July 2nd, 2026 - Oh Yeah! I Dare You!

Hello and happy Wednesday rockers, rollers, and craft beer lovers!  A little break from my usual metal albums. The Meista here today paring "Dare", the imaginative and compelling 3rd album by The Human League with a tart and tasty Oh Yeah! Sour Ale from Prairie Artisan Ales!

Album Info:

• Artist: The Human League
• Title: "Dare"
• Recorded: March through September 1981 at Genetic Sound in Streatley, Berkshire, U.K.
  Release date: October 16th, 1981 (3rd studio album by The Human League)
• Record company: Virgin Records 
• Production: Martin Rushent and The Human League)
• Album cover art: Ken Ansell (cover layout and coordination), Brian Aris (photography), Philip Oakey (cover design), and Philip Adrian Wright (cover design) 
• Personnel: Ian Burden (synthesizers), Jo Callis (synthesizers), Joanne Catherall (vocals), Philip Oakey (lead vocals and synthesizers), Susan Ann Sulley (vocals), and Philip Adrian Wright (slides and occasional synthesizer)
• Additional musicians: Dave Allen (programming) and Martin Rushent (programming)
• Musical style: New wave, synth pop, electropop, art rock 
• Sound: While a little less experimental and more commercial than their previous two albums, "Dare" is still unique, compelling, artistic, and pushed the boundaries of modern music at that time.  Oakey's compositions and lyrical approach is masterful and the band's musical prowess and approach is truly stunning!
• Major themes: Dreams, love, relationships, modern life, society, desire, loss, etc.
• Tracks:  

1. "The Things That Dreams Are Made Of"
2. "Open Your Heart"
3. "The Sound Of The Crowd"
4. "Darkness"
   
5. "Do Or Die"
6. "Get Carter"
7. "I Am the Law"
8. "Seconds"
9. "Love Action (I Believe In Love)"
10. "Don't You Want Me"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Prairie Artisan Ales (Oklahoma)
• Website: https://prairieales.com/
• Brew: Oh Yeah!
• Style: Fruited Sour Ale
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 5.8%
• Ingredients: Sour ale brewed with Tropical Punch Kool-Aid
• Pour: The Oh Yeah! pours a very cloudy, bright pinkish-red hue with a frothy, 1+ finger, light pink head that slowly dissipates to a thin ring with light lacing.
• Nose: The nose is fruity, sweet, and rather tart.  There are aromas of fruit punch, cherry juice, cherry soda, raspberry jam, lemon juice, and a hint of honey.
• Taste: The taste of the Oh Yeah! follows the nose with juicy, fruity, tart, and sweet flavors.  There are notes of Tropical Punch Kool-Aid, lemon juice and zest, a splash of cranberry juice, a splash of honey, and very subtle graininess.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium in body and well-carbonated, the mouthfeel is very sweet, tart, and crisp, juicy and refreshing, yet smooth with a sweet, juicy and lip-puckering tart finish.

Overall pairing: The Prairie Oh Yeah! is a bright, sweet, tart, and very crushable brew that works perfectly well with the innovative and inviting electronic sounds of The Human League's brilliant "Dare" album!  Those complex, sweet, and tart fruit flavors really work well with the overall vibe of the album's tracks!  'Nuff said!

Cheers!!

June 28th, 2026 - Spiritual Gangster Healing

 

Hello and happy Sunday, metal brethren!  The Right Reverend Meista here today getting some religion with a pairing of Death's classic and essential "Spiritual Healing" and a bright and juicy Spiritual Gangster Hazy IPA from the fine folks at Revision Brewing Company!  Hell yeah... I mean, can't I get an amen?!

Album Info:

• Artist: Death
• Title: "Spiritual Healing"
• Recorded: 1989 at Morrisound Recording in Tampa Bay, Florida
• Release date: February 16th, 1990 (3rd studio album by Death)
• Record company: Combat Records / Relapse Records
• Production: Chuck Schuldiner and Eric Greif
• Album cover art: Ed Repka
• Personnel: Bill Andrews (drums), Terry Butler (bass), James Murphy (guitars), and Chuck Schuldiner (guitars and vocals)
• Additional musicians: Eric Greif (Kawai K1 keyboards on "Spiritual Healing")
• Musical style: Death metal
• Sound: A bit more melodic and progressive than their previous work, yet still heavy and aggressive as hell, the sound on "Spiritual Healing" is the next evolutionary step in the brilliant sound of the mighty Death!  Just look at that lineup... you know it is going to kill!  Everything about this album is pure early death metal magic!
• Major themes: Taking a more socio-political approach, the lyrics on "Spiritual Healing" deal with corruption, televangelism, abortion, genetics, addiction, rage, etc. 
• Tracks: 

