Darkness Day 2012 Thread

He pissed on the side of my truck, I wasn't too happy about that.

 

DICK move.

 

That was it, man I have to get out to his brewery (Dave's) I will cry when I drink my last Golden Lager. You guys had some nice stuff on your table. I still am thinking of the Serendipity and how wonderful that'd be for a nice desert sipper.

 

Was my second time so we came prepared. Was my favorite beer event that I've attended. Met some absolutely fantastic people; Josh, who's BA name I can't remember, gave me my first Pliny in a trade and became an unofficial member of our crew for the day, the guys from St John's and GAC next to us in line shared more homemade jerky than we could handle and also put up with our loud drunkenness, and thanks to all the people who were more than generous when it came to sharing world class brews. Apologies to anyone's glass that I may have broken with my drunken "Reagan smash." And much thanks to Surly for putting on a fantastic event.

 

By truck, you mean your mothers mini-van right?!?

In all seriousness, it was fucking awesome meeting you guys in person and putting faces to names. Lots of good shit to come between now and DD '13, but im definately looking forward to it!

My Fav (non top 100) taste of the night, Kuhnhenn's Michigan Mud out of the growler. Stuff tasted like a smore in a bottle! Who brought that growler to lobos bash!?

 

Need more details!

 

Yeah, my mom did not appreciate that, I don't think she will let me borrow the van any more.

 

Pretty sure lobo did actually, was Damn tasty stuff.

 

Haha, I wish I knew much more than that. I was only at that table for a total of 10 minutes... she strolled up talking about going to Bangkok for spring break and watching a two-girl ping pong ball show. Not really sure what that is, but I'd lie if I said I wasn't interested. Anyway, she was fairly drunk and had the look a lot of girls have near bar close in her eye. She kept begging for stouts and I guess someone finally made her pay up in one on of the bathrooms. Not a bad looking girl either.

 

That was us. I'm pretty sure we added to your loud drunkenness throughout the night. I was glad we could hook up the New Belgium and Brewery Vivant collaborations. Brewery Vivant's Big Red Coq seemed to be a crowd pleaser throughout the night.

I was thoroughly impressed by Surly for the whole event. Last year, we waited in line for 45 minutes to get our Darkness. This year, we got in, grabbed a beer (in a very minimal line), saw our color was up a bit early, and waited just a couple minutes until we could go up and buy our Darkness. Very, very smooth event by Surly.

 

I'm back home safe in Moorhead after an epic beer trip. Thursday we visited Fulton, Indeed, and Stanley's. Followed by Town Hall, Republic, Zipps, and Surly on Friday, then Crooked Pint and Town Hall again on Saturday. This morning we made the trip to Casanova in Hudson and had awesome burgers at Barker's downtown there.

I thought the event was pretty well run. I could live without the early lineup, that was annoying as it was cold and I wanted to stand by my heater! I wasn't as impressed with Damien this year, but Tea Bagged Furious was awesome! I think I was just in a hoppy mood after so many great stouts all night.

Where the hell were the TG people? I didn't get to try a single TG brew! I was bummed about that, but I did get to try a lot of new, unheard of beers that made my day. I did meet the Brau Bros guys and the nice people of LR Beers, who had a great tasting event at 11pm on Friday. Looking forward to next year!

 

Toppling Goliath crew was about 1/2 way up the first part of the line (starting at the brewery and moving backwards). Got to try a couple different growlers, and came back around midnight / 1 AM for some Barrel Aged Assassin that was among the best things I tried all evening / morning.

Cheers!

 

Got back this afternoon, to Philly. Had to change my flight to 7am this morning to try getting a head of the hurricane. Thanks to everyone, especially the locals and the hospitality they willingly show...way to many to mention. The generosity and trust in personal property(minus very few obvious occasions) was ideal this year. A truly cool crowd again. Look forward to the next one I can attend! Cheers!

 

All the new shit I tried this weekend:
Russian River Framboise for a Cure 2012
Town Hall Coconut Milk Stout
Town Hall Mango Mama
Daves BrewFarm Saison Farmfresh
Tivoli Helles
Freetail Porto Gallito
FiftyFifty BART (2012)
Taps Remy
Westbrook Mexican Cake
Surly Brett Liquor IPA
Cantillon Lou Pepe Gueuze
Foothills Barrel Aged Sexual Chocolate Imperial Stout
Olde Hickory The Event Horizon
Alpine Beer Company Odin’s Raven Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout
Tyranena BGW Whos Your Daddy? Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Porter
3 Fonteinen Schaerbeekse Kriek
Bootleggers Knuckle Sandwich
Church on a Hill (Brandy)
Cascade Apricot Ale
Surly Damien
Surly Oak Aged Bender
Surly Cacao Bender
Surly Oak Aged CynicAle
Surly Tea Bagged Furious
Surly Smoke Lager
Surly Bandwagon IPA
Columbus Brewing IPA
Evil Twin Imperial Biscotti Break
Evil Twin Biscotti Break
Bells Black Note Stout
Perennial Abraxas
The Bruery White Chocolate
The Bruery Black Tuesday Imperial Stout
Lost Abbey Isabelle Proximus
Lost Abbey Veritas 004
Funkwerks Cherry Saison
Drakes Aroma Coma IPA
Lost Abbey Veritas 010
Kuhnhenn Crème Brûlée Java Stout
Crooked Stave Oculus
The Bruery Oude Tart
Town Hall Czar Jack Imperial Stout
Lawsons Finest Maple Tripple
Lawsons Finest Chinookerd IPA
Against the Grain Bo and Luke
Cigar City Imperial Sweet Stout - Cognac Barrel Aged
Cigar City Leon
Tired Hands Ghost
Hill Farmstead Fear and Trembling (Bourbon Barrel)
Hill Farmstead Birth of Tragedy
Hill Farmstead Abner
Avery Barrel-Aged Series 12 - Oud Floris
Avery Barrel-Aged Series 13 - Odio Equum
Titletown Smashing Pumpkin Ale
Titletown Rackers Pale Ale
Upland Persimmon Lambic
Surly Wet 2012
Dieu du Ciel Solstice d’Été aux Framboises
Upland Kiwi Lambic
Columbus Brewing Bodhi
Town Hall 15th Anniversary Ale
Freetail Raspberry Ananke
Founders Frangelic Mountain Brown
Bells This one goes to 11
Nitro Central Waters Mudpuppy Porter
Cantillon Monks Cafe

and some more, thanks if you brought it, and your welcome if i brought it (you will never know haha).

 

Thanks for cracking some delicious beers.

 

It's an event for people in the bizz. Liquor store owners and managers, distributors and such.

 

Wow can you even recall what half of those tasted like?

 

Does anyone know what times Surly's merch store at the brewery is open this week? I just broke my new glass I got at D-Day. Its the 16 oz. curved glass that isn't on their website.

 

I believe it is open during standard 9 - 5 business hours.