December 28th, 2023 - A Paranoid War Pig

 

Hello and hails evil-doers, rockers, rollers, and hopheads!  Your drinking buddy the Meista here today pairing a bold and hoppy War Pig Cascadian Dark Ale from Chappell Brewing and one of the most important and influential albums of our time, Black Sabbath's incredible "Paranoid"!!  Oh, hell yeah!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Black Sabbath
• Title: "Paranoid"
• Recorded: Jun 16th through the 21st, 1970 at Regent Sound Studios and Island Studios in London, England
• Release date: September 18th, 1970 (2nd studio album by Black Sabbath)
• Record company: Warner Bros.
• Production: Rodger Bain
• Album cover art: Marcus Keef 
• Personnel: Geezer Butler (bass guitar), Tony Iommi (guitars and flute on "Planet Caravan"), Ozzy Osbourne (vocals), and Bill Ward (drums and congas on "Planet Caravan")
• Musical style: Heavy metal, hard rock
• Sound: Face-melting heaviness!  Paint-peeling intensity!  'Nuff said!
• Major themes: War, suffering, power, vengeance, insanity, death, the occult, etc. 
• Interesting side note: Originally, the album was to be titled "War Pigs", but the record company was afraid of a backlash in America due to the conflict in Vietnam.  However, the album cover art wasn't changed.  Of the album, Ozzy stated, "That album title had nothing to do with the sleeve.  What the fuck does a bloke dressed as a pig with a sword in his hand got to do with being paranoid?  I don't know, but they decided to change the album title without changing the artwork."
• Tracks: 

1. "War Pigs/Luke's Wall"
2. "Paranoid"
3. "Planet Caravan"
4. "Iron Man"
5. "Electric Funeral"
6. "Hand Of Doom"
7. "Rat Salad"
8. "Jack The Stripper/Fairies Wear Boots"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Chappell Brewing (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://chappell.beer/
• Brew: War Pig Cascadian Dark Ale
• Style: Cascade Ale / Black India Pale Ale (IPA) 
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• Ingredients: Galaxy and Lotus hops
• Pour: The War Pig pours a very murky, very dark brown with firm and frothy, 2-finger, light mocha, creamy head with great retention and layered, sticky lacing.
• Nose: The nose is earthy, roasty, chocolaty, and very hoppy.  There are aromas of pine resin, grapefruit rind, dark chocolate, and roasted malts.
• Taste: The taste is earthy, hoppy, citrusy, and roasty.  There are notes of pine, grapefruit juice, orange pith, black tea, bittersweet dark chocolate, roasted malts, blackberries, bitter herbs, and oak.
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the War Pig is thick, sticky, bitter, yet smooth with a dry, bitter finish.

Overall pairing: I'm not sure if any one brew can truly capture the sheer brilliance and intensity of Black Sabbath's "Paranoid", but the Chappell War Pig Cascadian Dark Ale does a pretty damn good job of keeping pace!  Those big, bold earthy and hoppy notes are perfect for the doomy, muddy, sludgy power of the down-tuned guitars, thunderous bass, and cannon fire drumming! 

Cheers and hails!!