Darkness
Surly Brewing Company

DarknessDarkness
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From:
Surly Brewing Company
 
Minnesota, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #14
ABV:
12%
Score:
99
Ranked #223
Avg:
4.48 | pDev: 8.71%
Reviews:
999
Ratings:
4,270
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 25, 2024
Added:
Oct 08, 2006
Wants:
  3,287
Gots:
  1,588
This listing is ONLY for Darkness that is NOT barrel-aged, which excludes all of the 2014 bottles, all of which were aged in whiskey barrels. 2014 has a separate entry (http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/13014/141724/). Any subsequent years that have barrel aged variants, indicated by gold wax and lettering, also have their own separate entries.

This massive Russian Imperial Stout brings waves of flavors; chocolate, cherries, raisins, coffee, and toffee. We add a touch of hops to make this delicious brew even tastier.
85 IBU

MALT: 2-Row, Golden Promise, Aromatic, Chocolate, Black, Special B, Roasted Barley, Oats, Brewers Crystals, DME 50/60.
HOPS: Warrior, Amarillo, Simcoe.

Labels:
2007 - Grim Reaper
2008 - Devil
2009 - Mummy
2010 - Vampire
2011 - Zombie
2012 - Werewolf
2013 - Brewcifer
2014 - Harpy
2015 - Bat
2016 - Cerberus
2017 - Forest Witch
2018 - Minotaur
2019 - Tree Monster
2020: Gorgon
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Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by joemetric:
Photo of joemetric
Rated by joemetric from Kansas

4.44/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Nov 02, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of BGDrock
Reviewed by BGDrock from Canada (ON)

4.46/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Body is about as pitch black as it gets, the pour build a thick, dense, marshmallow head, the colour of milk chocolate.
Dark roast malt aromas of bitter coffee bean and chocolate, along with some cassis, licorice, charred marshmallow.
Was expecting an aggressive flavour, but this is surprisingly subdued, tasting most like a silky chocolate gelato; the feel stands out as a soft caress, with a barely there carbonation that somehow manages to work, likely in part due to the full, creamy body; it has some residual sweetness as you'd expect, but it's within reason and makes for a rich dessert; the taste is single-minded, decadent, slightly fruity, milk chocolate, just slightly bitter in the finish.

The reality is not nearly as frightening as the packaging - this is a luxurious, focused stout, nicely balanced, with a subtle feel.
Feb 25, 2024
 
Rated: 4.25 by jewellrunner from Missouri

Feb 06, 2024
 
Rated: 4.42 by Monkeyknife from Missouri

Jan 14, 2024
 
Rated: 3.75 by Shenk87 from Pennsylvania

Jan 01, 2024
Photo of ZebulonXZogg
Reviewed by ZebulonXZogg from Illinois

4.46/5  rDev -0.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Thick, oily black pour, huge foamy head that hangs around and leaves a nicely laced glass. Boogar machine says heavily roasted malts, some dark fruit. Taste buds get all that plus some licorice. Thick oily texture coats the mouth. This is probably the best tasting beer I've had, just awesome.
Dec 31, 2023
Photo of buschbeer
Reviewed by buschbeer from Ohio

4.07/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
1 PINT 9.4 FL. OZ. bottle
Served in a snifter
2020

This beer pours black and is topped with a couple inches of deep mocha head that leaves nice lacing.

I get notes of dark chocolate, cherry, and anise.

It starts with dark chocolate. Anise quickly enters the flavor and continues through the finish. A little black coffee in the finish.

