Gravedigger's Chant - Bottle
7.7%

Gravedigger's Chant

Double IPA

Homebrew Series

Honoring one of Zeal & Ardor's most emblematic heavy-metal hymns, "Gravedigger's Chant" is a double dry-hopped double IPA with heaps of tropical fruitiness that also packs a punch. Best served fresh, so blast some heavy riffs and raise a pale one for the Dark One. Lord don't have mercy for you!

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  • Last brewedFebruary 2, 2020
  • Alcohol7.7%
  • MaltsPilsner, CaraMunich III, Carapils
  • HopsCentennial, El Dorado, Simcoe, Galaxy
  • YeastLallemand BRY-97 American West Coast Ale
Gravedigger's Chant - Label Design

Yet another one of those cases in which I had the name and artwork figured out, and just wanted to also showcase it on a beer label. Since the accent color for this one was going to be green much like "Alive She Cried", this beer was also going to be all about hops, so the only thing I really wanted from the malts was a clean base with a nice color and high diastatic power to boost the alcohol level. In terms of actual hop additions, Centennial was only used for bittering while the other ones were all very late additions to the whirpool and fermenter. Before this batch, I would almost never dry-hop my beers for more than 3-4 days because I was always worried it would impart unwanted grassy notes. With this recipe however, I actually did some digging and wanted to experiment with longer dry-hop times. One dry-hop addition was done right after fermentation, while the other was done after 7 more days, followed by bottling 4 days later. Both additions were done in equal amounts, with the first one contributing with more complex underlying aromas while the second addition gave the final beer more freshness and a fruity character.

Gravedigger's Chant - Pencil DrawingGravedigger's Chant - Ink IllustrationGravedigger's Chant - Digital Print

The Artwork

Playing on similar themes to the music that inspired it, I wanted to feature the Devil under the guise of a bright rattlesnake on an otherwise dirt covered shovel, an emblem of both labor and death. This particular snake was meant to evoke the rattling sounds of shackles and chains, while its venom is a symbol of the toxicity of racism that still seeps through so many veins even to this day.

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Gravedigger's Chant - Artwork
Gravedigger's Chant - Outdoor View
Krottenkopf in Ester Mountains • 2,086m
Bavarian Prealps, Germany

Availability

This is a homebrewed beer that is not available for sale or distribution of any kind. It was brewed at home in small quantities to be shared only with family and friends simply out of passion for the craft and as a tribute to the music that inspired it.

Merchandise

If you dig the label artwork and would like to get your hands on some merch that features it, then check out the Hopsylvania web shop and snoop around for something you might like. All orders and manufacturing handled by Spreadshirt.

Gear up!
Gravedigger's Chant - T-Shirt

Other Beers

Check out some of the other things I brewed that might be similar to this one, or alternatively just explore the full range regardless of their style.

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