Have you ever walked into a bar and immediately felt like you were a character on How I Met Your Mother? The beer is dark and delicious, everyone is laughing at something hilarious the bartender said and that one song by your favorite band you thought no one else had ever heard of is playing in the background. It’s a vibe many breweries in the area shoot for, but Darkness Brewing, located in blossoming downtown Bellevue, Ky., effortlessly captures it and then some.
This is due in part to the impeccable aesthetic. Like a speakeasy, you might miss Darkness Brewing if you don’t keep your eyes peeled.
When I went on a recent Saturday, a hand-decorated chalk sandwich board outside was the only indication that I’d found the brewery. The white industrial building — a former car showroom — is set back from the street, with a handful of picnic tables on the blacktop lot out front.
The inside of the brewery is washed in a warm glow by strings of patio lights. The actual bar is made out of salvaged wood, each piece gleaming with a different tone. A game of giant Connect Four sits in the corner and eclectic local artwork covers the walls.
There isn’t just a personal touch here or there at Darkness Brewing — the entire brewery is a personal touch.
“We want this to be a good hang-out spot,” says co-owner Ron Sanders. “We started as buddies making beers in the kitchen.”
It’s that sense of being at home, drinking beers with your best friends, that permeates Darkness Brewing. Sanders and fellow co-owner Eric Bosler began homebrewing together in 2011.
After being asked by friends why they don’t just open up a brewery, they took the plunge and officially opened Darkness’ doors on July 23.
Instead of following Cincinnati’s German beer trend, Darkness Brewing offers a selection of dark beers that will make even the pickiest drinker smile. And I should know — I’ve been known to turn down Guinness, even on St. Patrick’s Day.
I ordered three house beers from the brewery’s seven taps: the Thanks A Latté ($6), the Centennial Anomaly ($5) and the Stonebraker ($6).
I started with the Thanks A Latté, a milk stout with an optional coffee infusion. After my first sip, I suddenly understood why my mom had taken a trip to Ireland just to taste where dark beer was born. It was the perfect summer treat: creamy and cold with a coffee finish.
“It’s not any extra for the coffee infusion. I just made it like this at home, so I brought my cold brew in for everyone else to try, too,” Sanders said as he administered droplets of homemade cold brew coffee concentrate into the bottom of a pint glass with surgical precision.
After asking a regular which beer was Darkness Brewing’s signature brew, I was pointed to the Stonebraker, a smoked porter.
For a dark beer, it was surprisingly easy to sling back — a smooth, almost chocolatey smoky beer with a mild aftertaste. I was tempted to fill a growler ($15) to bring home for later.
Finally, I ended my party with the Centennial Anomaly. The Anomaly is so named because it appears as a very dark beer in the glass but tastes light as can be. I didn’t believe that a dark beer could taste light until I took a sip.
After I tasted it — it was refreshing and fruity — I made my friends try it, too. Each of us was shocked. It’s definitely the perfect beer to have on the roster. For anyone who just can’t do dark beers but wants to visit Darkness Brewing, order the Anomaly.
Darkness Brewing also featured a cider and a few other lighter options the night I visited. This rotating list made me want to come back in the next night, and the next night, and the one after that, just to see what would make the seven taps.
In just one short month, Darkness Brewing has become the spot in Bellevue to stroll to with your dog (pups are allowed on the patio and in the taproom) and your best friend for a brew. They’ve invited food trucks to park outside the building, although they’re planning to create a food menu in the future.
While they don’t offer mixed drinks, the variety and craftsmanship of beers offered will satisfy practically anyone in your friend group. Not sure? Come in for a sample. I saw the owners personally talk through flavors with customers, allowing newcomers to sample any beer before deciding to buy.
They’ve begun to host live acoustic music and comedy acts, giving stage to Northern Kentucky’s arts scene. There’s free wi-fi, too.
Whether you’re a dark beer aficionado or just a local looking to try something new, walk on over to Darkness Brewing for a taste of a new Bellevue original.
Darkness Brewing
GO: 224 Fairfield Ave., Bellevue, Ky.; INTERNET: facebook.com/darknessbrewing; HOURS: 3-10 p.m. Thursday; 3-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 1-8 p.m. Sunday.
This article appears in Sep 7-14, 2016.