Surly Bender

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

Ahhh, my first beer to rate on ratebeer.com. As my first, Surly Bender is a good choice. Pours a great dark brown ale and holds a head even after the glass in half empty. Aroma does have a distinct caramel and vanilla scent. Taste has the nut toffee and nice touch of bitter hops. S Surly Brewery sells both pint and tulip glasses. Definitely use the Surly tulip glass to get the best aroma and flavor. I could see having a rib eye steak with mesquite marinade with this brown ale.

Canned, thanks to Skyview. Poured an almost clear, deep iced tea brown with a short cap of beige head. Aroma picked up lightly-toasted dry chocolate, cocoa, and coffee notes with mild pine accents. Flavor was more enjoyable with roasted chocolate and coffee at the core.. accented by a mild herbal bitterness and sweet vanilla... long, roasted coffee finish. Medium-bodied with very nice balance between the roasty malts and the mild-ish bitterness. Very tasty and powerfully drinkable!

Fresh and tasty pint can, thanks to Tempest. Large brown head on dark brown, much like a coffee. Moderate pleasant mocha chocolate coffee aroma, and the taste does deliver. Modest roast, malty without sweet. Secondary a bit dry and bitter. Very drinkable. A few minutes later, it is all gone.

Can (1 pint). Shared with LagerLoather, courtesy of Oakbluff. Nearly opaque clear mahogany with a decent lasting creamy/rocky mottled beige/tan head. Solid aroma of chocolate malt, well-roasted, the nutty sweetness well-balanced by solid herbal, slightly funky fresh hops - very good. The taste follows, dark almost burnt roast malt, chocolate and a hint of coffee beans, cereal grain softness and balancing hop bitterness (not much alcohol). Body is light but a little chewy, nicely astringent, perfect carbonation, and it has a nice lingering slightly lactic roast finish. Excellent.

Can shared by DuctTape. Dark brown bdoy with a creamy tan head and nice lacing. Sweet mildly malty aroma, light cocoa and vanilla, fruity undertones. (6+) Surprisingly fruity flavour, malty character with cocoa notes. (6+) Average palate. Interesting, not quite what I expected.

This brown ale pours a dark amber color from a 16oz can. Small sized white foamy head. Aroma is malty, nutty and sweet. A medium bodied brown ale. Malts are caramel and sweet. Hops are earthy and floral. Lots of malt, brown sugar and molasses in this one. Nice balance. Good carbonation. The finish is a touch sweet with some alcohol. Mouthfeel is full. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly sweet.

Can. Large creamy beige head that mostly lasted. Good display of lacework. Clear flat body with a mahogany color. Caramel grain and burned bitter malt. Light bitter coffee. Some floral and grassy notes with light fruity feel as well. Medium bodied with an average carbonation. Light sweet flavor with moderated bitter notes. Burned bitter finish.

Can. Pours a deep brown body with a tan head. Roasted malt, caramel, light coco and roast y tones. Caramel with a light vanilla and a mild bittering finish. Great base for my beloved coffee bender.