CynicAle - Surly Brewing Company

vandemonian

Maryland

3.98/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Surly cynic is a tasty saison which is dominated by malt, spices and lemon. Quite nice.

A: Orange colour and a crappy head. 3.5

S: Spicy aroma. Cloves. 4

T: Malty with strong spices. Subtle lemon flavour. Quite nice. 4

M: Good carbonation. 4

O: 4

Serving type: on-tap

07-16-2012 03:03:47 | More by vandemonian

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On draft at Churchkey in D.C. Review from notes.

The beer is orange with a thick head that leaves some random spots of sticky lacing on the glass. The aroma offers oranges, spice, lemon, grass, dank hops, lemon zest, malt. Light in body, this is easy drinking. While I would not put it on par with the better, authentic Belgian saisons, this is a solid brew. Refreshing and enjoyable. Another solid offering from Surly.

Serving type: on-tap

05-19-2012 21:14:07 | More by Huhzubendah

bashiba

Iowa

3.53/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a cloudy amber with a nice sticky white head.

The smell was light, with clove and pepper along with a touch of musty yeast.

The flavor was dominated b the yeast, musty spices and light sweet citrus notes. Had a bit of a tinny metalic bitter hop finish.

The mouthfeel was dry and crisp.

A good basic saison, nothing that sets apart.

Serving type: on-tap

04-05-2012 22:35:25 | More by bashiba

smakawhat

Maryland

3.43/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured on tap into a small snifter glass at Churchkey DC.

Off white head is made, really doesn't stick around for long off the pour. A real nice golden brass color color body, but not much else to say here. Looks alright.

Faint sweetness on the nose, behind a musty sense of wild yeast. Mild butter comes out a bit, faint herbal which mixes nicely with the butteryness, there's some heat here also from the wildness more so than alcohol.

Saison like mild yeast hits, brings the butter sense with it also. Soft bodied nicely, with some playful carbonation, some good crispness. Although palate seems to lack much more variety (floral, fruit, honey, sweet, anything).

Overall it comes off just pretty simple and straightforward but good.

Serving type: on-tap

03-14-2012 14:43:52 | More by smakawhat

craytonic

District of Columbia

3.58/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On draft at Churchkey DC

Appearance: golden orange-yellow pour, nice large white head

Smell: Citrus, coriander, earth and other spices

Taste: citrus, pepper, earth, coriander. All the typical notes of a decent saison but the sum is not greater than the parts

Mouthfeel: medium body and mothfeel.

Definitely not one of the better saisons I have had, and not one I would seek out.

Serving type: on-tap

03-14-2012 02:42:57 | More by craytonic

JackieTH

Minnesota

4.05/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Old Chicago. Poured honey golden with creamy white foam cap. Nose is fruity and lightly malt as well as yeast. Taste is apples, peaches and peppery with floral notes in a background of biscuit malt. Medium heavy body, holds together well, carbonation imparts a nice crispness. Very enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

01-29-2012 05:07:22 | More by JackieTH

kojevergas

California

3.38/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served on-draught into a pilsner glass in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at the 8th street bar and grill. Reviewed from notes. Expectations were high given the brewery.

A: Pours a one finger head of fair cream, decent thickness, and okay retention. Colour is a semitransparent copper.

Sm: Amber hops, light cherry, cream, and full barley.

T: Cinnamon spice - especially on the finish and aftertaste, light cherry tones obscured by light amber hops, and assorted spices. Maybe a touch of Belgian-inspired candied sugar on the climax. Not horribly complex, but pleasant and refreshing for the style.

Mf: Tingly, smooth, and wet, suiting the flavours mildly.

Dr: Very drinkable, but innovative for the style. A unique take on the style that I'd have again. Lovely on draught.

Serving type: on-tap

12-19-2011 03:46:11 | More by kojevergas

AgentZero

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Golden colored beer with a nice white head that left behind a decent bit of lace and stick.

