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Brews and Tunes, Hengelo (2026)

25/10/2026

October 25th, 2026 - A Cosmic Autumn Rebellion in a Realm of Chaos

Hello headbangers and craft brew fanatics, and a very happy Sunday to you! With Halloween just around the corner, your drinking pal the Meista is here today rocking out to Bolt Thrower's classic sophomore album "Realm Of Chaos" and a festive Cosmic Autumn Rebellion Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie Ale from the fine folks at Roosters Brewing Company!

Album Info:
Artist: Bolt Thrower
Title: "Realm Of Chaos"
Recorded: April 1989 at Loco Studios in Llanhennock, Gwent, Wales
Release date: October 28th, 1989 (2nd full-length studio album by Bolt Thrower)
Record company: Earache Records
Production: Dig (aka Digby Pearson)
Album cover art: John Sibbick (artwork) and Mark Craven (band logo)
Personnel: Jo Bench (bass), Barry "Baz" Thompson (guitars), Gavin Ward (guitars), Andrew Whale (drums), and Karl Willetts (vocals)
Musical style: Death metal
Sound: Characterized by the band's powerfully aggressive and thunderous sonic attack and Willetts' distinct and emotive growls, with the tracks on "", Bolt Thrower further solidified their dominance in the death metal world. It remains an all-time favorite of mine to this day!
Major themes: Destruction, death, war, violence, disease, injustice, evil, insanity, vengeance, power, dark fantasy and sci-fi, etc.
Tracks:
"Intro"
"Eternal War"
"Through The Eye Of Terror"
"Dark Millennium"
"All That Remains"
"Lost Souls Domain"
"Plague Bearer"
"World Eater"
"Drowned In Torment"
"Realm Of Chaos"
"Outro"

Brew Info:
Brewery: Roosters Brewing Company (Ogden, Utah)
Brew: Cosmic Autumn Rebellion Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookie Ale
Style: Pumpkin B**r
Serving: 12 ounce can
ABV: 5.0%
IBUs: 12
Pour: The Cosmic Autumn Rebellion pours a hazy bronze-amber hue with a frothy, 2-finger, light beige head with great retention and lots of sticky, sudsy lacing.
Nose: The nose is vegetal, earthy, spicy, and sweet. There are aromas of freshly cut pumpkin, dark chocolate, cocoa, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, cookie dough, and soft caramel.
Taste: The taste follows the nose with lots of freshly baked pumpkin chocolate chip cookie flavor. There are notes of pumpkin, spice cake, dark chocolate, cinnamon, nutmeg, caramel, and a hint of spicy booze.
Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Cosmic Autumn Rebellion is smooth with a spicy, somewhat dry finish.

Overall pairing: The Roosters Cosmic Autumn Rebellion is a very flavorful, drinkable, and complex brew of epic proportions... right in line with the metal intensity of Bolt Thrower! Those spicy and sweet flavors and aromas go great with the fiery guitars, thunderous rhythms, and aggressive vocals!! 'Nuff said!

Cheers and hails!! Raise your fists and raise your pints!!

24/10/2026

October 24th, 2026 - Return of the Spectral Sweet Rider

Hey there headbangers and craft brew lovers! Your drinking buddy the Meista is here this evening with another great pairing for ya... I'm rocking the hell out with another great pairing for ya... I'm headbanging to "Return Of The Spectral Rider", kick-ass 3rd album by the mighty Ravage and a Voodoo Ranger Sweet Ride Juicy IPA from New Belgium Brewing Company! Hell yeah!

Album Info:
Artist: Ravage
Title: "Return Of The Spectral Rider"
Recorded: 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts
Release date: May 26th, 2017 (3rd full-length studio album by Ravage)
Record company: Society for World Wide Ravage
Production: Eli Firicano with Ravage
Album cover art: Tim Jacobus
Personnel: Alec "Al Ravage" Firicano (vocals), Eli Joe Firicano (guitars), Tommy Grimaldi (bass), Nick Izzo (guitars), and Derek Jay (drums)
Guest musicians: George "GTB" Bellofatto Jr. (drums on "Whyvern" and "Wake The Dead", narration on "The Wasteland", and backing vocals), Tony "The Metal Duke" Canillas (backing vocals), Amber Newberry Izzo (backing vocals), Bassil Silver-Hajo (drums on "Spectral Rider"), and Yianni Tranxidis (drums on "Turn The Screw" and "Masque Of Black Death")
Musical style: Heavy metal, speed metal, power metal
Sound: Characterized by wonderfully crushing guitar riffs, soaring solos, thunderous drums and bass, and Al Ravage's district and powerful vocals, the sound on "Return Of The Spectral Rider" is pure, traditional, kick-ass American metal!
Major themes: Destruction, darkness, evil, horror, death, , etc.
Tracks:
"Dies Irae"
"Spectral Rider"
"Turn The Screw"
"The Wicked Way"
"Masque Of Black Death"
"Ravage Part 1: Damage"
"Whyvern"
"Wake The Dead"
"The Wasteland"
"Curse Of Heaven"
"Bring Down The Hellhammer"
"The Kingdom Forgotten"

