Hell - Surly Brewing Company

RoamingGnome

Wisconsin

3.88/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to ncketchum for scooping up some Surly for me to try.

Poured this from the 16 oz can into Cheers drinking mug. Served chilled...

A) Light golden brew with a finger of white foam, which settles quickly, light lacing.

S) Quite floral, a little sweetness, grassy with light citrus zest.

T) Light malt/bready sweetness bumping up against pleasurable grassy/floral hops, along with light fruit that was kind of apple/pear.

M) Lighter medium body with moderate carbonation which works well. This one is crisp and refreshing. Grassy slightly zesty aftertaste.

O) Nice Lager right here... Certainly enough flavor and body to separate itself from the run of the mill offerings. Glad to recommend...

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 00:50:51 | More by RoamingGnome

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

3.9/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks heatwave33!

This looks like a good beer. Slightly hazy goldenrod body. Thick small white head.

Smells insanely sweet and smooth. Corn in there for sure, but its smells syrupy. Almost wheat like in its crispness.

Very light and crisp, kind of like a wheat lager. Sweetness isnt too much. Its definitely sweet, but its crisp enough not to make it syrupy. Maybe its the style, but its so light and smooth, yet finishes clean with just a hint of grassy sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2012 18:10:23 | More by VncentLIFE

Klym

California

3.93/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a surly nonic. Special thanks to expedition for both the beer and the glassware!

A: Against the light this thing is an ethereal, yellow-tinted murky white. A small, barely 1 finger head comes off with a normal pour and crackles like cheap shampoo but dies off quickly.

S: Pilsner malt smells with leaves, orange rind, and a tad of roasted wheat.

T: Comes in lightly and builds up much of the nose with added floral notes, pollen, and a touch of honey. Well-rounded, earthy, and tasty for a lager.

M: Not sure if it's the journey the can has made but not much carbonation in the body. Luckily the body is pretty thick and it still drinks quite smoothly with a little bit of stickyness in the finish.

O: A really enjoyable lager, but still a lager no less for those curious. Very glad to have tried this offering from Surly.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2011 03:13:31 | More by Klym

crossovert

Wisconsin

3.43/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

500ml can.

It pours a nice golden color with a foamy white head. This is actually one of the best looking American-made helles beers I have seen.

The smell is a downer. They don't seem to be using German hops. It is okay in the smell.

The flavor again isn't that much in a normal Helles territory. It is a bit sweet for the style and the hop flavors are a bit off.

For an American brewery trying to squirm out a Helles lager it is a better attempt than most but American brewers have a lot to learn if they want to make a quality Helles.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2011 01:23:03 | More by crossovert

lawlerj

Nebraska

3.55/5  rDev -9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had on tap at Mackenzie's in Minneapolis.

A - pours a tranlucent golden color w/ an off white head. Not much head retention.

S - malt and fruit, not much hop character that I can detect on the nose.

T - grains and malt mixed with a bit of citrucy/fruity punch, but not overly sweet, which I like.

M - light to medium bodied, not overly carbonated. Nice and easy drinking.

O - overall a nice easy drinking summer type beer. Tastes very good and I'll have to try this again.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2011 17:11:26 | More by lawlerj

bound4er

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A. Whitest of white two finger head sits nicely over a straw to light golden colored liquid.

S. Bready grains with some earthy spiciness. Lagers never seem to shine in the aroma department and this beer is no exception.

T. Straightforward taste profile with mixed grains playing a prominent role. A kiss of hops on the finish provides a nice counterpoint to the malt. Finishes very clean and crisp.

M. Light to medium bodied with ample carbonation.

D. Excellent drinkability - this beer seems to disappear quickly. It's light enough to offer good sessionability with just enough complexity to keep my interest. Well crafted and worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2010 21:50:33 | More by bound4er

alcstradamus

Illinois

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Shared by brdc. Thanks. Reviewed from notes.

Pours a crystal clear yellow color with a finger of head. Aroma a nice light corn maltiness. Very clean and appetizing. The flavor follows suit, with a clean corn and biscuit maltiness dominating. None of the mustiness that I often find comes with this type of flavor profile. The body is medium and the carbonation is nice and soft. The drinkability is high in terms of volume but average in terms of desire simply because it is not an exciting style. Overall a very solid example of the style, and a blueprint session beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2010 20:53:13 | More by alcstradamus

br3wmeister

Colorado

3.7/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a bright gold light copper color with a large fluffy white head. The head retention is moderate with some nice lacing. The beer smells of caramel, honey and nice citrusy orange hops. Good malt hop balance crisp and fresh smelling. This beer drinks really easy with a nice carbonation and great balance. Smooth on the tongue with a light hop bite. Caramel, light roasted malt, hind of honey and roasted nuts. Fairly dry finish with lingering bitterness from the hops. I really like the beer and could see myself drinking it often in the summer.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2009 21:22:52 | More by br3wmeister

mdwalsh

Iowa

3.75/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a pretty good head of just about ivory white. Big bubbles mostly. The beer is very clear, not the cloudy hazy I would expect from a keller or zwickel, especially one that says it's unfiltered right on the can. Still very light and nice color. But the head is gone already, and left only a little lace.

