Smoke - Surly Brewing Company

jsprain1

Minnesota

4.22/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Very very dark. It could fairly be called black. Head is cocoa brown and one finger. Retention is mediocre.
S- Aroma is milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and a light cigarlike smokeyness.
T- At first it's like your standard, albeit high quality, Baltic Porter. Deep coffee and chocolate flavors. Near the finish the smokeyness shows up and then crescendos to a smokey blast.
M- Medium body, maybe a touch on the light side for a baltic porter. Very smooth. Smoky finish is pretty long.
O- A good smokey beer that balances the smokeyness with the other flavors. Worth a try.

Serving type: on-tap

01-15-2012 00:51:07 | More by jsprain1

stealth

Minnesota

4.63/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Served from a bottle to a tulip.

This is the first and only 'smoked' beer I've had. 'Drinking a campfire' was what came to mind immediately. Smelled like a campfire. I thought the wife would smell my clothes and ask where I was after I drank this. Very immersive experience that made me want to go out and make some smores. I can't say I was crazy about the taste overall, but man, the great smell, great smooth mouthfeel really made it a nice.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2012 09:01:40 | More by stealth

gregy55902

Minnesota

4.33/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours from the 2011 vintage bomber much darker than expected - it almost looks like an imperial stout in the glass. Minimal head from a gentle pour.

S - Dark chocolate malt, huge roasted malt characteristics, peat-smoked malt

T - Follows the nose, with a nice (if understated) chocolate finish. Some good hops are present to even things out.

M - This beer is extremely smooth. Good level of carbonation, flavors are very well balanced and the alcohol cannot be detected.

O - I usually avoid surly because all their beers are incredibly expensive (I'm in MN, and usually it's at least $18/4pk). I also have not had many 'smoked' beers, but this brew is very nicely balanced so that the smoky flavors are not overpowering. It works very well considering the base beer is a baltic porter. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 00:16:56 | More by gregy55902

bluejacket74

Ohio

4.3/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml wax dipped bottle, 2011 vintage. Served in a nonic pint glass, the beer pours dark brown/black with about a half inch tan head that went away quickly. There's a very small amount of lacing left on the glass. The brew smells like smoked and roasted malt, peat, coffee, and a bit of chocolate. It tastes like smoked malt/meats, burnt/charred malt, coffee, and some dark fruit and chocolate. Mouthfeel/body is medium/full, it's a little creamy and slick with low/moderate carbonation. I think this is a pretty good brew overall, I'd definitely buy this again in the future.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 23:18:19 | More by bluejacket74

zulufactor

Minnesota

4.53/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle, 2011

A- Dark brown or nearly black. Pours with a coffee brown head that leaves quickly not leaving a trace of its self behind.

S- Toasted malt with dark fruit and a bit earthy. kind of syrupy

T- The rich toasted malt hits right away. It quickly breaks down into toffee and coffee. The richness meets with a bit of hops that turns in to a crisp dry earthiness.

M- For being as thick as this beer is there is more carbonation then i was anticipating. It creates a great bright richness.

O- Surly struck a balance of richness and brightness that is fantastic. There are some thing lingering in there, a complexity that my less experienced palette can quite put a name to.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 03:41:34 | More by zulufactor

alexgash

Connecticut

4.6/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle. 2010 vintage.

Pours a dark, inky brown-black. Sticky, dense, khaki brown head. Good lacing. Wonderful nose of peaty, smoky, meaty, roasty, caramel-y, coffeeish malts. Well-balanced and very inviting.

Roasted, toasted malt up front. Light coffee bitterness is there as well. Palate soon swells with a mix of sweet and smoky. Smoked meats, campfire, and peat blend nicely with caramel, dark fruits, and chocolate. Long finish with lingering smoke and chocolate-caramel. Roasted bitterness is there is well. Medium-full body with a chewy, yet creamy feel. Delicious!

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 02:08:06 | More by alexgash

inlimbo77

Delaware

4.22/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Surly
Smoke '10, 750ml waxed bottle
DFH Signature glass

A: Pours pretty much completely black.  Not a lot of head, about a quarter finger of big bubbled tan head.

