December 18th, 2015 - Sleigh'r'd In The Abyss

Afternoon thrashers and brew lovers!  The Meista here gettin' crazy with a pairing of  Slayer's "Seasons In The Abyss" and a Sleigh'r Dark Doüble Alt Ale from Ninkasi Brewing Company!

Album Info:

• Artist: Slayer
• Title: "Seasons In the Abyss"
• Recorded: March through June 1990 at Hit City West, Hollywood Sound, and Record Plant in Los Angeles, California
• Release date: October 9th, 1990 (5th studio album by Slayer)
• Record company: Def American Records
• Production: Rick Rubin, Andy Wallace, and Slayer
• Album cover art: Larry Carroll
• Personnel: Tom Araya (bass and lead vocals), Jeff Hanneman (lead and rhythm guitar), Kerry King (lead and rhythm guitar, and backing vocals on "Seasons in the Abyss" and "Skeletons of Society"), and Dave Lombardo (drums)
• Musical style: Thrash metal
• Sound: In-your-face, aggressive, and fist-pumping power describe some of the elements of this masterpiece album!  Araya's brutal and honest vocal performance is accompanied by whiplash fast guitar work, machine gun drumming, and thunderclap bass!
• Major themes: Mostly departing from their earlier lyrical subject matter of the occult, the afterlife, and Hell, Slayer became more socially and politically conscious with "Seasons In the Abyss".  Themes include various horrors of life: war, gang violence, wasted youth, nuclear apocalypse, human suffering, destruction, and weakness.
• Tracks:  

1. "War Ensemble"
2. "Blood Red"
3. "Spirit In Black"
4. "Expendable Youth"
5. "Dead Skin Mask"
6. "Hallowed Point"
7. "Skeletons Of Society"
8. "Temptation"
9. "Born Of Fire"
10. "Seasons In the Abyss"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Ninkasi Brewing Company (Eugene, Oregon)
• Website: http://ninkasibrewing.com/
• Brew: Sleigh'r Dark Doüble Alt Ale
• Style: Altbier 
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 7.2%
• IBUs: 50
• Original gravity: 1068
• Ingredients: Nugget hops and 2-Row Pale, Crystal, Munich, Carahell, Roasted Barley, and Chocolate malts
• Pour: The Sleigh'r pours a deep mahogany with a 1-finger, frothy, and tan head with spider web lacing that is nicely displayed and sustained. 
• Nose: The aroma is dark toasted bread, pumpernickel or maybe marble rye.  There are notes of malty biscuit, a hint of cocoa, sweet toffee, and hop forward bitterness. There are also notes of raisin and bourbon and vanilla.
• Taste:  Like the nose, the flavors are complex, multi-layered and delicious... somewhat smoky, there are notes of toasted malt, hearty grain, and bittersweet dark chocolate.
• Mouthfeel: Opposite of the flavor and bitterness, the mouthfeel is smooth and creamy.  However, there is a sharpness in the finish as well.

Overall pairing:  With its more aggressive hop bite and higher ABV (7.2%), Ninkasi's Sleigh'r Dark Doüble Alt Ale is a perfect brew for the thrashing fury of Slayer's "Seasons In the Abyss"!  Those big malty flavors are great for the bold power that is Slayer!

Hails, happy holidays, and cheers rivet-heads!!!!