Going for Surly Darkness....

Depending on the price point of said beer I think it should be able to pull in a Darkness ($20) no problem . I good majority of the people that have Darkness have a fair amount of it (bottle limit 6 per person, 4 for later in the day). Obviously some people have much more than factoring in mules and buying other people's partial allotments. Just throw up and ISO including solid locals and it should get done. Hell if I had an extra I would definitely trade you for it.

 

There's a possibility this might work with the right trader, but it is still an off the shelf beer, an IPA too, for a somewhat limited big stout. I still think it's a longshot though, but it might be worth a try. Do you have any of Aleworks Cafe Royale? That might sweeten the pot.

Good luck, I got the chance to try Bitter Valentine and it's a really solid IPA. Definitely tasty.

 

I agree. Darkness isn't terribly hard to get but it's not easy either. The problem I could see with this trade is that most people who have Darkness wouldn't have to give it up to get Bitter Valentine. You can get Bitter Valentine with far less limited beers.

 

Like the others said, a lot of people subscribe to the Stout/Sour for Stout/Sour idea, so it may be a little tough to loosen their grip on a brewery release stout for an off the shelf, somewhat limited IPA. Not saying it won't happen, just my 2 cents.

 

I'm pretty sure Darkness hits the shelves in the Twin Cities area as well.

 

I know that Darkness does have some limited distro, but it was far less something like Bitter Valentine (which has gone over to different states). Cantillons can be off the shelf too, but that doesn't mean they are easy to track down now. I agree with ShanePB that anyone that can has Darkness can get Bitter Valentine without having to give up a Darkness.

 

No clue about Bitter Valentine's distro (I assumed a pretty small area), I just wanted to point out that they both were "off the shelf" beers.

 

Im pretty sure Darkness did hit the shelves. That doesnt mean that it is easy to get though - CBS and King Henry were also off the shelf beers.

I think it is one of the most easy attainable ones out of the "limited release" beers, but I cant say if Bitter Valentine would land one or not.

 

No worries and you are definitely correct there. I know someone from PA sent me Bitter Valentine, so I know its there and VA for sure. Definitely a larger area than Darkness, but I can't elaborate any further.

 

Apparently it does hit limited distro, sorry if I was a little misinformed

 

not sure the details but from what ive seen on the trade board wouldnt seven devils be able to do it? op youve got some solid gots, the only problem is being way out here i dont know which fall in the same distro diagram

 

Another item to consider is that it may be easier to trade for Darkness after it gets released this year. I tried looking for one last Summer and it was difficult. As soon as the 2011 came out in the fall it was easier to trade for as more people had bottles they were willin to trade. Plus, you might have more fire power by this fall when it gets released.

 

This. It's typically much easier to trade for a bottle soon after its release, as people haven't started drinking them yet and those who scored multiples to trade still actually have them.

 

Haha, yeah, that's a big part of the reason I'm holding onto my bottles! I like the beer ok enough, but I absolutely LOVE the bottle art!