2016 Surly Darkness

3 left

 

And gone at 10:39

 

wristbands at the gate! goes to show just how unpredictable that can be. definitely several hundred people shut out in 2014 when the weather was nice.

 

No barrel aged may have played a part.

 

Whatever day Johnson Brothers typically delivers to the store.

 

I am definitely okay with the weather though.

 

It wasn't very crazy early on and that was a shock as the tap list was ridiculous. Vanilla Rye lasted longer than I thought. I went back up to get another pour after 7:30 assuming to hear that it kicked, but bartender seemed to imply there was still a decent amount left. Vanilla was limited to 5.5 ounce pours and the the 2008 Bourbon County was either 5.5 or 10 ounce pours.

Cheers to Stub and Herbs for their pricing. Only $4.5 for the Vanilla Rye and $8 for the 10 ounce '08. Can't say enough about how great of an experience I always have there.

 

Yeah it was pretty relaxed. Only issue we had was the 2015 darkness was metallic tasting and quite off.... A couple of us had stomach issues later on in the night.

 

I guess Omar was telling people today that this is the last year of Darkness Day. It sounds like he would only do it again if they can change the laws to do it at the Minneapolis brewery.

Source: stranger on Reddit

 

Was a reason provided?

 

I remember several people claiming Omar told them last year at DD that it would be the last year. I don't know what law would be different next year stopping DD.

 

There was not according to the Reddit post. Personally, I wouldn't mind if Darkness became a seasonal and they did a release for BA Darkness.

 

Doesn't Omar say it is the last year, like, every year?

 

...and Dahlheimer.

 

He said something about it being the last Darkness Day when he was onstage introducing Revocation (not bad btw). Whether he means it this time, who knows.

 

Whatever you do, don't park in either church south of the lot. The one right off Lake Dr. has signs posted specifying that it's private. The one up the street, closer to the brewery, does not have any signs posted, but they'll still have your car towed.

The $350 tow bill aside, Darkness Day was awesome. Hope they keep hosting the event; I had a blast.

 

Omar says every year this will be the last Darkness Day.

 

He started saying it last year for the first time after the new brewery opened up the winter prior. Regarding the law, I'm sure he was referring to the cap on breweries ability to sell growlers. Surly could sell Darkness bottles at the MSP brewery if not for the growler cap (750ml bottles are considered growlers).

I have no doubt the festival will end at some point in Brooklyn Center. The festival outgrew the location around 2011 IMHO. They can have an event at the new brewery minus the bottles sales or, if the law is changed to remove the growler cap, sell bottles as well.

As they grow and expand their distribution footprint, it seems more likely they'll just forgo bottles sales at an event regardless and send it all out to distribution.

When Darkness Day started, you could only get it at the event. Then, from 2009-2013, MOST of it was sold at the event with very limited distribution but increasing each year. Since 2014 its been very easy to get at liquor stores and for cheaper than its sold at the actual event. Last year Costco sold it for $15.

 

This is only an outsiders observation, but I still see huge benefit in retaining Darkness Day. They still draw huge numbers, they always sell out of all their bottles and most importantly it retains excitement around the brewery. It's a great social event with amazing bottle shares, social bonding, food trucks, music, games, merchandise and limited edition varieties.

People all over the country know about Darkness Day, and makes it even more of a destination for beer lovers everywhere. If it was just released in stores on a particular day, it would be a much more dull experience. They struck gold with BA Darkness last year, and if they coincide its release in the future with Darkness Day it will create an even bigger draw.

This year was my 6th Darkness Day, and I would be extremely disappointed to see it go. Just my 2 cents.

 

Opening this up for "Darkness Monday" posts.

FWIW, St Louis Park Costco says they expect their delivery on Thursday 10/20.