S: Suttle smoke.  Oak woodiness. Dark fruitiness.  Raisin for sure.  Roast malt.

T: Very smooth sip.  It's delicious. Lots of roasty notes.  Not a lot of smoke. Some mild fruitiness.  Some raisins and plums.  But more so some dark chocolate and other notes. The alcohol is so well hidden.

M: Medium to full.

O: I need to try this one fresh, but this year old bottle was pretty darn tasty. It was just so smooth. An A- grade for me.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2011 15:22:07 | More by inlimbo77

mobius387

Wisconsin

4.03/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2011 vintage

poured into a deschutes tulip

appearance: coal black pour with a thin chocolate head.

aroma: very light nose, was expecting more out of a smoked brew. get some hints of charred wood and a malty sweet undertone

palate: big body, flavor fills the mouth. i can hardly notice the 8%

taste: very robust and very good. i get the smoke flavor the most, then some hints of woody and nutty-ness as well as the chocolate/malty base.

overall: another great brew by surly. i can see why this one is less hyped than some others like abrasive because its just not quite a top tier beer, but who cares it still tastes great. could use some more smokey nose, but most important part is that this tastes great!

im looking forward to seeing how this ages over a year or two. a complex beer like this should change a lot!

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2011 23:05:51 | More by mobius387

ChopperSmith

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The 2011 Surly 'Smoke' served on tap at the Red Stag Supper Club in Minneapolis for the 2011 Smoke release party. Served in a clear tulip glass.

Appearance: Pours a deep and opaque brown, almost black, , with a two finger tan foam head. Fades slowly and leaves nice lacing.

Smell: Smoky and charred wood up front, with a slight malty sweetness underneath.

Taste: Like it smells, smoky and malty with a charred malt flavor. A nice full and sweet malt flavor mellows out all that smoke. Also a good burnt caramel and toffee flavor. Very little hops presence.

Mouth feel: Medium-full bodied and smooth, A slight charred bitterness on the tongue for the finish.

Overall: A good winter beer. If you like smoky beers with a big smoke flavor, this is the beer for you. A sipping beer for sure, but a ton of smoke and malt to bring big flavor with every sip. I appreciate this beer for what it is, and would drink it again if it was available and I was in the mood for a 'smoke'.

Serving type: on-tap

12-20-2011 03:33:23 | More by ChopperSmith

suspect

New York

4.33/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2010 vintage poured from a 750ml bottle that was impossibly waxed with gray wax into a Dogfish Head Signature glass. Thanks to olympuszymurgus for the hookup.

A: Deep, dark brown color. Relatively aggressive pour leads to a 1 finger light tan head that disappears to a thin ring and light coverage on the top of the beer. Lacing is consistent and lasts throughout the drink.

S: Subtly smokey with nice layers of toasted chocolate malts along with some hop bitterness that shines through in a sort of black IPA fashion that was definitely unexpected. Very slight presence of alcohol (perhaps a touch of bourbon or oak even).

T: Follows the nose pretty well but what I don't think I picked up in the nose that I'm picking up in the taste is a strong balance of flavors. They really are all mixing wonderfully together to create an almost black-ipa flavor that, to be honest, in a baltic porter is totally unexpected but extremely delicious.

M: Big bodied, lightly carbonated but in a really good way. Bitterness is mild, sticky sweet mouth coating is present but subdued. ABV burn is definitely in the belly and I feel nice and toasty warm but the burn doesn't hit until it gets past the mouth.

O: Man, this rounds out my Surly box from my Minnesota homeboy olympuszymurgus and there wasn't a mediocre bottle in the box. They were all extremely delicious and this one is no exception. I don't know if you are supposed to age a Baltic and I don't know what it drinks like fresh, but this is a wonderful beer with a year on it. Very smooth, very balanced, lots of flavors mixing in and blending nicely.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2011 02:33:03 | More by suspect

drabmuh

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Review #2400, Yay! Sorry liver. At the time of this review, this is the #3 Baltic Porter, fitting that a landmark review is a top 5 beer for me. Served in a 2008 Darkness glass (thank you Lunch) because I don't have a Surly glass unfortunately other than this one.

