August 16th, 2013 - I Sold My Soul To Outer Darkness!

Good evening and welcome to the dark side... both in ale and in album!  Tonight I'm pairing a Squatters Beers (Utah Brewers Cooperative) Outer Darkness Russian Imperial Stout with Black Sabbath's 1975/1976 compilation album, "We Sold Our Souls To Rock And Roll"!

A treasured album of mine, "We Sold Our Souls To Rock And Roll" is the ultimate doom metal compilation!  Originally released on December 1st, 1975 in the U.K. and then on February 3rd, 1976 in the U.S., "We Sold Our Souls To Rock And Roll" is a double-album, compiled of tracks from their first 6 albums (but weighing heavily on the first 4).  Although this is an official release from their then record company, NEMS, guitarist Tony Iommi was once quoted as saying he and the band knew nothing of it until he was asked to autograph a copy backstage at a concert in 1976.  I won't insult your intelligence by trying to describe the depth, complexity, and raw power by which Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward, and Mr. Iommi lay the heavy down on this album... you know!   

Anyway, here is the amazing track list:

1. "Black Sabbath" (from Black Sabbath)
2. "The Wizard" (from Black Sabbath)
3. "Warning" (from Black Sabbath)
4. "Paranoid" (from Paranoid)
5. "War Pigs" (from Paranoid)
6. "Iron Man" (from Paranoid)
7. "Tomorrow's Dream" (from Black Sabbath, Vol. 4)
8. "Fairies Wear Boots" (from Paranoid)
9. "Changes" (from Black Sabbath, Vol. 4)
10. "Sweet Leaf" (from Master of Reality)
11. "Children of the Grave" (from Master of Reality)
12. "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" (from Sabbath Bloody Sabbath)
13. "Am I Going Insane (Radio Edition)" (from Sabotage)
14. "Laguna Sunrise" (from Black Sabbath, Vol. 4)
15. "Snowblind" (from Black Sabbath, Vol. 4)
16. "N.I.B." (from Black Sabbath)

I cannot think of anything more richly deserving of the might of Black Sabbath's "We Sold Our Souls To Rock And Roll" than a Squatters Outer Darkness Russian Imperial Stout!!  This stout is fucking doom metal HUGE!  As Squatters says of this wonderfully robust ale, "roasted barley, oak, molasses, and licorice root combine to create an utterly unique and complex imperial stout experience."   Ain't that the truth!  Aged with oak, Outer Darkness has 65 IBUs, comes in at a massive 10.5 ABV and is bottle conditioned.  After only a few swigs you know you've got a profoundly big beer in your hands.  It pours black (hellishly black, "black as night", black as Black Sabbath!) with a thick, frothy, 2-finger head that is mocha in color with very strong, sustained lacing.  The nose is earthy and intense with a strong coffee aroma.  There are notes of dark chocolate and sweet, dark fruits like dates, prunes, and figs.  The initial flavor of this full-bodied brew is equally rich, intense, and strong... like Columbian coffee with big notes of dark chocolate, raisin, aged bourbon or cognac, and toasted malty goodness.   Full-bodied, the mouthfeel is thick and sticky, but with a lovely, creamy, velvetiness.  As my father would say, this is a beer that "you have to drink with a fork and knife; it will "put hair on your chest."  This is a bold, complex stout in the Russian tradition that demands attention and respect... and METAL!  It is absolutely perfect for the metal brilliance that is BLACK SABBATH!!

If you can find "We Sold Our Souls To Rock And Roll," get yourself a copy of this somewhat rare gem.  If you can purchase Outer Darkness in your neck of the woods, do so!  You won't be sorry!  Learn more about Squatters Outer Darkness at http://www.utahbeers.com/outerdarkness.html!

Hails and cheers!!