Surly Bender

Pours a cola brown black with a thin head and cola like bubbles. The nose is a bit roasty with that cola sort of acidity. Maybe it’s in my head? There’s a round relatively sweet malt and a slightly dry chocolate character. A bit of hops strikes me as slightly out of place, but still nice. A bit thin on the tongue, though not watery, this has certainly been filtered fairly well and force carbonated, but since it’s in a can, I can’t make off for that. The flavor is a step above. A round balanced dark malt bill complete with chocolate and hints of the caramel and vanilla they claim should be there. The hops are above and beyond what I expected, but fitting and welcome. Floral cascade like hops, really make this a beer worth drinking. The finish lingers with pleasantly dry roast and bitter hops. a bit acidic. Reminds me of a hopped up Bell Best Brown. I would make this my regular session beer if it were distributed here.

(draft) Beige head atop brown-black body with red undertones. Aroma is medium sweet, roast, some coffee. Taste is medium sweet, caramel/coffee, some earthy. Medium body, light acidity.

Sample from tap at the brewery. Pours dark brown to black with a brown head. Aroma is roasted malt. Flavour is dominated by roasted malts but has some hoppiness sticking out. Bitter finish, but clearly more mild than the coffee version.

Can, with thanks to hellomynameis, pours a coke brown with a nice tan head, good lacing. Malty aroma of light chocolate, nuts and toasted oats. Flavor is more of the same, well balanced and mild with just a touch of sweetness. Palate is a medium mouthfeel, light carbonation, and a bit sticky.

Can. Poured a clear purplish-brown color with a thin light-brown head. Chocolate, nutty, and malty aroma. Awesome full mouthfeel. Flavor is a nice brown sugar and malty combo. Sweet, yet a nice bitter finish. So far, I’m digging the Surly brews. Thanks, theisti!

Can. Head is initially small, frothy/fizzy, brown, mostly diminishing. Body is clear dark brown. Aroma is moderately malty (toasted bread, nuts, roasted grain, cocoa), lightly hoppy (grapefruit). Flavor is moderately sweet, lightly acidic, lightly bitter. Finish is lightly to moderately sweet, lightly acidic, moderately bitter. Medium body, watery texture, lively/fizzy carbonation. Simply put, a solid brown ale. Easy-drinking thanks to a good flavor balance, and a nice enough aroma. While it doesn’t rock my socks (let’s face it...it’s difficult for brown ales to rock anyone’s socks unless the malt character is extraordinary), it doesn’t make any real mistakes either. For my tastes, it’s just a bit too sweet, slightly overcarbonated, and the aroma doesn’t really make an impression. Definitely above the curve though.

16 oz can shared with willblake thanks to allendodd. Pours a deep dark ruby brown with an average head. Aroma was sweet roasted malts like a funky chocolate covered cherry, reminded me of Reaper Ritual Dark Ale. Thin body that seemed almost a little watery, I might have expected more from the darkness of the beer. Flavor was nice with some malt notes and hardly any bitterness. Seems like a good session beer.

Can. Thanks to Stine for the trade. Pours a deep dark body with huge head. Aroma is of sweet malt with an hint of molasses. Flavor lays heavy with sweet malt - peaty, light hops and some light chocolate present. Very quaffable. Good beer from a can.