I could be reading this in the entirely wrong order.  South County may have intended it to be read Mysterious, Rich, Robust, Dark.  But without appropriate guidelines on the can, I simply started with the first word I saw and went around the rim.

I don’t often review the same brewery more than once, but then again, most breweries aren’t like South County.  Not long ago I had the pleasure of visiting this out-of-the-way gem in Fawn Grove, PA, for their second Virgil release. (For those interested in my opinion of this barrel-aged imperial stout, please see my previously posted blog agnoso veteris vestigia flamea) I had the pleasure of trying a few select draft-only beers, one of which was an out-of-this-world delicious Strawberry Lemon Gelato double ipa.  (Please South County, can or keg and distribute this amazing beer.)  If you find yourself in need of a day trip to a brewery off the beaten path, head to Fawn Grove and give South County a try.

Since I can’t often make the trip to visit the brewery, when I see cans or draft available, that I have yet to try close to home, I will happily purchase a draft or a few cans.  I recently stumbled on sixteen ounce cans of Dark Thread by South County, a brew I hadn’t seen thus far, and my curiosity was piqued.

The art on the can was intriguing, with a mostly purple backdrop forming the base for a creepy-looking tree silhouetted against a moon and stars, with the dark shape of an owl perched upon a branch of the tree.   The South County logo was emblazoned upon the bottom of the can, and my affinity for the brewery drew me to it.  I am prone to additional excitement regarding certain styles, barley wines, double ipas, imperial stouts, and anything barrel-aged, for example.  So, when I more closely inspected the Dark Thread can, I will admit my excitement over finding this new South County beer faded.  “Chocolate oat porter?” I thought to myself.  How good could this really be.  This kind of beer has been done so many times, the likelihood of an exceptional experience here was minimal.  Yet despite my inclination to pass over this beer due to its style, my positive experiences with the brewery overcame my initial objections, and I purchased a four pack.

It only took the simple act of cracking open the can, to know that I had made the right decision.

Dark Thread – South County Brewing Company – True to its name, this beer is dark as a moonlit night, with absolutely no light getting through the liquid.  It is topped by a full, fluffy, mocha colored head, that leaves spooky lacing on the glass.  Chocolate overwhelms the nose, followed closely by a sugary oat smell reminiscent of oatmeal with brown sugar, and rounded out with hints of mocha and roasted malts.  The taste is consistent with the smell, silky smooth mouthfeel punctuated with milk chocolate, marshmallow, cocoa, dark malts, hints of caramel, and a touch of vanilla and brown sugar.  Every sip is truly incredible.  This would be the perfect accompaniment for a piece of pie, (pick your favorite flavor, I think it would go with anything) and a small scoop of vanilla ice cream.  I’m already thinking of stashing a few of these away for the fall, though I hope that I wouldn’t need to, as I hope South County is going to make this a consistently offered beer.  9.5/10

If you see this in your area, don’t hesitate to buy a four pack, or even more.  With a myriad of styles, flavors, adjuncts, and variants in so many different kinds of beer, it takes something truly special, done expertly, to wow my palate and please my senses.  With Dark Thread, South County Brewing Company has really delivered.

Humbly yours,

J