November 14th, 2026 - The Florida Man is in a State of Emergency

 

Hey there rockers, rollers, and hopheads!  I'm pairing "State Of Emergency" and a Florida Man Fruit Punched Double IPA from Cigar City Brewing Company!

Album Info: 

• Artist: Prong
• Title: "State Of Emergency"
• Recorded: 2023
• Release date: October 6th, 2023 (13th studio album by Prong)
• Record company: Steamhammer
• Production: Steve Evetts
• Album cover art: Marcelo Vasco 
• Personnel: Jason Christopher (bass), Griffin McCarthy (drums), and Tommy Victor (guitar and vocals)
• Additional/guest musicians: Marc Rizzo (lead guitar on "The Descent") and Steve Zing (backing vocals on "Back (NYC)")
• Musical style: Crossover, thrash metal with elements of punk rock, groove metal, and industrial metal
• Sound: With their signature sound of crossover thrash and punk perfectly blended with groove metal, on "State Of Emergency", Prong once again proves why they persevere and continue to rule the underground.  The tracks are punchy, energetic, and full of vigor!  Another excellent album from the Prong camp! 
• Major themes: Life, hardships and struggles, deception, depression, confusion, greed, corruption, social issues, freedom, rebellion, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "The Descent"
2. "State Of Emergency"
3. "Breaking Point"
4. "Non-Existence"
5. "Light Turns Black"
6. "Who Told Me"
7. "Obeisance"
8. "Disconnected"
9. "Compliant"
10. "Back (NYC)"
11. "Working Man" (Rush cover)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Cigar City Brewing Company (Tampa, Florida)
• Website: https://cigarcitybrewing.com/
• Brew: Florida Man Fruit Punched Double IPA
• Style: Double India Pale Ale (DIPA) / Fruited Beer 
• Serving: 20 ounce can
• ABV: 9.0% 
• Ingredients: Citra, Azacca, El Dorado, and Mandarina Bavarian hops, and Canadian Honey malt 
• Pour: The Florida Man Fruit Punched Double IPA pours a fairly clear, golden yellow hue with a bright white, half-finger, frothy head with great retention and lots of sticky, layered lacing.
• Nose: The nose is hoppy, malty, and fruity.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, tangerine, lemon zest, soft peach, Hawaiian Punch, a hint of pine needles, crackery biscuit, and soft caramel. 
• Taste: Hop and fruit forward, the taste of the Florida Man Fruit Punched Double IPA follows the nose with fruity, hoppy, and malty flavors.  There are notes of tangerine, orange juice, pink grapefruit juice, pineapple, peach, Hawaiian Punch, bready malts, light pine resin, caramel / toffee, and a hint of booze.
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel is crisp and juicy, yet thick and slightly oily with a soft, pillowy, yet bittersweet and boozy finish.

Overall pairing: What goes great with an energetic and punchy crossover album?  A bold, hoppy, and fruity beer of course!  Those bold hop and fruit flavors and aromas of Cigar City's delightful Florida Man Fruit Punched Double IPA are perfect for the artistic brilliance and aggression found on "State Of Emergency"!  This bold and complex, but easy drinking brew has the same depth of character and tasty fun as each track!  

Cheers!

November 14th, 2026 - El Agua Del Diablo, the Lord ov Thornes

 

Hello and hails metal maniacs, evil-doers, and craft beer freaks!  The Meista here rockin' the hell out with another kick-ass pairing today: "Lord Ov Thornes" the debut album by blackened death metal project King Ov Wyrms and a tasty and smooth Agua Del Diablo Mexican Style Lager from the fine folks at Silver Reef Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: King Ov Wyrms 
• Title: "Lord Ov Thornes"
• Recorded: 2020 at Oneirous Odyssey Sound Studios in Tucson, Arizona
  Release date: November 20th, 2020 (1st studio album released by King Ov Wyrms)
• Record company: Oneirous Odyssey Records 
• Production: Michael "Oneirous" Sanchez 
• Album cover art: Thomas Carlson
• Personnel: Michael "Oneirous" Sanchez (guitars, bass, drums, and vocals) 
• Musical style: Blackened death metal
• Sound: With a nod to classic American death metal like Morbid Angel and Incantation, as well as the Swedish blackened death approach, on "Lord Ov Thornes", King Ov Wyrms creates a powerful and compelling musical journey into darkness and complexity.  It is heavy and aggressive as hell, and is chalk full of killer riffs, powerfully driving rhythms, and infernal growls, and thought-provoking lyrics!  Absolutely stellar!
• Major themes: Death, darkness, desolation, sorrow, mythology, the occult, evil, terror, gore, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Threnody"
2. "The Great Sleeper"
3. "Hells Breathe"
4. "From Below"
5. "The Maggots That Crawled From The Wounds"
6. "Lechery"
7. "Thorne Bearer"
8. "Ascendance Of A Continual One"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Silver Reef Brewing Company (Saint George, Utah)
• Website: https://sgbev.com/
• Brew: Agua Del Diablo Mexican Style Lager
• Style: Mexican Lager
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 4.5%
• IBUs: 25
• Pour: The Agua Del Diablo pours a clear, bright golden yellow hue with a bubbly, thin white head with good retention and light soapy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is grainy, floral, slightly citrusy, and malty.  There are aromas of corn chips, lime, grassy hops, light lemon zest, smooth caramel/toffee, and crackery biscuit.
• Taste: The taste of the Agua Del Diablo follows the nose with grassy, malty, grainy, and lightly citrusy flavors.  There are notes of sweet corn, pale malt, grassy hops, lemongrass, lemon zest, freshly baked wheat bread, and hints of soft toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium-bodied and well carbonated, the mouthfeel is very crisp and smooth, with a dry, clean finish.

