"Ruined" by Surly Darkness

I don't know. Every time I've had Darkness, I'm just really not blown away by it and this is from a guy who's been to Darkness Day the last two years. It's a well done RIS, for sure and maybe it's dramatically different with age, but I'm a bigger fine of Founders RIS, Ten Fidy, Dark Lord and anything in the Bourbon County series. Hell, I'd even say Smoking Wood is better.

Again, not trying to shit on that beer, but it's a little too big on the hype train.

 

Moat Water and this thread is done, kidding on that, but Moat can't be beat in my opinion.

 

I find Darkness to be so much tastier than Abyss

 

Not exactly apples to apples but have you tried Speedway stout?

Only beer that ever ruined me was PtE & PtY. Then came BCBS RARE. Damn those beers that ruin you!!!

 

I live in MN and prefer the following over Darkness:

Marshall Zhukov
Oskar Blues Ten Fidy

 

Founders Imperial Stout, Expedition Stout, Ten Fidy, and Plead The 5th are very good non-barrel aged, not terribly hard to get stouts. IMO: All are worth trying if you haven't already.

My favorite non-barrel aged stouts (so far) are Surly Darkness, Marshal Zhukov's, and Hunahpu's. They are pretty equal in my opinion. I enjoy Dark Lord as well but not as much as the previous three. My vote for your next "trade for it" beer goes to Marshal Zhukov's. I think it might scratch your Surly Darkness itch. Enjoy your search!

 

I agree completely. Abyss has always been way easier for me to get so I generally have 6-8 of them and usually just drink 1. I don't enjoy it enough to justify drinking it rather than trading it after I put a year of 55 degrees on it.

Edit: Quote isn't working...

 

Darkness > Every other RIS I have ever tired.

 

Uncle jacobs stout. Its parabola on steroids. Also, avery mephitsopheles.

 

Darkness is a good beer, but too sweet for me to drink more than a few ounces. Hoppin Frog Boris is better to me, but don't know if it's in MN.

 

Just got me one of these in trade for a Darkness actually. Going to do a RIS tasting here in a bit once I get some Speedway in a trade. Darkness, Speedway and Huna :-D

Also, agree this most recent Darkness is the best fresh of any of them so far.