BLAKKR. New album out in February. Michael Berglund – Surly artist-in-residence, Erik Ogershok – Head Brewer at Real Ale Brewing Co., Todd Haug – Head Brewer of Surly Brewing and Barnaby Struve – VP of Three Floyds.
What do you get when you throw three brewers known for their affinity for metal into a brewery, crank the stereo to eleven and let them do their thing? According to Surly Brewing Co.’s Todd Haug, the group was compelled to create “The most metal beer ever.” describing BLAKKR as being “Black as the sky on a moonless night,” with “flavors of black licorice and bitter sweet hops with strong hop aromas of pineapple.” And so begins the tale of BLAKKR, an imperial black ale brewed collaboratively by Surly, Real Ale and Three Floyds.
BLAKKR’s North American tour hit all three breweries and the end product is set to launch in each brewery’s respective markets soon. Real Ale will offer up BLAKKR in 4-packs of 12 oz. cans, Three Floyds will be packaging the beer in bombers and Surly will be releasing BLAKKR in 16oz cans.
Minnesota gets BLAKKR Monday:
Surly Brewing will be hosting a BLAKKR release party at Grumpy’s Downtown in Minneapolis on Monday, February 24 at 6pm. Look for BLAKKR on tap, as well as various other Surly specials on tap and live music.
BLAKKR Details:
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
The Art:
BLAKKR’s album cover artwork was created by Surly’s Michael Berglund and was inspired by Medieval engravings of monsters and chimeras. He said: “The idea came from having to please three metal brewers—a three headed beast.” He said 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. Berglund added: “It’s up to the viewer to decide if the souls in the fire are burning, worshiping, partying, or just asking for a beer.”