May 31st, 2026 - The Vile Haze ov the Fathers

 

Greetings headbangers and craft beer freaks!  Happy Sunday!  My friends in Cryptopsy just finished up their None So Vile 30th Anniversary Tour.  My wife and I were fortunate enough to catch them in their hometown of Montreal for the last show of the tour this past Thursday!  I was also able to hang out with them for a couple of hours when they drove through my neck of the woods during the tour acouple of weeks ago.  So, in honor of the band, the album, and the tour, your drinking buddy the Meista is here today rocking the hell out to a pairing of "None So Vile", the kick-ass, sophomore death metal beast by the mighty Cryptopsy and a bold, hoppy, Haze Ov The Fathers Triple IPA from Little Cottage Brewery in collaboration with Cryptopsy and Vox and Hops!!  Hell yeah!!  Thanks for the beers, Matt!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Cryptopsy
• Title: "None So Vile"
• Recorded: December 1995 to January 1996 at Victor Studio in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
• Release date: July 3rd, 1996 (2nd studio album by Cryptopsy)
• Record company: Wrong Again Records / Hammerheart Records
• Production: Pierre Rémillard and Cryptopsy 
• Album cover art: Elisabetta Sirani (art) and Flo Mounier (logo) 
• Personnel: Dan Greening aka Lord Worm (lead vocals), Éric Langlois (bass), Jon Levasseur (lead and rhythm guitars), Flo Mounier (drums)
• Guest musicians: Eric Fiset (backing vocals) and Steve Thibault (backing vocals)
• Musical style: Brutal death metal, technical death metal
• Sound: Aggressive, heavy as hell, and wonderfully brutal, the sound on "None So Vile" is classic '90s Canadian death metal that helped define the style and established Cryptopsy as a force to be reckoned with!  From the opening notes of "Crown Of Horns" to the finale of "Orgiastic Disembowelment", this beast of an album grabs you by the collar, slams you against the wall, and stares deep into your soul!
• Major themes: Death, violence, gore, mutilation, evil, darkness, the occult, blasphemy, anti-religion, misery, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Crown Of Horns"
2. "Slit Your Guts"
3. "Graves Of The Fathers"
4. "Dead And Dripping"
5. "Benedictine Convulsions"
6. "Phobophile"
7. "Lichmistress"
8. "Orgiastic Disembowelment"

 Brew Info:

• Brewery: Little Cottage Brewery (Avondale Estates, Georgia)
• Website: https://littlecottagebrewery.com/
• Brew: Haze Ov The Fathers
• Style: Triple India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 10.5% 
• Ingredients: Nectaron, Riwaka, Motueka, Whakatū, Phantasm, and Superdelic hops
• Pour: The Haze Ov The Fathers pours a very cloudy, murky, and nearly opaque pale-yellow hue with a bright white, half-finger, frothy head that slowly dissipates to a thin ring with sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, tropical, . There are notes of grapefruit rind, freshly sliced pineapple, passionfruit, guava, peach, herbal tea, freshly baked sourdough bread, and a hint of booze.
• Taste: Following the nose, the taste of the Haze Ov The Fathers is citrusy, tropical, grainy, slightly bitter, and slightly boozy.  There are notes of orange pith, grapefruit juice, passionfruit, bright pineapple, dried apricot, light peach, black tea, and a splash of honey and a splash of fermented fruit. 
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Haze Ov The Fathers is yet soft, pillowy with a slightly astringent and boozy finish.

Overall pairing:  The bold and intricate flavors and aromas of the Haze Ov The Fathers from Little Cottage Brewery go so great with the infernal aggression and intensity, fiery riffs, brutally growling vocals, and thunderous and insane rhythm section of "None So vile"!  These two ass-kickers were made for one another!  The fiery and aggressive guitar work of Jon Levasseur shines even brighter with the citrusy and tropical notes of the brew, while that hoppy, bitter punch is right in line with the guttural vocals of Lord Worm, and the boozy backbone is great for Flo's insane drumming and Langlois' intricate bass work!  If you love brutal / technical death metal, I highly recommend this fantastic album and this wonderfully tasty brew!  'Nuff said! 

Make sure to check out my interview with Cryptopsy vocalist Matt McGachy here: https://youtu.be/OVxRheCol7s

Cheers and hails!!!

May 24th, 2026 - There's No Escape From the WIENERBRÄU!

