Is this normal? This is at a friar tucks in Illinois. I know they just got surely distro, but thought Darknes was a brewery only beer.
Nah, it hits distro and seemed easier than ever to get this year. For the price shown in your picture I'd grab 3 or 4 bottles. It's usually around $20 here in Wisconsin.
It's been available through distro for years. 3 or 4 years ago, I purchased 15 or so bombers at my local beer store in Mankato (80 miles from the brewery). The BA version is also available through distro, at least in Minnesota. Omar wants to take over the beer world (good for him), and expanding distro outside of Minnesota for beers like Darkness will help in that quest.
$16 is a steal. Going for $25 in Central Wisco. I prefer the 2016 vintage over 2017 -- still a decent non-BA RIS.
It's not that limited of a beer, but that's a great price. I've never seen it below $20, it's a really good beer I'd pick up 2-3.
I found some at a local liquor store, just sitting on the shelf. as I browsed the shelves a little more I found 2 cases of the stuff just sitting out. I always thought this stuff was hard to get. I'm in Illinois. I think they just upped their distribution to this region. I'm seeing Surly beer all over the place. I even see some of their more common beers at the grocery store.
OP, It looks like you went to the same store I went to. The Darkness was right next to the Alaskan Porter, and the Black IPA. Were you at the Friar Tucks in Edwardsville by chance?
At least in MN, this might be the first year that Darkness sits on the shelves for a while. In previous years, it's been gone in places near a population center within a day, though there were some hidden spots & exburbs/rural spots that had it a bit longer. Surly released some 2016 Darkness several weeks back & it sat/is still sitting at some places. And 2017 is moving far, far slower than any previous year. Too much competition, I suspect, for one more $20 bomber that's not barrel aged. Let's hope for 16 oz. cans in 2018!
I picked up a bottle at friar tuck in central IL. probably should have grabbed at least 2. HyVee also had bottles of 2017 Darkness.
Baba Yaga (https://www.google.com/search?q=Bab...zMHXAhVE2yYKHTYfAaoQ_AUICigB&biw=1366&bih=651) looks on point. Maybe one day I'll get to try it.
We miss Surly after our move from MN to WA. BUT, we brought a '16 Darkness with us. In the beer fridge, just waiting for the right moment.
Thanks a bunch! If we look hard enough, I think we could maybe find some beer in Portland, Bend, or thereabouts to ease the pain.
Exactly! First problem was the untimely discovery and release of a bunch of 2016 a few weeks before the 2017 release. A few folks snapped up some 2016, but most waited for 2017. Second problem is that there are now too many other easier to get and cheaper competitors. We've still got a lot of 2016 and 2017 sitting on shelves, and probably will for weeks. I'm not a huge fan of regular Darkness, but I'm ready to jump on some BA Darkness when it releases in February.
