Surly Bender

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

At a tasting, thanks David, small thick head, dark reddish colour with light brownish taints, aromas of tobacco and hints of grassy hops, flavours of nuts, oats and a touch of fruit and soap, strong hoppy bitterness which fades rather quickly and a light sweetness in the back. Strange beer.

Thick and sticky, gotta love this one. Quite different than the DIPA/RIS school I have been used to, perhaps that contributed to my positive image of this beer. Very close to a porter, but not. This may very well be the most difficult beer I have had to review. I’ll put it this way, it’s good.

The can-can? Would you dance with me? I loved it! The bender was just what I expected except I felt better the next day (I hope so). Carmel, coffee, chocolate malty goodness. I love brown ale. I’m glad it’s local.

Ok, now I know why Daknole sent this one to me. Thanks alot man! This beer kicks ass. I enjoyed every bit of it. Looks great. Dark brown with a thick fluffy beige head that sticks around. Aroma is full and strong with roasted malts and some hops. Flavor is more bitter than you would expect from a brown ale. But that makes it unique and I love it. Sweet malts, caramel, and some coffee combine with hops and oatmeal to make a sweet, bitter, dry finishing beer. No it’s not the strongest, most complex, or extreme beer out there. But the balance is excellent and it’s extremely smooth and drinkable.

Pours a dark brown with thin tan head. Aroma mild of roasted malt, grain, cocoa, and a bit of coffee. Flavor matches well with the addition of vanilla. Creamy mouthfeel leads to a pretty decent oatmeal brown, but this isn’t uncharted and doesn’t discern itself.

16oz can from theisti. Nose is interesting - coffee and hops with a caramel and bready malt backbone. Flavor is also interesting, like no other beer I’ve had - intiially toasty chocolate and malted milk ball flavor that soon mingles with the creamy oatmeal and finishes a dry, bitter hop profile. A little strange, but very well executed. Not my thing entirely, but as with all the other Surly brew I’ve tried, it’s very well cared for. Thanks, Tim.

suprised to see this spread out to the burbs and available at old chicago. had 4 beers this evening and this was definitely my favorite. nice balance of coffee malt and piney hops with a slight metalic finish. nicely done, cannot wait for more.

Love most every Surly, but this one not so much. Just seems like a non-descript, brown ale to me. OK malt, some nuts, some coffee, a bit thin if creamy, not much of an aftertaste. Easy to drink, but just leaves me wanting. I should have not had the Furious first, which was outstanding.