded: 2023 at Temple of Disharmony in Bamberg, Germany
• Release date: May 31st, 2024 (10th studio album by Cloven Hoof)
• Record company: High Roller Records
• Production: Chris Dando and Ben Fitzharris
• Album cover art: Alexander von Wieding
• Personnel: Ash Baker (drums and backing vocals), Harry "The Tyrant" Conklin (lead vocals), Chris Coss (guitars), Chris Dando (keyboards and backing vocals), Luke Hatton (lead guitars), and Lee Payne (bass and backing vocals) 
• Musical style: Heavy metal
• Sound: Blending power metal and thrash metal with more traditional NWOBHM, the sound on "Heathen Cross" is richly textured, emotive, and mesmerizing, yet intensely rocking!  As with everything Payne produces, "Heathen Cross" is an absolute stellar sonic journey!
• Major themes: Themes on the ablum include good vs. evil, the occult, magic, darkness, revenge, ritual, etc.
• Tracks: 
• Tracks: 

1. "Benediction"
2. "Redeemer"
3. "Do What Thou Wilt"
4. "Last Man Standing"
5. "Darkest Before Dawn"
6. "Vendetta"
7. "Curse Of The Gypsy"
8. "Frost And Fire"
9. "Sabbat Stone"
10. "The Summoning"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Proper Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://www.properbrewingco.com/ 
• Brew: I Am The Witch Golden Ale with Pumpkin and Spices
• Style: Golden Ale 
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Pour: The I Am The Witch pours a fairly clear, golden orange hue with a thin and bubbly, off-white head that dissipates to the thin ring with light lacing.
• Nose: The nose is spicy, earthy, toasty, malty, and slightly sweet.  There are aromas of crackery biscuit, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, subtle pumpkin, pumpkin pie, and soft caramel.
• Taste: Like the nose, the taste of the Pumpkin Party is spicy, slightly sweet, and malty.  There are notes of toasted malts, fresh pumpkin, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, subtle black pepper, and caramel/toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium-bodied and well-carbonation, the mouthfeel of the I Am The Witch is crisp and spicy, yet smooth with a dry, spicy finish.

Overall pairing: The Proper Brewing I Am The Witch is a good offering of the style... great to pair during the Halloween season with the NWOBHM intensity and heavy metal punch that is the legendary Cloven Hoof!  Those spicy notes go great with the dark vibe, while the crushable maltiness is great for the overall metal attack and Conklin's amazing vocals!  And visually, the album artwork goes great with the beer label in my humble opinion.

And if you haven't done so already, make sure to check out my interview with the very friendly, talented, and amazing Lee Payne, bassist, founding member, and mastermind behind Cloven Hoof here: https://youtu.be/j1xlaNRn-JI 

And check out my interview with the also the very friendly, talented, and amazing vocalist Harry Conklin here: https://youtu.be/Jy3QZDJhLac

Cheers and hails!!

October 17th, 2026 - Ramming Down the West Coat IPA

 

Good evening, head bangers and hoppy brew lovers!  The Meista here tonight with another rockin' pairing for ya... a West Coast IPA from Ska Brewing and "Ram It Down" (Remastered Edition) by the mighty Judas Priest!   Hot damn!

Album Info:

• Artist: Judas Priest
• Title: "Ram It Down"
• Recorded: December 1987 through March 1988 at Ibiza Sound Studio in Ibiza and Puk Recording Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark
• Release date: May 17th, 1988
• Record company: Columbia Records
• Personnel: K.K. Downing (guitars), Rob Halford (vocals), Ian Hill (bass), Dave Holland (drums), and Glenn Tipton (guitars and synthesizers)
• Album cover art: Mark Wilkinson
• Musical style: Heavy metal/speed metal
• Sound: Moving away from the more poppy, synth-heavy sound of "Turbo", with "Ram It Down", Priest returned to a fast-paced heaviness more akin to their early '80s albums like "Defenders Of The Faith" and "Screaming For Vengeance".  The dual guitar work of Downing and Tipton is a blistering, fast-paced, firestorm of electricity and power while Hill's bass work is a booming thunderstorm on the horizon!  And Halford's vocal range is as explosive and mesmerizing as ever!
• Major themes: Heavy metal, rock and roll, power, self-reliance, sex, and aggression.
• Note: "Ram It Down" is the last album to feature Dave Holland on drums.  He was dealing with serious health issues at the time of the recording.  Several tracks include a drum machine rather than Holland.
• Tracks:

1. "Ram It Down"
2. "Heavy Metal"
3. "Love Zone"
4. "Come And Get It"
5. "Hard As Iron"
6. "Blood Red Skies"
7. "I'm A Rocker"
8. "Johnny B. Goode"
9. "Love You To Death"
10. "Monsters Of Rock"
11. "Night Comes Down" (live) - bonus track
12. "Bloodstone" (live) - bonus track

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Ska Brewing (Durango, Colorado)
• Website: www.skabrewing.com 
• Brew: West Coast IPA
• Style: West Coast Style India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 6.66%
• IBUs: 47
• Ingredients: Cryo Mosaic, Cryo Citra, Alora, Eureka, CGX Idaho 7, and Strata Hyperboost hops
• Pour: The West Coast IPA pours a clear, golden-yellow hue with a frothy, bright white, 2+ finger head with great retention and lots of sustained, layered lacing.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by a blend of citrus, floral dankness, sweet malt, and hearty grain.  There are aromas of grapefruit juice and rind, tangerine, pine resin, light sweet caramel, multi-grain bread, and a white pepper.
• Taste: Following the nose, the taste of the West Coast IPA, is citrusy, herbal, earthy, and slightly malty.  There are notes of grapefruit rind, tangerine peel, lemon zest, pine resin, light caramel and burnt toffee, bitter herbs, and a touch of black pepper and a slight booziness.
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is sharp, bitter, sticky, and oily with a dry, bitter finish.

Overall pairing: The hoppy bitterness makes for a great companion to the intensity and straight-ahead heavy metal madness of "Ram It Down"!  The citrus and floral flavors and the very well-masked higher octane ABV of the brew go great with the fiery guitars, thunderous bass/drums, and vocal intensity of the mighty Priest!!

Cheers and hails!!

October 17th, 2026 - A Heartless Portrait in a Bittersweet Motel

 

God kväll and hails!  I'm pairing "A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament)", the fantastic 13th album by the wonderful Swedish progressive metal band Evergrey and a tasty Bittersweet Motel Double White India Pale Ale from Uinta Brewing Company!

Album Info:

• Artist: Evergrey
• Title: "A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament)"
• Recorded: January through October 2021 at Division West Coast Studios, Jonas Studio, and Top Floor Studios in Gothenburg, Sweden
• Release date: May 20th, 2022 (13thstudio album by Evergrey)
• Record company: AFM Records
• Production: Tom S. Englund and Jonas Ekdahl
• Album cover art: Giannis Nakos 
• Personnel: Henrik Danhage (guitars), Jonas Ekdahl (drums), Tom S. Englund (vocals and guitars), Johan Niemann (bass), and Rikard Zander (keyboards)  
• Musical style: Progressive metal, gothic metal, power metal with elements of doom metal and groove metal
• Sound: At times haunting, at times deeply emotional, at times heavy and aggressive, one thing is for certain, with "A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament)", Evergrey has produced another wonderfully textured, honest, melodic, and powerful album!  With heavy duty riffing, soaring keys, and ethereal vocals, Evergrey displays their dark musical prowess and lays down another winning album!  
• Major themes: Lyrics and themes on "A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament)" include darkness, sorrow, discovery, self-realization, seeking the truth, isolation, freedom, sadness, hope, etc.
• Tracks:  

1. "Save Us"
2. "Midwinter Calls"
3. "Ominous"
4. "Call Out The Dark"
5. "The Orphean Testament"
6. "Reawakening"
7. "The Great Unwashed"
8. "Heartless"
9. "Blindfolded"
10. "Wildfires"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Uinta Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: www.uintabrewing.com 
• Brew: Bittersweet Motel Double White India Pale Ale
• Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 7.8%
• Pour: The Bittersweet Motel pours a slightly hazy, goldenrod color with a half-finger, frothy eggshell white head that leaves a nice ring and soapy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, slightly spicy, and slightly sweet with a more subtle malt backbone.  There are aromas of orange and tangerine peel, lemon zest, cloves, vanilla bean, wildflowers, a hint of wet pine needles, and soft caramel.
• Taste: The taste of the Bittersweet Motel follows the nose with citrusy, fruity, spicy, and hoppy flavors.  There are big notes of tangerine and orange with more subtle notes cloves, nutmeg, fruit esters, vanilla, light pine resin, of doughy bread, and toffee/caramel malt notes in the finish.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is very crisp, very refreshing and juicy, yet very smooth with a dry, slightly sweet finish.

Overall pairing: The Bittersweet Motel Double White India Pale Ale is a very unique, flavorful, bold, complex, yet drinkable brew... much like the depth, darkness, intensity, and beauty of Evergrey's brilliant "A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament)"!  'Nuff said!

Skål and hails!!

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!!