Brew Info:
Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Company (Fort Collins, Colorado)
Brew: Voodoo Ranger Sweet Ride Juicy IPA
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Serving: 12 ounce can
ABV: 6.5%
IBUs: 25
Ingredients: Sabro, Lotus, Strata, and HBC 522 hops, and Pale Malt, Oats, and Wheat malts
Pour: The Voodoo Ranger Sweet Ride Juicy IPA pours a hazy, golden-yellow hue with a frothy, bright white, 2+ finger head with great retention and lots of sticky, intricate, and layered lacing.
Nose: The nose is very citrusy, floral, sweet, and slightly malty. There are aromas of fresh squeezed orange juice, tangerine, pink grapefruit, mango, fresh peach, wildflowers, caramel, and a hint of booze.
Taste: The taste of the Voodoo Ranger Sweet Ride Juicy IPAA follows the nose with lots of citrusy, juicy, punchy, and hop-forward fruit flavors. There are big notes of orange, tangerine, mango, and peach, along with more subtle notes of pineapple, pink grapefruit juice, and sweet caramel/toffee.
Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied and moderately carbonated, the Voodoo Ranger Sweet Ride Juicy IPA's mouthfeel is very crisp and very juicy with a dry, slightly boozy, and sweet finish.

Overall pairing: The Voodoo Ranger Sweet Ride Juicy IPA is a very crushable, somewhat sweet, and flavorful brew that is a perfect companion to the rockin' metal onslaught that is the mighty Ravage's "Return Of The Spectral Rider"! Those biting hops go great with the darker thematic elements of the album's lyrics and rhythms, while the brighter, sweeter elements go great with the fiery guitars and soaring vocals! 'Nuff said!

Cheers and hails!! Rock on!!

24/10/2026

October 24th, 2026 - Fresh Cycles of Pain... and Hops

Greetings rockers, rollers, headbangers and craft b**r freaks! Happy Saturday! Your drinking buddy the Meista here rocking the hell out to a pairing of "Cycles Of Pain", the most recent album by the mighty Angra and a bright and hoppy Fresh Hop IPA from the fine folks at Fisher Brewing Company! Hell yeah!

Album Info:
Artist: Angra
Title: "Cycles Of Pain"
Recorded: 2023 at Sonastério and Elephant Office
Release date: November 3rd, 2023 (10th full-length studio album by Angra)
Record company: Atomic Fire Records / Voice Music
Production: Dennis Ward
Album cover art: Erick Pasqua (artwork) and Jonathan Canuto (design, layout, and additional artwork)
Personnel: Felipe Andreoli (bass and additional rhythm guitar), Marcelo Barbosa (guitars), Rafael Bittencourt (guitars, piano, and vocals), Fabio Lione (lead vocals), and Bruno Valverde (drums and percussion)
Guest musicians: Bruno Alves (piano on "Tide Of Changes - Part II"), Juliana D'Agostini (piano on "Tears Of Blood"), Ronaldo "Cordas" de Oliveira (additional orchestration on ""Vida Seca"), Nando Fernandes (choir vocals on "Ride Into The Storm"), Alexey Kurkdjian (orchestration), Lenine (vocals on "Vida Seca"), Roger Lima (keyboards), Fernanda Lira (choir vocals on "Ride Into The Storm"), Kiko Loureiro (guitar on "Here in the Now" (Vanessa Moreno version)), Caio MacBeserra (choir vocals on "Ride Into The Storm"), Guga Machado (percussion), Nei Medeiros (keyboards on "Tears Of Blood"), Karina Menascé (backing vocals and choir vocals on "Ride Into The Storm"), Tefo Mion (choir vocals on "Cyclus Doloris"), Turí Mion (choir vocals), Vanessa Moreno (vocals on "Tide Of Changes - Part II" and "Here In The Now"), Marcello Pompeu (backing vocals), May Puertas (choir vocals on "Ride Into The Storm"), Angel Sberse (choir vocals on "Ride Into The Storm"), Amanda Somerville (vocals on "Tears Of Blood"), and Antonio Teoli (keyboards and orchestration)
Musical style: Progressive metal, power metal
Sound: Characterized by soaring and fiery dual guitars by Bittencourt and Barbos, Andreoli's and Valverde's powerful rhythm work, and Lione's incredible and beautiful vocal acrobatics, Angra's "Cycles Of Pain" is a true progressive power metal classic!
Major themes: Life, death, pain, sorrow, growth, change, resolution, redemption, time, etc.
Tracks:
"Cyclus Doloris"
"Ride Into The Storm"
"Dead Man On Display"
"Tide Of Changes - Part I"
"Tide Of Changes - Part II"
"Vida Seca"
"Gods Of The World"
"Cycles Of Pain"
"Faithless Sanctuary"
"Here In The Now"
"Generation Warriors"
"Tears Of Blood"
"Here in the Now" (Vanessa Moreno version)