1. "Living Monstrosity"
2. "Altering The Future"
3. "Defensive Personalities"
4. "Within The Mind"
5. "Spiritual Healing"
6. "Low Life"
7. "Genetic Reconstruction"
8. "Killing Spree"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Revision Brewing Company (Sparks, Nevada) 
• Website: https://revisionbrewing.com/
• Brew: Spiritual Gangster Hazy IPA
• Style: New England-style Hazy India Pale Ale (NEIPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 6.5%
• IBUs: 35
• Pour: The Spiritual Gangster 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 citrusy ant tropical with more subtle floral and malt elements.  There are aromas of bright 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 Spiritual Gangster Hazy IPA is citrusy, fruity, and slightly sweet.  There are notes of bright tangerine, mandarin orange juice, cantaloupe, lime, mango, light pineapple, guava, resiny pine, and light toffee.
• 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, and mildly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: One of the most important death metal albums in the history of metal deserves a brew of complex and bold character... and today that beer is Revision's Spiritual Gangster Hazy IPA!  Those punchy hops are great for the aggression and power that is the mighty Death!!

Cheers and hails to the memory of Chuck!!

June 27th, 2026 - Into the Void that is Oblivion

 

Good evening evil-doers, metal maniacs, and hopheads!  The Meista here tonight with another killer pairing for ya!  Let's get a little evil and do some heavy duty headbangin' with "Into Oblivion", the latest album by legendary metal veterans Venom and an Into the Void IPA from Roha Brewing Project!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Venom
• Title: "Into Oblivion"
• Recorded: 
• Release date: May 1st, 2026 (15th studio album by Venom)
• Record company: Noise Records
• Production: Conrad T. Lant
• Album cover art: Nathan Goldsworthy (photography) and Conrad T. Lant (design concept) 
• Personnel: Conrad "Cronos" Lant (bass and vocals), Danny "Danté" Needham (drums), and Stuart "Rage" Dixon (guitars) 
• Musical style: Thrash metal, speed metal, black metal
• Sound: Fast, furious, raw, and aggressive, this is pure, classic Venom!  Sure, maybe there's nothing really new here in terms of subject matter or approach, but it kicks ass like only Venom does!
• Major themes: Death, violence, war, the occult, Satan, evil, darkness, hell, heavy metal, rebellion, life, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Into Oblivion"
2. "Lay Down Your Soul"
3. "Nevermore"
4. "Man & Beast"
5. "Death The Leveller"
6. "As Above, So Below"
7. "Kicked Outta Hell"
8. "Legend"
9. "Leve Loud"
10. "Metal Bloody Metal"
11. "Dogs Of War"
12. "Deathwitch"
13. "Unholy Mother"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Roha Brewing Project (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://rohabrewing.com/
• Brew: Brewers Select: Into the Void IPA
• Style: India Pale Ale (IPA) 
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 6.9%
• Pour: The Into the Void IPA pours a hazy, golden-orange hue with an off-white, 1-finger head with good retention and soapy, sticky lacing.
• Nose: The nose is citrusy, malty, herbal, and somewhat dank.  There are aromas of grapefruit rind, tangerine, lime zest, herbal tea, a hint of wild onions, fresh herbs, wildflowers, toasted malts, and soft caramel/toffee.
• Taste: Following the nose, the taste of the Into the Void IPA is a well-balanced blend of pronounced hoppy and malty flavors.  There are notes of pink grapefruit juice, orange pith, black tea, toasted malts, and soft caramel/toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel is crisp, yet somewhat thick with a dry, slightly bitter finish.

Overall pairing: I think the hoppy and bold complexity of Roha's Into the Void IPA is perfect for the powerful and aggressive heavy metal beast that is Venom's "Into Oblivion"!  Those citrus flavors go well with the fiery guitars, while the more bitter notes go well with the darker lyrical subject matter and the intense wails of the mighty Cronos!  'Nuff said!

HAILS!!  Keep it craft and keep it heavy!

June 27th, 2026 - What's a Terrasite? Elephino!

 

Hello and happy Saturday death metal maniacs and hop lovers!  Your pal the Meista here today pairing "Terrasite", the 10th studio album by the indelible Cattle Decapitation and a very bold and very hoppy Elephino Double IPA from the folks at Red Rock Brewery!  Hells yes!

