Surly Double Vanilla Darkness 2020

Surly Double Vanilla Darkness 2020.

12 % ABV. Surly Brewing, Minneapolis/Brooklyn Center, MN. 

Variant #2 of three. Double Vanilla Darkness. Rye Barrel Russian Imperial Stout with Cacao and Vanilla Beans. Another can in a box. I'm liking this approach. I mean, it could be just a can. Is the box the new wax-dipping? 

Absolutely ebony, under a rich, roasted brown cap of foam. Complete opacity. 

In the nose: Sweet vanilla notes at first. Cocoa below. Beautiful. Slowly, the other flavors of Darkness unfold, the molasses, anise, dark fruits, tobacco, smoke.

In the mouth: Big and rich, but well tempered. Nicely balanced, not too sweet. Incredible deployment of flavors. Deep, vast, cavernous. Much mocha, devastating dark malts, mounds of chocolate and vanilla in balance and at play upon the palate. This is a truly treated Imperial Stout, and I must say that I admire Surly's reluctance to utilize the hip, trendy appellation of "pastry stout", and I deeply hope they never do. Or make a marshmallow variant. Thank you, Surly, thank you. 

Everything is working here, and at last, almost halfway in, the booze is starting to show. Everything is getting warmer, rounder, fuller, more intense, more epic. Am I getting any of the rye barrel character? Some. Not sure. What sets it apart from the addition of the vanilla and cacao nibs? I'm getting some whiskey barrel flavors, but not sure what sets rye apart from bourbon. (Oh, I know, but I never stop wondering. Once again, remember, that the Bitter Nib is that blog that does not flaunt it's expertise, but instead never stops pondering the big questions.)

As it is, it's damned delicious, this is. Even, as I've said before, yum a dum dum. 

Earthy, coffee, rich and sweet, cocoa, vanilla, ...and wow. As if Darkness couldn't be improved upon, here is that proof. 

Darkness already has inherent notes of baker’s chocolate and dark fruit–making it the perfect candidate for a double dose of aromatic vanilla. Double Vanilla Darkness features rich cacao flavor, sweet vanilla, and a honeyed character from aging in spirit barrels that were previous used to age rye whiskey.