Surly Bender

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

Serve in Dimpled mug

Canette de 500 ml. Arômes intéressants de malt grillé, de chocolat et de caramel brûlé. Robe brune aux reflets roux, effervescence moyenne et légère dentelle. En bouche, la bière offre une belle complexité maltée, présentant un invitant mélange de caramel brûlé, de chocolat et de pain grillé. On remarque également la présence d’un houblon herbacé menant à une finale présentant une amertume moyenne. Une très bonne Brown Ale.

16oz can from Richfield Liquors. Pour is very dark brown, but clear. Tan head sticks around a bit and laces. Aroma is dark toasty malts, with a hint of chocolate and coffee and some grassy hop notes. The noticeable warming alcoholic finish is surprising for a ~5% beer; that is usually reserved for 6.5%+. It’s interesting for a brown ale, but to me it feels more like an underdeveloped stout. If this is on the shelf next to Furious, I’m not sure I could choose in Bender’s favor again....

Tallboy can bought from an internet vendor. Pours a deep brown with a moderate, creamy light beige head that hangs around forever as a thin ring. Aroma is a mouth-watering chocolate and coffee mixture. Flavor is exactly as described, coming on in waves...hefty malt base, sweet chocolate/caramel, medium-roast coffee, and eventually vanilla. Oats provide that excellent silky body reminiscent of so many stouts. I love it!

Alas, the last of my Surly beers. Pretty deep brown with reassuring, persistent head, better part of a finger. Aroma of caramel, little coffee, bitter chocolate and sure enough, vanilla and cream. Smooth and sweet with a pleasant hint of bitterness in the finish. The cream soda character of this beer is endearing - so drinkable. If this were local to my area I would probably always have a four-pack in the fridge. That hint of hops in the aroma and flavor really gives this beer some oomph - important that they are subtle, but since they are, they are so welcome.

UPDATED: OCT 21, 2011 Poured into a plastic cup at Psycho Suzi’s in Minneapolis, Minn. Color was coffee looking with at least an inch of head. Lots of lacing that stayed throughout the drink. Smell was heavy on the hops. The coffee feel stayed in there. Also a bit malty. Strong on the alcohol taste, but very, very smooth. Also some chocolate and vanilla in there. Wonderful blend of flavors. Average carbonation. The good tasted lasted throughout. Seemed to become more chocolate toward the end. My wife’s cousin really wouldn’t steer us in the wrong way. He likes Surly, so I knew I would. Very much enjoyed this beer.

Thanks to chewy08rx for sending me this can. The beer pours a sightly hazy brown color with a tan head. The aroma is a mix of chocolate, caramel caramel and some toasted/lightly roasted malt. The flavor is more of the same. I get a lot of chocolate as well as some roasted malt and some light grassy hops. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. A very nice American Brown Ale and one I wish I had regular access to.

Date: July 23, 2011 Mode: Can Source: Apple Valley Liquor, Apple Valley, MN Appearance: Opaque brown with large amount of tan head. Aroma: Sweet and nutty. Flavor: Consistent with aroma with some coffee and slight bitter finish, small amount of carbonation, and creamy. Other: Another good offering from Surly.

Tap and Can. Pour is reddish/brown with off-white/beige head. Aroma of chocolate and nuts and oats. Flavor to match with a bit of coffee and caramel.