Darkness in Madison

My sources said next week.

 

Should drop this week. Would imagine most stores are doing what they usually do for limited releases.

 

As of Friday last week, the manager at the Eastside Woodman's also said that it would arrive this week. He didn't know the exact date that it would hit distribution in our market, but he mention that quantities would be limited. Shocking, right?

 

Just picked up a barrel-aged Darkness at woodmans east. One bottle limit

 

Woodmans West has regular. BA already gone.

 

Damn. Was by Woodman's West around 10:30-11 but didn't think to check here or stop. How much of the regular did they have left?

 

Woodman's East has about a case of regular. $19.99 per bottle.

Called HyVee East and they are in a similar situation - about a case left (only had two cases to start, no BA there), and priced at $22.99

 

Looked like there were still 2 cases of regular at 12:30.

 

I was able to pick up a bottle of regular and BA at JSt. Pretty sure they got a case of each.

 

J.St sold out

 

Fitchburg HyVee sold out.

Woodman's West looked near sold out, but I got a single bottle there. They do have some Zombie Dust right now, too, though.

 

Work and all that, so I missed out completely. Oh well. Tasting notes, anyone?

 

I got a regular at Trixies and a regular at Woodmans East. Probably missed Jennifer St. and barrel aged by just a few minutes. Me and the family were actually going into Woodmans to shop anyway but we were slow getting going so that probably cost me at Jenny St. Oh well.......

No tasting notes yet. I know that in other times I have had Darkness I enjoy it more with 1-2 years on it. I have a bottle of barrel aged from last year that I haven't drank yet.

 

If you like hoppy stouts, you should enjoy it.

For me, not a fan of it fresh. The hops are just too much upfront for me and I feel it distracts from the rest of the beer. I don't remember 12, 14 or 14 having that much hop kick. I am interested to see what it taste like after the hops fade some. Recently really enjoyed an 09 thru 14.

 

Got a BAD at Steves UAve today. I don't think Whole Foods had any for sale today, so maybe tomorrow or the next day.

 

Riley's and Steve's Junction still haven't done their lottos yet, so there's still a chance.

 

Re: Riley's Lottery- "You're telling me there's a chance? YEAH!"

I really need to make it out to Steve's Junction more often. That store is definitely passing the other Steve's as far as beer is concerned.

Hmm. The only time I've had Darkness fresh was 2013. I did like it, it is certainly hoppy. I thought 2012 with a year on it was excellent. So maybe it's worth trading for this year's further down the line.

The BA version is another story. Who knows?

 

Thursday at whole foods.

 

For what it is worth, I enjoyed 2013 fresh, though I enjoyed it more with a year on it. I have had regular 2015 3 times now, once at Darkness Day (but I don't think it counts; out of a plastic cup, it never really warmed up and at that point I wasn't really into drinking anymore beer), from the bottle and yesterday at Surly. I don't plan on seeking it out on tap anymore and won't be opening any bottles for a bit. On the flip side, some of my friends absolutely love it fresh.