Get ready for BLAKKR, a collaboration brew between Surly, Three Floyds from Indiana, and Real Ale from Texas. BLAKKR is an Imperial Black Ale that was brewed at all three sites and will be distributed in each market with Minnesota launching on Monday, February 24th. BLAKKR is an old Norse word for dark or black.

Todd Haug, head brewer of Surly, had this to say about the special collaboration brew, "The most metal Brew Masters felt compelled to learn about each other's brewery processes, drink beer, listen to metal and brew the most metal beer ever. Black as the sky on a moonless night, BLAKKR has flavors of black licorice and bitter sweet hops with strong hop aromas of pineapple."

The artwork for the cans, which will be sold in four-packs of 16 oz cans, was done by the talented Michael Berglund. You may recognize him from his past work on the 2011 Darkness design. Inspired by medieval engravings of monsters and chimeras, "The idea came from having to please three metal brewers—a three headed beast," said Berglund.

Berglund explained that the symbols are from medieval alchemy and are; in order from left to right: water, alcohol, eternal darkness, fermentation, fire, flavor, pint, grain, trinity, boil, union (collab), carbon dioxide, metal, and wizard. He noted, "It's up to the viewer to decide if the souls in the fire are burning, worshiping, partying, or just asking for a beer."

The official release party for BLAKKR in Minneapolis will be at Grumpy's Downtown at 6 PM on Monday, February 24th. You can expect to find it on tap along with other Surly specials as well as live music and a head banging good time.

Grumpy's Downtown

1111 Washington Avenue S.

Minneapolis, MN 55415

612-340-9738

BLAKKR DETAILS:

Style: Imperial Black Ale

Malts: Pale Malt, Carafa Special, Oats

Sugar: Brewers Crystals

Hops: Bittering – Warrior, Aroma- Simcoe, Centennial

Yeast: English Ale

OG: 22 P

FG: 4.5 P

ABV: 9.99 %

IBU: 85

From left to right: Michael Berglund artist, Erik Ogershok head brewer at Real Ale Brewing, Todd Haug head brewer at Surly, and Barnaby Struve VP of Three Floyd's Brewing.

Skol!