BA 2017 Darkness Is Not Good.

Could also be a difference of bottle versus tap. I have had plenty of beers that were amazing on tap, only to be just okay from the bottle. Hoping to try both formats, for science of course.

 

Valid point. We had a bottle of BA Silhouette a few nights ago that, while still very good, wasn't nearly the magnificent beer we had on tap at the brewery.

 

Not good? Really? What I had in my glass last night was definitely not bad! I agree a little more Barrel presence and a couple of $$ less on the bottle price would be nice but gotta say I thought is was quite good.
And yes, nothing wrong with the base beer in my opinion!

 

So much of this conversation seems to be a matter of optics. I haven't tried '17 yet but based on a sticker price of $25 the expectations are bound to be high. If it were a $15 bottle I suspect this wouldn't be much of a dialogue. Hoping to try it soon to form my own opinion.

 

Correct, it's a market correction. Where people are unwilling to purchase Surly at $25 when they can find other great beers for half the price or a little more. The days of over paying for Surly and beers like Darkness are ending.

 

I got a sixpack of Ten Fiddy BA (big cans) for 16.99. Was that a real good deal? Thought it might be so went back on bought the last sixer they had. Great beer.

 

That's a great deal! I would have bought them all! I got my cans for $11.99 each.

 

Ah well I get a little of the bashing for cost I for sure didn’t pay $25 a bottle here in Sioux Falls. Cheapest was $20.99 and most I paid was $22.99. I could see not buying as much if I had to pay $25or more a bottle.

Will also say I typically liked reg Darkness over barrel aged but the 17 BA I might enjoy more then regular 17. 17 on tap at Darkness day seemed way less hop bite then the bottles.

 

Well Yeah!! They are $11-$12 per can. Maybe they scanned the per can price and gave you a sixer?

 

I agree with Chumley on BA 2017. Drank one today and really enjoyed it. It's not as barrel aged as in the past, subtle flavor. Really mellow taste with a good mouth feel. No reason to age this one, find it and drink it.

 

I think the barrel '17 > '16 and a better vintage. I will defiantly age one for a year.

 

11-12 a can huh? Glad I grabbed the other sixer. Seemed like it was a great deal. No they had it marked that way for the full six. I think they said $3.25 per can.

 

Zap no way it was $3.25/can at cost or retail unless it was regular 10-fidy. You got a great deal on a great BA Stout that ages very nicely. Enjoy!!

 

Yeah...I think they messed up something. They got a case and I bought half of it. I have 7 left....great beer...going to have one more and then sit on the last six until next winter...I'm not as up on things as I should be and didn't even know there was a BA aged Ten fiddy on the market...Love those big cans...

Last weekend I did a blind taster of the Ten Fiddy BA, Schells cave aged Baltic Porter and Goose Island Bourbon County.

I picked Ten Fiddy #1...

 

I guess you can argue cost, but the BA Darkness I popped last night was perfectly delicious. I got barrel on the nose, and that followed through in the taste. Have I gotten more barrel in other BA stouts, yes. Does that mean BA Darkness isn't a good beer...no, no it does not.

A little too much hyperbole in this thread, I'd say.

 

Hey now, there is no room for nuance in an online beer discussion! It's either great, or it's crap. There is no in between. Everyone must pick a side.

 

Preach.

 

Had one at Surly yesterday and it was delicious. I will agree with some others that the barrel taste was mild. IMO 17 BA Darkness > 17 Darkness. Hopefully it’s still later this week as I’d like to stop in for another.

 

IMO bottles for BA stouts are better vs draft. Feel the opposite way about IPAs but I think the slight oxygen exposure from packaging actually aids the flavors we prize most in this style of beer. It can go too far with age or poor packaging to sherry or cardboard but I think a little bit helps so would be interested in more bottle vs. draft comparisons.

 

I can't speak to this year's beer yet, but I had the same experience with last year's beers. I had it on tap once at Surly last year, and it was merely pretty good, but the one bottle I had was quite a bit better.