Rare Beer Club 4-Bottle Selections - May 2026
Dark Spiritus Winter Project
Brasserie Fantôme – Soy, Belgium
[Belgian Dark Farmhouse Ale w/ Spices – 6% ABV]
Brasserie Fantôme, founded in 1988 by Dany Prignon in the small Belgian village of Soy, has earned a devoted following for its highly creative and unpredictable farmhouse ales. Nestled in the Ardennes Forest, the brewery is celebrated for its inventive use of spices, herbs, fruits, vegetables, flowers, and locally sourced ingredients, with recipes that evolve constantly from year to year. Fantôme’s brewing approach is deeply artisanal, from its small brewing system to its hand-bottling process, and its beers are often driven as much by inspiration and seasonal availability as by strict style guidelines. This spirit of experimentation has made Fantôme a cult favorite among adventurous beer drinkers.
Dark Spiritus Winter Project is a dark Belgian farmhouse ale brewed with dark malts, spices, and roots, offering a wonderfully eccentric mix of rustic malt depth and expressive farmhouse character. Aromas of dark bread, cocoa, raisins, honey, clove, citrus, and orchard fruit lead into a palate that balances perceived sweetness with earthy bitterness, candied orange peel, dates, figs, pepper, and toasty grain. Smooth yet lively, rich yet highly drinkable, it finishes with a slightly rustic dryness and subtle funk. Because Fantôme beers can evolve nicely in bottle, Dark Spiritus should age well over the short term, especially for those who enjoy mellowed spice and integrated yeast character. It pairs beautifully with roast pork, duck, sausages, mushroom dishes, aged gouda, and gingerbread or other spice-driven desserts.
Darkness
Surly Brewing Company – Minneapolis, MN
[Russian Imperial Stout – 12% ABV]
Founded in 2005 by Omar Ansari in Minnesota, Surly Brewing Company quickly became one of the most influential names in Midwestern craft beer. Known for bold, unapologetic flavors and irreverent branding, Surly helped reshape the local beer scene not just through its beers, but through advocacy as well. The brewery famously pushed for legislative reform that allowed breweries to sell pints on-site, a major shift that changed Minnesota beer culture. Today, Surly remains fiercely independent, producing a wide range of hop-forward ales, stouts, lagers, and experimental releases built on intensity, balance, and a willingness to stand apart.
Darkness is Surly’s legendary Russian imperial stout, a rich, full-bodied beer known for its layered notes of chocolate, coffee, cherry, toffee, and dark fruit. Dense and luxurious, it is built for slow sipping, with enough roast, sweetness, and subtle hop lift to keep each sip engaging. Its cult following and annual release have helped make it one of the best-known imperial stouts in American craft beer. Thanks to its massive malt structure, Darkness should age well over the short to medium term, allowing its flavors to meld and soften. For pairings, rich foods work best, especially chocolate desserts, bread pudding, blue cheese, smoked brisket, and roasted meats.