S - Some decent pepper with decent spice notes thrown in there. Decent bit of citrus with some floral and spicy hops.

T - Citrus and pepper with the good floral hops. This has a nice bit of spice kick for a saison. Little bit of sweetness.

M - Light, moderate carbonation, fairly good thirst quencher.

O - Nice beer, not a traditional saison, but a great American take on it. Would drink again.

Serving type: on-tap

11-28-2011 05:52:24 | More by AgentZero

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on 2011-11-16 in Maple Grove, MN at the 3 Squares restaurant.

A - Mildly-hazy orange with 1.5 finger white head that fades quickly and leaves mild lacing.

S - Belgian yeast, sourdough bread, green apple, citrus.

T - Moderate Belgian yeast/fruit but not over the top. Light peach and lightly roasted grain with some nice citrus bitterness, earthy spice and pepper as it dries.

M - Medium body and high carbonation. Refreshing.

O - I like it pretty well but it's not my favorite saison.

Serving type: on-tap

11-21-2011 18:05:43 | More by Tucquan

birchstick

Missouri

3.48/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Served on tap at the Haute Dish

A - pours a golden yellow with a small white film of a head and a lot of lacing

S - smells fruity, earthy, and some bubblegum

T - Opens up with soft grainy malts. These segue into the bubblegum that was so dominate on the nose; the bubblegum is intertwined with some fruit flavors. This is almost hefeweizen-esque. Finishes with the bubblegum lingering over the palate.

M - decent body and mouthfeel - medium and lightly carbonated despite the appearance

D - this seemed different than most saisons I have tried. More fruity and less Saisony. Worth a shot, but I will go for some other Surly offering next time.

Serving type: on-tap

08-26-2011 00:40:05 | More by birchstick

deebo

Minnesota

4.38/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A-Golden orange/amber with slight haze. No head.

S-Wheat aroma is strongest, hints of sweet yeast.

T-Sweet and yeasty initially, slight ester fruitiness is next with plenty of hops to finish it off. Extremely well done.

M-Very smooth, especially considering this is almost 7%.

D-Nice. I think I'll have another!

For those of you that like to play around with blending beers-try blending Cynic with Bender-it's awesome.

Serving type: on-tap

04-19-2011 01:33:57 | More by deebo

EwaldEichstaett

Jordan

4.1/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Golden with hints of yellow, brown and orange. Excellent head retention and lacing. Surly beers always look amazing!

S: Fruity, sour and earthen. Earthen... like clay or the air after a rainstorm... There is also a slight sweetness which almost smells like some type of homemade candy.

T: Very full spicy earthen flavor, there is a prominent yeast flavor with a tart and bitter metallic hop finish/aftertaste. I think some of the fruit flavors are lacking. Either way, this is a complex beer.

M/D: Beer is thick/heavy in the mouth but also smooth. Besides the fact that it has a relatively high ABV and the heavieness may fill you up, it is a great session beer. However, I find that it is only really enjoyable in the summer.

Serving type: on-tap

09-07-2010 21:07:34 | More by EwaldEichstaett

dudemuskie

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

App- Hazy, straw/golden color with a quickly fading off white head.

Aroma- Spicy, slightly funky, touch of citrus with a mildly sour/tart aroma. Floral aromas intensify as beer warms as to hints of delicious funk! Mouthwatering aromas make this a thirst quencher even before diving in...

Flavor- Slightly sweet with a touch of bready/biscuit malt and a subtle tartness that gets washed away by a kiss of hop bitterness. Finishes nice and dry with an herbal hop, biscuit malt flavor.

Mouth- Effervescent CO2 and lightly sweet start makes this beer bubbly and refreshing, but the dry, tart, slightly bitter finish seals the deal making this brew the perfect hot summer's day quencher!

Looking forward to having this in cans at Bonnaroo next summer!!

