Al from the Blue Nile. Photo: Star Tribune

For the sixth year running, The Blue Nile turns their taps over the dark side for one day, celebrating porters and stouts. Look for sample sets –  3 4-ounce pours for $7.
Here’s the line-up this year:

Surly Darkness Russian Imperial Stout
Surly Cacao Bender (Coffee chocolate vanilla brown porter)
Left Coast Voodoo American Stout
Great Lakes/Deschutes Imperial Smoked Porter
Moylan’s Dragoon Irish Dry Stout
Southern Tier Plum Noir Imperial Porter with Italian Plums
Southern Tier Warlock Imperial Pumpkin Stout
Sierra Nevada Narwhal Russian Imperial Stout
Bell’s Java Stout
Bell’s Expedition Stout
Weyerbacher Heresy Russian Imperial Stout
Stone Espresso Imperial Russian Stout