Rewind the cold beer time machine just five years and you’ll discover only a handful of iconic beer events that have withstood the test of time. Even still, these OGs of craft beer events probably look a little different than they did back when they first started gaining popularity, because as tastes evolve, so do the greats.

Surly Brewing’s Darkness Day has become one of those bucket list beer events that a majority of the industry has heard of and likely considered traveling to at some point in their beer journey. What began 10 years ago as a celebration of one of Surly’s most coveted yearly beer releases, has grown into a much bigger production. So much so, that the Minneapolis-based brewery announced earlier this year, that it has decided to move the event from their Brooklyn Center Brewery to Somerset Amphitheater, 30 miles away in Somerset, WI.

As Kurt Stafki, Digital Marketing Manager for Surly Brewing explains, the cross-border move was designed to preserve one of the centerpieces of the Darkness Day experience, an attendee bottle share, that previously wasn’t exactly up-to-code. “The move to Somerset allows us to incorporate music, the bottle share on Friday night, camping, and a bigger overall release event,” noted Stafki.

(READ: The OGs of Craft Beer | Surly Furious IPA)

Additionally, Wisconsin law will also allow Surly to invite some of their favorite breweries from across the country to participate in an invitational style beer festival at the event. The three day festival will feature the ability to purchase full pours from over 50 guest breweries from across the country including the likes of Half Acre, Chicago, Mikerphone, Chicago, Bent Paddle, Duluth, Cigar City, Tampa, Lupulin, Big Lake, Odell, Fort Collins, CO, Sixpoint, Brooklyn, NY, Fair State, Minneapolis, Oliphant, Somerset, WI, Ale Asylum, Madison, WI to name a few.

2018 Darkness Day will take place across September 28-30. The base ticket package for the weekend includes access to the three-day release event, three bottles of 2018 Darkness, and four beer tokens to redeem during weekend festivities, available for $120.

This year, Surly will also be introducing Darkness variants for the first time. Variants include Rum Barrel-aged w/Coconut Darkness, Bourbon Barrel-aged w/Vanilla Bean & Cherry Darkness, and a Tattersall Fernet Barrel-aged Darkness. This year’s variants will be available in a second package which includes access to the three-day release event, three bottles of 2018 Darkness, one bottle each of this year’s Darkness variant releases, and four beer tokens to redeem during weekend festivities available for $200. Those who are interested in just attending the three-day party are able to purchase a third package, that just grants access to the campground for $35.

Friday and Saturday night festivities will also feature music from Murder City Devils, Khemmis, Off with Their Heads, Modern Life is War, Hive, God Came From Space Angerot and headliners, Sick of it All on Friday night, and Carcass on Saturday night.

Tickets are currently available for 2018 Darkness Day festivities, as well as for the 2018 Darkness and 2018 Darkness Variant Packages.

This has been a sponsored post from Surly Brewing

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