November 3rd, 2017 - Open The Gates Into The Heart Of Darkness!

Good evening metal maniacs and artisan brew fans!  Your drinking buddy the Meista here tonight pairing "Open The Gates" by legendary metal act Manilla Road and Magic Hat Brewing Company's Heart Of Darkness Stout!

Album Info:

• Artist: Manilla Road
• Title: "Open The Gates" (2015 Remaster - Ultimate Edition)
• Recorded: 1985
• Release date: 1985 (4th studio album by Manilla Road)
• Record company: Black Dragon Records
• Production: Manilla Road
• Album cover art: Eric Larnoy (R.I.P.), unreleased first cover art by Scott Dawson
• Personnel: Randy Foxe (drums), Scott Park (bass guitar), and Mark Shelton (vocals and guitars)
• Musical style: Heavy metal with elements of power metal, doom metal, and thrash metal
• Sound: With influence from the NWOBHM, Black Sabbath, and a sprinkling of thrash metal, the sound on "Open The Gates" is by far the heaviest and most metal album by Manilla Road at that point in their history!  With newcomer, Foxe on drums, their music became faster, more aggressive, and more powerful.   
• Major themes: With lyrics inspired by R.B. Anderson, Marcus Manilius, and Alfred Lord Tennyson, subject matter and themes on "Open The Gates" include Norse mythology, sword and sorcery, the legend of King Arthur, astrology, space, heavy metal, power, evil, war, etc.
• Tracks:   

1. "Metalström"
2. "Open The Gates"
3. "Astronomica"
4. "Weavers Of The Web"
5. "The Ninth Wave"
6. "Heavy Metal To The World"
7. "The Fires of Mars"
8. "Road Of Kings"
9. "Hour Of The Dragon"
10. "Witches Brew"
11. "Touch The Sky" (early rehearsal)
12. "Witches Brew" (live 1987)
13. "Weavers Of The Web" (live 2011)
    

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Magic Hat Brewing Company (South Burlington, Vermont)
• Website: https://www.magichat.net/
• Brew: Heart Of Darkness Stout
• Style: English Stout
• Serving: 12 ounce bottle
• ABV: 5.7%
• IBUs: 30
• Ingredients: Pale, Munich, Caramel 80, Roasted Barley, Caramalt, Chocolate malts with Apollo and Goldings hops, and English Ale Yeast
• Pour: The Heart Of Darkness pours an opaque inky black with a thin, yet creamy mocha head with good sustain and sudsy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is earthy, roasty, and chocolaty.  There are aromas of dark roasted coffee, burnt toast, dark roasted malt, bittersweet baker's chocolate, a hint of marshmallow, and toffee.
• Taste: The taste of the Heart Of Darkness is roasty, toasty, earthy, smoky, and bitter.  There are notes of bittersweet chocolate, espresso, dark roasted coffee, walnuts, a hint of liquid smoke, bitter herbs, and a hint of sweet toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied and lower in carbonation, the mouthfeel is silky, smooth, and velvety with a dry, bitter finish.

Overall pairing: Even with a lower ABV, Magic Hat's Heart Of Darkness Stout is a bold, complex, and ... perfect for the metal might of Manilla Road's brilliant and very underrated "Open The Gates"!  Those sweeter chocolate notes are perfect for the vocals, guitar, and bass tones and textures while the more aggressive bitter notes are great for Foxe's powerhouse drumming!
    

Cheers and hails!!