S: Pils and pale malt, maybe a little Vienna/Munich in there as well, but just the malt. No hops. It almost smells a little...damp I guess is the word I'm looking for. But it's a clean, clear cut lager smell.

T: The taste is a little fruity, actually, but also bready and grainy and full of that pils malt. But it's not a clean taste, and doesn't seem to have gained anything from open fermentation. This really isn't anything to write home about in my opinion, but I guess is sort of to style. I guess I'm just not impressed, I expected something more from Surly.

M: A good weight, smooth on the tongue, but then bitter on the swallow. An interesting transition there.

D: Great, like a standard Euro Lager really, which is good I suppose, but at the same time not.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2009 02:24:41 | More by mdwalsh

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

4.08/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into Pint Glass.

Pours a nice creamy slight off white 2 finger head that has great retention leaving amazing lace rings. Color is a clear golden straw yellow.

Aroma: Wow, for a light lager this packs a lot of flavor. A lot of herb flavors with a nice hop profile. Some grain as well. Not bad at all.

Taste: The herb taste is so great. Mixed with earthy hops. Grain, a lot like the aroma. This light lager packs a lot of flavor.

Mouthfeel: A little crisp from the carbonation and a little smooth as well. Light bodied. Ends with a very herb flavored slight dry aftertaste.

Overall, probably the best light beer I have ever had. It has so much flavor for such a light beer. Very drinkable. I will have not problem with my can. I highly recommend this if you don't like light lagers, because I don't and I love this one.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2009 03:33:59 | More by mothman

JohnGalt1

Idaho

4.33/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Can given to me by ditmier over the weekend.... Thanks Eric!! Very generous... Poured into my small weizen glass.

1" foamy eggshell white head.... the brew is crystal clear straw golden... good retention and a very nice lace as the can drains.

Nose is a grainy pils malt... very very clean.. lite floral hoppiness is there just as a reminder...

Flavor is great... lite bitterness and right into the clean malts... very smooth and drinkability is off the charts.. body is par for the course, but looking at this beer and you would think the mouthfeel is gonna be more prickly... instead it is very smooth and just makes me want another sip.

I've never been able to tell the difference between a Helles and a Kellerbier... but I would call this a Helles if I had to pick... that said, if this was available locally, I would buy it again and again during the summer... and I would slap myself in the hand anytime I ever reached for PBR again.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2009 06:30:02 | More by JohnGalt1

BDLbrewster

Minnesota

4.05/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Pours a bright hue of amber with sunbeam highlights. Moderate size frothy head that recedes leaving little bits of residual lacing. Crystal clear for being unfiltered.

The smell is the most reserved of any Surly I have had, but very lively for the style. The first thing I get is the fruity backbone that makes up much of the smell. It's either the pils malt used or the hops contained in this very fresh can. Gummy candies right away, this fades revealing a subtle toasty aroma.

The forefront of the flavor is dominated by a strong push of bready, earthy pils malt. Heavily flavored (American) Zwickel, good, good. The hops eventually catch up to the malt providing a fruity, barely discernible citrus twinge. If I had to name the flavor, I would call it lemony. Very smooth with almost no bitterness in the finish, also a very pleasing aftertaste.

The mouth feel is pretty consistent with the style, maybe even a tad heavier than expected. Medium to low carbonation and nice and slippery on the tongue.

Stellar drinkability, very rounded brew. It sucks that it will only be available for a week or two. I could drink this on the daily.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2009 20:44:14 | More by BDLbrewster

jjanega08

Minnesota

3.95/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A= pours a translucent yellow color slightly darker than your average american macro lager with a large billowing white head that falls fast and just sits on the top of the beer in a very thin sheet.
S= lots of grainy malt in it. There's also a hop front on it. Sort of a stinky german smell too. I enjoy the odor just for the odd stink that it has.
T= really sort of plain for a beer from surly. Clean as hell. It says the hops take the back seat on the can which I don't find to be true. I think the hops over throw the sweet grain while the sweet grain is still present. Not bad but not amazing either.
M= low carbonation and smooth finish.
D= very high. This is a surly beer for everyone. Really nothing special about it and sort of rediculous due to the hype that surrounded the release. I would prolly not buy it again if it came out regularly just because its so plain for the price. Still a good beer though.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2009 18:15:13 | More by jjanega08

mwilbur

Minnesota

3.85/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from 16 oz can into pilsner glass.
A: Pours a clear pale yellow with high carbonation producing a 1/2 inch white bubbly head. Good retention.
S: Soft and sweet malt notes, toasted grains and bread, hint of pepper and funk...and something akin to 7UP.
T: Gently sweet malt, toasted grains, and soft citrus hops in the distant background.
M: Light body. Mild effervescence from the carbonation.
D: A solid example of style. A wonderfully sessionable brew.

