During the darkest time of year...

Winter Solstice, here we come! Flying Lion Brewing invites you to share in our love of dark beer at the 12th Annual Dark Beer Fest.


This year, we're bringing back the popular Barrel-Only Wednesday with a curated, and hyper-limited list of 9 Barrel-Aged and Fermented beers on Wednesday 12/17. The main event (and total-dark-beer-takeover) will be Thursday, December 18th through Sunday, December 21st, 10am-midnight each day.

Our biggest and most awaited event of the year, this festival fills our taproom with beer lovers and flight boards aplenty! So many tiny glasses... No tickets or reservations are required; all seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Dark Beer Fest started at Flying Lion Brewing in 2014 and has grown from a modest 6-beer list to a full 40+ beer, multi-day event complete with cellared favorites, special releases, multi-year verticals, and plenty of limited availability brews. We're talking all dark beer, all weekend, with styles changing each day. If you haven't been, you're missing out. Our production team plots and plans all year long, so mark your calendars - the only reason you should travel this December is if you're going to DBF! To start your appetite, here are some of this year’s highlights:


BARREL-AGED WEDNESDAY! - Get the party started early on Wednesday, 12/17. We'll be tapping 10 special Barrel-aged/fermented beauties for those who want all the richest flavors all at once. 10AM EARLY OPEN + DONUTS! - Now an annual tradition (because who doesn’t love donuts and dark beer), the taproom opens at 10AM each day with FREE donuts (while supplies last) for the early risers! Many of the beers are limited and may only last one day, so come early and get that special dark beer you've been waiting for!

SPECIAL COLLAB! - This year's featured collab is with our best friends and neighbours at Machine House Brewing. Bock Bacchanal is a slow-fermented, easy-going, German-Style Bock ready to reset your palate between tasters of a wide variety of intense dark beers.

BEER FROM OUR FRIENDS! - In the weeks leading up to Dark Beer Fest, we’ll be featuring kegs of dark beer (and cider) from our friends in and around Seattle including: Ravenna Brewing, White Bluffs Brewing, Terramar Brewstillery, Volition Brewing Co., Watts Brewing Co., Greenwood Cider, and Timber City Ginger Beer.

T-SHIRTS! - Wear your t-shirt from a Dark Beer Fest of the past, and we'll give you a discount! The older the shirt, the greater the discount. And grab one of the very limited supply of this year's custom tees (It's cool, locally designed by @foxhille_art, and has a great investment return)

2025 Taplists:

Thursday 12/18/25
Imperial Rye Stout (2023)
Imperial Rye Stout (2024)
Imperial Rye Stout (2025)
Barrel-Aged Imperial Rye Stout
Conspicuous Petals Black Currant Saison
Bock Bacchanal Bock
Imperial Sweet Potato Porter
Volition Brewing Secret Ghost House Barrel-Aged Stout
Barrel-Aged You Need a Stout
You Need a Stout
Fun Police Evidence Locker Double Black IPA
Barrel-Aged Sangiovese Wild Ale
Ryezomes Fresh Hop Black IPA
Chipotle Chocolate Porter
H2O No Dark Hop Water
CASK: Imperial Rye Stout (w/ Oak Barrel Staves)
White Bluffs Brewing Mighty Knight
Guest: Greenwood Cider Chicha Morada
Guest: Sage Rat Scrublands (2023) Red Blend
Guest: Timber City Blackberry Ginger Beer

Friday 12/19/25
Imperial Rye Stout (2023)
English Strong (2025)
Imperial Rye Stout (2025)
Cozyweizen Dunkelweizen
It's Rice Out Dark Lager
Bock Bacchanal Bock
Imperial Sweet Potato Porter
NITRO: Oatmeal Nut Brown
Levitator Doppelbock
Birthday Twins West Coast Dark Lager
Fun Police Evidence Locker Double Black IPA
Black Medal Mexican Lager
XXL Tiny Imperial Black Lager
Guest: Terramar Brewstillery Dark Forest Schwarzbier
H2O No Dark Hop Water
CASK: Imperial Rye Stout (w/ Oak Barrel Staves)
Guest: Watts Baltic Porter
Guest: Greenwood Cider Chicha Morada
Guest: Sage Rat Scrublands (2023) Red Blend
Guest: Timber City Blackberry Ginger Beer

Saturday 12/20/25
English Strong (2023)
English Strong (2025)
Barrel-Aged English Strong (2023)
Cozyweizen Dunkelweizen
Call Me Old Fashioned Imperial Red Ale
Bock Bacchanal Bock
Imperial Sweet Potato Porter
NITRO: McHugh's Irish Red
AHOYster Stout
Birthday Twins West Coast Dark Lager
Fun Police Evidence Locker Double Black IPA
Export Stout
XXL Tiny Imperial Black Lager
Guest: Terramar Brewstillery Dark Forest Schwarzbier
H2O No Dark Hop Water
CASK: English Strong (w/ Elderberries)
Guest: Fortside Brewing Night King Russian Imperial Stout
Guest: Greenwood Cider Chicha Morada
Guest: Sage Rat Scrublands (2023) Red Blend
Guest: Timber City Blackberry Ginger Beer

Sunday 12/21/25
Belgian Quaddamnit (2023)
Belgian Quaddamnit
Barrel-Aged Belgian Quaddamnit
BelgianQuadFuckingDamnit
Barrel-Aged BelgianQuadFuckingDamnit
Bock Bacchanal Bock
Scottish Wee Heavy
NITRO: Rye Stout
AHOYster Stout
It's Rice Out Dark Lager
Barrel Aged Pumpkin Oatmeal Stout
Export Stout
Levitator Doppelbock
You Need a Stout
H2O No Dark Hop Water
CASK: Rye Stout (w/ Elderberries)
Guest: Fortside Brewing Night King Russian Imperial Stout
Guest: Greenwood Cider Chicha Morada
Guest: Sage Rat Scrublands (2023) Red Blend
Guest: Timber City Blackberry Ginger Beer