Surly Bourbon Bender

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

Thanks to whoever game me a pour from their growler at DLD. I haven’t had the normal bender so I really can’t compare. Poured a light brown color. Aroma was bready, nutty with a bit of bourbon. Taste was much the same, distant bourbon, light nuttines, I thought it was sort of watery overall and a little thin. I have had some great surly brews, and this just didn’t quite do it for me. Not hard to drink, but not outstanding.

poured from a growler on DLD. thanks for the person who shared this with our table..... poured a dark caramel brown with a bubbly edge of barely noticeable head.... aroma was of light bourbon and somewhat nutty..... flavors of a small amount of bourbon and lightly toasted. mouthfeel was a bit watery and thin.... must try this fresh of the tap one of these days.

on tap at DLD 08. thanks to whoever walked about with a growler of this. pours brownw ith tan head. a bourbon and nutty aroma. flavors are nutty, bourbon, caramel. and a real smooth finish. a solid beer and it actually works. bender shows he can be used well in many ways.

(Draft) Pours an amber-brown body with medium beige head. Aroma of toastiness, rye bread, vanilla, fig, and chocolate. Flavor of oak, vanilla, toasted/caramel malts, rye, and light chocolate with a dry finish.

FOBAB 07.Surly’s not living up to its reputation so far! Dark cola with beigeish head on the pour. Nose of bourbon caramel, vanilla, chocolate malts. Flavor is just off it seems, very blah. Sweet with small bitterness and bigtime alcohol.

On tap at FoBAB 5. Poured clear, deep reddish-brown with a light cap of beige head. The aroma picked up sweet caramel and chocolates with lesser oak and vanilla.. not much bourbon was perceptible.. lighter and quite complex (especially from a brown ale!). The flavor had vanilla, sweeter chocolates, toasted oak, and marshmallows throughout.. very tasty.. drier and a touch light right at the finish. Sweet and very enjoyable on the palate.. lighter-bodied, complex, and a great feel throughout.

FoBAB 2007: Dark brown with a fading head. The nose detects vanilla, walnut, fig, plum, caramel and bready vapours. The taste starts twangy and lactic like with a rich bready layer of malt under in all. The finish is oaky, nutty, and quite dry for a brown ale. The mouth feel is sticky and soft and as mentioned quite dry upon the finish. Not too shabby but I would have liked to see a bit more malt driven character.

ABR 2007. Funky oak and bourbon of the malty nose. Vanilla, oaks and a faint sourness in the body. Some hops survived. Not bad.