Darkness - High West Rye Whiskey Barrel Aged (2014)
Surly Brewing Company

Darkness - High West Rye Whiskey Barrel Aged (2014)Darkness - High West Rye Whiskey Barrel Aged (2014)
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From:
Surly Brewing Company
 
Minnesota, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
ABV:
10.3%
Score:
99
Avg:
4.47 | pDev: 7.61%
Reviews:
70
Ratings:
725
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 05, 2022
Added:
Oct 17, 2014
Wants:
  230
Gots:
  203
Bottled 2014 Darkness was aged in barrels that previously held High West Rye Whiskey and then Surly Eight.
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Ratings by Holland:
Photo of Holland
Rated by Holland from Illinois

4/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Jan 07, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of zonker17
Reviewed by zonker17 from Texas

4.44/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Coming in late but not too late on this one. Pours near black with active brown head that fully dissipates. Nose of cherry, vanilla, light coffee. Taste adds chocolate but the fruit flavors of raisin and dried cherry is so present. Booziness from whiskey, slight burn with coffee finish. Body is perfect, a bit creamy, thick with mild carbonation. At over 7 years old simply amazing!
Feb 05, 2022
 
Rated: 4.6 by schinebd from Massachusetts

Jul 07, 2019
 
Rated: 4.38 by Gaddabble from Ohio

Nov 11, 2018
 
Rated: 4.75 by Soneast from Wisconsin

Jun 04, 2018
 
Rated: 4.45 by Kevinpitts from Illinois

Jan 14, 2018
 
Rated: 4.25 by t2grogan from Arizona

Nov 28, 2017
 
Rated: 3.76 by Rifugium from North Dakota

Nov 15, 2017
 
Rated: 4.66 by tmryan21 from Illinois

Sep 22, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by acurtis from New Jersey

Aug 06, 2017
 
Rated: 5 by terententen from Pennsylvania

Jun 08, 2017
 
Rated: 4.38 by rodmanfor3 from Vermont

Feb 26, 2017
 
Rated: 4.5 by xt0n1cx from Virginia

Jan 19, 2017
 
Rated: 4.25 by hockeypuck from Maine

Jan 07, 2017
Photo of mjpolzin
Reviewed by mjpolzin from Wisconsin

4.24/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
I know the general consensus is that this vintage of Barrel Aged Darkness is inferior to the version that came out in 2015. I disagree and actually prefer this beer to the higher rated 2015 barrel aged Darkness. A few reasons I think this is the case....
1. I had 2015 Darkness right after having Central Waters Rye Black Gold which happens to be my #1 favorite beer. So I probably rated it lower than I should have
2. Regular Darkness gets much better with age. I suspect that is the case with this one also. Although the barrel character is just okay, the malts have really started to shine through. This beer is probably better now than it was when it was fresh.

In a very competitive barrel aged stout category, this one is far from the best. But I still really enjoyed the complexity this beer had to offer.
Dec 24, 2016
 
Rated: 4.25 by Rimbimhoot from Illinois

Dec 19, 2016
 
Rated: 4.25 by dannycohen62 from Illinois

Dec 19, 2016
Photo of Treyliff
Reviewed by Treyliff from West Virginia

4.37/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
750ml bottle poured into a tulip

A- pours a deep black color with a small foamy khaki colored head that reduces to a ring around the edge

S- smells of dark cherry, rum raisin, caramel, spicy rye, vanilla & oak

T- opens with dark chocolate and sharp black cherry, followed by vanilla and caramel. Chocolate and spicy rye. Barrel notes are very light, but they're is definitely present. The finish gives more cherry and light coffee, lingers of chocolate and cherry

M- medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a slightly foamy mouthfeel and a warming finish

O- classic dark cherry Darkness flavors, would like more barrel notes though
Dec 17, 2016
Photo of aleigator
Reviewed by aleigator from Germany

4.48/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Pours a viscous pitch black color with a solid, stable mohagony head.

Smells of an interesting interplay between toasted malts, leafy hops and spicy coconut with a decadent chocolate coating. Awesome, just like the original, enhanced by a nice oaken note, which adds even more complexity on the nose.

Incredibly smooth and thick on the tongue with a nice spiciness as an antagonist to loads of whipped cream and melting milk chocolate. Has a bigger body, revealed by the Rye barrel, producing a pleasant warmth.

Tastes of untamed hops with ripe oranges and leaf wrapped lime, coated by rich, smooth milk chocolate. The chocolate then turns dryer, more bitter, as toasty malts turn more present, spiced up by a hot, dry Bourbon bite. The beer never loses its balance though, mainly due to its well functioning malt foundation and gentle smoothness with an awesome interplay between chocolate, hops and the barrel. Finishes with alcohol soaked pralines, firewood, bakers chocolate, fudge and and a hint of glazed caramel, again, pleasantly soothed up by cream.

A real treat! Definitely lets the base beer shine through, but it allows the barrel to develop beautifully atop. Decadent and rich, while remaining easy drinkable, featuring an amazing amount of milk chocolate, amped up by the tasty hops, which cut through.
Nov 13, 2016
 
Rated: 4.62 by sposter4 from Pennsylvania

Nov 08, 2016
Darkness - High West Rye Whiskey Barrel Aged (2014) from Surly Brewing Company
Beer rating: 99 out of 100 with 725 ratings