Pentagram (Unblended) - Surly Brewing Company

ucis

Minnesota

5/5  rDev +12.4%

12-05-2011 16:16:21 | More by ucis

throwback

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev -4.5%

03-25-2013 18:37:28 | More by throwback

DarthGuitarHero

Minnesota

4.75/5  rDev +6.7%

02-18-2013 22:38:21 | More by DarthGuitarHero

spycow

Illinois

4/5  rDev -10.1%

01-12-2013 00:15:55 | More by spycow

Hopstout

Minnesota

4.75/5  rDev +6.7%

12-08-2012 08:53:00 | More by Hopstout

ryancl

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev -4.5%

12-07-2012 19:36:08 | More by ryancl

bbadger

Texas

4.25/5  rDev -4.5%

10-16-2012 01:33:43 | More by bbadger

joh04587

Wisconsin

5/5  rDev +12.4%

09-18-2012 14:47:21 | More by joh04587

FreshmanPour77

Minnesota

5/5  rDev +12.4%

12-03-2011 20:19:53 | More by FreshmanPour77

herman77

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -10.1%

11-30-2011 02:58:56 | More by herman77

shawnp

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -10.1%

11-23-2011 09:10:53 | More by shawnp

I2uss

Minnesota

5/5  rDev +12.4%

11-18-2011 18:11:26 | More by I2uss

SrMonkey

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -10.1%

11-14-2011 21:12:06 | More by SrMonkey

Yulles

Minnesota

5/5  rDev +12.4%

11-14-2011 17:14:18 | More by Yulles

SourNotes

Minnesota

5/5  rDev +12.4%

11-14-2011 16:10:41 | More by SourNotes

millelacsmark

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -10.1%

11-14-2011 15:37:55 | More by millelacsmark

irtsy

Minnesota

5/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

My review follows feloniousmonk's rather closely because I found it hard to explain this one.

I would like to thank Surly for making such an interesting and wonderful beer. For me to sum this brew up in so few words would do it a disservice, but I can firmly say that this is one of the most interesting beers that I have had in a long time.

First smell was raisin, wood, grape, a bit of chocolate, and something a bit off. First pour was a muddy chocolate, with a caramel head that quickly dissipated into a tighter, flat, ring around the glass. First taste was overwhelming in the best way possible.

The first thing that I tasted was a mish-mash of fruits, wood, chocolate, and a hint of coffee, all wrapped up in sour. After I settled into my first glass, a lot of the overpowering flavors calmed and I was left with a beautiful beer. The taste stuck around, and the carbonation relaxed my stomach.

Thanks Surly, I appreciate it.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2011 01:06:03 | More by irtsy

MNPostal

Minnesota

5/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Enjoyed at MN Winterfest 2011

I am a big fan of sours and wilds and this one does not disappoint. This is by far my favorite sour and quite possibly my favorite beer I have ever had. The taste and aroma is amazing. I am anxiously waiting the release of 5 to see what the final result is.

Serving type: cask

06-26-2011 17:44:23 | More by MNPostal

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.75/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pentagram, early kegging of the still-maturing Surly Five. Brettanomyces yeast and pinot noir barrel-aging in a brown ale. Hey this sounds like a Rodenbach.
Advance tapping courtesy of me, because.

The photo is not indicative of the beer's appearance at it's peak. I should know tonight, since I poured over 100 glasses. Yikes.

Murky brown, nearing black, with ruby tints at edges, ...got a big head on first pour, but it slims down to a tight brown ring.

Perfect funky/wild/sour aroma, very reminiscent of Flanders Reds. Slightly sour cherry & grape notes, plum & raisin, blackberries.

Taste: sharp, sour snap right up at the top, big puckeration, small bitterness. Sears the tongue and palate with twisted fruit flavors, nice brown ale buttress below. Holy heck, this is good, and is sure to make the soreheads drool. Wonderful blend of the barrel and the yeast. Excellent mouthfeel, great grippoing texture. Raisins and port wine character begin to dominate the flavor, along with sour cherry and grape. Malt feels richer further in, all in all, the various parts pull together to create something sublime. Lovely, lovely stuff that is tasting better as the glass empties out.
I would love to swim in this, or at the very least, take a bath in it.

