Surly CynicAle

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

Can, 6.5%. Thanks, yespr. Weak caramelly aroma with a little rag. Hazy greyish copper colour. Small head. The flavour has a little cardboard and some roughness from either the alcohol or the hops. Gets more fruity as it warms. Good mouthfeel. Tastes of more than its ABV.

Can from Ughsmash. Belgian yeast, clove, a touch of peach and melon round out the aroma. Pours a hazy orange golden with a nice 1 finger thick head. Soft fruit flavors and spices are finished with a nice peppery bitterness to create a crisp and highly sessionable, not to mention, flavorful ale. Body seems rather light, while carbonation is medium to high. A good beer.

Can from Decaturstevo. Pours a hazy golden with a white head. Very nice belgian funk aroma, with some peach and melon sweetness blending in. Medium bodied with a soft and slightly spritzy belgian texture. Flavor of belgian pale malts, honey, and a hint of lemon. Mid palate is dry with a decent european herbal bitterness (almost like a hoppy czech pilsner) that carries into the finish. Finish gets thinner in texture with some chalkiness. An interesting take on a Saison, and enjoyable.

Can. Little hazy golden colour with a nice head. Aroma of hops, yeast and spices. Flavour of yeast, wheat and little bitter. Ends up quite dry at the end.

Can courtesy of Secret Santa, thanks! Medium very slightly hazy gold, slight head. Aroma of black pepper and a bit of honey, pepper and spice notes heading but not quite getting towards pungent. Flavor wa surprisingly complex, with the black pepper and honey from the nose evident, but quickly moving into a yeast and hop dominated finish that included some spiciness, apricot, and a hint of tropical fruit. At the very end, the faintest hint of musky sweat. I was initially afraid that the pepper would overwhelm things, but it was just kept in check. Nicely done, one of the better American saisons I’ve had.

Can shared by artusory. Slightly hazy straw body, thin off-white head. Bready nose, earthy and chalky, with light floral spice. Potent, punchy spice body, floral, with fennel and bitter notes, potpourri, and light bready malt. No soft, sweet, flabby malt heaviness here. Robust, aggressive, and spartan.

Can. Brilliant gold with a coarse white head. Bold spicy yeast aroma with a hint of fruit and old books found in the basement. Citrusy sweet flavor that fades to a dry peppery spiciness with some coriander and then a little sweetness comes back at the end. Seems as if it should be so drinkable and yet I don’t find that to be true. Oh well, a beer can be well made and still not be for everyone.

Pours hazy golden amber with some nice tan head that disappears with little to no lacing. Smells of citrus, earthy undertones, tea, little hop and many different nice spices. Smells like a tasty saison! A burst of spicy malt, citrus, butterscotch, molasses and lemon. Everything shows up quite nicely and nothing is overdone. Very light in the mouth, little carbonation and a very subtle bite at the end that sits on the tongue. I think this brew is underrated since it’s so different from the hop filled siblings from Surly but to be honest it’s still a one of kind brew. Could drink this for days. Well done Surly, after tasting your three mainstays I’m considering moving to Minnesota.