Surly Bender

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

Serve in Dimpled mug

16 oz can from Jimbowood. Second time I have had this now, and both times I have enjoyed this brew. It’s a nice, quaffable beer. Flavor is nice, with some chocolate and toffee, and a nice hoppy finish. Interesting and delicious beer.

A huge and massive THANK YOU for lb4lb and pintsize for just happening to have one and giving it to me, thank you. 16 oz. can poured into my happy stein- poured semi transparent when held to light source, very dark brown with red tint in color, off brown ring around the glass with some lacing for a head. Aroma of nuts (walnuts?), finely roasted malt that was not burned to a crisp, brown sugar, and pure beergoodness that makes you want to swim in it. HIts the mouth with a low-wide body, coffee like taste hits the tongue at first, sweetness the like of brown sugar comes wandering in the middle and lingers, finish is very smooth, solid, and asks nicely to have another sip with a twinkle her eyes. I am a sucker for a great brown ale, and this one did not clear the fence, it cleared the stadium!!! HOME RUN!!!

Can. Deep, nearly opaque orange-brown with a small tan head. Some nutty maltiness and a heavy citric floral hop component in the aroma. Sharp toastiness up front. Chalky chocolate, ruddy hop bitterness, some caramel. Lingering bitterness in the finish, coffee bean and grass. Mouthfeel is light, somewhat dry.

Not a big brown fan, so not the best to judge it perhaps, but it seems solid. But why, I ask, drink this if you can have their furious?

Thanks to Flyer for bringing this beer from a recent visit to Minneapolis. I found this beer to be rather good, but I didn’t find it to be spectacular. It pours a dark brown with striking blood red hues as light dances through it. Bender has a somewhat scarce but pleasing light tan head composed of inconsistently sized bubbles. Aroma is a pleasing but understated caramel and toffee smell with some alcohol esters. Flavor is pleasingly sweet and roasty, but with a bit of a watery mouthfeel which seemed to get stickier as I drained my glass (and as it got a bit warmer). Quite good.

Poured into a pint glass. Big thanks to nickd717 for this extra. 4.0 A: Clear medium orange color. Two fingers of frothy light brown head with average retention and moderate lacing. 4.0 S: Roastiness with a pleasant nuttiness to it. A touch of cacao powder to boot. Nice but not strong enough. 4.5 T: Really tasty. Everything I want in a brown. Subtle roastiness and lots of nuttiness again. Medium bitterness. 4.5 M: Rich, creamy medium body. Good carbonation. Very smooth. Well done. 4.5 D: Damn tasty brown. Couldn’t ask for much more. Serving type: can Reviewed on: 12-23-2009 03:44:32

(can) Pours a dark ruby with a large tan head that slowly dissipates. A very unique aroma of sometimes chocolate, Extra gum, more hops as it warms, and some cocoa. Flavor is great with a lot of caramel, some chocolate, and a nice (but not overpowering) hop finish. The mouthfeel on this beer is superb, as it is incredibly smooth. I think this is my new go-to session beer.

Pours a nice deep brown color, topped by a good inch of sudsy tan foam. Okay head retention, fantastic count-the-rings lacing. Bold chocolate malt with a sweet fruitiness in the aroma. Nice flavor. This beer is quite robust - lots of semi sweet chocolate malt, some caramel, and a delicious earthy presence. Hops are there for balance, but then a little bit of bitterness and flavor show up in the finish. A nice Belgian character. A nice British character. Absolutely American. Medium to full body, smooth and substantial carbonation. You could pound this beer if you want, or you could enjoy one with a steak, or even as a dessert beer. Very versatile, very delicious, very much recommended.