February 6th, 2026 - Ozzy's Symptom of the Universe

Hello and hails evil-doers, rockers, rollers, and craft beer freaks!  One more for ya the get the weekend off the right way!  Your drinking buddy the Meista here this evening pairing a bold and delicious Ozzy Bourbon Barrel Aged Black Ale, a tasty brew from Chappell Brewing that honors the legacy of the late, great Ozzy Osborne and "Symptom Of The Universe: The Original Black Sabbath 1970–1978", a fantastic compilation double-album chronicling the first eight years (the Ozzy-era) from the mighty Black Sabbath!  Oh, hell yeah!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Black Sabbath
• Title: "Symptom Of The Universe: The Original Black Sabbath 1970–1978"
• Recorded: 1969 through 1978 at various studios
• Release date: October 22nd, 2002 (8th compilation album by Black Sabbath)
• Record company: Warner Bros. / Rhino
• Production: Sharon Osbourne
• Album cover art: ? 
• Personnel: Geezer Butler (bass guitar), Tony Iommi (guitars), Ozzy Osbourne (vocals), and Bill Ward (drums and percussion)
• Additional musicians: Don Airey (keyboards), John Elstar (harmonica), Rick Wakeman (piano and mini-Moog), and Gerald Woodruffe (keyboards)
• Musical style: Heavy metal, hard rock
• Sound: Yeah, this is the stuff!!  29 mind-blowing tracks of sludgy, doomy, head-banging perfection from the godfathers of metal!!  You don't need me to tell you how bad ass these fellas are... Ozzy, Iommi, Geezer, and Ward define themselves through their playing.  And I won't insult your intelligence by trying to give you some lame breakdown of my interpretation of each song.  Just know that it is face-melting heaviness, paint-peeling intensity!  'Nuff said!
• Major themes: War, darkness, mythology, love, lust, beauty, suffering, power, vengeance, insanity, death, the occult, heroism, etc. 
• Tracks: 

1. Disc one:
   

   1. "Black Sabbath" (Originally from Black Sabbath) 
   2. "N.I.B." (Originally from Black Sabbath) 
   3. "The Wizard" (Originally from Black Sabbath) 
   4. "Warning" (Originally from Black Sabbath) 
   5. "Evil Woman" (Originally from Black Sabbath) † 
   6. "Paranoid" (Originally from Paranoid) 
   7. "Iron Man" (Originally from Paranoid) 
   8. "War Pigs" (Originally from Paranoid) 
   9. "Fairies Wear Boots" (Originally from Paranoid) 
   10. "Sweet Leaf" (Originally from Master of Reality) 
   11. "Children of the Grave" (Originally from Master of Reality) 
   12. "Into the Void" (Originally from Master of Reality) 
   13. "Lord of This World" (Originally from Master of Reality)

   †Previously unavailable in the US
   
   Disc two:
   

   1. "After Forever" (Originally from Master of Reality) 
   2. "Snowblind" (Originally from Black Sabbath, Vol. 4) 
   3. "Laguna Sunrise" (Originally from Black Sabbath, Vol. 4) 
   4. "Changes" (Originally from Black Sabbath, Vol. 4) 
   5. "Tomorrow's Dream" (Originally from Black Sabbath, Vol. 4) 
   6. "Supernaut (Originally from Black Sabbath, Vol. 4) 
   7. "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" (Originally from Sabbath Bloody Sabbath) 
   8. "Fluff" (Originally from Sabbath Bloody Sabbath) 
   9. "Sabbra Cadabra" (Originally from Sabbath Bloody Sabbath) 
   10. "Am I Going Insane (Radio)" (Originally from Sabotage) 
   11. "Symptom of the Universe" (Originally from Sabotage) 
   12. "Hole in the Sky" (Originally from Sabotage) 
   13. "Rock 'n' Roll Doctor" (Originally from Technical Ecstasy) 
   14. "Dirty Women" (Originally from Technical Ecstasy) 
   15. "Never Say Die" (Originally from Never Say Die!) -
   16. "A Hard Road (Originally from Never Say Die!) 

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Chappell Brewing (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://chappell.beer/
• Brew: Ozzy Bourbon Barrel Aged Black Ale
• Style: Cascadian Dark Ale / Black India Pale Ale (IPA) 
• Serving: 25 ounce bottle
• ABV: 7.0%
• Ingredients: Galaxy and Lotus hops aged in bourbon barrels
• Pour: The Ozzy 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, slightly boozy, and very hoppy.  There are aromas of pine needles, grapefruit rind, dark chocolate, oak, rich bourbon, and roasted malts.
• Taste: The taste is earthy, hoppy, citrusy, and roasty.  There are notes of pine resin, grapefruit juice, orange pith, black tea, bittersweet dark chocolate, roasted malts, blackberries, bitter herbs, burnt toffee, bourbon, and oak.
• Mouthfeel: Full-bodied with moderate carbonation, the mouthfeel of the Ozzy is thick, sticky, bitter, yet smooth with a dry, bitter, and slightly boozy finish.

Overall pairing: I'm not sure if any one brew can truly capture the sheer brilliance and intensity of Black Sabbath, but the Ozzy 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! 

"Clap your fuckin' hands!!"  And raise those horns and pints high!!  

Hails to the memory of Ozzy!!