(Brooklyn Center, MN) – This was posted on the Surly Brewing website late last week: “That’s right, the first ever cask-conditioned Darkness will be poured this Sunday at the Happy Gnome’s Firkin Fest. The beer is the 2008 darkness that was brewed 3 weeks ago. We have never poured Darkness from the cask, so it will be interesting to see what this beer tastes like this young.”

Darkness gained prestige in the beer world this past fall with the buzz surrounding its release. It arguably overshadowed the Great American Beer Festival and Oktoberfest celebrations. Deservedly so as the beer is currently in the top ten overall beer rankings at the two major beer sites.

The posting also added: “Oh yeah, Tea-Bagged Furious and Oak-Aged Bender also.” The Tea-Bagged Furious was recently crowned Champion at the 2008 Real Ale Festival in Chicago. Others breweries on the 50 taps at the fest include Russian River, Bell’s, and Victory among others.