Album Info:

• Artist: Cattle Decapitation
• Title: "Terrasite"
• Recorded: May through July 2022 at Flatline Audio in Denver, Colorado
  Release date: May 12th, 2023 (10th studio album by Cattle Decapitation)
• Record company: Metal Blade Records
• Production: Dave Otero
• Album cover art: Wes Benscoter
• Personnel: Belisario Dimuzio (guitars), Josh Elmore (guitars), David McGraw (drums), Olivier Pinard (bass), and Travis Ryan (lead vocals)
• Guest musicians: Dave Otero (additional keyboards on "Just Another Body"), Dis Pater (keyboards and drums on "Terrasitic Adaptation", "Scourge Of The Offspring", and "Just Another Body")
• Musical style: Progressive death metal with elements of grindcore, metalcore, and black metal
• Sound: Cattle Decapitation continues to push boundaries with their sound and reinvent themselves with each album.  "Terrasite" is no different... with an ever expanding, ever pressing sound that challenges your progressive yearnings while slamming you against the wall with its death metal and grindcore punch!
• Major themes: Misanthropy, nihilism, human extinction, oblivion, death, animal rights, metamorphosis, environmentalism, de-evolution, gore, etc. 
• Notes: The album is dedicated to the memory of former member Gabe Serbian, who committed suicide in 2022.
• Tracks:  

1. "Terrasitic Adaptation"
2. "We Eat Our Young"
3. "Scourge Of The Offspring"
4. "The Insignificants"
5. "The Storm Upstairs"
6. "...And The World Will Go On Without You"
7. "A Photic Doom"
8. "Dead End Residents"
9. "Solastalgia"
10. "Just Another Body"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Red Rock Brewery (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: www.redrockbrewery.com
• Brew: Elephino Double IPA
• Style: Double India Pale Ale (DIPA) / Imperial IPA (IIPA)
• Serving: 16 ounce bottle
• ABV: 8.0%
• Ingredients: Red Rock employs six varieties of hops and then double dry-hops this bad boy with whole leaf Amarillo hops, which gives it a big citrus and piney flavor.
• Pour: The Elephino pours a very hazy golden orange with a big and rocky frothy head that displays good retention.
• Nose: The nose really grabs you with a blend of citrus and floral and pine notes. 
• Taste: Those same citrus notes in the nose are what really grab you with its flavor.  Notes of bitter grapefruit, pine, and softer, more subtle sweet malts intertwine for a well-balanced and flavorful brew. 
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied with good carbonation, the mouthfeel is not as dry and a bit "creamier" than most IPAs, but you definitely get that hop oily feel on the tongue, which leaves a nice, lingering bitterness.

Overall pairing: The Elephino (pronounced: el-if-know) is an American-style Double IPA with a huge hop profile and prominent malty body!  Those bright citrus and pine flavors are great for the for the intricate guitar work of Dimuzio and Elmore, and Ryan's wild vocal attack, while the malty backbone compliments the powerhouse rhythm section of McGraw and the mighty Pinard!  'Nuff said!

Cheers and hails!!

June 26th, 2026 - A Handsome Gold & Platinum

 

