Draft Darkness in Chicago?

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by readbaron, Nov 7, 2012.

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  1. tinypyramids

    tinypyramids Pundit (897) Jul 19, 2012 Illinois

    i live within walking distance but i never go there because i don't want to plan an entire day around a burger. after eating there many times, i decided that their burgers are great but they don't justify a two hour wait, and the beer is never anything i can't find elsewhere.
     
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  2. jegross2

    jegross2 Initiate (0) Jan 3, 2010 Illinois

    That's why you drink there or at square bar while waiting
     
  3. mbockstruck30

    mbockstruck30 Pooh-Bah (1,776) Dec 31, 2010 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    exactly. Square Bar was the best thing to happen to Kuma's patrons.
     
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  4. Askchucky

    Askchucky Zealot (504) May 2, 2011 Illinois
    Trader

    Last year Small Bar and Banger's & Lace had it on tap.
     
  5. jln83

    jln83 Initiate (0) Mar 6, 2012 Illinois

    Three Ace's had it last year too.
     
  6. Dontcounttoday

    Dontcounttoday Initiate (0) Apr 23, 2010 Illinois

    Three Aces disappointed the crap out of me over the summer. BCBS and BCBVS were both on tap, as well as Scarlet over the period of a few weeks. It lasted so long because they don't update their website very well, wasn't much word of it on here, and their tap lines kept going down because they couldn't keep them cool in 100+ degree heat. Even when the taps were running all the beer was very warm and had been warm for some time it seemed. Scarlet was awful, the BCBS and Vanilla were ok but can be served at room temp. Also the bartenders had no idea the difference between regular BCBS and Vanilla and couldn't tell me which I was drinking twice.

    The one time we ate there the food was fantastic though, I must say, but I hate the way they treat their beer. Sorry for the rant
     
  7. tbaiza

    tbaiza Initiate (0) Jun 2, 2009 Illinois

    Does anyone know who handles the distribution for Darkness in Chicago? I understand Surly doesn't get distributed out of Minnisoota, but I am oh so curious about this.
     
  8. immobilisme

    immobilisme Initiate (0) Nov 8, 2005 Illinois

    Surly used to go through Windy City, but I don't know how it works these days. Probably the same?
     
  9. Kwaz

    Kwaz Initiate (0) Mar 31, 2012 Illinois

    Hopefully you don't need the bartenders to tell you which is which :wink:
     
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  10. Dontcounttoday

    Dontcounttoday Initiate (0) Apr 23, 2010 Illinois

    The problem is calling ahead to ask if Vanilla is still on tap and being told yes. I brought 3 friends that had never had it, we sit down and order, and no one can taste Vanilla at all. Still amazing of course, but disappointing, and they swore it was vanilla. I went in the next day and another bartender told me it had tapped out a few days previous.
     
  11. nickMB

    nickMB Savant (1,118) Nov 17, 2009 Illinois
    Trader

    Is the vanilla still present though? I mean I expected most of it to fade over two years. I think we can all be the judge of that on black friday in a few weeks I guess, but i have a feeling 2010 vanilla is now 2010 BCBS.
     
  12. tinypyramids

    tinypyramids Pundit (897) Jul 19, 2012 Illinois

    Yes it is present, and it's glorious.
     
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  13. MUMike

    MUMike Initiate (0) Feb 3, 2012 Missouri

    I plan entire business trips around Kumas! I love that place and since I live eight hours away, I look forward to every trip to Chicago and figuring out how to schedule a Kumas visit.

    Hopefully I can get there this weekend when I come up for FoBAB.
     
  14. Dontcounttoday

    Dontcounttoday Initiate (0) Apr 23, 2010 Illinois

    I've had Vanilla on tap 3 times this year and opened 2 bottles myself. The bottles were both beautifully flavorful with rich vanilla. Same thing with 2 of the 3 taps. A single tapping I had was very faded but still present. BCBVS if cellared correctly are still drinking ng great
     
  15. chi16brew

    chi16brew Aspirant (289) Feb 1, 2011 Illinois

    Was that faded tapping the one at fountainhead? Since it was the only time I have had vanilla I have no reference but I did find the vanilla rather hard to pick up that day.
     
  16. nickMB

    nickMB Savant (1,118) Nov 17, 2009 Illinois
    Trader

    Just hard to imagine a spice not fading after two years. But haven't had any since the original release so hard to compare.
     
  17. foobula

    foobula Initiate (0) Dec 14, 2009 Illinois

    I was thinking the Cobra Lounge tapping, myself. Had it there and the vanilla was present, no doubt. But the next night, I had Bourbon County 2011 somewhere and it really blew away the BCBVS in the vanilla dept, and every other department.

    The first night was like vanilla on top of a very good beer, the second night was a phenomenal beer that had even more vanilla integrated into it.
     
  18. aefbjo

    aefbjo Zealot (521) Jun 8, 2005 Bahamas

    I had Darkness at Small Bar (Division) last year or the year before as well as Map Room. Very good but not so great as to require large amounts of effort to consume, in my opinion.
     
  19. danimalarkey

    danimalarkey Initiate (0) Mar 3, 2008 Illinois

    Just posted on facebook by SmallBar:
     
  20. foobula

    foobula Initiate (0) Dec 14, 2009 Illinois

    dislike :slight_frown:
     
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