Surly Bitter Brewer

Brewed by Surly Brewing Company
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
Brooklyn Center, Minnesota USA

Serve in English pint

Bitter Brewer pours a dark amber color. Huge fluffy white head is poured. Great retention on this one. One more note is that if you look at the can, that is Todd, their brewer drawn on top. Todd is an awesome guy. Anyway back to our regular scheduled program. The aroma on this beer is pleasant. Not overwhelming. Just a nice aroma. The description on the site states that the malt and hops give off a toast and marmalade character. I totally see that here. Really nice toasted malt mixed in with some citrus hop aroma. The mixture gives off a nice earthiness that I just loved. Not as strong as other bitters I’ve had but still really nice. Taste is much the same. A nice toasty malt taste. Almost burnt. Mixed in their is the citrus. It’s lovely. I also picked up some caramel and a tea like flavor. Mouthfeel is light and refreshing. Almost watery. Has a dry feeling on the tongue.

Pint Can. Smells a little grassy/piney, probably not the beers fault but my gf’s talapia stinks, and that’s all I can smell. Looks a slightly cloudy amber. White head. Must have been a short brew time. Tons of flavor for a 4% beer. Not bad.

Overrated? I guess if youre looking for a session ale this is pretty decent but where are the malts?! All I can taste is very lightly hopped water. When I drink a bitter I expect good complex english malts and not absent pale malts... I hoped for more.

Tallboy, so I’m giving this beer extra points for kicking ass. Great soft malty notes and a balancing unnoticeable.

Can to bottle. Great golden Orange color with an awesome thick head. The pour on this bad boy is awesome. Super clean and crisp finish. Great nose with some nice floral notes. There is so much to love about this beer. One of my go-to’s in the summer. I love this beer. And for around $8, I love the price as well.

I received a 16oz can in a trade with a friend in Minnesota. I poured it into an English nonic pint glass.

Appearance: Hazy, tarnished orange hue but with plenty of visible carbonation. Forms a small, white, frothy head. Average retention and lacing.

Smell: Amazing hop presence with light citrus and flowers - almost like a perfume. Subtle sweet malty and confectionary notes buried underneath.

Taste: I’m always amazed when a brewery can do more with less and when brewers (usually Americans) can put entirely new spins on classic styles. Surly Bitter Brewer does both simultaneously: it doesn’t forget its roots, yet it doesn’t apologize for its overtly American qualities.

Usually light beers with strong hop presence tend to taste like hop water, but this one is a lot different. Sweet citrusy hop flavors begin and end the palate, yet it is not dry or bitter (only 37 IBUs). The English bitter palate is revealed throughout the middle with a strong flavor of grain, cereals, and red fruits. It’s a juicy taste with a strong orange and apricot marmalade taste. The hops bookend the palate with a light citrus taste, and keep the fruit theme going without becoming distracting or cloying.

Mouthfeel: Surprisingly thick and full-bodied, but it lacks the intensity and deadweight of a stronger beer. Mostly calm, but some noticeable carbonation. A short, pleasant aftertaste of jelly but for the most part it’s clean.

Drinkability: It’s rare I find an American beer I could honestly see myself drinking for hours on end, but Surly Bitter Brewer is definitely such a beer. With a delectable palate of genuine taste that doesn’t overwhelm and a comfortable mouthfeel and smooth, clean finish it’s the epitome of drinker-friendly. It’s not strong enough to stand up to a hearty meal, but as the pub beer it’s meant to emulate it does the job perfectly.

Pours a clear golden orange/amber color with a two finger, frothy off-white head that slowly fades into a thin ring. A decent amount of lacing left behind. Sweet citrus hop aroma with subtle grassy pine countered by pale malt character. The nose is almost all citrus with hints of grapefruit, pineapple and lots of orange peel. Medium bodied with lots of sweet citrus hop flavor up front that lingers over the pale malt backbone into a slightly dry finish. The hop profile is one dimensional without much bitterness and not very dry. More sweet than anything with hints of tropical fruit and citrus peel countered by biscuity malts. Well balanced but not overly complex.

A surprise delight. Have been a big fan of Surly Furious, which is curently number 1 on my favorite list. Bitter Brewer is has a hint of lime. The upfront bitter note is not overpowering, and the beer has a very nice finish.