Hello and happy Friday rockers, rollers, and craft beer freaks!  The Meista here today pairing "Gold & Platinum", a stellar greatest hits compilation album by the legendary Lynyrd Skynyrd and a tasty and smooth El Guapo Dorado Mexican Lager from Talisman Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Title: "Gold & Platinum" 
• Recorded: 1972 through 1977 at various studios
• Release date: December 1979 (2nd compilation album released by Lynyrd Skynyrd)
• Record company: MCA Records
• Production: Lynyrd Skynyrd 
• Album cover art: ?
• Personnel: Jo Billingsley (backing vocals), Bob Burns (drums), Merry Clayton (backing vocals), Allen Collins (guitars), Ronnie Eades (saxophone), David Foster (keyboards), Cassie Gaines (backing vocals), Steve Gaines (guitars and vocals), Leslie Hawkins (backing vocals), Jimmy Johnson (guitars), Clydie King (backing vocals), Ed King (guitars and bass), Al Kooper aka "Roosevelt Gook" (Moog synthesizer, organ, mellotron, and backing vocals), Rickey Medlocke (drums and backing vocals), Robert Nix (drums), Wayne Perkins (guitars), Billy Powell (keyboards and piano), Artimus Pyle (drums), Ronnie Van Zant (lead vocals), Greg Walker (bass), and Leon Wilkeson (bass and backing vocals)
• Musical style: Hard rock, Southern rock, rock and roll, blues rock
• Sound: What can you say about Lynyrd Skynyrd that hasn't already been said a million times before?  These songs are as groundbreaking and brilliant as they are timeless!  
• Major themes: Life, rebellion, drinking, the South, fighting, love, desire, bravado, loss, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Down South Jukin'"
2. "Saturday Night Special"
3. "Gimme Three Steps"
4. "What's Your Name"
5. "You Got That Right"
6. "Gimme Back My Bullets"
7. "Sweet Home Alabama"
8. "Free Bird" (live)
9. "That Smell"
10. "On The Hunt"
11. "I Ain't The One" (live)
12. "Whiskey Rock-A-Roller"
13. "Simple Man"
14. "I Know A Little"
15. "Tuesday's Gone"
16. "Comin' Home"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Talisman Brewing Company (Ogden, Utah)
• Website: https://www.talismanbrewingco.com/
• Brew: El Guapo Dorado Mexican Lager
• Style: Mexican Lager
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Pour: The El Guapo Dorado Mexican Lager pours a clear, golden bronze hue with a frothy, bright white, thin head with that dissipates slowly to a thin ring with light lacing.
• Nose: The nose is malty, slightly floral, toasty, and slightly sweet.  There are aromas of maize, wildflowers, doughy bread, a hint of apple, and a splash of honey.
• Taste: The taste of the El Guapo Dorado Mexican Lager follows the nose with malty, grainy, and slightly sweet flavors.  There are notes of corn chips, toasted barley, bready malts, a touch of sweet honey, and a hint of caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Light in body and well carbonated, the mouthfeel is crisp and very smooth with a clean, slightly dry finish.

Overall pairing: The El Guapo Dorado Mexican Lager from Talisman Brewing Company is a great brew to accompany the classic rock and roll punch of the mighty Lynyrd Skynyrd!  What more could you ask for on a hot summer day?! 

Cheers!!  Rock on!!

June 25th, 2026 - Let's Take a Trip Back in Time... Way Back to 1994

 

Hey there evil-doers, metalheads, and craft beer freaks!  Today I'm pairing "Time", the wonderful and very underrated 4th album by horror metal pioneers Mercyful Fate and a delicious 1994 Lager from the fine folks at Helper Beer!  Hell yeah! 

Album Info: 

• Artist: Mercyful Fate
• Title: "Time"
• Recorded: May through August 1994 at the Dallas Sound Lab in Dallas, Texas
• Release date: October 25th, 1994 (4th studio album by Mercyful Fate)
• Record company: Metal Blade Records
• Production: King Diamond, Tim Kimsey, and Hank Shermann 
• Album cover art: Anneli Adolfsson
• Personnel: Sharlee D'Angelo (bass), Michael Denner (guitars), Kim Bendix Petersen aka King Diamond (vocals, keyboards, and harpsichord), Snowy Shaw (drums), and Hank Shermann (guitars) 
• Musical style: Heavy metal, power metal, progressive metal, hard rock
• Sound: Maybe a little rawer and more aggressive than with previous Mercyful Fate albums, the sound is still that very complex and progressive MF sound!  The King's falsetto vocals are as haunting and insane as ever!  The rhythm section of D'Angelo and Shaw is a driving and thunderous force!  And Shermann and Denner lay down some killer, classic riffing!
• Major themes: Death, the occult, horror, the Necronomicon, evil, the devil, witchcraft, fear, darkness, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Nightmare Be Thy Name"
2. "Angel Of Light"
3. "Witches' Dance"
4. "The Mad Arab"
5. "My Demon"
6. "Time"
7. "The Preacher"
8. "Lady In Black"
9. "Mirror"
10. "The Afterlife"
11. "Castillo Del Mortes"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Helper Beer (Helper, Utah)
• Website: https://www.helperbeer.com/
• Brew: 1994 Lager 
• Style: Red Lager
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0% 
• Pour: The 1994 Lager pours a  with a billowy, 2+ finger, off-white head with great retention and lots of sticky, soapy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is bready, grainy, musty, slightly sweet, and nutty.  There are aromas of toasted barley, crackery biscuit, very light apple, toasted hazelnuts, and soft caramel. 
• Taste: Following the nose, the taste of the 1994 Lager is malty, bready, yeasty, and semi-sweet.  There are notes of barley grain, light apple, bready malts, toasted nuts, and soft caramel.
• Mouthfeel: Light to medium in body with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is very crisp and very smooth with a rather clean finish.

