Darkness with Friends: Schell’s (2025)
Surly Brewing Co.
- From:
- Surly Brewing Co.
- Minnesota, United States
- Style:
- Russian Imperial Stout
- ABV:
- 12%
- Score:
- +9 ratings needed
- Avg:
- 4.53 | pDev: 0%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 1
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Oct 21, 2025
- Added:
- Oct 18, 2025
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
NO SCORE
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A collaboration with one of America’s oldest and best breweries. Darkness aged on Evan Williams Bourbon barrels and Tattersall Bitter Orange barrels.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by mwilbur from Minnesota
4.53/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.53/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Poured from 750 mL bottle into Darkness snifter.
A: Pours a thick, murky, dark brown hue with 2 inch frothy dark mocha head with very good retention. Leaves behind generous lacing.
S: Sweet bourbon, smooth dark chocolate, orange bitters, molasses, dark caramel, and subtle earthy hops.
T: Smooth sweet bourbon, caramel, and oak hits first, followed by orange bitters, smooth dark chocolate, molasses, and an earthy note (grain more than hops). Fascinating!
M: Medium heavy body. Extraordinarily smooth! Layers of dark sweetness accentuated by orange bitters and a good amount of ABV and bourbon barrel character too.
D: Wow! I’m still of the mindset that the base Darkness is nearly impossible to improve upon…but this gets darn close! Absolutely lovely bourbon and bitter orange barrel characteristics. Superb sipper! Seek it out!
Oct 21, 2025A: Pours a thick, murky, dark brown hue with 2 inch frothy dark mocha head with very good retention. Leaves behind generous lacing.
S: Sweet bourbon, smooth dark chocolate, orange bitters, molasses, dark caramel, and subtle earthy hops.
T: Smooth sweet bourbon, caramel, and oak hits first, followed by orange bitters, smooth dark chocolate, molasses, and an earthy note (grain more than hops). Fascinating!
M: Medium heavy body. Extraordinarily smooth! Layers of dark sweetness accentuated by orange bitters and a good amount of ABV and bourbon barrel character too.
D: Wow! I’m still of the mindset that the base Darkness is nearly impossible to improve upon…but this gets darn close! Absolutely lovely bourbon and bitter orange barrel characteristics. Superb sipper! Seek it out!
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