Surly Darkness

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

Serve in Snifter

Darkness ’08 and Darkness ’09 side by side. Thanks Brian and Chris! A- Body is a thick, dark, almost black hue. Pours with a small foamy off white head which dissolves to a thin collar and leaves traces of lacing behind in the glass. S-Earthy hops, a hint of alcohol, a hint of cocoa and roasted malt, and anise. Decent balance and slightly mild. T- There is a faint herbal/earthy hop accent initially with a mild roasted malt backbone. Chocolate and anise flavors come rushing through for the finish and are more prominent than the initial flavors. Mild impressions of the initial flavor linger. P- low carbonation with a syrupy medium to heavy weight body that is slightly thin. O- Overall- I REALLY like this beer. Its very good overall. The ’08 and the ’09 were very similar in overall profiles so I didn’t comment on individual differences because I noticed few, if any. I’d still like to try this beer fresh when the hoppy notes tend to really shine. ABV was pretty well hidden here as well. Serving type: bottle Reviewed on: 05-26-2010 14:22:41

Taste thanks to cpetrone84 and Sara! Bottle thanks to kmurray8621 (BA)!
Dark brown with a bubbly, rich ran head. Nice, balanced nose, the most dominant element being a sugary chocolate sweetness. The hops draw out the sweetness in contrast, making the nose lightly syrupy, but the roasted malt and anise help balance. The flavor is equally interesting, light chocolate and anise with an oaty malt through the lightly hoppy finish, many flavors rolling around in the generally, if partially overdone, sweetness. Chewy body tops it off. Decadent stuff, possibly over-sweet, but on the whole delicately balanced and intriguingly complex even if none of the elements is that unique.

2009 Bottle from trade from Hayesez (thanks Erik, awesome trader!) A-an aggressive pour produces huge espresso colored head that is extremely thick and creamy. the retention is very good and it completely coats the glass as it slowly works down the glass. the beer is just one shade from pitch black and lets a hint of a red hue through with a maglite shined on it. very attractive beer! S-the nose is average in strength. there is a light aroma of chocolate, molasses and tobacco that is taken over by the smell of sweet dark fruits. there is some dark cherries and raisins. the end brings a fair amount of hops, it actually has quite a hop profile. mostly citrusy hops T/M-this is extremely thick, creamy, and chewy, very good feel. the body is quite full as it rolls down the throat. the taste is quite nice and bold. it brings dark chocolate up front, the dark cherry and raisins come in to complement the chocolate, some citrus hops and light bitterness fade in at the finish. D-this is extremely drinkable and very tasty. great feel and so creamy. it has bold flavors in the taste and really shows no presence of alcohol. ***** Review of the 2008 and 2009 side by side 2008 A-pours jet black liquid with dark tan colored head S-the nose is nice, molasses up front, notes of dark chocolate, caramel and toffee undertones. the back has some fruity sweetness, raisins and cherries with notes of booze. still a faint citrus hop note, can’t be but seems to be. T-the taste is quite sweet, not a ton of roasted malts happening here. a good bit of molasses, notes of anise and dark chocolate. lots of sweetness in the back, cherries, plums, touch of raisin. hops aren’t really present here. M-full body, just a little thin, but so smooth and creamy, low carbonation but tight to hold the body. silky on the throat. D-quite sweet but ever so smooth. one of the best feels on beer you can imagine. booze is gone, just present in nose, none in the taste. 2009 is pretty much the same with more hop profile in the taste. hasn’t really evolved in a year.

Dear After4ever/Tom, thank you so much for providing this wonderful beer for my rating 6666, one of many black pearls from you, my dear friend – and 6666 is the female equivalent to the male 10.000!!! Women are suggested not to drink more than 14 units per week and men 21, and all though I’m no good with figures, I’m quite sure, that I did figure this matter of fact out in the right way ;) - it’s female logic at it’s best, right?? It’s pitch black, and the head is huge, creamy and lasting, at first dark brown at the bottom and lighter towards the top, gradually all of it becomes nougat-colored. The aroma is complex with notes of roasted malt, berries and very light berry sourness, prunes and other dark/preserved fruits, chocolate, light cheese and licorice. The mouthfeel is fat and oily. The flavour has a moderate sweetness and a very light berry-acidity like in cherries, notes of berries, roasted malt, chocolate, preserved dark fruits, light dry citrus (mostly grapefruit) and in the finish licorice, but towards the very slightly dry and bitter end, I also find a hint of coffee. A very complex and nice beer!

Bottle. Pitch dark, lovely cocoa head. Silky smooth, caffe latte with a nice bitter edge underneath. O´boy chocolate milk. Nice, but I don’t put this in the very top league. A little alcohol warming.

Bottle @ UDRM. Thanks to Joes. The aroma is quite fruity with black currants and cherries. Black coloured beer with a brown head. The taste is quite bready and has sweetness, some chocolate, oat, cherrypits, pudding. There is a lot of sugar/molasses sweetness , which is no good to the beer. Really good taste sensations there, but the sweetness destroys it. It didn’t live up to my expectations unfortunately.

November 2009: 750 ml bottle; 2009 vintage again; thanks Scrizzzz; nice to get at this one again; big chocolate colored head with aromas of brown sugar, bready malts, roast, molasses and chocolate; thin texture is almost oily on the teeth; chocolate, spicy hops, nutmeg and oatmeal; some orange peel too; not nearly as sweet as I remember from a few months before; rich coffee and chocolate; smooth drinking with lots of creamy roast; pretty dope overall; thanks Clint!!

March 2009: 750 ml bottle; 2009 vintage I think; jet black with trace tan head; thick,, super sweet nose of bakers chocolate and strong coffee; dark fruits with spicy hops and slight alcohol bite; more syrupy than I remember and hard to drink more than a few ounces; need to revisit

Original Rating (12/30/08 - 4.1) - 750 ml bottle; 2008 vintage; huge thanks to BrewCzar for cracking this open while in town; jet black with thin chocolate colored head; aromas mainly of chocolate, dank fruit, mild licorice and plenty of sweetness; don’t get much of the hops that i’ve read so much about; dry, roasty, thin body going down; very nice a drinkable; not overly aggressive in any way and just a delight to the last drop; need to revisit w/ a another bottle for sure

Had this one @ Unofficial Dutch Ratebeer Meeting. Black colored brew. Roasted, malty aroma. Chocolate. Flavor is chocolate too, thick, smooth, very malty, some hops, very sweet, raison.