Surly Bender

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

Serve in Dimpled mug

Darker pour with very light vanilla and malt aroma. Taste is light coffee, light vanilla, and light hops. Also has a slight burntness. Not a very dominant brew. Ok but probably wouldn’t buy again.

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.

Dark brown liquid that really appears to be a deep magenta when held up to the light. The beige head leaves excellent lacing. Nutty and malty with a slight metallic tinge. I don’t know if this some kind of deep-seated subconscious suspicion of canning, but there’s a note in there that doesn’t quite work perfectly. There are hops, good clean malt and an appropriate level of nuttiness. There are also subtle notes of chocolate and roast. Good feel. Easy to drink brown ale.

Can. Pour is a black-red with a tight frothy head and solid lacing. Aroma is malt coffee and coco. Taste is more malt with faint coffee and coco and burnt malt. Palate is chaulky and finishes dry. This is amazing! I have not had this one since Coffee Bender was released, and I am quite surprised with the similar flavors.

Pours a cola brown black with a thin head and cola like bubbles. The nose is a bit roasty with that cola sort of acidity. Maybe it’s in my head? There’s a round relatively sweet malt and a slightly dry chocolate character. A bit of hops strikes me as slightly out of place, but still nice. A bit thin on the tongue, though not watery, this has certainly been filtered fairly well and force carbonated, but since it’s in a can, I can’t make off for that. The flavor is a step above. A round balanced dark malt bill complete with chocolate and hints of the caramel and vanilla they claim should be there. The hops are above and beyond what I expected, but fitting and welcome. Floral cascade like hops, really make this a beer worth drinking. The finish lingers with pleasantly dry roast and bitter hops. a bit acidic. Reminds me of a hopped up Bell Best Brown. I would make this my regular session beer if it were distributed here.

UPDATED: DEC 19, 2009 draught at hopleaf. nose of chcolate covered espresso beans. not as ’crunchy’ as that note can sometimes be, a bit softer and more rounded. comes across as a well balanced porter -- good bitterness despite strong roasted notes. amazing a beer can be this complex at only 5%.

Pint can into pint glass. An awesome brownish amber color that shines ruby red when held upto a light. Nice khaki head that exhibits some pretty quality retention as well. Aroma is simple but on point -- nutty and malty... reminds me very much of the fall. Medium bodied with very soft carbonation. Nice and smooth and easy-going. Overall: a very simple but very pleasant beer.

16 oz. can courtesy of Tripplebrew. Used a mug. Deep mahogany color. Lively carbonation with thin, bubbly tan head. Light lace. Nose of roasted nuts and rich caramel. Taste follows with a touch of chocolate. Smooth and creamy mouthfeel. Medium body. Finishes a bit dry. When warm, touch of hops under the roast. Lots of flavor for a brown. The creamy, roastyness makes it highly drinkable. Ranks up high in the style.