Surly Darkness

Brewed by Surly Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Brooklyn Center, Minnesota USA

Serve in Snifter

On tap. Black in color with a small tan head. Aroma is roasted malts with a small hop presence. Less hop presence than in last years vintage. Chocolate, dark fruit aromas. Taste is raisins, chocolate, with a small warming feeling from the alcohol. Silky mouthfeel. I liked the hop presence from last year, but overall this is just as good as years past.

On tap in Minneapolis. Comes a very, very dark brown with decent brown head. Aroma of roasted malt, dark fruit, molasses, toffee and chocolate. Tastes similar to the aroma but with a hop kick. Some alcohol in the taste. Excellent.

Aroma: Bit heavy on the hops Appearance: I could immediately tell looking at this beer that it was a hardcore imperial stout. Like the foam on used motor oil. Taste: Chocolate but heavy hop piney/grapefruity flavor. coffee on the end. Palate: Well balanced imperial stout which helps to hide the 10% alcohol. Could be devastating as the darkness starts to settle in on your psyche. Overall: I am more than pleased to live in twin cities area so that I have ready access to this succulent autumn treat!

This is a fun drink. Pours dark and handsome. Flavor is moderately complex. I just love drinking this beer. Had my first taste of it directly from the tank in the brewery. Nice work Surly!

Bottle 08 red wax version. Opened on Darkness day at home (wish i was there!), shared amongst those who appreciate the dark ones. Pours the darkest red hue I’ve had in a beer, minimal head. The nose is amazing, layers of complexity, toffee and chocolate, so many sweeter notes than what I had expected from a traditional RIS. The palate is super sweet! I thought I was crossed into a sweet stout at first, but the finish was so clean for a near 10% offering. The sweetness is certainly coming from the raisins I’m getting in the finish. As great as this was, I want to see what another year will do.

750 ml bottle at home. Incredibly dark -- opaque and almost black (though it’s technically still dark brown). These might be the darkest bubbles I’ve ever seen -- a beautiful chocolate brown and nice and dense, too. Not much head clinging to the side of the glass. Aroma comes out pretty well, though it’s not as aromatic as I hoped for. I can smell some oily coffee, dark chocolate, cherries, and toffee, as well as some earth hops. Points for being unique -- there’s more complexity here beyond the typical coffee/chocolate flavors. Pretty nice on the palate, though I think the hops take away from the stickiness I want. It’s nice for the fall transition into winter, but this body won’t do in colder times when I want something to make me feel super warm. Taste is good, too -- flavors similar to the aroma, as well as some toffee, too. Good complexity here -- I really like this beer, but for the price it’s a bit disappointing.

09 wax top-750ml bottle @Jimmack Invitational–pours a tan ring for a head and black color. Aroma is molasses-dark malt. Taste is rich molasses-dark malt, earthy/biting hops.

2008 vintage bottle Thanks to TheBeerSommelier for my 1,200th rating! Darkness pours a semi thick black with a 1 finger solid tan head which falls to a very thin lacing. I expected a darker pour given the name, but oh well.... wasn’t quite the sludge that I expected.... but not a bad thing. big roasted malt nose with some layers of licorice, dark fruit and chocolate. Very sweet over the tongue with lots of dark fruit notes including cherry, plum, raisin and red grapes. Really great flavors throughout - not overly sweet - but intense for an Imperial Stout.... definitely over the top in the levels of complexity. Huge thick body - like chewing some chocolate oatmeal with cherries on top. Somewhat slick with a smooth character. Dark fruit, chocolate, coffee and sweet sugary finish that delivers a true desert in a bottle.