Brew Info:
Brewery: Fisher Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Brew: Fresh Hop IPA
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Serving: 16 ounce can
ABV: 6.5%
Ingredients: Idaho 7 hops
Pour: The Fresh Hop IPA pours a clear, golden amber hue with a billowy and frothy, bright white, half-finger head with good sustain and lots of sudsy, sticky, and layered lacing.
Nose: The nose is characterized by citrusy, floral, earthy, and herbal hops, and more subtle sweeter malts. There are aromas of grapefruit rind, tangerine, herbal tea, wet pine needles, wildflowers, grassy hops, and more subtle aromas of doughy bread, toasted malts, and soft, sweet caramel/toffee.
Taste: The taste of the Fresh Hop IPA follows the nose with citrusy, earthy, and herbal flavors along with crackery maltiness. There are notes of pink grapefruit juice, tangerine, light pine resin, black tea, crackery biscuit, and soft caramel/toffee.
Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel is crisp, slightly bitter, yet smooth with a dry, bitter finish

Overall pairing: The bold, refreshing, and intricate flavors and aromas of Fisher's Fresh Hop IPA go great with the emotive intensity, fiery riffs, soaring vocals and guitar solos, and the thunderous rhythm section of "Cycles Of Pain"! This is one of my favorite b**rs Fisher releases each year in late summer / early fall. And I think it makes a nice companion to the immortal Angra! 'Nuff said!

Saude and hails!!

19/10/2026

October 19th, 2026 - A Gift From a Ghost of a Future Dead

God kväll craft b**r fiends and headbangers! The Meista here tonight getting heavy and aggressive with a pairing of At The Gates' last(?) album, the brilliant "The Ghost Of A Future Dead" and a bold and tasty Gifting Marshmallow & Coconut Tropical Imperial Stout from the fine folks at Bombastic Brewing! This pairing is dedicated to the late, great Tomas Lindberg. Rest in peace.

Album Info:
Artist: At The Gates
Title: "The Ghost Of A Future Dead"
Recorded: Instruments recorded February through March 2024 at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden; all of Tomas Lindberg's vocals were recorded in a single day at Welfare Sounds in Gothenburg, Sweden
Release date: April 24th, 2026 (8th studio album by At The Gates)
Record company: Century Media Records
Production: Jens Bogren
Album cover art: Robert Samsonowitz
Personnel: Anders Björler (guitars), Jonas Björler (bass), Adrian Erlandsson (drums), Martin Larsson (guitars), and Tomas Lindberg (vocals)
Guest/additional musicians: Gunnar Hjorth (acoustic guitar on "Förgängligheten"), Charlie Storm (keyboards on "The Fever Mask"), and Fredrik Wallenberg (backing vocals on "Det Oerhörda")
Musical style: Gothenburg-style melodic death metal, death metal with elements of progressive metal
Sound: Combining muted guitar work with bombastic and harmonic hooks along with aggressive vocals and haunting melodies, the sound on "The Ghost Of A Future Dead" is classic At The Gates, yet with some really interesting progressive elements. Like all of their albums, the tracks here are gritty, cerebral, intense, and definitive.
Major themes: Death, darkness, mythology, chaos, knowledge, science fiction, etc.
Tracks:
"The Fever Mask"
"The Dissonant Void"
"Det Oerhörda"
"A Ritual Of Waste"
"In Dark Distortion"
"Of Interstellar Death"
"Tomb Ff Heaven"
"Parasitical Hive"
"The Unfathomable"
"The Phantom Gospel"
"Förgängligheten"
"Black Hole Emission"