 

Hello and happy Sunday craft beer freaks, rockers, and rollers!  The Meista here today pairing Journey's legendary "Escape" albums with a very crushable Fisher WIENERBRÄU from my friends at Fisher Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!  

Album Info:

• Artist: Journey
• Title: "Escape" (stylized as "ESC4P3")
• Recorded: April through June 1981 at Fantasy Studio in Berkeley, California
• Release date: July 17th, 1981 (8th studio album by Journey
• Record company: Columbia Records
• Production: Kevin Elson and Mike Stone
• Album cover art: Stanley Mouse (illustrations) and 
• Personnel: Jonathan Cain (keyboards, rhythm guitars, and backing vocals), Steve Perry (lead vocals), Neal Schon (lead guitar, Roland guitar synthesizer on "Open Arms", and backing vocals), Steve Smith (drums), and Ross Valory (bass and backing vocals)
• Musical style: Hard rock, rock, power pop
• Sound: The 5th highest selling album of 1981 and the band's most successful, the sound on "Escape" is timeless... it transcends generations!
• Major themes and subjects: Positivity, love, loss, relationships, rebellion, life, passion, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Don't Stop Believing"
2. "Stone In Love"
3. "Who's Crying Now"
4. "Keep On Runnin'"
5. "Still They Ride"
6. "Escape"
7. "Lay It Down"
8. "Dead Or Alive"
9. "Mother, Father"
10. "Open Arms"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Fisher Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah) 
• Website: https://fisherbeer.com/
• Brew: WIENERBRÄU
• Style: American Pale Wheat Beer
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Pour: The WIENERBRÄU pours cloudy, pale, straw-colored yellow hue with a frothy, bright white, 1+ finger head with good retention and lots of sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is grainy, malty, and slightly sweet.  There are aromas of crackery biscuit, freshly baked wheat bread, cracked wheat, lemon zest, light grassy hops, and a splash of honey.
• Taste: Well-balanced, the taste of the WIENERBRÄU is malty, grainy, grassy, and slightly sweet.  There are notes of crackery biscuit, cereal grains, lemon zest, light grassy hops, lemongrass, and light honey.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium-bodied with good carbonation, the mouthfeel is very crisp and smooth with a clean, slightly sweet finish.

Overall pairing: The tasty, crushable character of Fisher's delicious WIENERBRÄU is a perfect beer to crush with the guitar-driven, heavy-duty rock and roll punch that is Journey's classic "Escape"!  'Nuff said! 

Cheers!! 

May 23rd , 2026 - Shades of the Death Knell

Hello, happy Saturday, and hails metal maniacs and craft beer freaks!  The Meista here with another kick-ass pairing for ya today: "Death Knell", the killer debut album by Tennessee death metal band Demon King and a bold and delicious Shades of Death German Style Schwarzbier from Heavy Reel Brewing Company!  Hells yeah!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Demon King
• Title: "Death Knell"
• Recorded: 2025 in Tennessee
• Release date: November 14th, 2025 (1st full-length studio album by Demon King)
• Record company: The Artisan Era
• Production: Demon King 
• Album cover art: Justin Abraham (artwork) and Malcolm Pugh (layout)
• Personnel: Jack Blackburn (drums), Matt Brown (guitars and vocals), Cole Daniels (bass), and Colt Halvorson (guitars) 
• Musical style: Death metal with elements of blackened death metal and technical death metal
• Sound: Characterized by wonderfully aggressive and violent riffs, soaring and intricate guitar solos, machine gun fire blast beat drumming, heavy and complex bass lines, and the searing vocal attack of Matt Brown, the tracks on "Death Knell" are diametrically brutal and melodic!  The writing, musicianship, and execution on this album is really quite astounding!
• Major themes: Death, destruction, evil, darkness, the occult, insanity, fear, terror, violence, rage, etc.  
• Tracks: 

1. "Requiem For A Dead World"
2. "Incineration Mantra"
3. "The Poisoned Veins Of The Willing"
4. "By The Portents Of Evil"
5. "Pharmagickal Dominion"
6. "Saturnal Abyss, Carbonic Prison"
7. "Death Knell"
8. "To Trample And Destroy The Nations"

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, 2+ 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 intense and brutal technical death metal attack of Demon King's first full-length offering!  The dark, roasty, and malty notes are even more pronounced when you've got "Death Knell" blasting from your speakers!  I highly recommend both the album and brew!  'Nuff said!

