Coffee Bender

A friend of mine from work picked this up for me while on vacation a few weeks ago! Thanks Jen! Pours ruby brown in color with a big tan frothy head. Good retention on the head with nice web like lacing. The aroma is a big rich blast of coffee, dark chocolate and a hint of malt sweetness. The taste is a rich malty blend of coffee and roasted malts. Chocolate and hints of vanilla are noticeable in the finish. Starts with with a light sweetness and finishes with a hint of coffee bitterness. Light body with medium carbonation. Creamy smooth mouth-feel but light at the same time, very drinkable. Overall, an impressive beer from Surly. Great flavors that are well balanced and enjoyable. I am a big fan of coffee and beer and this beer nails it! Wish is it was available in my area. A must try beer for any coffee lover!

Note: my 500th review. Pours clear with ample mocha colored foam. Retention is quite good with lacing leaving behind some nice webs. Aroma is big on the coffee and such a pleasant coffee scent. Malts are the back bone to the beer: roasted, coffee, dark chocolate, and even some bread. Taste follows the aroma to a 't.' The coffee is more of the old fashioned from Grandma's kitchen and that's the type I really like. A medium bodied beer with ample carbonation to round out the quality taste. Another quality Surly offering. I put this right behind Furious in terms of my favorite beers by them. I can't really have more than one at a time but I do keep coming back for more. Enjoy!

A: Good look overall, but no hint of the pleasure to come. Ruby Brown is always an enticing look, and add a full figured foamy head for the total package. S: The subtle scent of very rich malt with a enticing exotic, aromatic coffee suggests I'm about to taste something great. T: The depth of pleasure in this brew is wildly expansive. First, I'm a huge coffee fan and this Guatemalan blend used here is outstanding. Add that rich taste to seven Belgian / English malts and you're now cooking with gas. I'm getting cocoa, obviously rich coffee, and caramel with hints of vanilla and cream. Not sticky nor too heavy, sort of like a beer frapachino. D: This is the perfect reach into a heavier set than the normal summer wheat, drinking it on a humid, stormy summer night on the prairie. Surly is a excellent regional brewery who's reputation is only limited because of it's narrow distribution band. I stuffed (4) four-packs of 16oz cans in my suitcase on a recent trip to Minneapolis. My regret is that I didn't have a bigger suitcase. These folks know how to make great brews and they use a high grade of ingredients to match their skills. Seek out Surly, brews not attitude.