SurlyFest - Surly Brewing Company

AmberMan22

Minnesota

4.15/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I was lucky enough to have this out of a can, and to find it on tap. Märzens happen to be one of my favorite styles, so I'll say I was surprised when I read the can and tasted the beer.

It certainly looks as good as any oktoberfest I've seen, but not necessarily some of the rye beers I've come across. It does look gorgeous though.

Smell is of rye (go figure) up front, laced with hoppy bitterness. Thankfully no citrus scents glare through, and some bready caramel malt can be detected as well.

The taste is an interesting fusion of a rye and a marzen, with surly's usual signature of a hopped up beer. I'm not calling this a hop bomb by any means, but it is far hoppier than any other Oktoberfest I have tasted.
And it's good. Great, in fact. The flavors blend together smoothly, and the rye has a great fresh taste to it.

As for drinkability, it's a tough call. Is it a great beer? Yes. Is it a beer you can have 6 liters of at Oktoberfest? No.
True to form, this Surly is meant to be savored.

Serving type: on-tap

10-15-2010 01:35:57 | More by AmberMan22

drgonzo2k2

California

4/5  rDev -2.4%

05-19-2013 14:25:30 | More by drgonzo2k2

Schlais

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +3.7%

05-19-2013 07:17:43 | More by Schlais

iHeartMNBeer

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +3.7%

05-16-2013 20:37:27 | More by iHeartMNBeer

ZEB89

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +3.7%

05-05-2013 18:39:06 | More by ZEB89

joemcgrath27

Alberta (Canada)

4.18/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A - clear bronze, generous head held its own with plenty of sticky lacing
S - caramel, grains, wood, mild citrus and earthiness
T - pleasant mix of earthy, spicy, and light piney hops, big caramel and hearty grain maltiness, finishes with a mild woody flavour
M - slightly heavy, full malty feel with just enough hop bitterness to balance
O - this is a fine brew with a nice mix of spicy rye grain, sweet malts, and a smooth finish, not a traditional 'fest' beer as I know it but big ups for putting a twist on it, this brewery is the real deal

Serving type: can

04-20-2013 01:05:41 | More by joemcgrath27

Kelp

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev -2.4%

04-16-2013 09:54:20 | More by Kelp

karlt

Minnesota

5/5  rDev +22%

04-14-2013 16:39:48 | More by karlt

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.01/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

apparently surly makes only interesting and top quality brews. I love this one. its like a Oktoberfest, but is spiked with rye malt, and has a unique vanilla character im not used to in the style. the pour is more bronze than orange, mostly clear, with an inch or so of lasting white head. the nose is german malty, but with that familiar peppery rye kick and a finish of fresh vanilla beans cut open and scraped clean. yum! the flavor is a little less dramatic on the vanilla, and its more toward the front than the finish, but its still there. the malt balances out into a nice german traditional marzen style. this has characteristics of both an ale and a lager, its crispness is remarkable for its complexity, and its super sessionable. strong carbonation lightens up a fuller medium body, and the 6% abv is just right for me in thus style. overall a very strong offering from surly, I really love the vanilla twist here.

Serving type: can

04-09-2013 17:07:49 | More by StonedTrippin

HuskyinPDX

Washington

4.05/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Can opened on 3.14.13
9/14/11

A - Pours a clear, dark orange-red with a foamy three inch head that fades slowly.

S - Malty, rye bread, still hoppy.

T - Silky smooth rye and wheat bread with a touch of hops.

D - Gread carbonaton with a light body.

O - Old, but still tasty. Some hops still left. How'd I miss this one? I want a fresh one!

Serving type: can

03-24-2013 04:51:09 | More by HuskyinPDX

warmbier804

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +9.8%

03-16-2013 21:53:09 | More by warmbier804

soze47

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +3.7%

03-16-2013 14:09:27 | More by soze47

MAbeerNE1

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -2.4%

03-14-2013 18:57:30 | More by MAbeerNE1

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

First had: can, as a trade extra

I went in expecting a typical marzen, but this was actually quite different: a tasty rye lager. A mostly clear, darker amber pour, with a small, foamy, white head that sank to a collar and left a few streaks of lacing on the glass. Aroma was sweet with malts, bready, toasty, herbal hops. The taste reflected the scent, sweet malts, bready, toasty rye--not too distinctive, but still apparent--light herbal hops. Crisp, clean mouthfeel, medium body, maybe light-medium, quite drinkable overall. A nice and unexpected treat.

Serving type: can

03-03-2013 13:14:29 | More by Rifugium

roostor07

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +9.8%

03-02-2013 17:45:31 | More by roostor07

jodan

California

4/5  rDev -2.4%

03-02-2013 03:07:17 | More by jodan

Cyclone8

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +9.8%

02-27-2013 20:25:46 | More by Cyclone8

t0rin0

California

4/5  rDev -2.4%

02-26-2013 01:56:59 | More by t0rin0

PingBob

Minnesota

4.75/5  rDev +15.9%

02-19-2013 04:19:48 | More by PingBob

Hopsiam14

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +3.7%

02-18-2013 16:19:01 | More by Hopsiam14

br3wmeister

Colorado

4/5  rDev -2.4%

02-14-2013 21:12:10 | More by br3wmeister

DonFrap

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -20.7%

02-14-2013 03:18:00 | More by DonFrap

taospowder

New Mexico

4/5  rDev -2.4%

02-07-2013 17:16:57 | More by taospowder

AApparel

California

4/5  rDev -2.4%

02-06-2013 03:16:19 | More by AApparel

TorsHammer

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +3.7%

01-30-2013 22:28:44 | More by TorsHammer