Abrasive Ale

Can date: 2017-10-10. A good amount of haze greats the eye upon a stern pour. White, webbed, sticky laced foam is big but quickly recedes. Lacing is sticky. Aroma is hop forward with malt only for good measure and slight balance. There is a bread element: possibly the malt and/or the yeast. Citrus and tropical fruit is the focus of the hops, pineapple being the most distinguishable. Mango. Not as aromatic as memory tried to serve. Taste follows the nose. Malt is just there but not getting in the way. Tropical fruit: pineapple, orange and mango, pick up in the middle into the finish. Some bitterness but faint. Medium body and carbonation. Somewhat dry. I can't believe I have never rated this beer with all the times I have partaken. A solid beer but not a great beer (maybe a bit past prime based on date). Good balance, light bitterness for a DIPA that was around before the NEIPA craze. Could the recipe/process changed over time? Enjoy!

A: Deep gold color with a haze but not cloudy. Fizzy and fluffy but doesn't hang around too long. A: Citrus and fruit, maybe grapefruit mixed with orange but very not scent, faint pine. A tad bready. T: Very mild alcohol, semi-sweet tropical fruits with a tang of citrus. It's has bitterness, but Warrior hop's characteristic of clean and not overpowering bitterness. P: Mediums across the board on body, carbonation, and finish. Overall: One of the early DIPA's to use Citra hops, it's not for the uninitiated IPA drinker, but it's still an awesome Surly brew. It's always been tough to come by and a tad pricey ($18 for a 4 pack of 16-oz). Surly Brewing is a longtime favorite in the Midwest. One of the early craft brewery's to make a name for itself and to stay original. I've always thought of them as the northern plain version of Three Floyd's. My only nick is that the beer I bought in early January was packaged on 10/17/17. I just read that distribution has changed in Chicago from Windy City to Lakeshore. Maybe this packagwe got caught up in the changeover. Im still a big fan.