Serving type: on-tap

11-21-2009 18:11:08 | More by dudemuskie

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Bavarian Lodge in Lisle, IL

A: Golden with a nice white head.

S: Some pepper notes and a little bit of other spices thrown in. A little bit of earthiness with some subtle fruit undertones.

T: Much like the nose, with a little bit more earthiness coming through.

M: Plenty of carbonation; light-bodied.

D: A little bit much to be too drinkable, but the complexity brought me back for more.

Serving type: on-tap

10-01-2009 16:23:08 | More by Thorpe429

RyWill

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at The Bad Apple in Chicago.

Appearance - Pours a relatively clear golden yellow with a fairly large off white head that leaves spotty lacing down the glass.

Smell - Honestly a little off putting to start, but as it warms it get better. Yeast, citrus, and pepper dominate.

Taste/Mouthfeel - Light to medium bodied, crisp, the carbonation is spot on, the citrus and yeast hit you first while the pepper comes with the finish offering something really complex and different for the style.

D- Certainly could have downed a few of these. ABV isn't too high which also lends itself well.

Overall a very solid and interesting saison from Surly who never seem to disappoint.

Serving type: on-tap

09-02-2009 16:29:10 | More by RyWill

AdmiralDiaz

Minnesota

4.08/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Lorings Pasta Bar.

A: Very crisp and clear looking light orange body with a one-finger white head with good retention but very minimal lacing.

S: Smells hoppy and yeasty with a good amount of fruity complexity.

T: Taste is even better than the smell. Nice hop, malt, yeast balance. There's a great amount of fruit complexity in this one with strong bananas and pear.

M: Must have been something going wrong at this place, the carbonation was almost non-existent. The body was very light feeling and terrible without some carb to it.

Overall: CynicAle is quickly becoming one of my favorites of Surly, I think I just got a bad on-tap.

Serving type: on-tap

03-06-2009 21:56:06 | More by AdmiralDiaz

bluemoonswoon

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on tap at the Map Room in Chiacgo and served in a large flute like glass.

A: Pours a sort of macro looking clear golden straw and topped with a foamy half inch head that fades way into a thin ring and leaves a rather whispy looking amount of lace. Does not really look like any saison I've come across a bit brighter and clearer and not as bubbly as I would have expected.

S: Smell is quite hoppy for a saison, that is to say its more hop forward and less barnyard yesat forward. Don't get me wrong that yeasty earthy aroma is still there but coverd slightly by a rather generous helping of piny hops.

T/MF: A very nice balance is struck between the yeast and hops in this beer. The carbonation is quite active on the tongue but comes across a bit to soda like in my opinon. Taste is very nice, good yeasty spiciness, very mild bananna all melded together with a rather fruity (i.e. citrusy) hop profile.

D: All together not a bad beer, nicely balanced and quite tasty which helps this beer go down quick and easy, but just not what I was expecting from a beer that calls itself a saison.

Serving type: on-tap

08-14-2008 18:11:34 | More by bluemoonswoon

MrMcGibblets

Illinois

4/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

served on-tap, this was a solid beer. golden amber and mostly clear with a thin white head and lacing. tropical fruit in the nose along with some honeyed and floral notes. also a bit of vague funky earthiness and spice. lightly sweet bready malts upfront lead to a drying finish with a light, smooth bitterness. creamy and somewhat lightly carbonated. light to medium in body. i would have guessed that the abv was lower than it is. seems sessionable based on the flavor, aroma, and mouthfeel.

Serving type: on-tap

07-25-2008 04:19:41 | More by MrMcGibblets

GbVDave

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served in a pint glass at Paramount Room 7/13/08. Thanks to Heidi Morris for the assist!

A: Served a nice looking straw yellow color with a small, creamy, white head on top. Small amount of lace left behind in the glass.

S: Aromas of citrus, toasted grain, pepper, grassy hops, and a bit of funk.

