Surly Brewing Co.: 2010 Darkness

2010 Darkness
Surly Brewing Co.
4811 Dusharme Dr.
Brooklyn Center, MN

Aroma: (10/12) 
The beer was served very cold on tap, and because of that - there isn't much aroma. After letting it sit and warm, I definitely get more malt sweetness and roastedness.
Appearance: (3/3) 
What else is there to say, besides that it is jet black! Brown, half-fingered head. Very good lacing for a 10% beer!
Flavor: (18/20) 
The malt sweetness and sugars/lactose hit you first, quickly followed by the balancing hops. The beer is amazingly balanced for a beer of this strength and style!
Mouthfeel: (5/5) 
Huge body! Residual sugars level is absolutely crazy. Very sticky.
Overall Impression: (9/10) 
This is a uber huge beer. The level of sugars and stickiness, I have not yet had in any other beer! The roasted malt, alcohol level and hopping is amazingly balanced. Very little to no alcohol noticeable; that's saying something!.
TOTAL: 45/50 

Surly Brewing Co.: Wet 2010

Wet IPA
Surly Brewing Co.
4811 Dusharme Drive
Brooklyn Center, MN




Aroma: (10/12) 
The smell of fresh/wet hops hit the nose, first. The first thing to pop in my head is of a west-coast IPA. Citrusy nose, with some black pepper as well / some earthiness. Not a hop bomb on the nose, though.
Appearance: (3/3) 
The Golden Ale is very clear and has a perfect golden hue for this style. Very clear and golden-hued. Obvious filtration utilized. Poured about a one-fingered head from the 16 oz. can. Head does dissipate quite quickly.
Flavor: (18/20) 
Nice maltiness here to balance the hops. I get the malts on the front to middle of the tongue, the hops come to the forefront on the back end and at the aftertaste. Extremely fresh-tasting - as it was canned, yesterday.
Mouthfeel: (5/5) 
Some stickiness / dankness here; really nice. Very clean, with a light body.
Overall Impression: (9/10) 
Extremely fresh and green-tasting. Reminiscent of the Furious backbone/malt. This isn't an uber hop bomb, but is extremely clean and refreshing. I have to try this on tap! On cask would be amazing....!
TOTAL: 45/50 

Surly Brewing Company: Smoke

Smoke
Surly Brewing Co.
4811 Dusharme Drive
Brooklyn Park, MN

22B. Other Smoked Beer


Aroma: (10/12) 
Slight roasted hints, nothing over the top at all.
No hops evident.  As beer warms, the presence
of smoked malt comes alive (only became apparent
after warming up).

Appearance: (2.5/3)
Deep black hue with no ruby color on the edges. 
Decent head, but it waves a quick
goodbye; very little to no lacing at all.

Flavor: (17/20)
Roasted grain up front with very little to no smoked
malt noticeable.  No bitterness and very smooth.
Tastes very similar to a Schwartzbier. 
After waiting a bit for this beer to warm, there IS a slight
smoked flavor that arises.

Mouthfeel: (4/5)
Very nice and smooth and medium-bodied.  There
seems to be a touch of oatmeal in this recipe, because
of the creaminess, but it actually wasn't added into the
grain bill.

Overall Impression: (8/10)
This Surly offering was very good, but definitely not
exceptional.  I didn't pick up the smoked Bamburg
malts until the beer really warmed up and didn't pick
up any oak notes at all.

TOTAL: 41.5/50

Surly Brewing Company: Darkness

Darkness
Surly Brewing Co.
4811 Dusharme Drive
Brooklyn Park, MN
13F. Russian Imperial Stout

 Aroma: (11/12) 
Slight roasted aroma, less than I thought for a R.I.S.. 
Some notes of chocolate as well.  I'm possibly picking up
the aroma of the residual sugars.

Appearance: (3/3)
Fantastic head from the tap. Head is a nice
brown hue.  Head stays/persists as it laces
the edges of the glass.

Flavor: (18/20)
A wonderful roasted flavor with some hop
bite on the back end (more than usual from a
R.I.S.). Definitely large amounts
of residual sugars! Slight roasted astringency, 
but works well and isn't a detriment. Notes of
raisins and cherries. This darkness is one for
the ages!

Mouthfeel: (5/5)
Very creamy! Big bodied, but not too thick at all.
Some grittiness aftertaste, but I chalk that up
to the amounts of sugars in this gem!

Overall Impression: (10/10)
This is one of the best R.I.S. I've ever had.
Balance with this is fantastic. The cherries and
raisin flavors do wonders to elevate this beer to
the top of its class.  A  real animal, and a real
delight!

TOTAL: 47/50

Surly Brewing Company: Wet IPA

Wet
Surly Brewing Co.
4811 Dusharme Drive
Brooklyn Park, MN
14B. American IPA


Aroma: (10/12) 
Hoppy, but not overly - in your face hoppy.  Slight
malt character comes through.

Appearance: (3/3)
Pours a golden honey color from the tap,
with a two-fingered head that persists and
laces nicely. 

Flavor: (18/20)
A very nice fresh-hop flavor.  Again, not overly
hopped like a West Coast IPA.  A nice bite on back
of the tongue. A little dry but not too much.

Mouthfeel: (4/5)
Nice and light body, some slickness.  Not sure if it's
from the fresh lupulin or not? 

Overall Impression: (9/10)

A very nice IPA that is to style and doesn't drift into

any other style, as some Surly's tend to do.  A great example

of an American IPA that isn't hopped to hell! 

TOTAL: 44/50