I know 2014 was a bit different and 2015 offered a BA variant. Other than those examples, has each Darkness release been the same? I hear users talk about their favorites, is that because of the aging process?
I think they claim it is the same recipe. It's hard to say, conclusively. I swear that (even fresh) 2012 was damn near a different beer altogether.
In theory they should be the same. In practice they will be slightly different due to a few reasons. Fermentation is the biggest one. The brewer works for the yeast; the yeast doesn't work for the brewer. Thus, variations in fermentatin will happen even for the most seasoned brewers. These variations may effect the final product. Second, slight recipe variation can occur from batch to batch for a couple reasons: the brewer might make changes in hopes to improve the final beer, or due to ingrediant availability. My somewhat educated guess is that Surly has access to the ingerdiants they need, and has no reason to change the recipe (it's a great beer). They also most likely make enough batches of Darkness that blending them together will negate most of the fermentation variations. Thus, the difference between batchs/years is almost entirely drinker preception. Our mood, the weather, what we have ate or drank before have a great effect on the taste of the beer we drink.
So when you see Surly events that have older versions on tap, they pulled out old kegs? How do they still have a bunch of old kegs lying around? I think I've seen some events with 2012-2015 on tap, if you could only choose one, which would you choose?
2015 is the best it's been fresh for me since 2011. I used to think they alternated between even years with a sweeter, more choclatey beer and odd years with more hoppy/tobacco flavors but they've steered away from that, I think. 2013 was very similar to 2012, but 2011 had those flavors. 2010 is often a favorite among my friends and in my opinion had a simpler, sweeter and chocolatier taste to it that has changed less over time, though it's held up well.
Out of those, 2015. I tend to lean toward liking Darkness best fresh, but I think 2012 is bordering on gross (Dark Lord style) and did not care for 2014. 2013 is tasty, too.
It really all must depend on the person. Excluding the barrel aged versions, 2012 was my absolute favorite by FAR. I've had a couple small pours of Dark Lord and don't see the similarity. I guess tonight will be another trial, as I'll be cracking a 2010 for the first time.
Every single bottle of 2014 Darkness was barrel aged. The recipe may not have changed but its always varied a bit because of ingredient variants and the fact they only brew it once a year so its harder to get it consistent (per Todd on a recent podcast). The regular 2015 is the best to date IMHO. BA version even better. I don't like hoppy RISs so take that into consideration.
This has been so confusing to me lately. So, as of a few weeks ago I thought all 2014 was barrel-aged. Well MOST, as most kegs that came to Iowa were apparently not the BA version. But then a few weeks ago I read/was told that the 2014 bottles were "barrel aged" but like, not for very long or something and shouldn't be truly considered barrel-aged. I don't know anymore.
All 2014 bottles were "stored" in 3rd use barrels for a couple of months. This was done since they didn't have tank space for it. I would consider them barrel age though, but due to them being 3rd use barrels and in for a short time, it just picked up less barrel characteristic. As for the kegs, from what I heard, they brewed a batch just for kegs that never saw any barrels. Basically, 14 was different out of necessity and growing pains.
Thank you...makes sense. So this year's BA version is truly and purposely barrel-aged, for the first time (and likely a year or so).
This year it was definitely purposefull and one can easily distinguish between 15 Darkness and 15 BA Darkness. They were 2nd use barrels but the time was fairly limited. I heard "months." Even though only months, there is definitely a "hot" bourbon component to the beer.
2015 barrel aged Darkness was in 1st use High West barrels for 3 months, same amount of time as last year but in 2nd and 3rd use barrels and blended.
First use depends on definition. Often times first use is referred to the aging of bourbon or liquor, 2nd use would be the next encounter and so on.
I recall reading over the years (I'm not going to go digging for proof) that Todd/Surly did regularly mess with the recipe the first few years of creating Darkness. And I have no doubt that they did. 2007 was one of the most beautiful beers ever created, while 2008 was a sugary, sweet, Dark-Lord style mess. 2009 was a hop bomb fresh & is still one of my favorites. My memory is a little hazy after that, but there was another sweet one & another (2011?) that I didn't like at all, tasted like a glorified porter. 2014/2015 are, to me, the two most consistent year back-to-back that Surly has produced & thankfully they're both glorious. I hope they stick with this formula!
Had 2015 at the brewery yesterday and was disappointed. Loved the 2013, which I had fresh too, this year's had way too much cherry/anise/something to me that took away from it. 2013 was probably my favorite RIS that I have had.
