November 12th, 2026 - War Pigs Live at Last!

 

Good evening and hails evil-doers, rockers, rollers, and hopheads!  Your drinking buddy the Meista here tonight pairing a bold and hoppy War Pig Cascadian Dark Ale from Chappell Brewing and one of the most important and influential bands of our time, Black Sabbath and their awesome and somewhat rare "Live At Last" album!!  Oh, hell yeah!!  This pairing is dedicated to my late friend Scott.  The tape pictured in the pairing belonged to him.  R.I.P. brother... you are missed and loved!!

Album Info:

• Artist: Black Sabbath
• Title: "Live At Last"
• Recorded: March 11th, 1973 at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester, England and March 16th, 1973 at the Rainbow Theater in London, England
• Release date: July 1980 (1st live album by Black Sabbath)
• Record company: NEMS Records
• Production: Patrick Meehan 
• Album cover art: ?
• Personnel: Geezer Butler (bass guitar), Tony Iommi (guitar), Ozzy Osbourne (vocals), and Bill Ward (drums)
• 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, drugs, etc. 
• Tracks: 

1. "Tomorrow's Dream"
2. "Sweet Leaf"
3. "Killing Yourself To Live"
4. "Cornucopia"
5. "Snowblind"
6. "Children Of The Grave"
7. "War Pigs"
8. "Wicked World"
9. "Paranoid"

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: 12 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 "Live At Last", 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 guitar, thunderous bass, and cannon fire drumming! 

Cheers and hails!!