Darkness - Bourbon Barrel-Aged (2024)
Surly Brewing Co.
- From:
- Surly Brewing Co.
- Minnesota, United States
- Style:
- Russian Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 12%
- Score:
- +5 ratings needed
- Avg:
- 4.37 | pDev: 3.43%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 2
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jan 17, 2026
- Added:
- Dec 29, 2024
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
NO SCORE
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Darkness is a beer of fable and legend. Malty and intense, yet velvety smooth. This special edition of our massive Russian imperial stout matured in Elijah Craig 10 and 12-year bourbon barrels and features waves of chocolate, vanilla, dried fruit, and cherry flavors, enhanced by the oaky spice of the barrel and its previous occupant.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by stortore from Illinois
4.46/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.46/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
16 ounce can into a snifter. Canned 1/31/24, had 7/17/25.
Pours an opaque dark brown, with a one inch creamy foam head and a decent amount of foamy lacing. Aromas of bourbon, roasted malt, oak, cocoa, some vanilla and prune, some malted milk, light chocolate. Smells lightly spicy. Flavors of bourbon, roasted malt, dark chocolate, oak, prune, some vanilla and cocoa. Has a spicy and somewhat herbal taste. Smooth, a little creamy, a solid full body, well carbonated.
Annually delicious. It’s a little lighter bodied this time around. Lots of great aromas and flavors to pick out. Really enjoyable.
Sep 26, 2025Pours an opaque dark brown, with a one inch creamy foam head and a decent amount of foamy lacing. Aromas of bourbon, roasted malt, oak, cocoa, some vanilla and prune, some malted milk, light chocolate. Smells lightly spicy. Flavors of bourbon, roasted malt, dark chocolate, oak, prune, some vanilla and cocoa. Has a spicy and somewhat herbal taste. Smooth, a little creamy, a solid full body, well carbonated.
Annually delicious. It’s a little lighter bodied this time around. Lots of great aromas and flavors to pick out. Really enjoyable.
Reviewed by snaotheus from Washington
4.49/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.49/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2025-03-06
16oz can served in a big snifter. Canned on 01/31/24. @bbtkd sent it to me in Barleywine/Stout BIF #2.
Pours black, smallish head, wispy dusting across the surface. Looks still in low light, but I think it has a lot of very fine, very slow carbonation action. Smell is big boozy chocolate and licorice, coffee and semi-sweet chocolate chips. Hearty nuts and toffee and molasses. Wet forest.
Taste is not as ferocious as I expected from the aroma. Meek by no means, however. Booze and charred barrel is up front with vanilla. Rootbeer barrel is loitering somewhere trying to score a dimebag without attracting attention. Chocolate is hiding behind cola, which is noticeably on stage though maybe a bit off cue.
Mouthfeel is thick, rich, somehow clean. Very nice beer.
Mar 07, 202516oz can served in a big snifter. Canned on 01/31/24. @bbtkd sent it to me in Barleywine/Stout BIF #2.
Pours black, smallish head, wispy dusting across the surface. Looks still in low light, but I think it has a lot of very fine, very slow carbonation action. Smell is big boozy chocolate and licorice, coffee and semi-sweet chocolate chips. Hearty nuts and toffee and molasses. Wet forest.
Taste is not as ferocious as I expected from the aroma. Meek by no means, however. Booze and charred barrel is up front with vanilla. Rootbeer barrel is loitering somewhere trying to score a dimebag without attracting attention. Chocolate is hiding behind cola, which is noticeably on stage though maybe a bit off cue.
Mouthfeel is thick, rich, somehow clean. Very nice beer.
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