Serving type: can

05-16-2013 03:28:58 | More by mwilbur

Powderhornphil

Minnesota

3.9/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Decided to go with Surly Hell on the first 90 plus degree day in MN of the year.

Not my usual style, but it is tasring pretty good today. Sessionable.

Pours light golden with a slight haze.

Smells crisp, slight breadyness. Some citrus.

Crisp mouthfeel. Quite easy drinking.

Nice change of pace for me and a great example of the style.

Serving type: can

05-15-2013 00:29:57 | More by Powderhornphil

BigBry

Alberta (Canada)

3.96/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Four pack of tall cans, brought back from my last trip to Minnesota, love the Surly and more cans for the collection.
Pours a straw yellow color, slight bit of unfiltered haze. Golden liquid is topped by half an inch of white head. Smell has a slight, grainy sweetness with just enough hop presence. Grassy and a bit herbal. Taste is very similar to the aroma, no suprises, just a crisp refreshing beer. Mouthfeel is light, crisp, dry-ish finish. Very drinkable, would pair well with most meals, and still great on its own.

Serving type: can

04-12-2013 21:51:40 | More by BigBry

iabeerbaron

Iowa

3.33/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

The style of this beer isn’t one that is often talked about currently. IPAs, barrel-aged, sours, are dominating headlines with most craft beer drinkers but if you want to try different styles and try them when they are done right, I think Surly can be proud of this beer. This could also quite possibly be a great transition beer for those looking to get into the craft beer world. Rumblings of Surly wanting to expand a bit continues through the midwest and here’s hoping that they make it south to the lovely state of Iowa.

REVIEW

Style: Hells/Dortmunder

ABV:4.5%

Purchased at: France44.com

Pour: Golden straw color with a thick white head.

Aroma: Bread, yeast, light citrus.

Flavor: Lots of breadiness with lemon and bit of hops.

Ratebeer.com rating: 90/100

Beeradvocate.com rating: 88/100

Overall: B

My recommendation: A great beer for the style, extremely drinkable. Surly continues to do things and if you can get up north to Minnesota to get some, buy a bunch, or order from france44.com.

Serving type: can

04-02-2013 17:03:23 | More by iabeerbaron

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.69/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

From: France44 dot com
Date: Canned on 2013-01-03
Glass: Ayinger willi glass

Surly's helles lager is a fairly solid representation of the style, crisp, clean, malty, with slight American hopping-style influence. That being said, there isn't much that separates it from fresh versions of its German-created counterparts, and the difficulty in obtaining this and its relative price make it likely I won't seek it out again.

Pours a 1cm tall head of white bubbles, small to medium in size, and of average retention, lasting about a minute. Fades to a thin ring around the glass, with a few flecks of foam lingering atop the center of the beer. Lacing consists of a few spots adorning the innser sides of the glass, nothing very substantial. Body is a transparent orange-yellow color, fairly bright, with carbonation that is visible, but sparse and somewhat sluggish. Light brings out brighter yellow hues.

Aroma is of light, sweet, grainy malt, lager yeast, slightly grape-like and plenty doughy with hints of a mild fruit ester akin to orange peel mixed with cantalopue.

Tasting opens with a front palate that is grainy, bready, and slightly grape-like, moving on to a mid-palate that is grassy and vegetative, mingled with mild hints of grapefruit, peach, and honeydew melon.

The beer is medium bodied with carbonation that is of medium intensity and feels "big" on the tongue. This creates a fairly full mouthfeel with some foamy nuances. Closes semi-dry, with little residual stickiness on the palate.

Note: last can of batch on 5/12/13, seems to have peach notes. Is this from hops, or sign of age? Regardless, this can is exceptional, if only this mild peach character was present in the recipe.

Serving type: can

02-27-2013 00:02:19 | More by falloutsnow

macrosmatic

Florida

3.6/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to BubbaBeerMan for this one. Reviewed from notes. Poured from 16 oz. can into a CCB pint glass.

A: Light gold, fairly cloudy, with a thin white head that fades fast. Low visible carbonation.

S: Light pilsner malt, bready yeast, light floral and citrus aromas, and just a bit of wheat.

T: Light pilsner malt, light citrus, lager yeast flavors, and just a mild hop bitterness. Pilsner malt graininess on the exhale.

M: Light body, low alcohol presence, great carbonation sensation.

