Surly Bender

Poured a two finger head into my pint glass. Color is a deep amber -- not quite opaque. Smell: first thing I get is British hops. Next is roasted malt. nice. Taste. Pretty typical for a good american brown. Oh wait... incredible mouthfeel.. must be the oatmeal. very silky smooth. I don’t want to swallow. Drinkability. I had one and I’m wanting more. I guess that rates at least a 4 in my book. A very nice brown ale. This is my first Surly and I’m impressed. I have more in my fridge to keep me waiting in anticipation. Serving type: can

Poured a very dark brown with mahogany hints when held up to light. Off-white head is nearly two inches thick and shows some retention and great lacing. Smell is of roasted malts, oatmeal, and a bit of coffee. There is also a subtle brown sugar or molasses sweetness. Smells are all very subtle and the nose is not overpowering. Taste starts with the sweetness up front with molasses, caramel malts and some nuts. This flows into a coffee and oatmeal taste that gives way to the hops which are much more present than in the aroma. The finish is crisp with a slight hop bitterness. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, extremely smooth and creamy with moderate carbonation. This is one hell of a sessionable brown ale and I could drink it all night long. Extremely well balanced and easy going down. Highly recommended!

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.

Deep red brown pour with thinnish brown head. Nice sweet malt and mild fruit on the nose. Flavor is much the same with a pleasant hop finish. Some roastiness de\veloping as it warms a bit. Good stuff, better than the average brown.

A very smooth, flavorful dark beer. Pours nice out of the can with a kaki colored head. Great for drinking at a BBQ. Another great Minnesota beer!

Tasty and well-put-together dark ale, rich enough to sip and ponder but just light enough to gulp if you want. Pours dark brown with amber-red highlights, tall and lovely tan head. Nose is lighter chocolates with some sweeter notes like cola and sugared coffee with cream. Flavor offers a nice balance of roasty, moderate sweetness and an equally moderate, sneaking bitterness. This all rides on a soft and creamy, fairly thick mouthfeel. Would be a natural match for a nice cheeseburger.

One of the best Brown Ales I’ve had! Full of roasty chocolate malty flavors. Pours clear brown with minimal white head. Goes down smooth, with sweetness, wood, smoke and chocolate all in the flavors. Pretty clean and yet sweet and, well, brown!

16 oz. can courtesy thebeardedbrewer shared with the exec board. Pours brown with small, khaki head. Nose of chocolate and roast with a touc hof hops. Ok, a lot of hops and some coffee. Lots of roasty, burnt flavor with some chocolate. Good bitter melds with the roast. Good beer. Stone XI-esque. . . kinda.