Surly Brewing Company Darkness 2013

__Aroma:__ “Huge barrel characters of roasted coconut, vanilla, dark chocolate, and a rich, woody, bourbon, and fruity character that almost comes off vinous. Some raisin and plum emerge as it warms, with some rum-like sweetness.” __Flavor:__ “Intense barrel flavors, with strong vanilla, coconut, bourbon, and light roasted almond. The beer has heft but doesn’t sit too heavily on the tongue. Really nice creaminess rounds it out. Very complex beer with a lingering malt character of chocolate and rum.” __Overall:__ “An excellent coupling of beer and barrel. The barrel flavors heighten the beer, and the beer flavors accentuate the barrel. The sweetness is nicely balanced with the roast and charred oak. Great harmony between the fruity esters and the bourbon/rum character sweetness. Fantastic complex beer that really shines as it warms, inviting another sip.”

**Aroma:** “Pumpernickel biscuit, with rising bread dough yeast notes. Dates and bright stone fruit up front, with slightly hot-ferment aromas and booze coming in at the back. The medium-low roast is evident, with an ever-slight chocolate and malt sweetness.” **Flavor:** “This beer is a nice balance between dark, sweet chocolate, and roasted malt. It has a rich toasted bread-crust character, malty roast, and tobacco leaves. Slightly earthy hops are present on the sides of the tongue, with small alcohol warmth at the back, and a lingering roast astringency. Some backend fruity esters emerge as it warms. A nice body carries the beer well, and the carbonation is spot on.” **Overall:** “An incredible, complex malt profile that challenges the senses but is still delightful to drink, and overall a good beer that has some complexity throughout. It’s woody, cinnamon, earthy, and roasty, with tobacco—like chewing a cigar while eating a chocolate-covered raisin.”

Aroma: “Rich malty base: toffee, caramel, roast/coffee, raisin, dates, milk chocolate, raspberry, toasted marshmallow, and fig. A roasty sharpness cuts through the sweetness.” Flavor: “Raspberry and milk chocolate with some sweet dark cherry and clean roast. Rich and thick body with a fairly dry finish and a slight ethanol burn. Hops bitterness is there, but well hidden to just provide balance. Some lingering bitterness.” Overall: “This is a well-balanced imperial stout on the sweeter side. Lots of fruit notes and dark chocolate as well as caramel come out throughout this beer. Not a lot of those pesky hops to bother you either. Would serve warmer rather than colder.”