Darkness - Surly Brewing Company

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1,581 Ratings

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rAvg: 4.5
pDev: 9.78%
Reviews: 701
Hads: 880

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Brewed by:
Surly Brewing Company

Minnesota, United States

Style | ABV
Russian Imperial Stout | 10.30% ABV

Availability: Fall. bottle (524), on-tap (163), growler (11), cask (3).

Notes:
Labels:

2007-Grim Reaper
2008-Devil
2009-Mummy
2010-Vampire
2011-Zombie
2012 - Werewolf

View: Beers (31) | Events (0)

Reviews

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Reviews by phattysbox:

phattysbox

New York

4.68/5 rDev +4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

kplynch was kind enough to buy me two bottles at darkness day. We opened one of those bottles and shared among friends. Thanks Kevin!!

Poured into Corsendonk tulip glass. Jet black and very viscous, almost oily in appearance. Thick frothy coffee colored head that slowly retreats into a nice thin lace. Stickage all up and dpown the glass - awesome looking brew and dark indeed.

This is the strangest, but great, brew I have ever had. Part DIPA, porter and mostly RIMP...

Since it is a RIMP, you would expect roasted malts and chocolate in the nose. While its there, initially the brew smells like a west coast DIPA. Sweet floral hops pervade the nose - ripe tropical citrus friut and berries. This is followed by chocolate and vanilla notes. The nose is quite complex.

Tastes a smoothing sweet malt base. Vanilla and oak are very present with coffee and chocolate undertow. Of course the hops - in the back and really balance out the brew quite nicely. It changes however as it warms - reminding me of a porter in some sense. Very complex brew with lots going on. Mouthfeel is wet and velvety with meduim to low carbonation. The only thing I could say about this brew that might be considered negative - is its very sweet. This might be off-putting to some but not to me.

I still can't wrap my head around this brew - quite unique but simply fantastic!!

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2008 15:45:11 | More by phattysbox

More User Reviews:

JasonFromLA

California

5/5 rDev +11.1%

06-19-2013 06:37:12 | More by JasonFromLA

Hophunter18

Delaware

4.75/5 rDev +5.6%

06-17-2013 03:58:22 | More by Hophunter18

browniewithnuts

Pennsylvania

4.25/5 rDev -5.6%

06-15-2013 06:18:34 | More by browniewithnuts

jakeox

Illinois

4.5/5 rDev 0%

06-15-2013 02:46:30 | More by jakeox

Reggae4203

California

4.5/5 rDev 0%

06-14-2013 22:40:54 | More by Reggae4203

StevenSpringer

Wisconsin

4.75/5 rDev +5.6%

06-14-2013 14:16:03 | More by StevenSpringer

Prager62

Indiana

4.75/5 rDev +5.6%

06-13-2013 07:37:17 | More by Prager62

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

4.49/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml red waxed 2012 poured into tulip 12/6/13 big thanks Rutager for the bottle, split with alpineclimber

A lives up to the name, black with a deep edge, massive three fingers of dark mocha foam stick around long enough to leave a a few well spaced thick rings, looks decent

S shocking how well the hops stand out against all this dark malt, grapefruit, tangerine and a little pine, sweet chocolate fudge smells so rich, Hershey's syrup, molasses, and a little coffee but not much, just a hint of plum and the booze is well hidden

T much like the nose but a little sweeter and the chocolates a little darker, coffees a little burnt and the hops are still strong, crazy strong, they must have used a shitload of the green stuff making this bad boy

M rich thick and creamy from the bubbles, a little sticky on the lips and I really have no idea where the booze is hiding

O hopped to hell and rich fudge make a great combo, pretty much zero booze and my glass is already empty at this point

Its always a great thing when a beer lives up to the hype and this one did exactly that. I wasn't expecting the high levels of hops but I loved it, for a fresh big stout the booze is nearly invisible. This one could age for years but great fresh if you like a hop bomb

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2013 02:21:39 | More by wordemupg