O: I'll likely never drink this again. But, it seems to be a decent example of a beer style I don't care for.

Serving type: can

02-24-2013 23:33:41 | More by macrosmatic

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.95/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into my mouth during another one of the usual disc golf outings with cans. Nice vibrant yellow with a lot of clarity and carbonation running through it, pristine virgin white head on it. Aroma is lightly bready, grassy and floral at alternating moments.

Taste, wow, I'm going to have to give "zwickelz" another chance. This is enjoyable, its much like a good pilsner, thinking back to the old Czech Pilsner I used to drink in the Second Millenium. It is somehow a very good blend of smoothness, high carbonation, floral hops and crispness. Impressive. I wouldn't trade any Furious for it, but its probably one of my favorite lagers out there, in a style I don't completely understand.

In some ways, the mouthfeel is simple and clean, but it really has some delicate and appropriate touches and nuances. There's a little floral non hopped aspect, like some kind of literal flower petal in there, mild pepper notes, etc. . . Its kind of like an episode of the Simpsons, it can work on different levels, be it the simple punch in the crotch laugh or something a little more high brow at the same time (example, Duffman proclaiming in court while being sued by Duff Brewery for intellectual property violations: "Ever heard of 'Fair Use'? (hip thrust, OOOOHH Yeah).

Serving type: can

01-19-2013 21:38:18 | More by Beerandraiderfan

zeff80

Missouri

3.95/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured a cloudy, golden yellow color with a one-finger, white head of bubbly foam. It left sudsy trails of lace on the glass.

S - It smelled of caramel and floral notes.

T - Sweet caramel, toffee and grains. Some nice spicy bitterness adds perfect balance.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A light to medium bodied lager.

O - This is a really good lager. Well done by Surly!

Serving type: can

01-13-2013 20:58:43 | More by zeff80

DovaliHops

California

3.43/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear golden color with a medium white head. Scent is somewhat citrusy with a grainy aroma. Light hop aroma...very light. Probably the least appealing Surly beer I've tried (aroma-wise). Taste is a little bit better. Nice, light blend of hops, grain, malt, and lemon. Very light and easy-drinking. Mouthfeel is light and crisp. Drinkability is high. Overall, this beer does not have a lot going on. I could see this one being very user friendly to BMC drinkers. It is very refreshing and decent for the style of beer it is. Not my favorite Surly beer.

Serving type: can

12-22-2012 08:58:11 | More by DovaliHops

Roland45s

Virginia

3/5  rDev -23.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Almost like a pilsner, I think this is more of a wannabe oktoberfest. Poured with a rich white head and had a golden wheat colored body. Picked up from the mid-west, a standard pilsner style beer, not too much to write home about but not the shittiest beer I've ever had. Supposed to be a reminder of Germany, but I have had better.

Serving type: can

11-30-2012 00:24:52 | More by Roland45s

kojevergas

California

3.15/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

16 fl oz aluminum can served into a Dick's Last Resort pilsner glass at me sister's gaff in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Reviewed live. Expectations are above average given the brewery. Thanks to me sister for purchasing the can for me.

Served straight from the refrigerator and allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a two finger head of nice cream and thickness, and good retention. Body colour is a clear translucent pale copper. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show.

Sm: Pale malts mainly. Cream. Full barley. Pleasant but simple. Appropriate for the style. Maybe a vague hint of lemon.

T: Pale malt body with full-bodied barley and minimal hopping. Traces of lemon citrus. Balanced but simple and pleasant. An effective Helles. No yeast or alcohol comes through. Balanced and enjoyable. There's nothing special or unique here, though.

Mf: Coarse and wet. A bit too thick. Good carbonation. Suits the flavours alright, and the style fairly well.

Dr: One of Surly's weaker beers, but nevertheless quite drinkable. It's certainly a tasty beer for the style; it's just not one I'd have again. A bit mundane, but worth trying.

C+

Serving type: can

11-22-2012 21:18:23 | More by kojevergas

sommersb

Tennessee

3.83/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Tasted On: 10-20-2012
Freshness: Canned on 08-01-12
Packaging: 16 oz. can
Glassware: Seidel
Purchased: Received in a trade

Pours with a big white head. Color is a hazy, bright golden. I get a decent amount of lacing with fair head retention.

Aromas are of light, bready malts plus grassy and floral hop notes. Also has some lemon/citrus smells.

Crisp and clean mouthfeel is the first impression, with carbonation in the moderate range. Flavors are slightly sweet and lightly hopped. Medium-bodied, the finish is again balanced equally between the hops and malts, playing well with each other. It does have a slight vegetable flavor in the aftertaste that I don't care for.

An enjoyable, easy-drinking lager here.

Thanks to fLax for this one!

Serving type: can

11-15-2012 02:38:40 | More by sommersb