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Darkness
Surly Brewing Company
- 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:
- 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
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
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by mwilbur:
Reviewed by mwilbur from Minnesota
4.77/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
4.77/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Poured on-tap into tulip.
A: Pours a thick black with 1/2 inch dark mocha head with good retention and lacing.
S: Smooth dark chocolate, vanilla, dark dried fruit, sweet bourbon, and a hint of cream.
T: Dark chocolate milk, bourbon, dark cherry, vanilla, heavy cream, raisin and other dark dried fruit, molasses, and bitter coffee and chocolate finish. The more I get into this, the more I appreciate the hop elements (citrus, bitter note, etc).
M: Velvety smooth, creamy, and sweet. Bitter note becomes apparent in the mid-palate and stronger in the finish. Moderately heavy body. Drinks lighter than the hefty ABV would suggest. Amazing balance of super heavy malt notes and yet the hops shine through (although still playing second fiddle).
D: Definitely an exceptional brew...well done Surly! Outstanding for style and lives up to the hype (which isn't always easy to do...especially since I've been waiting a few years to try this one). One of the best beers I've had with excellent complexity and drinkability.
4/13/20:
2016 vintage. Bottled 11/17/16. Poured from 750 mL bottle into tulip.
A: Pours an extremely dark black-brown with a generous 1 inch frothy dark mocha head with good retention. Thick and viscous appearance. (4.5)
S: Dry baker’s chocolate quickly followed by raisin, date, and fig along with lesser notes of molasses and vanilla. (4.5)
T: Follows aroma fairly closely with dry baker’s chocolate and strong dark dried fruit (raisin, date, fig). Molasses, oak wood char, and vanilla are stronger here and well balanced. (4.75)
M: Heavy body and yet super smooth. Coating and mildly sweet (fruit notes more than malt). Lingers and matures nicely on the palate. (4.75)
D: Holding up extremely well after nearly 3 1/2 years. So decadent and delicious!
2017 vintage: Bottled 10/5/17. Poured into snifter.
A: Pours a very dark brown with 1-2 inch frothy light tan head with excellent retention. Thick lacing is left around the edges. (4.75)
S: Molasses, boozy wood char, dark dried fruit, and hints of vanilla and coffee. (4)
T: Thick molasses, wood char, vanilla, dark dried fruit, cherries, and a hint of medium-roast coffee. (4.5)
M: Medium-heavy body. Thick and viscous feel. Darkly sweet with roasty bitterness. Lingers and matures nicely on the palate. (4.75)
D: This superb beer has aged very well! You can always count on Darkness! (4.5)
2018 vintage. Bottled on 9/10/18. Poured from 750 mL bottle into snifter.
A: Pours a very dark brown with 1 inch frothy tan head with excellent retention. (4.5)
S: Molasses, dark chocolate, toffee, vanilla, raisin, and hints of coffee and berries. (4.5)
T: Dark bittersweet chocolate, raisin, berries/cherries, molasses, vanilla, and hints of sweet bourbon (even though not barrel-aged) and coffee. (4.5)
M: Medium body. Drinks lighter than ABV. Fruit and chocolate sweetness. Lingers nicely on the palate. (4.25)
D: Consistently an excellent beer to enjoy, year over year. Lighter and more fruit-forward than most versions of this brew. (4.5)
11/3/21:
2021 vintage. Poured from 750 mL bottle into snifter.
A: Pours an extremely dark brown hue, thick, with 1-2 inch dark mocha head with excellent retention. (4.75)
S: Dry bittersweet chocolate, cherries, sweet tobacco, smooth medium roast coffee, mild molasses, and a hint of bitter hops around the edges. Phenomenal! (5)
T: Sweet tobacco, dry bittersweet chocolate, cherries, mild molasses, leather, medium roast coffee, and a touch of bitter hops. (5)
M: Medium-heavy body. So smooth with layers of dark bittersweet notes accentuated by some bitter hops. On the dry side. ABV is extremely well hidden. Lingers and matures beautifully on the palate. (5)
D: Drinking Darkness fresh is the best as you get to enjoy the lovely accentuating and complementary hop notes. It still ages well too! One of my favorite brews, year over year. (5)
10/20/22:
2022 vintage. Poured from 750 mL bottle into Darkness snifter.
A: Pours an extremely dark brown hue with 2 inch dark mocha head with excellent retention. Some lacing left behind. (4.75)
S: Dark bittersweet chocolate, wood char, tobacco, leather, dark cherries, astringent hops and a hint of coffee. (4.75)
T: Dark smooth yet bitter chocolate, tobacco, leather, dark cherries, astringent and light citrus hops, and a hint of dark roast coffee. (5)
M: Medium-heavy body. So smooth with bitterness and astringency. Layers of dark sweetness. The hop bitterness, astringency and light fruit sweetness is always a highlight. Lingers nicely on the palate with sweet tobacco, dark cherries and chocolate lingering forever! (5)
D: Simply a phenomenal brew! Picked this bottle up at Darkness Day! (5)
Nov 10, 2015A: Pours a thick black with 1/2 inch dark mocha head with good retention and lacing.
S: Smooth dark chocolate, vanilla, dark dried fruit, sweet bourbon, and a hint of cream.
