3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
On tap at the Dock Cafe in Stillwater, MN. Unfortunately, I lost my notes (damned text message clean-up...). From what I recall, this was a murky brown ale dominated by toast and chocolate notes, earthy, with a bitter finish and a touch of dark fruitskin. No single element stood out, but the sum was greater than the whole of the parts.
3.6 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
On draft at Hopleaf. Pours a dark brown with a frothy head. Very roasted aroma with maybe some cocoa. Taste is roasted malt with some chocolate. The hops come through nicely in the finish.
3.8 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
On tap at The Happy Gnome in St. Paul, MN. Dark brown with off-white head. Aroma of roast coffee and chocolate, leaves a lot of lacing. Tastes like a combination of a brown ale and a stout, with a strong coffee taste.
3.8 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 14/20
Can from Pole Smoke #1 (Sean). Thanks. Another Surly that I have wanted to try for a while, and I have always liked brown ales alot. So I was as anxious to drink this one as the furious. Pours out a dark brown color with a tan head on it. Smell is full of roasted malts and sweet caramel. Taste is smooth and roasted yet somewhat refreshing too. Far too easy to drink, could become dangerous in large quantities. Need to get some more of this. Good stuff for sure.
3.7 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 16/20
16oz can from maximum12 (BA site). Pours black with a thin tan head which dissipated quickly. Nose was of smoke and roast malt with coffee. Taste is roast malt, coffee and nutty. Mouthfeel was thin and watery but still clean and flavorful.
3.2 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 13/20
sampled from the can at DLD - Pours dark brown with a thin white head. the aroma is mainly of caramel malt. The flavor isn’t quite what I’d expect from the style. The caramel malt is in there but it’s fairly light. There’s also ample hops with some citrus notes and maybe some chocolate. the palate is rather lighter than I expected. It’s certainly an unusual brew for the style though I’m not sure it works for me as well as it does for many people.
4.1 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
Can shared at Dark Lord Day 08. I would not have thought this a brown ale. Pours a dark dark brown almost black color. Has intense smells that make me think of licorice, hay/wheat, with some belgian like alcohol smells. Tastes follow those smells. Upfront the malt hits you with more licorice, then some hop flavors balance out the brew with a finish that says ’smell me, taste me, and smell me some more.’ Very enjoyable.
4 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
A- Pours a deep reddish brown with a very small head which dissapates fairly quickly.
S- Smell is sweet with hints of coffee, very enticing.
T- Taste is malty sweet with an underlying coffee flavor and a slight malt backbone that makes this one tasty brew.
M- Fairly viscous. My major complaint with Surly is they just don’t have the amount of carbonation I would like. None the less, good.
D- This is an extremely drinkable brew, not only is it tasty but at 5% you can easily throw a few back without worrying about passing out face down on the floor.
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