Cheers and hails!! 

May 22nd, 2026 - The Magic of Chicken TV

 

Hello and happy Friday rockers, rollers, and craft beer fanatics!  The Meista here pairing Gillan's 6th and final album, the fantastic "Magic" with a Chicken TV Premium American Lager from Home Range Brewing!  Hell yes!  Oh, and this pairing is dedicated to my friend Dustin Mitchell... cheers brother!

Album Info: 

• Artist: Gillan
• Title: "Magic"
• Recorded: July through August 1982 at Kingsway Studio in London, England
• Release date: September 1982 (6th studio album by Gillan)
• Record company: Virgin Records
• Production: Mick Glossop 
• Album cover art: Dave Dragon (illustration) and Bitter & Twisted (design) 
• Personnel: Janick Gers (guitars), Ian Gillan (lead vocals and harmonica), John McCoy (bass), Colin Towns (keyboards), and Mick Underwood (drums)
• Musical style: Hard rock, heavy metal
• Sound: As with everything Ian Gillan touches, "Magic" is a powerful musical statement filled with expressive and emotive lyrics and vocals, a powerhouse rhythm section, and soaring guitars and keys!
• Major themes: Life, joy, music, relationships, loss, love, desire, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "What's The Matter"
2. "Bluesy Blue Sea"
3. "Caught In A Trap"
4. "Long Gone"
5. "Driving Me Wild"
   
6. "Demon Driver"
7. "Living A Lie"
8. "You're So Right"
9. "Living For The City" (Stevie Wonder cover)
10. "Demon Driver (Reprise)"
11. "Breaking Chains" (bonus track)
12. "Purple Sky" (bonus track)
13. "Fiji" (bonus track)
14. "Helter Skelter" (bonus track - The Beatles cover)
15. "Smokestack Lightning" (bonus track)
16. "South Africa" (bonus track)
17. "John" (bonus track)
18. "South Africa" (bonus track - 12" extended version)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Home Range Brewing (Logan, Utah
• Website: https://www.homerangebeer.com/
• Brew: Chicken TV Premium American Lager 
• Style: American Lager
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 4.5%
• Pour: The Chicken TV pours a clear, pale straw-yellow hue with a thin, bright white, bubbly head that slowly dissipates to a thin ring with light lacing.
• Nose: The nose is grainy, malty.  There are aromas of freshly cut hay, lightly toasted white bread, a hint of lemongrass, and light grassy hops.
• Taste: Following the nose, the flavor of the Chicken TV is characterized by notes of crackery biscuit, bready malt, light barley, a hint of lemon zest, and a splash of honey.
• Mouthfeel: Light-bodied and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Chicken TV is very crisp and smooth with a dry, clean finish.

Overall pairing: The Home Range Chicken TV Premium American Lager is a light and very crushable brew... a great foil to the amazing heavy rock and roll stylings of the mighty Gillan!  The soaring vocals and guitar work shines even brighter with the crips lager notes, while that biscuity malt is right in line with the lyrics and thunderous rhythm section!!

Cheers!!  Rock on!!

May 17th, 2026 - A Grand Sláinte in Celebration of Satan's Love

 

Hails evil-doers and craft brew fans!  Let's all do some heavy duty headbangin' on this cloudy sabbath with Satan's Host's killer album "Celebration: For the Love of Satan" and a bold and delicious Grand Sláinte Imperial Stout from Proper Brewing Company!  Hells yeah!

Album Info: 

