“It’s like, how much more black could this be? And the answer is none. None more black.”- Nigel Tufnel, Spinal Tap

These were the first words that came to mind while pouring this Imperial Milk Stout into Das Boot. It was like the La Brea Tar Pits had sprung a leak. It reminded me of the black stuff that bled out of people’s eyes in The X-Files. It turned my boot into a void of darkness. Except for the coffee colored head. It resembled a slice of gingerbread loaf floating on a cold brew. I could smell coffee, caramel and chocolate. Right up front you get the dark chocolate, the sweet dark fruits and dark roasted malt. According to Tree House it’s also brewed with dark crystal malts. Everything dark. I got more chocolate and toffee with smokiness on the finish. This stout is smooth and full bodied with a thick mouthfeel. It’s heavy, sweet and mysterious…

The Sonic Pairing: I found “Into The Void” from Black Sabbath’s 1971 album Master Of Reality to be the perfect soundtrack for pouring Impermanence. The snakey groove matches the motion of the ebony liquid transforming the glass from transparent to pitch black. This is one of Sabbath’s heaviest and darkest albums. The riffs forged in “Children Of The Grave”, “Lord Of This World” and “Sweet Leaf” will still be around well after humanity erases itself. But there are sweet moments like “Solitude” and mysterious moments like the interludes “Embryo” and “Orchid”. But before the apocalypse rains fire upon humanity we are lucky to have this onyx elixir to give us some much needed joy. Enjoy it now, because nothing is permanent. This got wicked “daahk”. Sorry.