Here's to five years! Was it all working up to this?

Serving type: on-tap

03-10-2011 05:01:41 | More by feloniousmonk

icefisherman

Minnesota

4.53/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Let me start by saying holy crap was this sour. Appearance was ok kinda basic dark brown no real head to speak of. Smelled of red wine and a slight tartness not bad. Taste blew me away holy funky soury delisiousness. Mouthfeel was nice big bubblys somewhat on the thin side but nice. I could have drank about 3 more of these bad boys but the 2 I had were still going down way to fast.

Serving type: on-tap

03-04-2011 05:23:20 | More by icefisherman

joshuaseresse

Minnesota

4.47/5  rDev +0.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this on-tap at Whistle Binkies South last night for Surly's 5th anniversary party. Had about 3 glasses of this. The keg sold out in half hour. Served in a tulip:

A - Dark brown with a bit of mahogany hues mixed in. Light foam ring around the edges. Really no head or lacing.

S - Tart funk and cherries. Red wine smell really comes through. Other dark fruit flavors of plums and cranberries.

T - Tart cherries, strawberries and cranberries. Brett funk and a bit oak. Really tasty and funky!

M - Nice tart tannins. Carbonation is really nice. Sour jaw clencher.

D - Really easy to drink. Nice smelling and tasting brew that I was so happy to try. After about 2 glasses, I just savored the third and smelled it the entire time. Really a nice treat. Now I have to wait till they bottle this glory.

Serving type: on-tap

03-03-2011 16:35:45 | More by joshuaseresse

Penguin3200

Minnesota

3.85/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had the pentagram at groveland tap last night for te anniversary party. Second sour in my book, and still not sure what to think. I can agree that it seemed very young and disjointed at the finish. Poured a nice murky brown/reddish with a nose full of rasnerry, black licorice, and funk.

Taste was sour, tart, and begging for rich food to cut the sour. Overall was happy to get to try it and lookn forward to getting a few bottles of the blend "5" at release.

Serving type: on-tap

03-02-2011 02:00:39 | More by Penguin3200

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at BLB.

Served in a chalice with 1/2 finger of beige head. Color is a dark ruby red hued brown.

Aroma: Cherry, oak, spice, and some funk. A bit sour, but not overly done. A little young yet.

Taste: Brett and funk here. Some cherries with some tartness. More sour than I was expecting, but still fairly mild compared to others. It does have the medicinal notes that come along with some brett beers.

Mouthfeel: Sour and mildly tart. Medium bodied with a medium amount of carbonation. Ends with fruit and tart notes.

Overall, a decent sour from Surly! It is young and I think time is really going to help this beer which is why I am now really looking forward to 5. Congrats to Surly! Here is to 5 more!

Serving type: on-tap

02-25-2011 15:49:06 | More by mothman

pdoran10

Minnesota

4.13/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours out a very murky dark brown color into a tulip at cafe 28. Very little head.

Smell is nice sour tartness with hints of cherry and very noticable barnyard funk from the brett. Seems like a complex full on sour.

taste is musty funky tartness with hints of dark cherry coming through. Nice sharp tartness. Finish is dry with flavors not lingering.

Mouthfeel is pretty dry and substantial with moderate to low carbonation.

Nicely drinkable sour could really sip on many glasses of this. Would love a slight bit more carbonation.

Serving type: on-tap

02-09-2011 07:45:19 | More by pdoran10

evanlarkin

District of Columbia

3.85/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Appearance:
Dark and a bit muddy. A big head that fizzes down very quickly. It's just like a quickly poured cola.

Smell:
Not knowing how else to describe it, it smells like a drier version of Coca-Cola.

Taste:
Champagne-y. Sour grapes. Very sour grapes. Not at all like any beer I've had before. Think green grapes, carbonated.

Mouthfeel:
Light, once again mostly reminding me of a cola.

Drinkability:
I wouldn't have several in a sitting, but I could see myself making it a part of my rotation. Not bad, but the sourness makes it hard on the tongue. So, drinkable in moderation.

Serving type: on-tap

02-07-2011 04:14:54 | More by evanlarkin