Beer is black, thin lazy pointless head, tan bubbles, breaks immediately, low retention, no lacing, low carbonation.

Aroma is smoky, peaty, a little malty. Sweet.

Sweet, smooth, mild smoke, a little dry, very nice. Maybe I'm warming to the whole smoke beer thing but this one is really nice. I like it. Great finish. I would have this again.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2011 03:34:44 | More by drabmuh

larryi86

Delaware

4.25/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thank you hockeyd for throwing this in as an extra!
750 mL bottle poured into a snifter

A- Black with a tan one finger head.

S- Smokey, roasted chocolate malts, coffee.

T- A lot like the smell, good balance between smoke and sweet malts, alcohol is well hidden, nice porter base.

M- Smooth, robust body, creamy.

O- A really nice beer, worth seeking out. Definitely would trade for another bottle or two.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2011 00:56:23 | More by larryi86

UCLABrewN84

California

4.33/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to shrek086 for sending me this one!

Pours an almost opaque super dark crimson-brown with a 1/2 inch foamy dark khaki head that settles to a film on the top of the beer. Thin foamy rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of smoked malt and maybe some caramel and cocoa notes. Taste is of smoked malt up front with some dark fruits and cocoa powder on the finish. A smoky, roasted bitterness lingers on the palate after each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp and smooth mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good smoked baltic porter from Surly. The smoke aroma is somewhat dominant but the smoke flavors compliment the other tastes in the beer very well.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2011 06:34:23 | More by UCLABrewN84

stakem

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to CaptinRedBeard for hosting the Oktoberfest party and having this available for us to try. I've got to try this brew a couple of times care of Corey and this is the first time I've scratched down a few notes.

The brew appears dark brown in color that is nearing black. When held to the light, lighter brown coloration and a bit of clarity is noted. A creamy tan head appears a finger strong. As the cap slowly fades, a spotty webbing of lacing coats the entire wall of the glass.

The smell of this new is pleasantly smoky with a touch of caramel and chocolate malt sweetness. Some herbal hops are present that gives an earthy element to the nose. At times the smoked quality seems Pete'd but it isn't over-done. The light tinge of minerals mixed with chocolate is the only indication of the underlying base Baltic porter.

The taste of the brew is pleasantly smoked overtop of a chocolate grain base. A fair amount of bitterness comes from the roast of the grain coupled with herbal and earthy hop inclusion. There is a light touch of fruity alcohol that is the first indication of the 8+% abv. The alcohol gets a little spicy and warming as the brew comes up to temperature.

This is a medium bodied brew with a modest level of carbonation. Very easy drinking with a well rounded base of flavoring. The alcohol is perfectly integrated in this brew which makes it dangerously drinkable. The finish is fairly crisp with a lingering smoked and chocolate aspect. A very fine example that is quite enjoyable. I wouldn't mind having a couple bottles of this.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2011 14:09:43 | More by stakem

BarrytheBear

Wisconsin

4.33/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle courtesy of JP and shared with the boys while watching the final preposterous minutes of the Notre Dame-Michigan game. Watching two teams you mildly despise completely poop the bed against each other provided a solid backdrop.

Dark brown verging into black with a tan/khaki head that settles and laces unevenly.

Smells faintly of smoke and grows livelier with cheese, bacon, and some roast. A pleasant layer of fruity lager yeast permeates as well.

Taste really opens up on the nose. Not overly smoke driven which I appreciate, but enough so to put some charred campfire wood, sultry cheese, and fried bacon along the palate. Slight purple grapes from the malts tag onto the dried, fruity yeast finish.

Body is a touch too thin, but it allows for an easy drinking experience. Carbonation allows the flavors to prickle on the tongue.

