Surly Ashy Cynic

Brewed by Surly Brewing Company
Style: Saison
Brooklyn Center, Minnesota USA

Serve in Tulip

On tap tonight at The Blue Nile. Pour was a hazy and frothy orange color with slight citrus aroma. Flavor was of funky farmhouse yeast, honey and finished flowery with a very creamy mouthfeel. Overall very good and I actually preffer over the regular cynic.

Real ale tent at GTMW 09. A hazy gold color with a generous head. Similar to Cynic in aroma but with a distinct woody character. A light woody character in the body that was a pleasant addition. I’d like to see more wood aging like this.

On cask and drawn at Grumpy’s NE bar in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Pours a hazy light golden orange brew with a thick and creamy white head that stays with the beer and excellent lacing. Aroma of mild banana esters, apricot, pineapple, peach, honey and light golden multi-grain malt. Taste is close to the regular CynicAle with slight dry herb flavor. Finish continues a semi-dry aftertaste with some light lemon zest and wood character. Not as smooth as the oak aged version but still memorable.

Sampled at GTMW 2009 (Madison, WI). Pours a hazy dark gold, a few orange notes, natural small bubbly head. Aromas are Cynic to a T. Beglain yeast light, pear, apple, light with subtle ash notes that dry and add slight spice. Citrus notes come out a bit more in this version, fruit forward.. Maybe the ash killed out the yeasty qualities a bit more? Sessionable, smooth, and well flavored. Finish slight spice, dry, and fruity. Very mild bitterness.

Fobab VI. Called Ashy Cynic, aged on Ash and not oak. Had a much milder wood flavor than oak would generally force out. Distinctly lemony and spicy. I actually prefer this to normal cynic as it is lighter tasting, less yeasty and more lemony and refreshing. Hazy orange colored with a nose of spice and a touch of banana. Not much wood in the nose. Whatever it is, the aging has mellowed this one into a very nice amalgamation of spice, lemon and sweetness. Very nice.

GTMW Madison Murky off orange color w/ a whispy white head. Lots of sweet fruits maybe passion fruit & mango in teh flavor good piece of hops which dominate. Some light char’d wood notes come through in the aftertaste. Palate is well coated and lightly creamy. A very nice beer.

Glass at Darkness days. Pour is bright orange and murky with no head. Big lemon and honey and musty scents. Taste is lemon citrus and musty flavor. Beer was calm and slick with a chaulky finish. Tasty and interesting.

Had on cask while waiting for Darkness at DDay 2010. Little to no head. Super smooth. Some of the wood flavor coming through, but not much. The wood serves more to mellow some of the flavors...Actually prefer this to the regular stuff.