• Artist: Satan's Host
• Title: "Celebration: For the Love of Satan"
• Recorded: July through September 2011 at Flatline Audio in Denver, Colorado
• Release date: November 21st, 2011 (8th full-length studio album by Satan's Host)
• Record company: Moribund Records 
• Production: Dave Otero 
• Album cover art: Chris Moyen 
• Personnel: Harry "The Tyrant" Conklin, aka Leviathan Thisiren (vocals), Patrick Elkins aka Satan Patrick Evil (guitars), and Anthony Lopez (drums) 
• Musical style: Power metal with elements of black metal, doom metal, and thrash metal
• Sound: Consisting of re-recorded songs from the band history and incredibly heavy, the sound on "Celebration: For the Love of Satan" is everything a metal album should be!  It is aggressive, powerful, bombastic, evil, and fiery!  I cannot say enough about how badass this band is... Conklin's vocals soar (as always) as well as growl and bite, Patrick Evil's guitar work is mind-blowing, Margar's bass is Ash's "boom stick" incarnate, and the Evil Hobbit's drumming is both machine gun fire intensity and a thunderous juggernaut!   And if you get a chance to see this band live, DO SO!!  You will not be sorry!   I highly recommend this wonderful and underrated band!!
• Major themes: Evil, darkness, the occult, Hell, Satan, damnation, black magic, death, destruction, rebellion, horror, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "For The Love Of Satan"
2. "Hell Fire"
3. "Metal From Hell"
4. "Witches Return"
5. "Cauldron Of The Ancients"
6. "Nightside Of Eden"
7. "Ecliptic Equinox"
8. "H.E.L.L."
9. "Satanic Grimoire"
10. "The Cursing (Vampyric Evil Eye)"
11. "Dark Priest (Lord Ahriman)"
12. "Convictions"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Proper Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: http://www.properbrewingco.com/ 
• Brew: Grand Sláinte Imperial Stout 
• Style: Imperial Stout
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 8.5%
• Ingredients: Maris Otter Malt, Proximity Base Malt, Flacked Barley, Carmalt, Roasted Barley, Black Malt, Biscuit Malt, Galena Hops, and EKG Hops
• Pour: The Grand Sláinte Imperial Stout pours an opaque, deep, dark ink black hue with a light mocha, 1+ finger, creamy head that dissipates slowly to a thin ring with layered lacing.
• Nose: The nose is roasty, toasty, and earthy.  There are aromas of roasted barley, dark toasted bread, dark chocolate, dark roasted espresso beans, rich soil, burnt toffee, oak, and a hint of bourbon.
• Taste: The taste of the Grand Sláinte Imperial Stout follows the nose with earthy, chocolatey, roasty, and toasty flavors.  There are notes of dark roasted malts, hearty barley, dark roasted coffee, light cream, roasted walnuts, light cocoa, bittersweet dark chocolate, and rich bourbon.
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with low carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Grand Sláinte Imperial Stout is thick and velvety smooth with a creamy, dry, and slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: I think the Grand Sláinte Imperial Stout is the perfect brew to sip whilst listening to the bold and aggressive heavy metal beast that is Satan's Host's "Celebration: For the Love of Satan"!  Those earthy, dark malt notes go great with the darker lyrical subject matter and the intense wails of Conklin, while the sweeter chocolate notes are great for the fiery guitar licks of Satan Patrick Evil!  I also like the look of the awesome album artwork juxtaposed with the cool beer can label!

Make sure to check out my 2023 interview with vocalist Harry Conklin here: https://youtu.be/Jy3QZDJhLac

Sláinte and HAILS!!

May 16th, 2026 - Shadows of Tomorrow Starts Monday

 

Hello and happy Saturday metal maniacs and hop lovers!  The Meista here pairing "Shadows Of Tomorrow", a killer compilation album by Dutch thrash metal band Speedica and a delicious, juicy, and hoppy Tomorrow Starts Monday Hazy IPA from the fine folks at Revision Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Speedica
• Title: "Shadows Of Tomorrow"
• Recorded: 1989 through 1991 at Iris Studio in Venlo, the Netherlands
• Release date: 1998 / 2024 (compilation album by Speedica)
• Record company: BCS Muziekproductions  / Vic Records
• Production: Wim Kauffman and Speedica
• Album cover art: ? 
• Personnel: Marcel Coenen (guitars), Henk Hamers (guitars), Pierre Heydendael (drums), Raymond Heydendael (bass), and Hans Reinders (vocals)
• Musical style: Thrash metal, speed metal
• Sound: Classic speed / thrash metal in the truest sense, the sound on "Shadows Of Tomorrow" is a wonderful blast of aggression and rage with a healthy mix of celebration and rebellion!
• Major themes: Metal, violence, sex, aggression, rage, horror, angst, rebellion, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Torture"
2. "Haunted House"
3. "Expulsion Of Evil"
4. "Souls Of Despair"
5. "Bridge To The End / Laws Of Metal"
6. "Radiation Wastelands"
7. "Lady Obsession"
8. "Fuckin' For Pleasure"
9. "Radiation Wastelands" (Live Noorderligt Tilburg 23-12-1989)
10. "Mind Liberty" (Live Boerderij Geleen 05-11-1989)
11. "Haunted House" (Live Den Aanloop Asten 31-03-1990)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Revision Brewing Company (Sparks, Nevada) 
• Website: https://revisionbrewing.com/
• Brew: Tomorrow Starts Monday Hazy IPA
• Style: New England-style Hazy India Pale Ale (NEIPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 7.0%
• IBUs: 42
• Pour: The Tomorrow Starts Monday Hazy IPA pours a very hazy golden-yellow hue with a frothy, bright white, half-finger head with good retention and sudsy, sticky lacing.
• Nose: The nose is very tropical and citrusy with more subtle floral and malt elements.  There are aromas of tangerine, mandarin oranges, lemon zest, lime juice and peel, grapefruit rind, bright mango, freshly cut melon, wildflowers, light pine resin, freshly cut hay, and soft caramel/toffee.
• Taste: Hop-forward and very juicy, the taste of the Tomorrow Starts Monday Hazy IPA is citrusy, fruity, and slightly sweet.  There are notes of tangerine, mandarin orange juice, honeydew, cantaloupe, lime, mango, pineapple, guava, light pine, 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 finish.