Brew Info:
Brewery: Bombastic Brewing (Hayden, Idaho)
Brew: Gifting Marshmallow & Coconut Tropical Imperial Stout
Style: Imperial Stout
Serving: 16 ounce can
ABV: 10.5%
Pour: The Gifting pours an opaque, deep, dark brown (almost black) hue with a billowy and creamy, half-finger mocha head with great retention and lots of sticky, sudsy lacing.
Nose: The nose is earthy, malty, chocolaty, nutty, earthy, sweet, and a bit boozy. There are aromas of dark chocolate, nutty coconut, vanilla beans, espresso, creamy marshmallow, fresh cream, oak, and rich bourbon.
Taste: Following the nose, the taste of the Gifting is rich, roasty, malty, chocolaty, slightly sweet, and boozy. There are notes of bittersweet dark chocolate, cocoa, burnt toffee, creamy vanilla, fresh coconut, roasted walnuts, and rich bourbon.
Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with low carbonation, the mouthfeel is silky, velvety, creamy, and thick and chewy with a dry, sweet, and boozy finish.

Overall pairing: Brash, flavorful, sweet, and complex, the Bombastic Brewing Gifting Marshmallow & Coconut Tropical Imperial Stout is a huge blast of rich, nutty, chocolaty, boozy, and creamy flavors... perfect for the brutality, depth, complexity, and melodic death metal prowess of the mighty At The Gates!! 'Nuff said!!

Hails!! Skål!!

18/10/2026

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:
"Benediction"
"Redeemer"
"Do What Thou Wilt"
"Last Man Standing"
"Darkest Before Dawn"
"Vendetta"
"Curse Of The Gypsy"
"Frost And Fire"
"Sabbat Stone"
"The Summoning"

Brew Info:
Brewery: Proper Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
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 b**r label in my humble opinion.

Cheers and hails!!

18/10/2026

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, s*x, 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:
"Ram It Down"
"Heavy Metal"
"Love Zone"
"Come And Get It"
"Hard As Iron"
"Blood Red Skies"
"I'm A Rocker"
"Johnny B. Goode"
"Love You To Death"
"Monsters Of Rock"
"Night Comes Down" (live) - bonus track
"Bloodstone" (live) - bonus track

Brew Info:
Brewery: Ska Brewing (Durango, Colorado)
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!!

17/10/2026

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:
"Save Us"
"Midwinter Calls"
"Ominous"
"Call Out The Dark"
"The Orphean Testament"
"Reawakening"
"The Great Unwashed"
"Heartless"
"Blindfolded"
"Wildfires"

Brew Info:
Brewery: Uinta Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
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!!

16/10/2026

October 16th, 2026 - The Citrus Slayer Shows No Mercy

Hello and hails my metal brethren and b**r-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:
"Evil Has No Boundaries"
"The Antichrist"
"Die By The Sword"
"Fight Till Death"
"Metalstorm/Face The Slayer"
"Black Magic"
"Tormentor"
"The Final Command"
"Crionics"
"Show No Mercy"

Brew Info:
Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Company (Fort Collins, Colorado)
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 Citrus Slayer 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!!!!

11/10/2026

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 s*xually 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, s*x, desire, life, loss, betrayal, etc.
Tracks:
"Heartache"
"Back To You"
"The Love Lingers Still"
"To Be Betrayed"
"Take Your Love Away"
"My Angel"
"Satisfied Then Crucified"
"Start Running"
"One Way Love"
"Make My Night"
"Heavy Metal Rock 'n' Roll"

Brew Info:
Brewery: Fisher Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Brew: Rocktoberfest
Style: German L***r / 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!

Cheers!! Hails!!

10/10/2026

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:
"Jane"
"Lightning Rose (Carry the Fire)"
"Things To Come"
"Awakening"
"Girl With The Hungry Eyes"
"Just The Same"
"Rock Music"
"Fading Lady Light"
"Freedom at Point Zero (Climbing Tiger Mountain Through The Sky)"

Brew Info:
Brewery: Red Rock Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
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!!

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