“…Its all for you Damien…” – Holly (played by Holly Palance), in “Omen”, a cult classic horror movie released in 1976.
With Darkness Day fast approaching (Sept. 27-28, Somerset WI, tickets available here), it also heralds the annual arrival of the son of Darkness, ruling at its side with a black heart and dark energy all its own.
In the unspeakable depths of the Surly brewhouse, shrouded in ritual and ceremony, the beer known as Damien rises from the second runnings of the original Darkness wort. This Old World technique births a new, different beer, lighter in profile than its pitch black forebear while still being a new, flavorful beast. Surly Brewing anointed this medium-bodied American black ale with a touch of black malt and generous dry-hopping, resulting in roasty flavor notes of brown sugar, chocolate, and coffee, along with a satisfying pop of tangerine/pine aromatics.
Damien is all for you, and it’s available to U.S. Surly markets. Gregory Peck* was unavailable for comment…
Here is wisdom:
- Hops: Warrior (bittering), Willamette, Glacier, Chinook (dry hop)
- Malts: Pale, Golden Promise, Aromatic, Chocolate, Black, Med. Crystal, Special B, Roasted Barley, Oats
- Bitterness: Low
- ABV: 6.5%
- Pour: Not quite Darkness-dark, but still plenty dark
*For you humans who have not seen the movie Omen, Gregory Peck played Robert Thorn, Damien’s human “father.”
Terry Bunch
