Darkness Day is easily one of the top beer events in America, celebrating the release of Surly Brewing Co.‘s shadowy Russian imperial stout. The event started in the mid-2000s, when the Minnesota craft brewery decided to create a unique event for the release of its Darkness stout, which has earned a reputation for its rich flavor, high alcohol content, cool collabs and unique variants. Also, the release party is totally kick-ass. Killer bands shred. Vintage Darkness experiments are tapped. Folks are getting tattoos. There’s a lot of fire. The art and decor are campy and creepy. Records and posters are being sold. There’s something called barbarian food. If it’s kind of hard to conjure in your head, Surly has kindly produced an excellent video showcasing the 2023 Darkness Day event, which happened like a month ago.
From the YouTube page:
Some out-of-towners visited Surly on Darkness Day “for a quiet beer” before the Michigan-Minnesota football game. As one of them told us a few hours later, “This is the best mistake I ever made.” See for yourself, and we’ll see you in 2024.
Darkness Day has really turned into a community gathering, where fans of Surly and craft beer can enjoy good people, food, music and art. The event is really a testament to the influence a single beer can still have in creating a vibrant community tradition. It reflects the passion of Surly Brewing Co. for craft beer and their commitment to creating unique experiences for their fans. As the craft beer industry continues to evolve in strange and sometimes scary directions, it’s always comforting to know Darkness Day still remains a significant event eagerly anticipated by enthusiasts each year.
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