Darkness - Surly Brewing Company

7ways

Georgia

4.58/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2010 vintage.

This is a seriously black beer. Like buried underground black. Probably the best head retention I've ever seen on a stout, and pretty good lace as well.

Aroma of sweet heady hops in the background and chocolate cookies dominating. The smell of this beer makes me hungry. A little char, vanilla and caramel sweetness.

Perfect interplay of hop bitterness, black/roasted malt bitterness, and cookie dough sweetness. Notes of tobacco, tart purple fruit, molasses, and milk chocolate come and go in no particular progression. This does not exactly have the typical profile of an RIS. It goes beyond, and I wish it had more contemporaries/imitators. Siberian Night and Marshal Zhukov's come to mind.

Very creamy, chewy and smooth, this is what all RISs should feel like.

I was always told this was a hoppy RIS. Maybe when it's fresh, but not the case here. Good thing, because more bitterness would have ruined it for me.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2011 02:48:52 | More by 7ways

Ctrauty

Minnesota

5/5  rDev +11.1%

05-20-2013 01:29:45 | More by Ctrauty

ShawnMH

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev -5.6%

05-19-2013 15:09:19 | More by ShawnMH

drgonzo2k2

California

4.25/5  rDev -5.6%

05-19-2013 14:23:53 | More by drgonzo2k2

haknort

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev 0%

05-19-2013 03:32:31 | More by haknort

MrNate

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +5.6%

05-18-2013 22:16:24 | More by MrNate

Hefewiseman

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +5.6%

05-18-2013 21:07:15 | More by Hefewiseman

dczernic

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +5.6%

05-17-2013 13:50:06 | More by dczernic

myersk27

Indiana

4.75/5  rDev +5.6%

05-17-2013 03:50:38 | More by myersk27

carlosega

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev 0%

05-16-2013 18:32:34 | More by carlosega

deekyn

California

4.75/5  rDev +5.6%

05-16-2013 03:59:29 | More by deekyn

meich75

North Carolina

4.75/5  rDev +5.6%

05-15-2013 08:59:05 | More by meich75

illy0sis

Texas

5/5  rDev +11.1%

05-14-2013 22:10:37 | More by illy0sis

Mcvs1507

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev 0%

05-14-2013 04:04:23 | More by Mcvs1507

jkane101

New Jersey

4.75/5  rDev +5.6%

05-14-2013 00:33:05 | More by jkane101

TheRuss9585

Vermont

4.75/5  rDev +5.6%

05-14-2013 00:31:47 | More by TheRuss9585

Matagal

Brazil

4.5/5  rDev 0%

05-13-2013 16:23:34 | More by Matagal

pk18

Wisconsin

4.75/5  rDev +5.6%

05-13-2013 01:44:42 | More by pk18

everettsbeerguy

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +5.6%

05-12-2013 20:09:23 | More by everettsbeerguy

lpayette

Vermont

4.5/5  rDev 0%

05-12-2013 19:51:58 | More by lpayette

MCImes

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev 0%

05-12-2013 18:54:50 | More by MCImes

Hopbully

Virginia

4.5/5  rDev 0%

05-12-2013 05:51:23 | More by Hopbully

MinorThreat

Colorado

4/5  rDev -11.1%

05-11-2013 20:58:19 | More by MinorThreat

dcraig13

Ohio

5/5  rDev +11.1%

05-10-2013 18:33:58 | More by dcraig13

BRoss242

Louisiana

4.25/5  rDev -5.6%

05-10-2013 09:46:06 | More by BRoss242