Ginger Snap Darkness
Surly Brewing Co.

 

 

 

 

On tap at Champps Americana in Brookfield, WI. This is a dark, earthy, bitter imperial stout, with a sharp gingery bite and well-integrated bourbon. Vanilla and cocoa round out the flavor experience. The ginger is definitely the star, but IMO that's appropriate and not overbearing. Overall, this is quite good.

 

Dark brown/black color, thin mocha colored head. Aroma ... well, you better like ginger. Taste is lots of ginger with some cocoa, spice and roasted malt. Its strong, really essentially overwhelms any other flavors on the palate especially the longer you drink it. Feel is medium bodied, smooth. Oh wait this is bourbon barrel aged? Didn't even realize that until I went and read the description. If that's to be believed this was in bourbon barrels. Love the concept, do not love the execution. Way too much ginger.

 

 

Pours black with modest carbonation and a foamy one finger head. Aroma is immediately ginger upon opening. There may be some vanilla and chocolate but those struggle against the almost overwhelming ginger. Taste is immediately ginger, with little surprise, but the chocolate comes through far stronger here, with cinnamon a light sprinkling over the top. Nicely done, even if a slight bit over powering.

The pour is pitch black into the glass. The head is tan colored, and 3 finger. The head retention is quite good for a 12% beer, and there's a bit of lacing on the glass.
The aroma is full of ginger. I get a hint of sweetness in the ginger, kind of like a sugar cookie aroma.
Flavor is dominated by the ginger. I am not getting the sweetness I got in the aroma. I've had ginger treats before that I got in the grocery store, and it tastes like them. I do get hints of the barrel (vanilla, caramel) on the back side.
There's a bit of heat from the alcohol in this puppy that comes in on the back. It's not super crazy, but it lets you know it's a sipper. The body is pretty full. The feeling from the ginger really lingers in my throat.
I do like this one, but I can also see why some would not like it.

Surly Ginger Snap Darkness BBA Russian Imperial Stout, 12% ABV. Pours thick and black with a one-finger tan head that left great lacing. Nose is ginger, cacao, vanilla, and bourbon. Taste follows, slightly sweet, slightly bitter, with orange zest on the close. Excellent mouthfeel, overall excellent.