May 18th, 2019 - Batsquatch Salad

Hello there evil-doers!  The Meista here today on this overcast Saturday pairing High On Fire's kickass "Bat Salad" 2019 Record Store Day EP and a juicy Batsquatch Hazy India Pale Ale from Rogue Ales!  Hells yes!!

Album Info:

• Artist: High On Fire
• Title: "Death Is This Communion"
• Recorded: 2019 at Hightower Recordings and Interlace Audio
• Release date: April 13th, 2019 (1st Record Store Day EP by High On Fire)
• Record company: eOne Music
• Production: High On Fire 
• Album cover art: ?
• Personnel: Des Kensel (drums), Jeff Matz (bass), and Matt Pike (guitar and vocals)
• Musical style: Stoner metal, doom metal, sludge metal, thrash metal
• Sound: Combining the heaviness of doom metal and the intensity of thrash, the EP's sound is all about fuzzy doom, aggressive, brutal, melodic, expressive, and harmonic sonics!  It is as if Black Sabbath, Motorhead, and Slayer had a child together!
• Major themes: Death, evil, aggression, rebellion, heavy metal, etc.
• Notes: The album cover art is based on H.R. Giger's painting "Satan I", which was used on Celtic Frost's "To Mega Therion".
• Tracks:   

1. "Bat Salad"
2. "Into The Crypts Of Rays" (Celtic Frost cover)
3. "Don't Bother Me" (Bad Brains cover)

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Rogue Ales
• Website: http://www.rogue.com/
• Brew: Batsquatch Hazy India Pale Ale
• Style: American India Pale Ale (IPA)
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 6.7%
• IBUs: 45
• Ingredients: 2-Row Malt, Flaked Wheat, Malted Wheat and Oats; Mosaic, El Dorado and Belma hops; Imperial Juice Yeast and Free Range Coastal Water
• Pour: As the name implies, the Batsquatch Hazy India Pale Ale pours a very hazy bright orange hue with a frothy, 2+ finger, bright white head with great sustain and lot of layered and intricate soapy lacing throughout.
• Nose: The nose is characterized by lots of citrus and tropical fruit aromas along with more subtle grassy and malty notes.  There are aromas of orange juice, orange peel, tangerine, lime, grapefruit rind, mango, pineapple, guava, a hint of cream, a hint of vanilla bean, and soft caramel.
• Taste: The taste of the Batsquatch Hazy India Pale Ale follows the nose with lots of citrus and tropical fruit flavors along with more subtle malts.  There are notes of orange juice, pith, tangerine, pink grapefruit juice, mango, herbal tea, a hint of vanilla, light cream and caramel/toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with moderate carbonation, the Batsquatch is juicy, crisp, smooth, and refreshing with a slightly bitter and dry finish.

Overall pairing: I can think of nothing more fitting right now for the juicy Rogue Batsquatch to be paired with than High On Fire's "Bat Salad" Record Store Day EP!  And not just for the name either, but more specifically for the complexity, crushability, and richness of character.  And as for the hoppiness... just listen to Pike's smokin' guitar!!

Cheers!!  Hails!!