With craft beer now entering the mainstream, the automatic passion that once accompanied certain branded beer festivals is waning.  Not so for 3 Floyds’ legendary Dark Lord Day, an annual celebration of “darkness” which draws craft beer fanatics from all around the world.

If anything things have become even “darker” at the brewery – and tickets to this massive festival in Munster, Indiana become even harder to get. But the 3 Floyd’s crew, they’re “all good” with that!

3 Floyds Brewing is one of those rare cult breweries that have retained that cult status over the years (think Mikkeller but in Indiana) and if anything their devout following has only grown.

With their ‘Death Metal’ image, they brew “killer” beers, and this Saturday’s festival is built around a very special release, that has become one of the most collectable beers on the face of the planet…3 Floyd’s Dark Lord Russian-Style Imperial Stout.

So yeah, this festival is still a big deal…and if you’ve tickets (which went for $180 per) … yeah, you’re da shit.

Described as a “demonic” blend with notes of coffee, Mexican vanilla, and Indian sugar, 3 Floyds’ Dark Lord never disappoints, but it’s the smaller-batch variations (which change yearly) that this weekend’s attendees get insane about .

 And here are this year’s variations…

The 2017 Dark Lord Variants

ChemTrailMix – Dark Lord aged in bourbon barrels with cinnamon and pink peppercorns

Ronaldo – Dark Lord aged in Muscat barrels with tart Michigan cherries

Dark Lord de Muerte – Dark Lord aged in bourbon barrels with guajillo peppers

Marshmallow Handjee – Dark Lord aged in bourbon barrels with vanilla beans

Dia Oscuro – Dark Lord aged in Ardbeg barrels

French Vanilla Militia – Dark Lord aged in Muscat barrels with vanilla, cocoa nibs, and coffee

And with bands like Goatwhore, Powermad, and Amon Amarath, thrashing your brains out…How could you not have a good time?