Kehrwieder Superdude vs Surly Darkness: Which Should You Drink?

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Kehrwieder Superdude

Kehrwieder Kreativbrauerei

Germany · Imperial Stout

hopIQ rank #1238

72%

Overall similarity

side by side, across 56 flavour tags

Surly Darkness

Surly Brewing Co.

United States · Russian Imperial Stout

HOPIQ TAKE

Kehrwieder Superdude if you want something leaner and more assertive with hop bite, Surly Darkness if you want a rounder, more integrated black licorice experience. Both sit at nearly identical ABV and IBU, but they're brewed with completely different philosophies—one's a German take on imperial stout aggression, the other's a Minnesota cult classic built for depth over punch. The 0.3% ABV difference is meaningless; it's the malt bill and yeast that separate these.

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WHEN TO CHOOSE WHICH

Pick Kehrwieder Superdude when…

→You want imperial stout with visible structure and backbone
→You prefer hops to read clearly even in dark beers
→You're drinking this fresh and want the sharpness intact

Pick Surly Darkness when…

→You want a beer that invites contemplation and depth
→You're in the mood for licorice and molasses more than coffee
→You want imperial stout that tastes expensive and considered

SIDE BY SIDE

	Kehrwieder Superdude	Surly Darkness
ABV	10.5%	10.2%
Bitterness	Very bitter	Very bitter
Colour	Dark	Dark
Style	Imperial Stout	Russian Imperial Stout
Origin	Germany	United States

WHAT IT TASTES OF

9 shared · 2 distinct

Both beers

roastedchocolaterichoakcoffeeboozybitterdark fruitsmooth

STRUCTURE — HOW IT'S BUILT

Kehrwieder SuperdudeSurly Darkness

Bitterness

Body

TASTING NOTES

Kehrwieder Superdude

RoastedChocolateRich

Superdude hits you with espresso and dark chocolate right away, but there's a sharp, almost piney undercurrent that keeps it from getting too syrupy. The 65 IBUs aren't hiding—you feel them as a drying sensation on the back of your palate that prevents this from becoming a dessert beer. It's 10.5% ABV but drinks tighter and more athletic than you'd expect. There's a slight metallic edge if you drink it too cold, so let it warm slightly.

Surly Darkness

RoastedChocolateOak

Darkness is the opposite approach—those same 65 IBUs are woven into the fabric rather than announcing themselves. You get black licorice, molasses, and a creeping warmth that builds gradually. The alcohol is noticeably present but velvet-gloved; this is a beer that wants you to sit with it for 45 minutes, not bolt through it. Roasted grain dominates over any hop character, which is the point.

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