Surly Bender

Brewed by Surly Brewing Company
Style: Brown Ale
Brooklyn Center, Minnesota USA

[can] 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.

Thanks to mcbackus for bonusing this one to me. Pours a light brown body with ruby red highlights. Thin head. Nutty aroma, with malts, roast and hops. Pretty thick mouthfeel for a brown ale, with roasty, nutty flavors dominating. Long, dry finish. Surprised to find this one has oatmeal in it, probably where the thick body comes from. Very nice.

pours a clear dark brown with mild bubbles and tan head. nice clean malty mocha aroma. fizzy clean palate. loose front, mocha malty finish, with slight milky aftertaste. good.

1 pint can. Props to my brother in law for driving this down from Minneapolis. Aroma: Lots of toasted nuts, coffee, toffee, and brown sugar. Some citrusy hop notes, as well. Appearance: Dark brown with some reddish highlights. Light tan head was full and creamy with good retention. Good lacing. Flavor: Toffee, coffee, toasted nuts, light raisins. Can definatly taste and feel the oatmeal. Really helps round it out. A little light spiceiness. Some citrusy and grassy hop notes into the finish. Well balanced. Palate: Medium bodied. Medium carbonation. Slight astringency on sides of mouth. Overall: I’ve been looking forward to this one for awhile, and I really enjoyed it. Smooth, well balanced, and very drinkable. Lots of flavor. Great beer.

Pint can into pint glass. An awesome brownish amber color that shines ruby red when held upto a light. Nice khaki head that exhibits some pretty quality retention as well. Aroma is simple but on point -- nutty and malty... reminds me very much of the fall. Medium bodied with very soft carbonation. Nice and smooth and easy-going. Overall: a very simple but very pleasant beer.

Malt-driven aroma. Pours dark, dark brown ... this is a brown ale with aspirations of being a porter ... lots of tan head leaves a good lacing. Flavor is very well balanced bittersweet. On the malt side, molasses, nuts, and just a little bit of the roast; the hops are floral and spicy. Smooth on the palate, but thin bodied for something this flavorful.

Pours dark brown with white head. Smells strongly of hops and roasted malts. This one is overpowered by the delicious hoppy taste. An enjoyable beer that may be too hoppy for a brown ale.

Pours a nice dark brown, with a small tan head. Nice burnt aromas of chocolate, caramel with hints of nuttiness. The flavor is nice and malty with a good nutty edge and coffee. A nice beer from a great brewery.