Overall pairing: The Silver Reef Agua Del Diablo Mexican Style Lager is a great beer to crush whilst rockin' the hell out to the killer tunes on King Ov Wyrms' wonderful "Lord Ov Thornes" album!  Those crisp, bright notes really make for a great foil to those soul-crushing guitars, bass, and drums!  The easy drinkability of the beer is perfect for the more fast-paced attack, while those malty notes go well with the heaviness!  I also love the look of the album cover artwork coupled with beer label art!

Salud and hails!!

November 13th, 2026 - Polygamy & Other Forbidden Morals

 

Hello and hails metal maniacs and hopheads!  Happy Friday!  The Meista here today rocking out to "Forbidden Morals", the kick-ass sophomore album by the killer thrash / speed metal band Void and a hoppy Polygamy Pale Ale from Roosters Brewing Company!  Hell yes!

Album Info:

• Artist: Void
• Title: "Forbidden Morals"
• Recorded: 2025 at Wave Theory Studios in Lafayette, Louisianna
• Release date: August 29th, 2025 (2nd studio album by Void)
• Record company: Shadow Kingdom Records
• Production: Marcus Andre and Void 
• Album cover art: Flooko
• Personnel: Blake Adams (bass), Chris Braune (guitars), Jackson Davenport (vocals), Aaron Landry (drums), and Gabe LeJeune (guitars) 
• Additional personnel: Kriss D. Deville (narration)
• Musical style: Thrash metal, speed metal, heavy metal with elements of technical thrash and progressive metal
• Sound: Blending '80s speed metal and thrash metal with more technical and progressive elements, the sound on "Forbidden Morals" is a wonderful blend of the old and the modern!  I'm reminded a bit of bands like Savage Grace and Omen, yet it feels fresh, new, and original.  This album and this band is fun as hell!
• Major themes: Horror, dark fantasy, evil, darkness, the paranormal, violence, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "A Curse"
2. "Forbidden Morals"
3. "Gateways Of Stone"
4. "Judas Cradle"
5. "Nine Blood Moons"
6. "Valeria"
7. "Apparition"
8. "By Silver Light"
9. "Return Of The Phantom"
10. "Beneath... Lives The Impaler"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Roosters Brewing Company (Layton and Ogden, Utah)
• Website: http://www.roostersbrewingco.com/
• Brew: Polygamy Pale Ale
• Style: American Pale Ale (APA)  
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0% 
• Pour: The Polygamy Pale Ale pours a hazy, deep copper-amber with an off-white, 1-finger, rocky head with good retention and intricate spider web lacing.
• Nose: The nose is hoppy, earthy, dank, malty, grainy, and slightly sweet.  There are aromas of light pine resin, green hops, grapefruit rind, lemon zest, toasted bread, and light caramel. 
• Taste: The taste of the Polygamy Pale Ale is hoppy, citrusy, earthy, dank, toasty, and malty.  There are notes of grapefruit, lemon, pine, herbs, black tea, toasty malt, and light caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and well carbonated, the mouthfeel is very crisp and hoppy with a dry, slightly bitter, yet clean finish.

Overall pairing: The hop-forward, very drinkable tastiness of Roosters' Polygamy Pale Ale is perfect for the straight-forward rockin' goodness of Void!  Those wonderful hoppy flavors and aromas really pop with the hard-hitting grooves, fiery fast guitars, and powerful vocals!

Cheers!!  Rock on!!

November 12th, 2026 - War Pigs Live at Last!

