Wicked Weed just posted info about their Dark Arts release/party this year. Dark Arts returns. On October 21st at 5pm we'll release our annual Barrel Aged Imperial Stout fermented with Brettanomyces, and this year, we've aged this beer in Nicaraguan rum barrels. We made more of this beer than we ever have, so we've decided to forgo the online pre-sale, and make it available on the shelves at the Funkatorium bottle shop. You're going to ask about the espresso variant, right? We did it again this year, but still a fairly small amount. Stay tuned as we get closer to the release for details. Lest we forget, we'll also be having our Dark Arts party at the same time. From 5pm-1am, we'll have special barrel aged beers from some of our friends on tap as well. COSTUMES ENCOURAGED! This is one of our favorite parties of the year, so make sure you stop by. Cheers to wandering deeper into the Dark Arts.
Who knows. Hopefully they do some type of limit. If it's a case limit I'm sure it will fly off the shelf.
I'm not sure I've ever seen them do a "raffle". I have seen them limit the purchase to say... 1 bottle of espresso and a case of regular Dark Arts. Last year, the then substituted 1 of the regular for an additional espresso variant in the case allotment. If you bought 6, I think you could only purchase a single Espresso but I bought a case so I don't recall.
Whew. Makes it easier to hit other releases going on that weekend. I am in a bit of a love/hate relationship with Dark Arts. I like it fresh, but a year on it just becomes some sort of strange infected BCBS level beer.
Last year if you purchased a case it was 4 espresso and 8 of the regular. So in a 6pk that would be 2 espresso and 4 regular. Only reason I recall is I drank my last espresso yesterday!
For those who made it into Asheville for the release, how is it tasting this year, and how is last year's holding up?
I like Dark Arts, but i can't imagine there are too many people who need a case of it. My bet is it lasts a bit.
This year's are fantastic. Much better than last year's (IMO, but self admittedly I'm not a tequila fan). I had both of last year's on draft and 2014 bourbon on draft (along with both this year's also). The 2014 is starting to get a nice funky quality from the Brett but is still drinking really well. Last year's regular hasn't quite gotten there yet and last year's Espresso flavor had fallen off quite a bit. If you have a couple bottles of 2014 or last year's Espresso I'd recommend drinking one now but I'd hold off on the regular 2015 for another year or two. Honestly this year's are probably my favorite Barrel treatment and I'm usually a bourbon guy.
Yes. I went when they opened and they said they had about 30 cases left of Dark Arts. Espresso sold out immediately when it opened.
This is the best Dark Arts so far. For some reason, and I do not get this at all, but the expresso version tasted sweeter to me. I am very pleased with the straight version, a definate hit in my book.
Still had some as 3pmish. I grabbed the last three Espresso right at opening. Great tap list on today.
Visiting from NYC... Funkatorium put the espresso variant back on tap. Sooooo sweet but good. On par with big Bruery stouts
I had a pour of Espresso at the Funketorium on Saturday. It was delicious. I enjoyed it a lot more than last years. But I also prefer Rum to Tequila.
Dark Arts was still for sale by the case yesterday and Dark Arts w/ Espresso was still on tap (even though I was idiot and didn't notice when I had time to get a pour).
