Darkness Day 2018

Might have to make this my first ever Darkness Day.

 

I was initially thinking I was done. Since I usually do the night, grab my btls and leave. But if I can reserve a camp site and darkness without standing in various lines... I may NOT be done.

 

Well then let’s go full DLD and start the wild speculation on variants, weather, bands,etc.... we in the Midwest deserve an extraordinary fest and a 200+ page thread to build the hype.

 

Haven't been to Darkness day in 5 years since I didn't like having to hang out over night without a reasonably comfortable place to sleep or eat while enjoying the bottle shares(best part of Darkness day) but now that I can throw down a tent with an air matress and cook some snacks over a fire I may end up heading back this year.

 

I have mixed feelings about this. I loved the tradition of DLD with the crazy weather, crazy length of time that you had to be in line, and crazy levels of intoxication that were hilarious to behold.

That said, an actual campground, paying for bottles up front, and the fact that it isn't so far away from my current location, plus variants, makes me pretty excited. Price will be an issue, since the old fest was free (except bottles), and I'll always miss the Brooklyn Center grounds.

 

Then you never did Darkness Day, this might be called Darkness Day but Darkness Day dies at Brooklyn center

 

Completely agree, as ridiculous as it seems for sentimental reasons I hope they change the name to Darkness Fest or Darkness weekend.

Even before the announcement last year kind of felt like the end of Darkness Day as we knew it. Definitely on a hard downward slope with the noticeably smaller crowd, increased number of people leaving, and wrist bands lasting well into the day. Obviously makes little sense to stay up all night or sleep in a chair for a beer that is on shelves weeks/months later and just isn’t coveted the way it once was. I’m actually excited for the change, just wish it was staying in Minnesota, as I initially wasn’t planning on going this year.

Also looking forward to the long overdue variants although I’m not expecting Dark Lord level hype or quality.

 

They will be.

 

For the majority of people in line it wasn't about waiting in line for the beer, it was for the beer shares and overall experience. I'm from an hour south of Chicago and have made a ton of friends that I see yearly at Darkness. I'm just hoping the fact that it's not being done as years prior doesn't drive that many regulars to the fest away.

 

I can't help but wonder if the variants are something they wanted to do but Todd didn't, or if it is to try to get more excitement around Darkness. As you pointed out, and as so many here know, it is hard to get people to come to your event when you can walk into a store weeks/months later to get your bottles.

Regardless, they are doing a pretty good job, look at us already discussing and speculating

For variants, would love to see coffee, vanilla, and moscatel

 

I mean what other beer fest do you have people in line renting a smoker the size of an F-150 to feed all the people around them.

 

I believe there is some truth to Todd not wanting to do variants. I've been hearing that from a bunch of people for probably 5 years. Either way, if they bottle Mole Darkness from last year I will crawl across broken glass to get it.

 

I completely agree the biggest draw has become the bottle share and the experience but getting Darkness bottles the next morning was once a huge part of that experience. I’ve met many awesome people from out of state that I look forward to seeing each year but if locals stop going in mass is it worth it to drive up/over/down? I know many people last year that said I’m just gonna go to Stub & Herbs then stop by the bottle share for a bit but just decided it wasn’t worth the trouble and went home.

 

Interesting, good to know. Will be avoiding the fernet barrel variant. Had it at rare beer fest and it was horrible.

 

Not sure what fernet tastes like but definitely want to try the other two.

 

Fernet tastes like a lot of spices like licorice, cola nut, anise, chicory, peppermint, bitter chocolate, and a ton more. It's an amaro (Italian bitter), and it lives up to that name with what many would describe as an extremely bitter finish. It's not something for everyone, but I drink Fernet Branca neat because I love it (same goes for Campari, Malort, Chartreuse, Cynar, aquavit, absinthe, etc.).

Before buying into the Darkness Fernet variant, I'd strongly urge anyone who is curious about the flavor profile to go to a bar that stocks it and try a Fernet and club soda (or neat/shot if you really want to taste it unadulterated). This will likely be a very controversial, even hated beer due to how inaccessible the flavor of Fernet and other amaros/bitters are to many palates.

 

I liked it. Tastes like a thin mint.

 

No mention of how long they were aged yet. Been interesting to see the Untappd check ins for the most recent BA version, people mentioning very little or no barrel.

Not too hot on rum finished beers but nice to see they are finally doing variants. Maybe fernet will be the new Turtledog!