 

Good evening and hails evil-doers, rockers, rollers, and hopheads!  Your drinking buddy the Meista here tonight pairing a bold and hoppy War Pig Cascadian Dark Ale from Chappell Brewing and one of the most important and influential bands of our time, Black Sabbath and their awesome and somewhat rare "Live At Last" album!!  Oh, hell yeah!!  This pairing is dedicated to my late friend Scott.  The tape pictured in the pairing belonged to him.  R.I.P. brother... you are missed and loved!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Black Sabbath
• Title: "Live At Last"
• Recorded: March 11th, 1973 at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester, England and March 16th, 1973 at the Rainbow Theater in London, England
• Release date: July 1980 (1st live album by Black Sabbath)
• Record company: NEMS Records
• Production: Patrick Meehan 
• Album cover art: ?
• Personnel: Geezer Butler (bass guitar), Tony Iommi (guitar), Ozzy Osbourne (vocals), and Bill Ward (drums)
• Musical style: Heavy metal, hard rock
• Sound: Face-melting heaviness!  Paint-peeling intensity!  'Nuff said!
• Major themes: War, suffering, power, vengeance, insanity, death, the occult, drugs, etc. 
• Tracks: 

1. "Tomorrow's Dream"
2. "Sweet Leaf"
3. "Killing Yourself To Live"
4. "Cornucopia"
5. "Snowblind"
6. "Children Of The Grave"
7. "War Pigs"
8. "Wicked World"
9. "Paranoid"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Chappell Brewing (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://chappell.beer/
• Brew: War Pig Cascadian Dark Ale
• Style: Cascade Ale / Black India Pale Ale (IPA) 
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Ingredients: Galaxy and Lotus hops
• Pour: The War Pig pours a very murky, very dark brown with firm and frothy, 2-finger, light mocha, creamy head with great retention and layered, sticky lacing.
• Nose: The nose is earthy, roasty, chocolaty, and very hoppy.  There are aromas of pine resin, grapefruit rind, dark chocolate, and roasted malts.
• Taste: The taste is earthy, hoppy, citrusy, and roasty.  There are notes of pine, grapefruit juice, orange pith, black tea, bittersweet dark chocolate, roasted malts, blackberries, bitter herbs, and oak.
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the War Pig is thick, sticky, bitter, yet smooth with a dry, bitter finish.

Overall pairing: I'm not sure if any one brew can truly capture the sheer brilliance and intensity of Black Sabbath's "Live At Last", but the Chappell War Pig Cascadian Dark Ale does a pretty damn good job of keeping pace!  Those big, bold earthy and hoppy notes are perfect for the doomy, muddy, sludgy power of the down-tuned guitar, thunderous bass, and cannon fire drumming! 

Cheers and hails!!

November 10th, 2026 - An Arcane Rain Fell Above the Clouds

 

Hejsan headbangers, evil-doers, and craft beer freaks!  Happy Tuesday!  Your drinking buddy the Meista getting heavy this evening with a pairing of the wonderful "Arcane Rain Fell" album by Draconian and a tasty, juicy, and crisp Above The Clouds Hazy IPA from the Roha Brewing Project!  Hell yeah!  

Album Info:

• Artist: Draconian
• Title: "Arcane Rain Fell"
• Recorded: September 2004 at Studio Underground in Västerås, Sweden
• Release date: January 24th, 2005 (2nd full-length studio album by Draconian)
• Record company: Napalm Records
• Production: Pelle Saether 
• Album cover art: Travis Smith 
• Personnel: Johan Ericson (lead guitars and backing vocals), Anders Jacobsson (vocals), Lisa Johansson (vocals), Andreas Karlsson (keyboards and programming), Jesper Stolpe (bass), and Jerry Torstensson (drums and percussion)
• Additional personnel: Ryan Henry (spoken word on "Expostulation")
• Musical style: Gothic metal, doom metal with elements of melodic death metal and black metal
• Sound: Dark and brooding, yet wonderfully melodic, the sound on "Arcane Rain Fell" is hauntingly beautiful and definitive of the gothic / doom metal sound. 
• Major themes: A concept album about Lucifer's banishment from Heaven and the creation of Hell, themes on the album include death, betrayal, evil, darkness, mythology, suffering, misery, violence, Gnosticism, misanthropy, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "A Scenery Of Loss"
2. "Daylight Misery"
3. "The Apostasy Canticle"
4. "Expostulation"
5. "Heaven Laid in Tears (Angels' Lament)"
6. "The Abhorrent Rays"
7. "The Everlasting Scar"
8. "Death, Come Near Me"

 Brew Info:

• Brewery: Roha Brewing Project (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://rohabrewing.com/
• Brew: Above The Clouds Hazy IPA
• Style: New England India Pale Ale (NEIPA) 
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 7.2%
• Ingredients: Citra, Cryo Citra, and Mosaic hops
• Pour: The Above The Clouds Hazy IPA pours a very hazy, pale straw yellow hue with a billowy, bright white, 2+ finger head with great retention and lots of sudsy, soapy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, fruity, malty, herbal, and somewhat dank.  There are aromas of grapefruit, tangerine, fresh squeezed orange juice, lime zest, fresh peaches, freshly cut cantaloupe, pineapple, herbal tea, wildflowers, light-toasted malts, and soft caramel/toffee.
• Taste: Following the nose, the taste of the Above The Clouds Hazy IPA is a well-balanced blend of pronounced juicy and citrusy hop flavors along with more subtle malty flavors.  There are notes of orange juice and pith, tangerine, a splash of pineapple, sweet cantaloupe, soft peach, pink grapefruit juice, light malts, and soft caramel/toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel is crisp, yet smooth with a dry, pillowy soft finish.

Overall pairing: The Roha Above The Clouds Hazy IPA is a very crushable brew with lots of bright, citrusy, fruity, and juicy hop flavors, which makes it a great foil to the darkly complex and haunting power of Draconian's absolutely stellar "Arcane Rain Fell"!  'Nuff said! 

Skål and hails!!

November 8th, 2026 - His Imperial King's Voodoo Ranger

 

Hails and happy Sunday!  The Meista here rocking out to "Voodoo", the fantastic 8th album by the mighty King Diamond and a Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA from New Belgium Brewing Company!  Hells yeah!!

Album Info:

• Artist: King Diamond
• Title: "Voodoo"
• Recorded: 1997 at Norman Recording Studio in Texas
• Release date: February 24th, 1998 (8th studio album by King Diamond)
• Record company: Metal Blade Records
• Production: King Diamond, Andy LaRocque, and Sterling Winfield
• Album cover art: Kristian Wåhlin 
• Personnel: King Diamond (vocals), Chris Estes (bass, acoustic guitars, and keyboards), John Luke Hébert (drums), Andy La Rocque (guitars), and Herb Simonsen (guitars)
• Guest musician: Dimebag Darrell (guitar solo on "Voodoo")
• Musical style: Heavy metal
• Sound: Characterized by the King's extensive and unique vocals (and most notably his insane falsetto) coupled by the powerfully intense and complex musicianship of the band, the sound on "Voodoo" is brilliantly executed metal album with Hébert's machine gun fire drumming, Harbour's wonderfully thunderous bass, and the wonderfully soaring guitar of La Rocque and Simonsen.
• Major themes: A concept album about the Lafayette family, whose servant is secretly involved with voodoo and brings their downfall, themes on the album include the occult, magic, evil, supernatural forces, darkness, the night, possession, death, love, loss, sorrow, deception, betrayal, etc.
• Tracks:  

1. "Louisiana Darkness"
2. "LOA House"
3. "Life After Death"
4. "Voodoo"
5. "A Secret"
6. "Salem"
7. "One Down Two to Go"
8. "Sending Of Dead"
9. "Sarah's Night"
10. "The Exorcist"
11. "Unclean Spirits"
12. "Cross Of Baron Samedi"
13. "If They Only Knew"
14. "Aftermath"
15. Unclean Spirits" (hidden track played backwards)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Company (Fort Collins, Colorado)
• Website: http://www.newbelgium.com/
• Brew: Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA
• Style: American Double / Imperial IPA 
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 9.0%
• IBUs: 70
• Pour: The Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA pours a slightly hazy copper-amber with a 2+ finger, frothy and creamy, off-white head that displays lots of intricate and layered lacing throughout.
• Nose: The nose is dank, earthy, citrusy, and malty.  There are aromas of strong pine resin, grapefruit rind, tangerine peel, orange peel and juice, herbal tea, light stone fruit, graham cracker, and caramel.
• Taste: The taste is characterized by piney, citrusy, and malty flavors.  There are notes of fresh cut pine, pink grapefruit juice, tangerine, orange zest, black tea, bitter herbs, burnt toffee, and sweet caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is crisp, yet oily with a bittersweet and slightly boozy finish.

Overall pairing: The punchy and aggressive, yet complex flavors and aromas of New Belgium's great Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA is perfect for the power and energy of the mighty King Diamond!  Those big pine and citrus notes are great for the straightforward rocking aggression, while the sweeter malt notes are great for the wonderful harmonies and overall grooves!

HAILS!!!