Overall pairing: The Tomorrow Starts Monday Hazy IPA from Revision Brewing is a punchy, yet very drinkable and refreshing, hoppy brew... great for pairing with the aggression and fiery fast guitar work of Speedica!  The complexity and uniqueness of the beer align well with the thrashing assault of the tracks on "Shadows Of Tomorrow"!  'Nuff said!

Proost and hails!!

May 15th, 2026 - Feel the Fire of the Back Draught

 

Hello and happy Friday, thrashers, metal maniacs, and craft beer lovers!  The Meista here pairing a delicious Back Draught American Style Pilsner from my friends at Ogden Beer Company and the fast, furious, and heavy hitting "Feel The Fire", the debut album from the mighty Overkill!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Overkill
• Title: "Feel The Fire"
• Recorded: 1985 at Pyramid Studios in Ithaca, New York,
• Release date:  (1st full-length studio album by Overkill)
• Record company: Megaforce Records
• Production: Carl Canedy and Jon Zazula 
• Album cover art: Mark Callisto (photography)
• Personnel: Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth (vocals), Bobby Gustafson (guitars), Rat Skates (drums), and D.D. Verni (bass)
• Musical style: Thrash metal
• Sound: Raw, fast, fiery, and full of piss and vinegar, this is where it all began!  These tracks are pure, unadulterated thrash metal joy with a healthy dose of punk influence!  Blitz's vocals peel the paint of the walls while Gustafson's guitar licks metal your face!
• Major themes: Death, aggression, anger, rebellion, violence, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Raise The Dead"
2. "Rotten To The Core"
3. "There's No Tomorrow"
4. "Second Son"
5. "Hammerhead"
6. "Feel The Fire"
7. "Blood And Iron"
8. "Kill At Command"
9. "Overkill"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Ogden Beer Company (Ogden, Utah) 
• Website: http://www.ogdenbeercompany.com/ 
• Brew: Back Draught American Style Pilsner
• Style: American Pilsner
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Pour: The Back Draught pours a clear, bright golden-yellow hue with a 2-finger, bright white, frothy head with great retention and lots of soapy, sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is a characterized by grainy, malty, and slightly fruity aromas.  There are aromas of freshly cut hay, lightly toasted white bread, Pilsner malt, light biscuit, and a hint of apple.
• Taste: Well-balanced, the Back Draught is a nice blend of bready, grainy, malty, and subtly fruity flavors.  There are notes of toasted white bread, crackery biscuit, .
• Mouthfeel: Light in body and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel is of the Back Draught is crisp and smooth with a dry, clean finish. 

Overall pairing: The inviting and crushable flavors and aromas of the delicious Back Draught American Style Pilsner from Ogden Beer Company is a great brew for the crush whilst banging your head and shaking your fists to the heavy-duty thrash metal onslaught that is the legendary Overkill!  'Nuff said!

Make sure to check out my interview from 2022 with ex-Overkill guitarist Bobby Gustafson here: https://youtu.be/_h-ZAvO_HwE

And check out my interview with the album's producer, the legendary Carl Canedy of The Rods here: https://youtu.be/ntpKr1xwNqM

Cheers and hails!!