I dig this beer and am thankful for the opportunity. A beer that's been shared on multiple occasions and often with non beer geeks and always ends up a crowd favorite. Not an easy task Surly, so well played.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2011 01:15:33 | More by BarrytheBear

Jwale73

Rhode Island

4.45/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Procured in a trade, but can't remember from who. 750ml capped bottle coated with silver wax. Served in my Allagash chalice. Pours the color and clarity of cola with a half inch, khaki-colored head embedded with tiny ringlets that eventually dissipates into a soapy skim. Exceptional nose on this brew - smoky, dark fruits (figs and dates) as well as an earthy quality and grape and bubblegum notes. Taste follows nose; however, much more smokey than suggested by the nose. Chocolate and roast are also revealed in the flavor profile. Mouthfeel is medium-light in consistency, perhaps a little thin for the style, with a lively carbonation and a slightly oily texture. This is definitely one of my favorite Baltic Porters. Not only is it delicious, but there is great complexity to this brew. Another top notch offering from Surly.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2011 01:09:50 | More by Jwale73

Treebs

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 750ml bottle into a tasting cup.

A: Pours a very dark brown, almost black, with a bubbly wood chip colored head that subsides into some nice sticky lace down the glass.

S: I'm picking up some smokey meat rinds and oak. There is roasted malts and a slight coffee.

T: The taste is a lot like the nose, but a lot more smokey. Smells of the embers of a campfire, very woody. Just toasted malts and smoke.

M: Medium bodied with a decent carbonation. Went down pretty smooth and left a light campfire in my mouth.

O: This was a very interesting brew. I wish there were some other flavors that could popped up, but the smokiness really took over and dominated. I guess that's why they call it Smoke.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2011 14:23:29 | More by Treebs

FosterJM

California

3.5/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

765th Review on BA
Bottle to Goblet
22oz

@Woodshop Classix
Thanks Shail for sharing!!

App- This was a very dark pour, a lot more so than I was expecting with a porter. A nice ½ in of head that feel to only a ring of bubbles. No cling either or leg.

Smell- Wasn't a whole lot going on my glass expect for huge roasted malts. That was about it, I stuck my nose in there and just couldn't get anything else.

Taste- Taste follows the nose and really leaves it lacking to only have a one sided roasted malt flavor.

Mouth- Medium bodied and medium carbonated. A bit smoky on the finish.

Drink- Not my cup of tea. I can handle a Baltic Porter but this was a bit unbalanced and just too roasted and peat like.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2011 22:37:12 | More by FosterJM

gregshead

California

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

Enjoyed this one with my birthday BBQ dinner. Thanks to Biglobo for this bottle, reviewed from notes:

A: Pours with a half finger of thin head. Lace leaves a ring behind.

S: Nice subtle smoky smell. Right below bacon smoke/more of an oak smoke.

T: Subtle smoky flavors with some good sweetness that balances it out. Not as overpowering as other smoke beers.

M: Nice light feel with lots of carbon the tongue. Good dry finish.

O: Winner, Winner BBQ diner. Great with BBQ ribs. Another great style by none other than Surly.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2011 02:10:39 | More by gregshead

HuskyinPDX

Washington

3.58/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

22oz bottle with silver wax poured into a Bruery Tulip glass.

A - Pours a deep dark brown with a dark tan head composed of large bubbles.

S - Smokey meat, Smells like a BBQ.

T - Smokey bacon.

D - Mild carbonation, a touch oily in the mouth.

O - Weird, but I kinda like it.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2011 02:10:34 | More by HuskyinPDX

EgadBananas

Louisiana

4.03/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Very dark, black pour. Khaki colored finger of head.

Aroma is smoky, but it's not hugely in your face. It's bold, but not dominating. There's some roasted notes, slight dark fruits, and lot's of chocolate.

Taste is slightly less smoky, more chocolate and roasted malts with a touch of alcohol.

Feel is lighter in body, right there with a lager as should be. Creamy though with low carbonation.

