Surly Bender

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

It was dark brown in color with a spare diminishing head. The lacing was excellent. It had a very smooth taste with a coffee flavor.

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.

Can from jrob_21 - thanks!. Big hoppy nose with Cascades and some must, a lot of roast/toast malt with heavy waves of bitter chocolate and nuts. Caramel. Dark mahogany pour with a unique orange-brown head that creams and rocks itself deliciously. Taste is - yessir - heavy, thick chocolate malt and prickly Cascades, has enough Black Sun in it for comparison, but then veers off in its own direction, with silky, syrupy oatmeal strands, caramel, and cocoa. Bitter and nutty. Finish and after have a slightly acidic fruity tang, otherwise dry and rindy. Thinnish, flattish body. Cocoa reminds more of a porter than of a brown ale. Robust session actually worthy of everyday drinking. Layered, complex, delicious!

The aroma is wonderful, raisin, fig, hint of licorice and molasses. The color is dark brown with a touch of red when held to the light. The head is of white, mostly diminishing with good lacing. The initial flavor is bitter a little watery, then you flavor of raisin, roasted coffee, pretty good.

From a 16oz can. Pours a dark brown, semi-transparent color with a massive serving of thick, well sustaining beige head. Nutty aroma of toasted peanut skins that are balanced nicely by a wave of perfumy hops that contain notes of marigold petals, gentle pine, and celery leaf. A bit of graham cracker and cookie dough support the malt aroma nicely. Light to medium bodied, silky smooth mouthfeel. Soft on the palate, but not overly chewy. The malt character is much stronger than the aroma let me believe. Plenty of toasted bread crust, hazelnut, and a hint of unsweetened baker’s chocolate give this a refreshingly dry palate. Clean finish, with a subtle white grapefruit hoppiness left lingering with some toasted oatmeal. A very satisfying example of the style without deviating to extremes. Thanks, Tom!

Thanks for the can, Shannon! Sweet looking 16oz can. Very dark but clear mahogany. Lasting froth. Aroma primarily chocolate, some sweet fruity. The flavor is a dark ipa. moves dry to sweeter, mellow to more bitter, chocolate, toasted nut, something tangy i can’t put my finger on (melon?) leaves a long lingering northwestern hop bite. Watery in texture compared to what i expected from the flavor.

Pours very dark brown with a long lasting foamy tan head. Strong aroma of dark malt, hops, vanilla and a little nuttiness. After the first sip, the first thing that I notice is the outstanding creaminess. Extremely smooth texture which makes it very drinkable. Taste is awesome...nutty, creamy, hint of coffee & chocolate and balanced with the perfect amount of hops. Texture of this is what set’s it apart most. Best brown ale I’ve ever tasted!

Canned thanks to a trade. Brown brew with a big fluffy and creamy tan head. Smells of roast malt, some coffee or toffee smells as well. Tasty beer, even if my better half said "I thought you didn’t drink beer from cans." Probably one of the best browns I’ve had to date. Darn glad I have a few extra for camping season.