For some time now, I think about the last decade and a half in beer and some of the best parties ever and realize the golden era is behind us. A smashing time is still had, but you quietly compare your real time experience to the apex mountain version of that event the more times you go.
In the case of DLD the relaxed, more subdued version of the world’s greatest bottle share is actually a welcomed revelation. I strolled right the fuck up at the 9A open and got a double pour of the Handjee/ Chemtrail fusion called XX Anniversary Dark Lord.
Stumbled upon a 2024 variant not bottled at all – Egregious Philbin ( BA DL w Cherries & Vanilla). Got lost in how rye barrels completely transforms OG DL. Keyrock (rye barrel aged DL 2020) was my 2nd favourite stout pour of the day.
Chemtrail and Keyrock almost taste like a whole other recipe compared other variants (this is my own little rye barrel theory).
Hurricana is an ode to the New Orleans Frozen Hurricane and a reminder that if big, tart Sour Patch Kid style wild ales are your thing these boys fuck very hard in that category.
Aside from seeing pals we’ve known for years, most surprising bit of joy came in the form of Jinx Proof lager …and Blood Orange Gumballhead.
Kinda hope this party never goes away. It’s a national event in a town that borders a Chicago south suburb. There were beers on draft representing 16 different states and 3 countries, mate.
Much like Local Option back home near DePaul, you can always count on Dark Lord Day putting you on to a very righteous brewery you’ve never heard of before.
—Nkosi
Other Notes:
-20yrs is an insane feat. To properly nerd out on the complete history of Dark Lord Day, I highly recommend this Beer Advocate thread.
-There’s a groundswell of support from staff and partygoers alike crowning Secret Sword of Jovan as best variant this year. 2yrs in bourbon barrels then finished in port wine barrels w cherries.
–We sat next to the sweetest couple that kept opening heater after heater. Come to find out they were the parents of a brewer at Urban Chestnut. They would gift their son to tickets to DLD annually and that’s how he it got into beer.
-All the guest DLD breweries I’ve literally never heard of.
-Anspach & Hobday- London, UK
-Commonwealth Brewing – Virginia Beach, VA
-Ardent Craft Ales – Richmond, VA
-Beer Zombies Brewing- Las Vegas , NV
-Mortalis Brewing Company – Avon, NY
-Northern Monk, Leeds
-Pax Verum Brewing, St Lapel, IN
-Radiant Beer Co. Anaheim, CA
-Hold Out Brewing – Austin, TX
-Shred Beer Company-Richland, CA
-Seven Island Brewery- Corfu, Greece
-Fort George – Astoria, OR
-Soneyard Beer, Bend, OR
-Wake Brewing- Rock Island, IL
-Living Haus Beer Co. – Portland, OR