Nice Baltic and smoked beer alike.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2011 04:32:49 | More by EgadBananas

Rhettroactive

Virginia

3.73/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

From 22oz bomber to Boulevard tasting glass on 5/7/11 at the first NoVA BA Tasting Event
*From notes

-- I'm psyched to have unearthed my notes for this one, as I've had it twice and am thrilled to finally lay down a proper review --

A: Really solid grayish-brown-black. It looks like either a light stout or a massively heavy porter (which it is). A standard pour yields .75 finger head and little to no lacing.

S: Maltier then expected. I had this in line at the Sexy Chocolate release in January, and I distinctly remember the epic amount of natural smoke on the nose. It was like stepping into a Kansas City smoker. In the months since, this has fallen off dramatically, and to be honest, is more balanced now. It's got the smoke, sure, but it's now offering hints of hearty malt and that a touch of that lagered sweetness.

T: Like the nose, the smoke bomb effect has worn off a bit, but it's still got a heavy char to it. The rich layers of flavor have been slightly compressed here, and it now drinks more like a standard Baltic Porter with a moderately heavy dose of liquid smoke.

M: This one is dense. Creamy and slightly undercarbed, this one is thick for a porter, and it helps to cover for the fading smoke profile.

O: Surly's Smoke is a shell of it's former self, yet it's still a damn fine beer. I'm not typically one for smoke/rauchbiers, but this is balanced in ways that many within the same flavor realm are not.

Drink 'em if you got 'em, it's going fast.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2011 16:28:28 | More by Rhettroactive

titosupertramp

Tennessee

3.93/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A big thanks goes to thecaptain073 for including this as an extra in a very generous box.

A: Pours a cola brown with slight red highlights and thick tan head. Leaves a decent film and some lacing.

S: Smokey wood, dark fruits, chocolate, roasted malts and hints of coffee.

T: Pretty much follows the nose. Smoke, chocolate, raisins, coffee like finish. For me, Smoke has some kind of cola like quality to it. Not bad.

M: It's a little on the thin side here, but far from watery.

O: From what I've heard, this is better fresh so I'm a little bummed that I've sat on this for so long. Oh well, Smoke is still a pretty enjoyable beer at this point.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2011 23:10:56 | More by titosupertramp

fsvan

Tennessee

4.05/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle into Dogfish Head signature glass. Big thanks to Titosupertramp for opening this guy with me. Review from notes.

A- Black. White head. Completely black. Like the Darkness we opened before it, no hint of anything but black.

S- Big woody smoke. Malty porter smell in the background.

T- Follows the smell. Very big woody smoke dominates the porter base.

M- A little light. This is one spot this beer could seemingly be improved upon.

O- Very good. Smoke dominates, which it should. I do wish the porter base would have stood out a bit more though.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2011 03:41:35 | More by fsvan

MBrausen

Minnesota

5/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A. This bear pours a beautiful pitch black color, with a light caramel head about 1 finger thick. It faded to a nice thin ring, with a little lily pad making it's way around the center.

S. Smells of light caramel, strong bacon and of course, smoke. The bacon smell is really dominate. Almost the same as when you first set a piece into a hot pan. I can almost hear the crackle when I smell this beer :)

S. A noticeable hickory comes out first, that holds through even after your done drinking. A a smoked, almost burnt toffee taste comes through extremely smoothly. It isn't at all overbearing. The malts are noticeable, but not a dominate trait.

M. Very smooth flavor, that is not at all hard to drink. The flavor is thick and bold, but it still feels light on the tongue. Just a hint of dryness on the finish.

O. Overall this is a complex beer, that is extremely smooth and very easy to drink. I could see spending many hours at a bar not trying anything else if this was on-tap. It delivers everything you expect from Surly. Unlike a lot of their beers that tend to take a style to it's extreme, I think this hits spot on for what I would expect to see in a quality baltic porter.

This is by far one of the top beers I have ever had! It is amazingly smooth and easy to drink. The flavors are bold, but also complex. It's not a one sided smoke flavor like often what happens with Porters. The tastes changes and matures in your mouth. I look forward to having this beer again and again.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2011 04:53:53 | More by MBrausen