Dark Lord vs. Darkness

These are two completely different styles of RIS/American Imperial. One is sweet/soy/brown sugar/dark dried fruit... and the other is hoppy and full of charred wood/cocoa/coffee. There is also a 5% ABV difference in the two. That's HUGE! Comparing these two RIS' isn't apples to apples... it's apples and assholes. Both taste very different. It's like comparing Chuck Berry and Pink Floyd. Both are excellent at what they do... just completely different versions of something similar.

 

I am not into Dark Lord, but I suppose I could try again sometime. But I don't feel compelled to. But I loves me some Darkness!

 

I don't know how a barrel fixes it, but it certainly does. Science is crazy.

Yes it is ridiculous and incredibly entertaining. I too am a Chicagoan (living out of town for a year, though) and I'm a huge fan of a number of FFF beers...but Dark Load isn't one of them. I worked so hard to finally try DL and Darkness this year for the first time and unexpectedly ended up trying DL 10-12, Baller, Murda'd Out, BADL, and Darkness 09-12.

DL '12 was such a disappointment. I couldn't bring myself to drain pour it, but I wanted to. I tried to get friends to help and no one got past a sip. I got to try it again in Nov and Jan and each time it was slightly better, but still terrible. If you love port wine, I can see how someone would like some of the characteristics...but I found the apple flavor to be really unpleasant and it was so sticky sweet.

DL '11 was somewhat better, but still not enough to want to finish my taster of it.

DL '10 and BADL were both delicious. I was shocked that '10 was so good.

I also didn't really enjoy Baller that much, but Murda'd was nice. Not $50 nice, but nice.

I was also unimpressed with Darkness '12 and '11. But '10 at least resembled the previous years. '10 and '09 were both very tasty.

While I will gladly attend both Darkness and Dark Lord Days...those particular beers are of small importance to me compared to the events themselves.

It is widely established that people find both of these beers more desirable with age on them...especially more recent vintages of DL...maybe some people like to stick them in a cellar for a couple years until they are actually good. (Just one more explanation).

 

Imperial Stouts are one of my top two styles. That being said I personally don't like either one of them, to me I think they're both to sweet for my liking BUT if I had to pick I'd go with Darkness....CHEERS

 

We killed a mini Darkness vert two weeks ago (2010, 2011 and 2012) and had a 2012 DL present. No contest, Darkness.

 

I tried 12 dark lord and 12 darkness at the same time, and I would take darkness. I like dark lord, but its hard to compare these 2 beers, because they are so different. I would prefer darkness with dinner and dark lord for dessert. I think it is unfair to call dark lord a drain pour. I don't think I can drink a whole bottle of dark lord, but if I got like a 4oz pour I would gladly drink it all. If you were handed a 4 oz pour without knowing it was dark lord, would you finish it or pour it out? I feel most people would finish it. Also if it was on tap year round at a small unknown brewery, would it sell? I think it would. There is a high expectation for FFF beer, and dark lord is good but doesn't live up to that expectation. I also think people hate on dark lord or FFF because they can't get it, and when they do get it, they are expecting an orgasm in a bottle, which leaves them unsatisfied. Dark lord and darkness are both great stouts, but I have had much better and much worse stouts.

 

There is something to this managing expectations thing...

Try Dark Lord '12 for first time expecting it to be amazing. Hate it. Debate pouring it out. Cry on the inside.
Try Dark Lord '12 for the second time expecting it to be awful. Hate it...but slightly less. Fool me once...
Try Dark Lord '12 for the third time, purely as an experiment knowing it is going to be horrible. Eh. Yeah, still bad but it no longer makes you want to cry.

 

I have pretty regular access to Alpine year round bombers (such as fresh-from-the-truck, Nelson and Duet), so if anyone reading this is interested in trading a few Alpine bombers for any vintage of DL, please PM me.

I've only had the '10 DL recently (which I found fantastic), but I would love to try the 11 or 12, even if they are overly sweet. I would gladly make this part of a larger trade.

 

I've only had Darkness '11 and '12, both on tap and bottled. I've disliked every pour I've had to a great extent. I can feel cavities forming as I try to drink it. Just too sweet for me. I haven't had DL at all, but hear it's sweeter thank Darkness? F' that.

I would still like to try the older vintages of both, which I hear aren't as sweet...maybe I would like those.

 

Its hilarious that one could say that NOT drainpouring a DL is due to an unsophisticated palate or drinks it simply because they really dont have access to FFF.

My point is is that your comment is ridiculous man. FD: I have drain poured a DL into my dads garden and I have enjoyed a DL too. I have plenty access to FFF and quite frankly, i dont believe my palate is "unsophisticated". And honestly, I wish i did consider it unsophisticated so i could just say "hey buddy, yea I dumped the beer - it sucked and I didnt like it. Big deal"

My other point is - dont attempt to attack someone for their preference in beer. Its not worth it man, lets all just be happy and say "oh damn dude, you drainpoured a DL?! i would have taken it, i love that beer!!" rather "Your palate sucks and is why you drainpoured it"

Cheers dude