Surly SurlyFest

Brewed by Surly Brewing Company
Style: Oktoberfest/Märzen
Brooklyn Center, Minnesota USA

Can: Pours a copper with a slight haze to it, with an off white head. Aroma, spices, yeasty, with some pine and earthy notes, pale malts. Flavor, caramel and an herbal floral quality to it, some yeast, there are some really bright hops to this one, with a good bit of bitterness on the finish. Quite enjoyable.

Poured from a 16oz can and served in a Bell’s dimpled mug. This beer poured a slightly hazy, glowing amber/orange with visible carbonation running up the glass, topped by a fomy, beige head that lasted throughout. Some chunky lacing was left around the glass. The aroma of the beer included an abundance of fragrent floral hops, caramel, and toasted malt. Great aroma with a nice, unexpected hop presence. The flavor was very malty with toasted grains, caramel, light toffee, and a spicy hop finish. The mouthfeel was medium-bodied with soft carbonation that provided a creamy palate. This was just a kick ass Oktoberfest! Maybe a bit overhopped for the purist, but I thank Surly for pushing the envelope a little bit. Great job!!!

Shared by Sliffy. Wonderful aroma--nice hop scent with a good "harvest ale" type of of aroma. Body is orange-brown with a decent head. The taste is great for the style--nice rye flavor for sure with a healthy dose of hops on top. The hops are grassy and fit well with this style.

Thanks to drmatt for sharing this nice marzen. This is one of the fest o-fest beers I think I could care about. Pours orange / copper with a light white head. The aroma has floral / flowery hops with some dank green onions and light citrus. Medium / light body with a crisp and lightly brash carbonation. The flavor starts with some caramel malt first then quickly the hops from the aroma take over. The finish focuses mainly on the dank and citrus aspects. Very well done non-typical version of the style.

GABF 2007. Mostly transparent, copper brown color with a creamy beige head. Grassy, herbal hop aromas with a touch of caramel sweetness and nutty notes. Medium bodied, creamy mouthfeel. Lots of caramel flavor and loads of herbal hop bitterness. Obviously not to style, but I desperately wish it was, as this is not at all in my lines of flavor preference. I’m completely missing the point, as I don’t like my IPA’s to be malty, nor do I like my octoberfest’s to be laden with caramel.

This was like no other Marzen I’ve ever had. Extremely crisp and clean, with a lot of hop character. Some notes of rye, maybe? Flavorful, herbal hoppy to the finish. Real style buster, but very good. Thanks to theisti for the trade!

Can, with thanks to both theisti and tytoanderso, appreciate it guys! Pours a slightly cloudy orange amber with a towering pillowy tan head, great lacing. Aroma is fruits and light spice, with some apple peel, peach and caramel. Flavor is malty, with touches of apple peel, caramel and toffee; only the slightest of hoppiness detected. A nice interpretation of the style and highly quaffable!

From a Big Boy Can. O ya. Pours out a nice hazy copper topped with a off white head. Aroma of malt and some hops. Tast of sweet fruit and a little hops. I also picked up a touch of spice. thanks Jake.