Full bodied with a thick, creamy mouthfeel

It's beer awhile since I've had such an acclaimed non barrel aged, non pastry imperial stout. While this beer has kicked my ass due to abv, I can't say it was amazing. It tastes similar to Founders imperial stout but has a thicker mouthfeel.
Dec 26, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by freewill35 from Indiana

Dec 17, 2023
Photo of IsaiahHoogendyk
Reviewed by IsaiahHoogendyk from Washington

4.86/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
I think this is the best Imperial Stout I’ve ever tasted. No barrel-aging, no weird dessert additives, just a straightforward, brownish-black, strong stout ale. Surly does this one right and as near-perfect as I’ve quaffed.
Dec 08, 2023
Photo of JackRWatkins
Reviewed by JackRWatkins from Georgia

3.46/5  rDev -22.8%
look: 5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
A: robust khaki 4 finger head, strong head retention, nice lacing, dark dark walnut brown in color, almost opaque.
S: subtle notes of chocolate, some hints of grain, subtle hints of coffee as well and a slight tartness, with some additional notes of toasted malt that are reminiscent of a brew day.
T: a bit of sweetness up front that is slightly milky or sugary, notes of coffee, hints of tartness that suggest cherry but never quite get there, some roasty notes, pleasant savory bitterness in the finish that marries with a milky or vanilla like sweetness. Alcohol is very well masked.
M: on the lighter side of full. A little under-carbonated.
O: This is a competently executed imperial stout that is simultaneously typical and a bit peculiar. Everything you would expect to be there is there, and other than some small surprises on the nose, there’s not really anything unexpected. What is unexpected however is how equal all the flavors seem to be. Nothing takes pride of place or dominates and the whole affair seems a bit understated. It feels like it is pulling its ingredient list from the American Tradition and its sensibility from a much older tradition, one that favors something more balanced than aggressive, think more ‘Courage’ and less ‘Stone’ in its temperament if that makes sense. It’s a very good beer, there is nothing that it attempts to do that it outright fails at, but the sum of the parts here is for me, a little underwhelming.
Dec 06, 2023
 
Rated: 4.67 by TODDRESSEL1 from Indiana

Dec 06, 2023
Photo of jkblr
Reviewed by jkblr from Indiana

4.33/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
16oz can in a cardboard box = fancy. Canned 09/19/23 (about 2-1/2 months ago) poured into a Spiegelau stout glass at just above fridge temp 12% ABV per can. The beer pours pitch black with no light penetration and medium brown colored head. The head recedes to a rocky cap and leaves spotty lacing all over the glass. The aroma is moderate with notes of bakers chocolate, coffee beans and red berries. The taste is bittersweet roasted malt with expresso, caramel, berries and dark chocolate followed by slightly ashy, earthy moderate plus bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium plus bodied with just less that average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, world class RIS.
Dec 02, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by mwvman from Indiana

Nov 28, 2023
 
Rated: 4.25 by Nyoder

Nov 25, 2023
Photo of Curt2969
Reviewed by Curt2969 from Ohio

4.58/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Super chewy, chocolaty, hint of licorice, and somehow a little tart? It's all over the place, but in concert is amazing. You definitely need to get one.
Nov 14, 2023
 
Rated: 4.26 by timmy2b from New York

Nov 12, 2023
 
Rated: 4.28 by micada from New York

Nov 06, 2023
Photo of MrBoz21
Reviewed by MrBoz21 from Colorado

4.67/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Surly Darkness
22oz bomber with waxed seal. 2015. Drank oct/2023.
- aroma: Smokey ash, cherry, rich molasses, licorice, lite floral hop notes, lite oxidation. 11/12.
-- Appearance: black, opaque, oil like with creamy head that settles into thick ring and crema- like skiff on surface. 3/3
FLAVOR: Rich chocolate covered cherry, molasses, and licorice. Lite pepper notes; firm hop bitterness balances sweetness, and swallows with lingering black licorice character. Mellow dank earthy hops. 18/20
Mouthfeel: thick and viscous, creamy, med low carbonation, no astringency, moderate to light warmth. 5/5
Overall: complex bouquet with intriguing depth that tends towards molasses and licorice. Balanced. Full flavor that adds more chicolate notes to aroma. Finishes smooth and silky. Very nice to look at. Quality beer. 9/10. 46/50.
Oct 30, 2023
 
Rated: 4.63 by Electros from Canada (ON)

Oct 23, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by Budlum from Maryland

Aug 05, 2023
Darkness from Surly Brewing Company
Beer rating: 99 out of 100 with 4270 ratings