Overall pairing: Both the complexity of flavors and the overall drinkability of the tasty 1994 Lager from Helper Beer work perfectly as a foil to the aggression, musical prowess, and metal integrity of Mercyful Fate's killer "Time" album!  'Nuff said!

Check out my interview with former Mercyful Fate bassist Sharlee D'Angelo here: https://brewsandtunes.blogspot.com/2019/10/october-6th-2019-will-to-power.html

Skal and hails!! 

June 21st, 2026 - An Imperial Red for the Dirty Kings

 

Hello and happy Sunday rockers, rollers, and craft beer fans!  Your pal the Meista here today on Father's Day pairing "Dirty Kings III", the latest kick-ass album by Dirty Kings with a bold and delicious Anniversary Imperial Red Ale from the fine folks at Red Rock Brewing Company!  This pairing is dedicated to my friend and Dirty Kings lead vocalist Andrew Sample... cheers, brother!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Dirty Kings
• Title: "Dirty Kings III"
• Recorded: 2026 at Avalanche Recording Studio in Northglenn, Colorado
• Release date: May 29th, 2026 (3rd full-length studio album by Dirty Kings)
• Record company: Plexi Dragon Music
• Production: Dirty Kings
• Album cover art: Tad Leger 
• Personnel: Jameson Becker (drums and backing vocals), Wade Cleaton (bass guitar and backing vocals), Shawn "Diggler" Fallahi (lead and rhythm guitars), John Gaster (lead and rhythm guitars, and backing vocals), and Andrew Sample (lead and backing vocals)
• Musical style: Hard rock, rock and roll, and a little heavy metal
• Sound: In the tradition of '70s guitar-driven hard rockers like Bad Company, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy, etc. and a heavy dose of NWOBHM, the sound on "Dirty Kings III" is pure, high octane, in-your-face rock and roll!  The hooks, the melodies, the riffs, the solos, the vocals, the rhythms... everything about this album is solid gold!  And if you thought their last two albums were great (which they were), this is a step beyond!  Of the album, lead vocalist Sample stated: ""When you have such an eclectic background and musical pedigree as we do, it's best to concentrate on delivering impactful songs instead of worrying about style or if what we are writing is going to connect with people.  We put a lot of ourselves into writing our songs without following trends or scenes, and true music fans can hear the authenticity and sincerity in what we are doing.  Some of the material on Dirty Kings III is more aggressive than what we've done in the past, and some of the songs are definitely more melodic than on the previous two albums.  It took longer than we wanted, but we couldn't be happier with the results we've gotten." 
• Major themes: Rebellion, rock and roll, danger, life, relationships, desire, , etc.
• Note of interest: I'm very grateful and honored to be thanked in the linear notes!
• Tracks:  

1. "La Entrada"
2. "Catch Twenty-Two"
3. "The Apollo Crossing"
4. "Out Of Line"
5. "Swallow Tail"
6. "House That Rocks"
7. "Nova Drive"
8. "Ties That Bind"
9. "Can't Find The Sun"
10. "Wrong Place, Right Time"
11. "They Come And They Go"
12. "Can't Find The Sun" (acoustic bonus track)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Red Rock Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: www.redrockbrewing.com
• Brew: Anniversary Imperial Red Ale
• Style: Imperial Amber Ale
• Serving: 16 ounce bottle
• ABV: 9.5%
• Pour: It pours a clear, but deep mahogany with huge, frothy, bright white head that leave lots of intricate lacing.
• Nose: The nose of the Anniversary Imperial Red Ale is nutty and sweet up front with hoppier aromas in the back.  There are aromas of hazelnut, walnut, soft caramel, freshly baked bread, and spicy hops.
• Taste: Combining the maltiness of a red ale and the hoppiness of a pale with the boldness of an Imperial, the roasty, toasty, hoppy, and fruity flavors of this brew are incredibly inviting!  There are notes of creamy toffee, orange zest, pine resin, hazelnut, and multi-grain bread.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied and moderately carbonated, the mouthfeel of the Anniversary Imperial Red Ale is smooth and meaty with a dry, crisp, and punchy finish.

Overall pairing: The bold, rich flavors of the Anniversary Imperial Red Ale from Red Rock Brewing Company are perfect for the big rock and roll powerhouse that is "Dirty Kings III"!  Those biting hops pair so well with Samples powerful vocals and the crunchy guitars, while the malty sweetness is perfect for the overall groove and driving rhythms!  'Nuff said!

Cheers!!  Rock on!!