Surly Barrel-aged Darkness 2016

Surly Barrel-aged Darkness 2016. 12 % ABV. Surly Brewing Company, Minneapolis/Brooklyn Center, MN.

I've been watched the snowfall all day long. Even went out into it myself, for a while. Glad that I am not obliged to shovel any sidewalks, driveways, or wheel wells. It's as good a time as any to break out one of these.

Inky dark, completely opaque, rich tan head on top, lasting long.

In the nose: Oak. Vanilla. Char. Molasses. Smoke. Chocolate-covered cherries. So much more.

In the mouth: Wow. Rich and luxurious. Thick, slick, and delicious. Coats the palate with bourbon-y flavors. Alcohol comes roaming on in. Vast and glorious. Tremendously stupendous. Coated and covered with all the big, bourbon flavors, and all the gigantic imperial stout goodness. Whoa. Whoa, whoa, whoa.

This is a bottle I managed to hang on to for about 2 years or so. Sort of wished I'd held on to it longer. No idea when or if I'll ever see another one.

Barrel-aged Darkness is indeed a wonderful thing of beauty.

This massive Russian Imperial Stout brings waves of flavors; chocolate, cherries, raisins, coffee, and toffee. Barrel-Aged Darkness is a limited edition variant that spent over three months aging in Rye Whiskey barrels from High West, a distillery in Park City, Utah. The aging process provides a distinct aromatic whiskey character that is oaky and spicy on top of the core Darkness flavors.

BARREL-AGED RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT
COLOR
Black

HOPS
Warrior
Amarillo
Simcoe
MALT
Pale
Golden Promise
Aromatic
Chocolate
Black
Special B
Medium Crystal; Roasted Barley
Flaked Oats
Belgian Candy Syrup
Brewers Crystals
OG
29° Plato
YEAST
English Ale
IBU
Moderate
ABV
12%

SURLY MN USA