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.

A dark brown color with a fizzy thin brown head. The aroma has a lot of sweet brown sugar malt and some mild hop character. The flavor is strong roasted malt with some chocolate and caramel. There is a bit of a hop profile in the finish, but doesn’t leave much on the tongue. Medium bodied beer.

2009 Can - Thanks skinnyguy! - Pours dk brown with a large tan head...aroma is malted grains and hops, bit of sweetness...flavour is similar, grainy, caramel, burnt wood bitterness...nice brew...

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.

UPDATED: SEP 26, 2008 Updated - This is a decent brew. The well balanced but a little on the hoppy side. As MatSciGuy (102), states on May 6th. Excellent description of this beer I don’t think it was quite as hoppy though. "Direct Quote" Pours deep brown with a moderate off white head. Aroma is strikingly hoppy, which is quickly overtaken to bittersweet chocolate and burnt caramel. Flavor is really rich and nice, and very well balanced. In the end, the bittersweet chocolate takes over most of the flavors and the hops offset the sweetness with a good bitter finish.

Dressed in brown, he sports gorgeously deep garnet and ruby hues while a soft khaki head floats in suspended animation. A couple swirls and lace decorates the sides of my glass. Holding my glass to the light, he has an old sheen such as one would expect from wood time-tested and worn yet still full of rich beauty and wisdom. His nose is all about molasses and caramel while in the background pine trees flourish and grapefruit tantalizes. I grew up in the citrus industry, surrounded by the wonderful delights of differing grapefruit varietals so for myself at least, grapefruit is a tasty treat indeed. Vanilla bean and licorice mingle well with his sweet side as brown sugars melt under my adoring gaze. For his nose at least, his malty side impresses first before smoothly stepping aside to allow his hops to shine. My first quaff isn’t the least bit tentative, and I am met by a creamy mouthfeel which coats the lips and pleases the tongue with fresh molasses and caramel. I’m talking natural here, no saccharine artificial sweeteners here; this is the real deal. Weaving in and out of his sweet side are melted brown sugars along with faint esters of vanilla and licorice. Pine needles prickle and grapefruit exudes self-confidence from the middle of his palate all the way through a long finish. Pine resin adds to his sticky mouthfeel while grapefruit sports acidic juices and bitter skins. Furthering our journey down canned beer lane, I detect a quick kiss of cherry tartness in the transition between sweet and hoppy. A few more generous quaffs and both can and glass are empty, a sad occasion one would not guess by the merry smile glued to my face.

Draught at Ike’s, Minneapolis airport. Dark brown with orange and a fine, tan head. Aroma of dark fruits and chocolate. Flavor of roasted chocolate, caramel, thick malt; fruity too, with a tart touch and a roasty finish, with some bitter hops and a reasonably full mouth. Nice stuff.

in a can. pours a brown color with with a very dense head. Smell is of dried fruit with some chocolate. The taste is of coffe and vanilla and a smooth oatmeal tasting finish.