Some phals have spikes that are brown or dark purple.. maybe it appears with higher light, or just darker flowered phals. Some of mine are a little wrinkled, but not much. Did you happen to take a picture?
I usually let my phal spikes dry out before cutting them off. If the flowers were still open and "happy" looking, it could have been normal. I know my spikes are done when all of the flowers shrivel up.