T: Dark chocolate milk, bourbon, dark cherry, vanilla, heavy cream, raisin and other dark dried fruit, molasses, and bitter coffee and chocolate finish. The more I get into this, the more I appreciate the hop elements (citrus, bitter note, etc).
M: Velvety smooth, creamy, and sweet. Bitter note becomes apparent in the mid-palate and stronger in the finish. Moderately heavy body. Drinks lighter than the hefty ABV would suggest. Amazing balance of super heavy malt notes and yet the hops shine through (although still playing second fiddle).
D: Definitely an exceptional brew...well done Surly! Outstanding for style and lives up to the hype (which isn't always easy to do...especially since I've been waiting a few years to try this one). One of the best beers I've had with excellent complexity and drinkability.
4/13/20:
2016 vintage. Bottled 11/17/16. Poured from 750 mL bottle into tulip.
A: Pours an extremely dark black-brown with a generous 1 inch frothy dark mocha head with good retention. Thick and viscous appearance. (4.5)
S: Dry baker’s chocolate quickly followed by raisin, date, and fig along with lesser notes of molasses and vanilla. (4.5)
T: Follows aroma fairly closely with dry baker’s chocolate and strong dark dried fruit (raisin, date, fig). Molasses, oak wood char, and vanilla are stronger here and well balanced. (4.75)
M: Heavy body and yet super smooth. Coating and mildly sweet (fruit notes more than malt). Lingers and matures nicely on the palate. (4.75)
D: Holding up extremely well after nearly 3 1/2 years. So decadent and delicious!
2017 vintage: Bottled 10/5/17. Poured into snifter.
A: Pours a very dark brown with 1-2 inch frothy light tan head with excellent retention. Thick lacing is left around the edges. (4.75)
S: Molasses, boozy wood char, dark dried fruit, and hints of vanilla and coffee. (4)
T: Thick molasses, wood char, vanilla, dark dried fruit, cherries, and a hint of medium-roast coffee. (4.5)
M: Medium-heavy body. Thick and viscous feel. Darkly sweet with roasty bitterness. Lingers and matures nicely on the palate. (4.75)
D: This superb beer has aged very well! You can always count on Darkness! (4.5)
2018 vintage. Bottled on 9/10/18. Poured from 750 mL bottle into snifter.
A: Pours a very dark brown with 1 inch frothy tan head with excellent retention. (4.5)
S: Molasses, dark chocolate, toffee, vanilla, raisin, and hints of coffee and berries. (4.5)
T: Dark bittersweet chocolate, raisin, berries/cherries, molasses, vanilla, and hints of sweet bourbon (even though not barrel-aged) and coffee. (4.5)
M: Medium body. Drinks lighter than ABV. Fruit and chocolate sweetness. Lingers nicely on the palate. (4.25)
D: Consistently an excellent beer to enjoy, year over year. Lighter and more fruit-forward than most versions of this brew. (4.5)
11/3/21:
2021 vintage. Poured from 750 mL bottle into snifter.
A: Pours an extremely dark brown hue, thick, with 1-2 inch dark mocha head with excellent retention. (4.75)
S: Dry bittersweet chocolate, cherries, sweet tobacco, smooth medium roast coffee, mild molasses, and a hint of bitter hops around the edges. Phenomenal! (5)
T: Sweet tobacco, dry bittersweet chocolate, cherries, mild molasses, leather, medium roast coffee, and a touch of bitter hops. (5)
M: Medium-heavy body. So smooth with layers of dark bittersweet notes accentuated by some bitter hops. On the dry side. ABV is extremely well hidden. Lingers and matures beautifully on the palate. (5)
D: Drinking Darkness fresh is the best as you get to enjoy the lovely accentuating and complementary hop notes. It still ages well too! One of my favorite brews, year over year. (5)
10/20/22:
2022 vintage. Poured from 750 mL bottle into Darkness snifter.
A: Pours an extremely dark brown hue with 2 inch dark mocha head with excellent retention. Some lacing left behind. (4.75)
S: Dark bittersweet chocolate, wood char, tobacco, leather, dark cherries, astringent hops and a hint of coffee. (4.75)
T: Dark smooth yet bitter chocolate, tobacco, leather, dark cherries, astringent and light citrus hops, and a hint of dark roast coffee. (5)
M: Medium-heavy body. So smooth with bitterness and astringency. Layers of dark sweetness. The hop bitterness, astringency and light fruit sweetness is always a highlight. Lingers nicely on the palate with sweet tobacco, dark cherries and chocolate lingering forever! (5)
D: Simply a phenomenal brew! Picked this bottle up at Darkness Day! (5)
More User Ratings:
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
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, 2024Dark 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.
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
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, 2023Reviewed by buschbeer from Ohio
4.07/5 rDev -9.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
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, 2023Served 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.
Reviewed by IsaiahHoogendyk from Washington
4.86/5 rDev +8.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
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, 2023Reviewed by JackRWatkins from Georgia
3.46/5 rDev -22.8%
look: 5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
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, 2023S: 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.
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
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, 2023Reviewed by Curt2969 from Ohio
4.58/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
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, 2023Reviewed by MrBoz21 from Colorado
4.67/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
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, 202322oz 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.
Darkness from Surly Brewing Company
Beer rating:
99 out of
100 with
4270 ratings
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