Surly Wet 2009 & 2010

Formerly brewed at Surly Brewing Company
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Brooklyn Center, Minnesota USA

Serve in Shaker, Tulip

UPDATED: NOV 12, 2009 On tap at Lunar Brewing Co.. Evening at the brewpub doesn’t allow a good color read but looked to be a slightly hazy, brown/amber with off white, modest foam that reduced fairly quick to a film and small perimeter ring, leaving some light spots as lacing. The nose was subtle and presented a hint of sugary sweetness, and equal amounts of pine and citrus. The flavor was immediately sharp hop bitterness, almost astringent, with only some light malt to attempt to smooth off the edges. The body seemed just medium and finished altogether bitter and dry. Decent, true to the commercial description, but appreciate a little more balance in my IPAs. Tried again at the Bavarian Lodge, Lisle IL. and felt my appearance rating should increase +.1 The clarity was good, the color was a deep copper, the head was rocky, and the lacing was more pronounced and clingy. Maybe a little more to the body, but I stand with rest.

Wet pours a clear light copper color. Huge fluffy crater filled white head is poured. 3 fingers. Retention is great with minimal lacing. Right off the bat you are blasted with hops. Citrus and grassy hops here. It’s a clean and fresh aroma. While the beer is full of hops, there is a nice caramel backbone here. There’s also some noticeable alcohol here. Not enough to get in the way though. Ok so these guys make some fantastic IPAs. But taste wise out of the 3 they make, this might be my least favorite. That doesn’t mean it’s not fantastic. Because it really is a good IPA. But Furious just blows me away every time I have it and Abrasive Ale, especially when I had it fresh right from the brewery, is frigging amazing. More grassy hops come through here with some pine. The citrus from the citra hops then comes through nicely. Bitterness adds up nicely over time. Then the nice caramel backbone. Like in the aroma, there is some alcohol here. I really thought their would be more of a hop attack here but instead it’s a nice drinkable IPA. I’d go as far as saying it’s very sessionable even at 7.50%. Mouthfeel is smooth, medium bodied, and oily. Goes down very very nice.

Name: Wet
Date: November 12, 2010
Mode: Can
Source: Tasting
Appearance: clear copper, bits of lace
Aroma: sweet crystal aroma
Flavor: sweet malt flavor, crystal sweetness, touch of citrus
Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 12/20
Rating: 3/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: ** /4

I’ve been holding on to this review for awhile. Recently found my notes on this one and was inspired to reflect on it based on the 2011 version of Wet. Can to glass. Aroma has notes of citrus (mostly grapefruit, maybe something a little sweeter as well) and some piney flavors that don’t exist in the 2011 version. There is also a a small presence of floral aroma. The pour is orange/light amber with a large white head. The 2010 version seemed to be more bitter than its newer counterpart. Nice medium mouth feel with the perfect amour of carbonation. Overall, I liked the 2011 version better because of the all Citra hops. Bit this was a fine IPA and deserves its credit rightfully so.

I poured a 16oz can into an oversize wine glass.

Appearance: Hazy, but translucent shade of pure orange with slight honey hue. Forms an average-sized frothy head which retains and laces pretty well.

Smell: Pure pine sap and resin - almost to the point of burnt rubber. A very earthy scent as well, similar to sharp cheddar with a noticeable tropical fruit juice syrup aroma at the core.

Taste: I wouldn’t say I like wet hop IPAs any more or less than regular IPAs, mostly because I’ve never been floored by one, but Surly Wet definitely is the best I’ve had so far. This is a different kind of bitterness - a continual, dull, wet, soft bitterness with a rich juicy sweetness riding shotgun. It’s very tasty, original and impressive.

It begins with the immediate presence of resin. A strong, rich, dull bitterness like standing too close to a car that’s stuck and is burning its rubber on the pavement and you can actually taste it. But in the case of this beer (and wet hopped beers in general), that’s a good thing. It’s pure pine sap in that it’s soft, rich, and seems to coat the entire mouth like an imperial stout does. There’s a rich, almost refreshing juicy quality through the middle, but it ends with a combination of resin and juice concentrate. It’s a very unique and somewhat strange, but highly satisfying experience for the palate.

Mouthfeel: Soft and full-bodied with a distinct dry aftertaste of syrupy richness and hop resin.

Drinkability: What really makes Surly Wet so impressive is that while its palate is very rich and bitter simultaneously, it’s also amazingly drinkable. The mouthfeel is comfortable and the low carbonation lends to a highly quaffable drinking experience. The 7.5% ABV is right on the money - accounting for a full-flavored palate without the boozy qualities you might get from an imperial IPA. A fantastic beer to pair with sharp cheddar, although it’s good enough to drink by itself.

Serving glass: Poured from can into Nonic Imperial Pint. Appearance: Very light gold with moderate stark white head. Surprised how light the beer is. Aroma: Strong, fresh, sweetish, pink grapefruit with some orange, mango and pine. Taste: Somewhat tart grapefruit assault, with layers of just barely sweet orange, mango and pine. Malts - not sure there are any. Ends very bitter. Palate: Moderate carbonation, hop oily body, very dry finish. Overall: Freshness personified. Great Wet Hop IPA that is, as expected, all about hops and bitterness. Simply, a bitter, tart grapefruit onslaught.

Can thanks to Josh! Pours a clear orange amber with a white head that dissipates slowly to the edges and laces slightly. Aroma has a nice light pine and grassy hop note backed by a bit of light grain. Flavor has a bit more pine but it is mellowed by a grass note and is backed by just a bit of sweet grains.

Can (courtesy of skyview - thanks). Sweet orange, grapefruit peel, pine, and grass aroma - very nice. Clear amber with giant light tan head. Sweet orange initially followed by moderately bitter herbal/grapefruit peel hops flavor). Great.

Canned @ tasting cgarvieuk, thanks Craig. Clear golden colour, off-white head. Aroma is citric hops, light malty. Flavour is malty, slightly hoppy, a bit of sugar and candy.