SurlyFest
Surly Brewing Company

SurlyFestSurlyFest
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From:
Surly Brewing Company
 
Minnesota, United States
Style:
Märzen
ABV:
6%
Score:
90
Avg:
4.02 | pDev: 10.7%
Reviews:
385
Ratings:
951
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Oct 02, 2021
Added:
Sep 03, 2006
Wants:
  231
Gots:
  89
Brewed exclusively for our Surlyfest Celebration

Brewed with three different types of Rye and a single variety of American Hops. Malted Rye, Flaked Rye, and Crystal Rye impart a distinctive biscuit flavor to the lush Vienna Malt body, and dry-hopping with Sterling Hops adds bright, floral hop aromas.
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Ratings by DabblinWiscCraft:
Photo of DabblinWiscCraft
Reviewed by DabblinWiscCraft from Wisconsin

4.11/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Picked up a four-pack of pint cans at the Trig's Cellar 70 in Rhinelander last week. The canning stamp says this one is good for another three months. Poured right from the fridge into my Samuel Smith pint glass.

L: Pours a clear, bright orange blossom honey color with about two inches of very dense off-white head that sticks around for a very long time and leaves considerable lacing on the glass. Profuse visible carbonation--like a whirlwind of bubbles--is present.

S: Caramel and bread-like malt notes are at fore, with grassy hops spicing things up. Just a bit of earthiness and floral notes, as well. At least at the initial pour, the bouquet is very pleasant but unassertive. As it warms, it takes on a more robust aroma.

T: Bread-like malts are there at the outset--more cracker-like than sweet. There's a tartness immediately lent to the malts from the hop presence--it's citrus, grassy, and floral in flavor. The middle retains the malt notes and brings a heightening of the hop flavor, with the citrus especially gaining some punch. An earthiness emerges here, as well. The back end has more of the nice malt bill showcased, an increase in the earthiness, and a nice level of citrus rind and slightly resinous hop bitter to close things out.

F: On the lighter side of medium-bodied, this one drinks just a touch more watery than the carbonation implied. It has a bit of astringency at the front, some creaminess to the middle, and a nice level of bitter at the close. There's just a bit of stick, as the hop bitter lingers on the palate for a short while.

O: Well, this one probably shouldn't be categorized as a Märzen; if we're gauging this one on those grounds, then it definitely misses the point/mark. However, as far as hopped-up lagers go, this one is impressive. Surly has deftly handled the competing flavors in this one and delivered a beer that should appeal to the both the lager and pale ale camps. I recommend giving this one a try.
Sep 11, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of Chickenhawk9932
Reviewed by Chickenhawk9932 from Pennsylvania

4.16/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a nice amber with a cream colored head that hangs around.

Nutty, toasted bread, caramel, bitter herb hop.

Taste is nutty toasted bread up front with caramel malt coming throu before finishing dry with bitter herb hops.
Oct 02, 2021
 
Rated: 3.84 by Burgy from Minnesota

Jun 27, 2020
 
Rated: 3.99 by BrendanStoehr96 from Wisconsin

Apr 02, 2020
Photo of defunksta
Reviewed by defunksta from Wisconsin

3.81/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Appearance: Pours a crystal-clear, orange, golden color with a bright white foamy head. SRM of 11. (3.25)

Aroma: Aromas of dark red fruit, caramel, rich bread with a slightly bitter berry rye spice. Hintsof toast and grass. (4.00)

Flavor: Bread spice, red fruit, pine, grains. Finishes bitter and dry. (3.75)

Feel: Medium to heavier bodied. Strong carbonation. Bitterness and carbonation clean the palate well and are drying. (4.00)

Compared with Great Lakes Oktoberfest: This one is lighter in color. Has more red fruit and spicy bread and rye flavors. Dryer and less caramel malts. More bitter overall.

Overall: A good and spicy Oktoberfest beer. Great spices from the German bread and red fruit. Really showcases the vienna and rye malts. Nice, dry, and cleansing on the palate. Drinks slightly closer to an American Amber, but hits all the marks for a great Oktoberfest beer for the north. (Final Rating: 3.81)
Oct 20, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by GoBearsWalter34 from Illinois

Sep 01, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by ian_graf from Minnesota

Jul 28, 2019
 
Rated: 3.94 by NodakEric from Minnesota

Feb 16, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by tvenne from Minnesota

Oct 22, 2018
 
Rated: 3.76 by MykeJ from Minnesota

Sep 29, 2018
 
Rated: 3.65 by Chilmer from Iowa

May 26, 2018
 
Rated: 3.37 by KevinMc from Illinois

Mar 29, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by GreenBayBA from Wisconsin

Mar 19, 2018
 
Rated: 4.25 by StormAles from Canada (ON)

Feb 22, 2018
 
Rated: 4.05 by Richie_C_Johnson from Minnesota

Feb 16, 2018
 
Rated: 3.79 by WillLyon4 from Massachusetts

Dec 22, 2017
 
Rated: 4.75 by JoeandRyan from Minnesota

Dec 20, 2017
 
Rated: 4.75 by BeerNDoggerel from Illinois

Dec 19, 2017
 
Rated: 3.97 by Thomas_Wikman from Texas

Dec 12, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by Philcassella from North Carolina

Nov 13, 2017
SurlyFest from Surly Brewing Company
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 951 ratings