Surly Smoke

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

Great Taste of the Midwest 2008

The place to be for most of the day was Surly. Always bustling with activity I made it a point to be there for as many of the special tappings as I could. This one was no exception. About a year old (2007 vintage) this shows no signs of going downhill. If it were bottled like the Darkness I think the guys in Brooklyn Center would have another hot commodity on their hands.

Aroma / Appearance - The black body was covered by a thin tan head and wrapped in decorative lacing. Candy sguar, coffee, sweet creamers and a pleasant smokiness highlighted the best parts of a world class baltic porter. Taking the best of the easily available releases and raising the bar this has to be one of the best on the planet.

Flavor / Palate - Cocoa powder, sugar and dark chocolate wash smoothly across the tongue. The creamy mouthfeel makes this very drinkable. A smoky finish accents an already solid beer. Very balanced and smooth this is something worth trying when you find yourself with the opportunity. Only the Darkness might be better.

GTMW ’08. 2007 vintage. black in color with red light shining through. I smelled a dash of brown sugar and a whiff of campfire. Medium to full bodied with subdued smoke/roast and chocolate flavors. Fairly simple with smoke on the lighter side, but solid.

Black pour dark tan head, thick lacing. Full palate very well coated. Great flavor of smoked ham or really a prosciutto, some sweet sugars almost syrups come through as well. Smoked salmon aroma definate meats, rich, light alcohols, smoke is light but present in all phases. This is the best smoked beer I’ve ever tasted.

Draft at Buster’s one year anniversary party. Served in a tulip glass; poured an opaque, black body with no head. Aroma of burnt and sweet malts with some light smoke. Taste is roasted malts, dark chocolate, smoke, and maybe a hint of peat. Medium to heavy body with a slightly oily mouthfeel. Roasted malt and smoke in the finish. Probably my favorite Surly brew to date.

8th Beer of the Beer Spot Tasting Sunday March 30th, 2008. Bottle provided by Tiptop, via the brewers at Surly. Pours black with a tan ring. Nose is low on the smoke, but its there adn nice. Taste is sweet and smokey but mellow, this is a drinkable complex smoked beer, something rare in the smoked category, its got some legs.

FoBAB 2007, under the name "DAHMER". poured dark dark black, no head. some fruitiness in the nose, and slight smokey air. falvor was floral, fruity, incensy and smoky. oily, creamy mouth feel. not a bad entry.

(Draft) Pours a black body with a small creamy beige head. Aroma of smoke, roastiness, brown sugar, plums, and raisins. Flavor of smoke, rye, dark fruits, and roasted malt.

A great smoked flavor that only Aecht can beat, but all in all just a bit small to miss the higher rankings.