Surly SurlyFest

Brewed by Surly Brewing Company
Style: Oktoberfest/Märzen
Brooklyn Center, Minnesota USA

Serve in Dimpled mug, Lager glass, Stein

A: imperial pint. pours a vibrant bright orange copper color that is very clear. mild head, off white in color. medium retention. S: some baked apples and pears, wonderful crystal malt aroma. T: very sweet oktoberfest. hoppier than most, which provides a better balanced brew than most fest beers. tastes dry-hopped almost, with some nice rye malts. M: nice dry hopped mouthfeel. very balanced beer. smooth and rather creamy. D: very nice fest beer with an American twist. solid brew. well worth getting. very creative by dry hopping an oktoberfest.

On cask at GTMW 2010 - I’ve been wanting to try this for awhile even though I’m not a huge Octoberfest fan. But I’m a Surly fan and I knew they wouldn’t disappoint. And they didn’t. This one poured a hazy amber with a small white head. Light lemon, light malt, and some almost tropical fruity hop notes dominate the nose. Well-balanced and delicate. Taste is smooth and lightly hopped. There’s sweet malt without being overbearing or cloying. I think smooth is the word of the day for this beer. It went down terribly quick even though I was trying to savor it and the way the flavors integrate mean there are no rough edges that need smoothing. I would really like a 4-pack of this when it comes out.

Sampled from the cask at the 2010 GTMW. Poured a cloudy yellowish orange with a white head that dissipated to the edges. Aroma had a nice combination of citrus and pine with a nice backing of grain. Flavor began with a nice pine note and mellowed in to a lighter citrus finish with a slight backing bread note.

Medium amber liquid with a puffy white head that dissipates to a fine but uneven pattern of lacing. Sweet and doughy. Some hop character that I can’t quite place. Good lager flavor. Fresh grains and dry yeast. Some sweet breadiness. Mild rye flavor. Some nice bitterness in the finish. It’s a good beer with a good lager flavor, but it’s not as complex as I was somehow expecting. I would prefer it have a crisper bite.

Can thanks to Skyveiw and DLD2010 trade pours golden and clear with average sized white head with the aromas being of caramel malts, and citrus taste was of the same smooth and creamy one of the better marzens I have had

Can from Skyview. Thanks man! Pours a hazy orange with creamy off white head. Aroma of toasty malt, a bit of caramel and citrus. Some tea notes and leafy hops. Flavor is ice tea, crackery malt, a bit of caramel and rye. Some pineapple. This is really special. Leafy hops combine with citrus hops to make a hop profile unlike any i’ve had in a marzen. Creamy mouthfeel. Finishes long and fruity. I can’t even imagine if this beer came out by me. I would buy a case of it, easy. Best marzen ever.

A- Body is a light amber/slightly brown hue. Pours with a nice creamy 2 finger or so white frothy head which eventually fades to 1/2 finger and retains well from there. Lacing left all the way down the glass. S- Caramel malt, citrusy hops, and a touch of rye. T- Upfront is a pretty big citrus hop flavor with a rich O-fest nutty, caramely malt backbone. The finish is a bit bitter with the rye and hops coming through a bit more but the bitterness fades quickly and leaves behind highlights of the wonderful initial flavor. P-Wonderful, smooth, light, slightly oily body with medium to high carbonation. O- This is a great collaboration of rye, hoppy, and o-fest. Great flavors and lager quaffability. Reminds me a little bit of great lakes Elliot Ness. Well done overall and something I would like to trade for next time it comes around. Serving type: can Reviewed on: 12-31-2008 23:24:35

Can thanks to DuffManSW. Amber pour with a small, short-lived, off-white head. Nutty, biscuity and toasty caramel aroma with a subtle hint of spicy hops. The flavor is almond and toasty biscuit upfront with notes of toffee and noble hops on the finish with a bitter, floral aftertaste. Crisp, medium body with moderate carbonation.