Nov 19, 2020

Q&A: The Darkness Talk Brewing Beer, Drinking On Tour & Their New Album

This might not come as a shock, but making a beer with The Darkness is really fun. We got our heads together with them to decide on a beer style and a name, drafted up some artwork and brewed the beer now known to the world as Bells End.

After that, all that was left to do was sit down with guitarist Dan Hawkins and drummer Rufus Taylor over a pint or five and find out what they thought of the finished thing and an insight into their new album. Please drink responsibly…

Hi chaps, how did you find the tasting session for Bells End and how did you settle on this particular style?

Dan: “The tasting session for this went pretty well, from what I can remember. It was quite a big night. I was a bit nervous really because the head honchos here at Signature Brew know their stuff. We tried every bit of ale that we could think of. I really wanted it to be something that wasn’t so overly Christmassy that you’d have one on Christmas Day and say ‘that’s enough.’

Rufus (drinking almost a full can of Bells End in one go): “Oof! It’s a very wintery beer isn’t it? Oh yeah, it’s perfect.”

Dan: “We wanted something to be sessionable, but not necessarily a session-level of alcohol. It needs to be punchy and drinkable at the same time. But yeah, it was a good night!”

Glad you enjoyed it as much as we did. So, what kind of beers do you drink on tour?

Rufus: “It depends a little bit on where we are. I like trying new stuff out and seeing the local offering. And if we know the local beer already then that’s usually first on the list. In certain places we’ve got our favourite go-to beers.”

Dan: “I have a specific requirement for our rider, I like to have a selection of local ales everywhere I go. In Europe they dont worry too much about it though and tend to just give you Estrella. But in the UK it gets interesting. Local promoters tend to take pride in giving you the best beers, so there’s usually a selection of local ales, which is great.”

And do you ever hit up local bars on tour?

Dan: “We tend to hang out en masse on days off. We’ll all go and find an amazing ale house or pub. Rufus is the official expert in Irish pubs. If you want to know where he is, then just type in ‘Irish Pub’ on Google Maps and he’ll be there.”

Rufus: “I can sniff them out! You can find an Irish pub almost anywhere in the world.”

A useful skill. Dan, is it true that you want to start your own brewery one day?

Dan: “Definitely. One of my ambitions is to have my own micro-brewery. I just love the idea that ale comes from such a natural process. And the fact that you can do it on such a small scale and it tastes good. I’ve always been really intrigued as to how the magic happens, so one day.

And lastly, can we ask you about the new album...?

Dan: Ask us anything you want!

Ok, how's the new album going?

Dan (looking extremely mischievous after a couple of cans): The new record… has been shit-canned. It’s been a fucking mess. We started recording it- (laughs)

Rufus: He was shit, first day- (laughs)

Dan: I turned up the first day and thought ‘I can’t do this’, and I sold everything-

Rufus: And I said, ‘you can’t do this’. It was so bad. He was so bad. I was quite bad. But you were really shit.

Dan: So I thought there was no point in carrying on, so I sold everything.

Rufus: But we might get back onto it.

Dan: Are you any good now?

Rufus: Yeah I reckon I’m alright now.

Dan: So we’re going to start the next album now!

Rufus: And it’s going to be alright (laughs)

Dan: It’s probably going to be alright (laughs)

If it wasn't already obvious, Dan and Rufus were clearly pulling our collective legs, but it felt like a fitting conclusion to sinking multiple cans of Bells End.

This warming, winter beer sees English hops unleash a mouth-watering bitterness to carry you through the season… just don’t let the bells end.

ABV: 5.2%
OG: 1.052
IBU: 48

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