Darkness Day 2014 Thread

MGM Forest Lake was also asking 29.99 I declined at the register.

 

I like it, though I haven't tried a bottle yet, just the draft kegs at the event. Word spread on Darkness Eve that a majority of the blend only spent 3 months in third use barrels, while a portion of the beer was in barrels for more than a year. That said, I think it's got a nice barrel character that will be interesting with age, but is ready to drink now.

Full disclosure: I thought both the BA and non-BA were sweeter than what I've had in previous years. This was my fifth Darkness Day, and up until last year when Todd said he tries to brew the same beer ever year I could have sworn they alternated between sweet/chocolatey/fruity even years and hoppy/resinous/tobacco-forward odd years.

 

Newbie question but I won't learn unless I ask... do I need to store Darkness in the fridge if I receive it cold? Also, is there a shelf life to it if I don't cellar it and just keep it in the fridge?

 

Nope, it just slows down the aging process by keeping it in the fridge. Otherwise put it in a dark, cool, 60 degrees or less area.

 

nice! Yeah, I live in South Minneapolis. Everybody down here seems to go to France 44, or South Lyndale where it lasted less than an hour, meanwhile - the small store a few blocks from my house probably still has some behind the counter. (though it may be a bit more expensive)

 

This is where it all begins. It starts with one beer "in the cellar." Before you know it, you have a hundred.

 

take it for what its worth, this was only one store they told me this. But they mention they were getting another shipment next week.

 

It's pretty damn good. There is definitely a strong barrel presence, but you can also taste that beautiful Darkness flavor from years past. I'm definitely one happy customer.

 

I heard at another store that some places were REJECTING their shipments of Darkness, so they'll be redistributing a few more later this week or next. Rejecting? Seriously??

 

Too much of a hassel and not enough profit for the hassel? I don't think most people are buying more than just Darkness either.

 

Could be, but I bet they are still fielding phone call after phone call asking if they have it. Might as well make some profit rather than none.

 

Duluth market got it in on Monday which was odd, we usually see it at least a week after the Twin Cities gets it.

Anyways, all the accounts I talked to got 36 bottles but could get more. I stopped in Super One and they only had 3 left but were calling for more when I arrived, they told me $24.99 and wouldn't budge on price so I called Lake Aire and they were doing $21.49 and no limit.

Man that 10% MN tax adds up quick, I'm just to used to 5.5% in Wisconsin.

 

No it was my wife. Unless they were lying to her, they said she got the very last one.

 

Interesting. There was a guy standing at the register with a bottle when they told me there was no more. This was a little before 7:00, I think. No biggie - I expect that kind of confusion with stuff like this.

 

She went after work so I'm guessing about 6:45ish. I was in there at about 5 and it looked like they still had multiple cases behind the register. I left the Darkness but picked up a Venus. Boy is that a terrible beer.

 

Can anyone that got bottles at the event tell me how much per bottle they paid- including tax. I kept hearing $20.00 and didn't consider sales tax when I paid someone. I would appreciate the input!

 

20 at the event was inclusive of tax.

 

What happened to the Pikey comment? That cracked me up...

 

Stuckey, another 2007 Darkness just went up on Craigslist. Might be worth looking into to see if it's the stolen bottle :

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/clt/4736620160.html

 

Very happy to hear that!