Darkness Day 2018

The old dog track in Hudson is being converted to a Northwoods League ball field. There are/were plans to include a brewery in that space. About a year ago I had heard that New Glarus and Surly were among those showing strong interest in the project. Maybe Surly has an announcement....?

https://www.twincities.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/st-croix-meadows.png

 

Word on the street s that Pitchfork (Hudson) is moving into that spot.

 

Bombers/750's are a dying form of packaging. The vast majority of beer drinkers haven't been purchasing them with any frequency for years. Enough stores have picked up on this, and I think the feed back they're giving breweries through the act of being very selective in carrying this form of packaging is finally being taken to heart. I was talking to the regional Odell rep last week. He said they recently sold their large format bottling line, because they no longer see a market beers in that format. I'm not saying Surly's going to follow suit, but I wouldn't be surprised in the least if they did.

Also, I would gladly welcome year round Darkness in 12oz cans. I'm not a Surly fanboy, nor am I a hater, but that beer is one of the best viscousy, non-adjunct Russian Imperial Stouts out there.

 

Agree, but they are going to take a cut on the profit on the beer. A 4 pack of 12oz is about 2 750s. Now cans are much cheaper than the bottles they use. What could they price that would make you pick some up? $20 a 4 pack is a big cut from what they sold it at even with changing to a cheaper container. $25, $30 a pack not sure if that helps sell the beer. EOM, the price point on it for a Non-BA beer is way too high now days.

 

It should be around the same price as Expedition, FIS, Old Rasputin, etc. Twenty bucks would be the most I would pay, $16-$17 would be ideal. Fargo Brewing's RIS was sold for $10.99 a four pack & flew off the shelves...Will they continue to make as much profit if they continue what they are doing now? I'm seeing Darkness, both BA & regular, still sitting on the shelves of every liquor store I go to around here.

Cheers!

 

Sick brag. BA is nearly impossible to find north of the cities.

 

Lambeau Field FTW!

 

Cashwise liquors in Moorhead had a ton a week ago, Lakes Liquor, in Detroit Lakes, had a shelf full a couple days ago. It's been a couple weeks since I've been to my normal stops in Fargo, but last time I was there they all had BA.

 

Nice. I wouldn't say this is indicative of less demand for BA. It still doesn't last long in the TC metro area and for good reason. One of the few beer benefits of being out-state.

 

Seeing as how Surly increases the amount of Darkness every year and it's likely the 2018 Darkness Day is going to be in Wisconsin, dare I say all that extra Darkness is going in to the Apple River for some epic river tubing?

...Sorry, I've been spending too much time reading up on the Dark Lord thread.

 

Which group is best for variants?

 

http://surlybrewing.com/news/darkness-day-moving-remain-calm/

 

Huh. They're actually doing variants with this new festival. I'm intrigued. I wonder if the variants will be available outside of the festival.

 

I wonder if the variants will be barrel aged....

 

Very well said. But it's very nice to see they are finally doing variants. That gets my attention and I otherwise would have passed on the event altogether.

Also, it wold be nice if they brought in some of those out of state heavy hitters to make the festival more interesting.

 

Any takers for my bottle of Fernet aged Darkness that I'm sure I'll end up with as my variant?

 

What are people's experiences with the non-Darkness Day events that Surly has thrown in the past (e.g. concerts in the field, other fests)? I've only been to a couple of their Day After Surly Fest industry parties, and they have been run really well. The crowds were on the smaller side though so more easy to manage.

I'm actually contemplating going to Darkness Day this year if the crowd is managed in an organized fashion. I really dislike big, unorganized crowds. However, with an actual camp ground and real concert venue I might gather a group and join in if Surly has a track record of putting on events well.

 

I went to the Father John Misty/Tennis Festival Field show last summer and it was very well run. Lines for everything were minimal and getting beer was quick and easy. Considering some of the big headliners they're bringing in this summer for that concert series, they seem to know what they're doing.

 

Absolutely. I loved that stuff on cask!