Surly Bender

sampled from the can at DLD - Pours dark brown with a thin white head. the aroma is mainly of caramel malt. The flavor isn’t quite what I’d expect from the style. The caramel malt is in there but it’s fairly light. There’s also ample hops with some citrus notes and maybe some chocolate. the palate is rather lighter than I expected. It’s certainly an unusual brew for the style though I’m not sure it works for me as well as it does for many people.

Can shared at Dark Lord Day 08. I would not have thought this a brown ale. Pours a dark dark brown almost black color. Has intense smells that make me think of licorice, hay/wheat, with some belgian like alcohol smells. Tastes follow those smells. Upfront the malt hits you with more licorice, then some hop flavors balance out the brew with a finish that says ’smell me, taste me, and smell me some more.’ Very enjoyable.

A- Pours a deep reddish brown with a very small head which dissapates fairly quickly. S- Smell is sweet with hints of coffee, very enticing. T- Taste is malty sweet with an underlying coffee flavor and a slight malt backbone that makes this one tasty brew. M- Fairly viscous. My major complaint with Surly is they just don’t have the amount of carbonation I would like. None the less, good. D- This is an extremely drinkable brew, not only is it tasty but at 5% you can easily throw a few back without worrying about passing out face down on the floor.

Thanks to Tytoanderso for this! Dark brown thick head and some spotty lacing Roasted malts and cocoa on the nose. Malty with subtle hints of wood. Slightly bitter finish. Very good for the style

20070625 Big ol’can thanks to Dodd. Mahogany hints on mostly black. Pretty stuff with lofty white head. Aroma is cocoa, roasty dark bread, light lactose, bourbon-like woody hints. Nice session brown reminds of a dunkel, maybe a lighter Hell Hath No Fury. Great palate and finish. Light bitterness.

can from Stine,thanks. Pours a deep brown with a medium, long lasting tan head. Aroma-caramel, nutty malt with touches of chocolate and some floral hop suggestions. Taste is caramel, light chocolate, somewhat nutty, with a moderate amount of oats. Body is creamy and lightly slick. Some floral hops in the background, light bitter finish. Probably the best brown ale I’ve had.

16oz can Recieved this in a recent trade with mully, thanks Matt! Bender pours dark mahogany, bordering on a dark brown, that glows when backlit. The craggy beige head grew to a finger on the pour and left good lacing on its way down. Big aromas from a lower abv brew. Big whiff of brown bread off the bat followed by a touch of rye like spiciness. Coffee, caramel and a swirling of vanilla join the party and make for an interesting brown. Mildly spicy fruity hoppiness toward the back. Lots of complexity in the nose! The flavor mirrors the aroma nicely. The only difference I come across is a (more than the nose suggested) generous hopping that are all at once fruity and spicy. I even get a touch of that leathery goodness found in some other brews. This is an exciting brown ale and I don’t think I’ve ever said that before. The oats add a nice creamy texture that really helps this beer stand apart. Medium bodied and incredibly smooth. The drinkability is way up there. The low(er) abv and big flavor make for a great session beer. Another home run from Surly! This is an exciting, delicious brown ale. Keep it up over there guys. 3/30/08

Can. Dark brown colour with a beige head. Aroma is chocolate, hop, caramel. Flavour is coffee, hop, roasted, caramel, chocolate. OK beer, but nothing more.