November 7th, 2026 - Odin's Ally Heimdal

 

Hello and happy Saturday heathens, headbangers, and artisan brew fans!  The Meista here today pairing "Heimdal", the killer 16th studio album from the mighty Enslaved and a very delicious, hoppy, and crushable Odin's Ally Hazy IPA from the fine folks at Mother Earth Brew Company! 

Album Info:

• Artist: Enslaved
• Title: "Heimdal"
• Recorded: January 2021 through April 2022 at Solslottet Studios in Bergen, Norway, Earshot & Conclave Studios in Norway, and the Overlook Hotel 
• Release date: March 3rd, 2023 (16th studio album by Enslaved)
• Record company: Nuclear Blast
• Production: Ivar Bjørnson, Grutle Kjellson, and Iver Sandøy 
• Album cover art: Tor Ola Svennevig (artwork) and Mirjam O. Vikingstad (photography)
• Personnel: Ivar Bjørnson (guitars, keyboards, and effects), Arve Isdal (lead guitars), Grutle Kjellson (bass, keyboards, effects, and lead and backing vocals), Iver Sandøy (drums, keyboards, effects, and backing vocals), and Håkon Vinje (keyboards and lead and backing vocals)
• Additional musicians: Seb Baily (vocals on "Heimdal"), Jens Borgen (vocals on "Behind The Mirror"), Serena Cherry (vocals on "Heimdal"), Lisa Cope (vocals on "Heimdal"), Sheila Maria Diaz Peralta (vocals on "Heimdal"), Mélanie Duperrex (vocals on "Heimdal"), Simon Füllemann (vocals on "Heimdal"), Arild Gertz (vocals on "Heimdal"), Eilif Gundersen (horn on "Behind The Mirror"), Claire Harris (vocals on "Heimdal"), Emi Horikawa (vocals on "Heimdal"), Andrew Liles (vocals on "Heimdal"), Alexander Milas (vocals on "Heimdal"), Katrine Ødegård Stenbekk (vocals on "Heimdal"), KiraKira Peralta (vocals on "Heimdal"), Inger Sunneva Peersen (vocals on "Heimdal"), Sonja Elizabeth Peersen (vocals on "Heimdal"), Sunneva Ø. Peersen (vocals on "Heimdal"), Tonje Elizabeth Peersen (vocals on "Heimdal"), Einar Selvik (vocals on "Heimdal"), Magdalena Szymaniak (vocals on "Heimdal"), Michelle Van Oorschot (vocals on "Heimdal"), Silje Wergeland (vocals on "Heimdal"), and Lukasz Worny (vocals on "Heimdal")
• Musical style: Progressive metal, progressive black metal, folk metal, Viking metal, doom metal
• Sound: Like its predecessor, "Heimdal" is steeped in the traditional progressive metal and blended with black metal and folk metal.  The sound is atmospheric, dark, brooding, and very melodic with intricate rhythms and time changes.  Like all of Enslaved's works, "Heimdal" is a brilliant, emotional, and mesmerizing musical journey! 
• Major themes: Viking history and lore, Norse mythology, paganism, ancient Nordic spirituality, nature, death, winter, the sea, etc. 
• Tracks:  

1. "Behind The Mirror"
2. "Congelia"
3. "Forest Dweller"
4. "Kingdom"
5. "The Eternal Sea"
   
6. "Caravans To The Outer Worlds"
7. "Heimdal"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Mother Earth Brewing Company (Vista, California and Nampa, Idaho)
• Website: https://www.motherearthbrewco.com/
• Brew: Odin's Ally Hazy IPA 
• Style: New England-style Hazy India Pale Ale (NEIPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 7.2%
• IBUs: 25
• Ingredients: Elani, Nelson, Strata, and Citra Cryo hops 
• Pour: The Odin's Ally 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, lime juice and zest, grapefruit rind, bright mango, stone fruit (soft peach and dried apricot), light pine, wildflowers, freshly picked and cut strawberries, grassy hay, and light caramel/toffee.
• Taste: Fruit-forward and very juicy, the taste of the Odin's Ally Hazy IPA is citrusy, fruity, and slightly sweet.  There are notes of tangerine, orange juice, orange pith, juicy lime, Sprite, mango, passion fruit, guava, a hint of pineapple, sweet peach, ripe strawberries, a hint of pine resin, 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: Those intricate and bold, yet very drinkable flavors of Odin's Ally are perfect for the complex sound, depth of songwriting, and musical prowess of the mighty Enslaved!  The boldness and complexity of the brew is a wonderful companion the power of each member of the band and their amazing performances on "Heimdal"!  'Nuff said!

Skal and hails!!