Surly Darkness 2008

My friend Deuane was clearing out some beers from his cellar and brought of some Surly Darkness, vintage 2008, to share with friends. The beer pours a black color with a tan bubbly head. The aroma consists of chocolate, toasted malts, vanilla, oak, and coffee. The taste is smooth, silky, and chocolaty, mostly consisting of dark chocolate, with vanilla, oak, and caramel flavors mixed in as well. The finish is a little dry with toasted malts and another taste of vanilla and oak. The alcohol content is 10.3% ABV. This beer is home to a flavor profile that is large and in charge on the tongue, but comes with an unmistakable smoothness. The alcohol doesn’t really make its presence knows due to the smoothness, making it really easy to drink.

Goose Island Bourbon County Stout (2008)

My buddy Tim brought a bottle of Goose Island Bourbon County Stout (2008 vintage) with him from New York and we popped it open to share amongst friends. The beer pours a black color with a filmy tan head. The aroma consists of chocolate, vanilla, and lots and lots of bourbon. The taste is smooth and velvety with both milk and dark chocolates. There is a big bourbon accent that warms the throat and a smooth vanilla finish. The after taste is dry and stings with alcohol. The alcohol content is 13.0% ABV. I get what all the hype surrounding this beer is about; it is a wonderful beer that despite the alcohol content and biting bourbon flavors, it remains to be so silky smooth.

East End Gratitude (Green Wax, 2008)

My buddy Cheezer brought over a bottle of East End Gratitude to share with my friends. This bottle was the Green Wax top, circa 2008. The beer pours a caramel color with a thin filmy tan head. The aroma is strong and consists of raisin, caramel, pine hops, maple, and strong hints of alcohol. The taste is smooth like caramel ice cream topping with a strong raisin spice, maple, and fig. The finish has an alcohol pinch to it with and a dry hoppy after taste. Even after the after taste, the caramel lingers on the tongue. The alcohol content is 11.4% ABV. The Gratitude stands as a benchmark for the barleywine category, and I enjoy every version of it. I think my favorite that I’ve had was the 2005 (not reviewed), but I will take any one of the bottles that I can get my hands on.