T: Lemon, spices, and toasty wheat along with orange zest, pepper, spicy hops, and some funk. A little more hops and a little less funk than I expected.

M: Very nice levels of tangy citrus, oily hops, and a dry spiciness that I found compelling.

D: Easy to drink and very refreshing. I really liked the slightly amped up hoppiness.

Serving type: on-tap

07-14-2008 02:59:37 | More by GbVDave

Larrytown

Minnesota

3.98/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

It pours a deep orange-gold with no head and very little lacing. There's some spice on the nose, but not much else.

The taste doesn't seem quite like any saisons I've had in the past. If anything, I'd compare it to a lighter maibock. It has that combination of some darker flavors offset by a lighter body. Nicely done. The mouthfeel was much flatter and duller than I would have liked. Kick that up and we'd have a really solid beer here. As it is, I'd pick it up again, but probably not seek it out. Certainly more interesting than most beers you'll find in a can.

EDIT: The original review was from a tap, but after having it from the can, I'm adjusting this upward. I don't know if I had a bad keg or what, but from a can the mouthfeel was much stronger and the taste cleaner. We'll give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that the keg was near the end (or something).

Serving type: on-tap

06-21-2008 22:18:55 | More by Larrytown

aforbes10

Iowa

3.98/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

on tap at stub n herbs in minneapolis. orange colored, wispy not-head. nice lacing though. smells of old orange rinds, noble hops, coriander. Flavor is spicy, citrusy, with a nice strong bitterness to follow. Nicely balanced between the crisp malt, citrusy saison character, and the bitterness on the finish. a good interpretation of the early summer saison style. refreshing and quaffable.

Serving type: on-tap

06-20-2008 00:56:30 | More by aforbes10

HopDerek

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2008 release enjoyed on tap at Cafe Twenty Eight

Poured a slightly hazy golden yellow with a light amber center. One finger of frothy off-white head has good retention and leave lovely lacing. Smells of an assortment of fruits like pineapple, apricot, apple, as well as wheat, floral hops, and a touch of honey. Tastes of pear, pineapple, melon and apples up front with wheat and spice following as well as a hint of bubble gum. Finishes dry with floral hops. Medium in body with good fizzy carbonation. Refreshing and fruity, a perfect summertime brew that hides its ABV great.

Serving type: on-tap

06-07-2008 14:37:22 | More by HopDerek

boochmonkee

Minnesota

4.38/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Couldn't wait to sample this on tap. It was a one week wait as it sat in the keg cooler until we had a line for it. The wait was well worth it. Poured in a pint glass from the tap is a must try for anyone. It has good appearance, and a great aroma. That little peppery taste I get is something I have grown to like.

Serving type: on-tap

07-10-2007 15:15:53 | More by boochmonkee

supercolter

Minnesota

4.47/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Wow Surly, really you are slowly becoming my favorite brewery... When I feel like a beer is outmanning me, its good beer.
Appearance is the least strong factor, don't get me wrong it was good but the rest was great. Between this and Ommegang Hennepin I am also growing quite fond of the smell and flavor of saisons.
Smell and taste are packed with tons of spice, loads of hops and a good malt balance.
Mouthfeel is medium in body.

Serving type: on-tap

06-18-2007 04:12:13 | More by supercolter

alexgash

Connecticut

4.4/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had several glasses of this at the brewery. Omar said that there were only a few kegs left! Too bad. Lovely hazy candy orange-glazed body with a thick, frothy white head. Looks great! Nose is sweet, almost worty, with prominent yeastiness. Some Belgiany sugar, and spiciness as well. Perhaps a touch too worty. But it tastes better. Sweet, candi-sugarish malt with a full-bodied, coating feel. Nice. Spicy, yeasty kick with rounded, spicy bitterness makes for a refreshing finish. MY kind of summer seasonal, as there's a slightly warming alcohol complexity to this. Give me more!

Serving type: on-tap

08-27-2006 14:25:50 | More by alexgash