663419 Thu Oct 29 19:39:34 -0700 2009 21 8 Midwest 0 5141900 Any tips on restaurants still serving Surly Darkness on tap? Jeff Vadnais Heights Thu Oct 29 19:39:35 -0700 2009 1120281 jgrann 1 5141986 The happy gnome the muddy pig any of the bulldog options would be a likely option blue door I just had two at the gnome last night Thu Oct 29 20:50:50 -0700 2009 5141900 1118836 eburke91 2 5144476 Is Surly Darkness different from Surly Bender? If so, how does Surly Darkness compare to Furious? I've had Furious, Cynic and Bitter Brewer and Bender. IMO, Cynic and Bitter Brewer are nothing special, but I love Furious and like Bender. Fri Oct 30 20:49:02 -0700 2009 5141986 27956 JimGrinsfelder 3 5144767 Oh, yes, Jim, Darkness is very very different from any of the beers you mentioned. It is an imperial stout, which means it's waaay darker, waaay maltier, and waaay stronger than, say, Bender. Think of a can of WD-40 (appearance, not taste thank goodness) and you'll be in the ballpark. Sat Oct 31 06:28:36 -0700 2009 5144476 149892 mtullius 3 5145010 darkness was considered the best beer in the world a few years ago it's a seasonal-- usually comes out right around halloween. last year an unfortunate occurrence, i believe the entire batch, or most of it, went hi-grav to the point where it couldn't be sold. so we drank it all at a private 1st ave party. darkness is one of the best things to come out of our region, and it's the reason people in other areas of the country know about surly brewery. obviously, there tends to be a run on darkness when it comes out-- get it while you can, don't delay. oh, and it's strong, as MTullis mentions, so you should savor a pint with a meal, and like. . . not after having a few cognacs, or anything like that. drive safe, call a cab & all that :) Sat Oct 31 09:04:27 -0700 2009 5144476 46030 soupkitten 1 5142379 Yup, I just had a glass of Darkness at the Happy Gnome yesterday. They also have a brand new Minnesota (Minneapolis) brew on tap- Fulton's, that, if you are interested in supporting local craft beer, you should try. It's an IPA, more or less. The food yesterday at the Happy Gnome was better than I remembered. I usually find that the execution is not very good there, but I actually enjoyed my wild mushroom orichiette - nice and earthy, pasta was cooked appropriately. We had the green bean appetizer - yummy gingery sauce. I never want to go the the Gnome cos of the food not being that great, but if they keep this up, I'll be happier. Cos the beer selection- it's great! And of course, the Darkness was great! I enjoy this year's better than last year's incarnation- a little drier, nice finish. Fri Oct 30 05:53:07 -0700 2009 5141900 81144 turtlebella 2 5142382 software really really wants to link to places that I don't want linked to! Tried "removing" to no avail, sorry! Guess we can't talk about the beans that are green without a link to a restaurant called that.....sorry Fri Oct 30 05:55:57 -0700 2009 5142379 81144 turtlebella 2 5144088 I have given up on food at the happy gnome. I'm within walking distance to the place and I want to love the food, but I just can't. Much of it sounds great on paper, but just fails in execution. I will say (and I preface this with admitting I'm no connoisseur), but I absolutely love their wings. I rarely ever eat wings, but for some reason their version does it for me if I'm in the mood for bar food. Fri Oct 30 16:39:08 -0700 2009 5142379 1118836 eburke91 1 5142625 Places I would try (probably by calling to check), besides the aforementioned: Black Sheep, Stub and Herb's, Common Roots Cafe, Triple Rock The MplsBikeLove forum has a thread devoted to Surly (beer, but also Surly bikes) that's kept fairly well up-to-date. It's on the "Blah Blah Blah" section, title of the thread is "Let's Get Surly". http://www.mplsbikelove.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=4 Fri Oct 30 07:40:09 -0700 2009 5141900 11110 MSPD 1 5143391 Probably Cafe 28. Their is a Surly connection there - wife runs the resto and husband works at Surly - not positive about it that though. Fri Oct 30 11:31:45 -0700 2009 5141900 149048 babaoriley7 2 5145901 Yes, Cafe Twenty Eight does have Surly Darkness on tap. http://cafetwentyeight.com/beer/draft Sat Oct 31 18:05:40 -0700 2009 5143391 10516 MplsM ary 1 5143668 Buster's on 28th should be getting one keg of it within the next week, according to the bartender when I was there on Wednesday. And I can verify that the Uptown Bulldog does NOT have it, as of yesterday evening. They only have Two Hearted, the Brown Ale, and the Expedition Stout. Fri Oct 30 13:23:49 -0700 2009 5141900 1087901 magz0r 1 5143735 BeWiched has Surly Darkness on tap. I saw it there today, and, remembering this thread, asked at the counter to confirm that they actually have it. (They do.) Fri Oct 30 13:46:57 -0700 2009 5141900 1103740 chrismpls 1 5143793 Just had one at Grumpy's Downtown. Additionally, last year Mac's, Bulldog NE, and Grumpy's NE all had it. Fri Oct 30 14:11:12 -0700 2009 5141900 59069 Foureyes137 1 5144726 Thanks all for the tips. I got a pint last night at 3 squares in Maple Grove for $9 a pint. They had only one keg, so it's probably gone now. Jeff Sat Oct 31 05:44:10 -0700 2009 5141900 1120281 jgrann 1 5145065 NE Grumpy's has it on tap. Sat Oct 31 09:32:47 -0700 2009 5141900 59069 Foureyes137 2 5145114 The roommate and I each scored a 6-pack for 20 $ a bottle last week on Darkness Day.Waited in line for almost 8 hours. Well worth it though. By far the best beer I have ever had. I rate it ahead of Dark Lord which is saying a lot. Be warned though this is about as thick a beer as they come. Saved 4 bottles for Halloween.....gonna be a fun one tonight. Sat Oct 31 10:00:49 -0700 2009 5145065 1082716 Fudist 2 5145248 but dt grumpy's doesn't have it-- or didn't last week. no fair. Sat Oct 31 11:21:02 -0700 2009 5145065 46030 soupkitten 3 5145645 They had it yesterday at both Grumpy's. I drank it. It was Darkness. Yes, I went to both Grumpy's on the same day...I have no shame (and we have visitors in town). Sat Oct 31 15:20:50 -0700 2009 5145248 59069 Foureyes137 4 5145723 *doh!* i must've been there a day early. i see darkness in my future. darkness and tater tots. Sat Oct 31 16:15:29 -0700 2009 5145645 46030 soupkitten 1 5145336 Groveland Tap may also have it. Sat Oct 31 12:22:43 -0700 2009 5141900 1082716 Fudist 1 5146442 Be'Wiched has it. Or at least I could see a sign for it as we waited for valet at Lagrassa last night. Sun Nov 01 05:59:28 -0800 2009 5141900 59069 Foureyes137