Beers similar to Darkness

Surly Brewing Co.

Imperial Stout·United States·12% ABV·One of 353 Imperial Stouts in hopIQ·

hopIQ found 10 beers that share Darkness's roasted and chocolate character. Darkness is Surly's legendary imperial stout, released every October, at 12% ABV. The brewery describes monstrous notes of chocolate, coffee, cherry and toffee, plus a non-traditional dose of aromatic hops: Warrior, Amarillo and Simcoe. Black in colour with moderate bitterness, brewed from a long malt bill including chocolate, black and Special B malt, roasted barley and oats.

Similar beers ranked by flavour match rather than popularity.Similar beers ranked by flavour, not popularity.

chocolatecoffeeroasted

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10 beers like Darkness

1

Deschutes Brewery

United States · Imperial Stout · 11.4%

CLOSE ALTERNATIVE

88%

FLAVOUR MATCH

Shares coffee notes and dark fruit notes with Darkness; adds oak notes, but drops hop character.

What carries overchocolatecoffeefull-bodiedroasteddark fruit

Structure: very close

Compared to Darknessoaksweetmaltyhoppy

Structure: Same structure — body, sweetness, bitterness and texture all land on the same spot.

Structure: very close

View beer Alternatives to The Abyss

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2

Imperial Stout (2026)

Hawkers Beer

Australia · Imperial Stout · 10.5%

CLOSE ALTERNATIVE

87%

FLAVOUR MATCH

Same coffee notes and bitterness as Darkness, adds dryness, sweeter, but without the hop character.

What carries overroastedchocolatecoffeefull-bodiedbitter

Structure: sweeter, a notch softer

Compared to Darknessdrywheatmaltyhoppy

Structure: Very close — a touch more sweetness, a touch less body.

Structure: sweeter, a notch softer

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3

Serpent's Stout

The Lost Abbey

United States · Imperial Stout · 12.0%

CLOSE ALTERNATIVE

87%

FLAVOUR MATCH

As with Darkness, same coffee notes and malt character; adds creaminess, no hop character.

What carries overroastedchocolatecoffeefull-bodiedmalty

Structure: very close

Compared to Darknesscreamyvanillahoppybitter

Structure: Same structure — body, sweetness, bitterness and texture all land on the same spot.

Structure: very close

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4

Hazelsaurus Rex

Pure Project

United States · Imperial Stout · 12.0%

85%

MATCH

Like Darkness on coffee notes and fullness — adds toasty notes, but without the hop character.

Structure: very close

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5

Oskar Blues Brewery

United States · Imperial Stout · 12.5%

85%

MATCH

Mirrors Darkness's coffee notes and malt character — plus toasty notes, minus hop character.

Structure: very close

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6

Stone & Wood Brewing Co

Australia · Imperial Stout · 10.0%

85%

MATCH

Keeps coffee notes and bitterness like Darkness, adds dryness, a notch softer, drops hop character.

Structure: a notch softer

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7

Against the Grain Brewery

United States · Imperial Stout · 10.0%

85%

MATCH

a notch softer, no hop character — coffee notes and fullness as with Darkness.

Structure: a notch softer

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8

Big Bad Baptist

Epic Brewing Company

United States · Imperial Stout · 12.0%

85%

MATCH

Alongside Darkness on coffee notes and fullness: adds vanilla notes, drops hop character.

Structure: very close

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9

Great Lakes Brewing Company

United States · Imperial Stout · 9.9%

85%

MATCH

Less bitter — same coffee notes and bitterness as Darkness, adds earthy notes, noticeably less bitter, but without the hop character.

Structure: less bitter, a notch softer

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10

AleSmith Brewing Company

United States · Imperial Stout · 12.0%

84%

MATCH

Same coffee notes and fullness as Darkness, adds caramel notes, but without the hop character.

Structure: very close

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