Five - Surly Brewing Company

tmcelvain

Minnesota

4.1/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

On-Tap at my local tavern - 10oz pour for 6 bucks, served in a tulip.

Nice dark mahogony color, but lacks much of any head. This seems true to the style, but for this ale it was a precursor to my biggest fault -

Super thin mouthfeel. I was about 4 oz in before the alcohol content began to build up a bit on my cheeks to give it a better body. This detracted a bit from the pleasing and complex flavor palette.

Very fruity and dry. A big departure from a lot of the other Surly products, but my complaints about the weight may stand to reason, as this is a fault I find with Bender/Coffee Bender as well.

Given those impressions, the flavors of sour cherry are very pleasing. I expected a funkier odor and taste, but my overall impression was a well balanced flavor and smell - a strong dark ale that you can sit for a long long time savoring a good number of.

Serving type: on-tap

09-01-2011 15:47:32 | More by tmcelvain

jeonseh

Indiana

4.28/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Bottle at DLD.

A - Dark, hazy brown with good carbonation .

S - Sour brown ale with tart cherries, lactic acid, slight vinegar and a funky blue cheese presence

T - Tart cherry up front with lactic acid that gives it a nice tartness and bite. Good blue cheese funk that comes on the back end and lingers on in the finish

M - Good carbonation with a slight creaminess to it. Light astringency on the backend from the tartness

O - Solid sour with a good balance between tart cherries, lactic acid, and a nice funky presence

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2013 03:33:18 | More by jeonseh

randylangford

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

06-14-2013 02:14:44 | More by randylangford

lovindahops

New York

4.84/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Getting amped up for my 32 can surly delivery from France44 next week, I felt this brew would be a great kick off. I love Surly and I'm kind of glad that its tough to get Surly brews. I would go through cases of the stuff! So on this this cold and wet spring, its time to get Surly!

A- five pours a look of the darkest ruby color you can imagine. A massive head of tan foam with red tints blasts to the top of my Hill Farmstead wine glass. Even in the darkness, shades of red ruby show through, as well as spotty floaties of sediment. No lacing on the edges, but plenty of character with the appearance

S- delicious sweet red wine, Brett, barnyard funk, darkened... But ripe black cherries, tasty apples, and hearty malt. This may be off the chart enhanced due to cellar time. I have never sampled a scent of such a dark, yet flavorful American wild ale. The Brett has slept nicely in this bottle. What a balanced scent profile!

T- massive funky tart flavors are almost "candy coated" with a red wine shell. Cherry and apple flavors are almost chewy and in harmony with the aforementioned taste. I am confident that cell wrong this not only mellowed it out, but also brought out some great qualities of balance and enhanced flavor. Tart and tasty. I have had some poor examples of red wine barrel brews, and this not one of them at all

M- good carbonation and slashing flavors all over the mouth. This is very tasty

O- best American wild ale that bundles red wine barrels and darkened ale properties. What ever has happened in this bottle is amazing. The tart fruit flavors mesh perfectly with the funkiness of a wild ale. What character and enhancement of the Brett and red wine barrels. I wish I could find this again!!!

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2013 17:17:31 | More by lovindahops

MNPikey

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

06-07-2013 21:21:40 | More by MNPikey

Rihup

Illinois

4/5  rDev -1.7%

06-03-2013 02:26:31 | More by Rihup

Anonymous1

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%

06-02-2013 23:39:59 | More by Anonymous1

beerpirates

Belgium

3.64/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

75 cl bottle poured into a tasting glass

A - Dark brown, minimal 1/2 finger head that fades fast

S - Cherries, flanders red aroma, oak and oranges.

T - Very oaky, slightly sweet, hint of funk and a nice tart finish. Cherries are throughout but not getting the "wine barrel" aspect noted on the label , it tastes like a " soft/light version " of a good rodenbach grand cru "

M - Light body, dry and sweet with light carbonation

O - Decent beer but not something I’d seek out.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2013 15:01:10 | More by beerpirates

PerHops

California

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

05-26-2013 22:13:00 | More by PerHops

Lucho

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%

05-25-2013 07:00:58 | More by Lucho

tom10101

Quebec (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -14%

05-19-2013 18:04:13 | More by tom10101

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-19-2013 01:23:51 | More by Photekut

AleWatcher

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%

05-13-2013 17:38:00 | More by AleWatcher

pk18

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

05-09-2013 21:26:42 | More by pk18

StPaulSuds

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%

05-07-2013 16:37:37 | More by StPaulSuds

ngeunit1

California

4.28/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Reddish-brown with a finger of frothy tan-khaki head. Fades normal.

S - Sour cherries, oak, vanilla, red wine, other dark fruits, some dark malts, funky Brett, and some tart green fruits.

T - Sour cherries, funky Brett, oak, vanilla, red wine, dark fruits, dark malts, tart green apple and other green fruits.

M - Medium bodied with moderate-light carbonation. Smooth with a tart and sour finish.

D - Nice wild ale. Good overall balance and complexity.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 04:45:43 | More by ngeunit1

drummermattie02

Texas

4/5  rDev -1.7%

04-29-2013 13:54:14 | More by drummermattie02

roostor07

Minnesota

5/5  rDev +22.9%

04-28-2013 23:01:47 | More by roostor07

gatornation

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

04-22-2013 21:22:41 | More by gatornation

hansgruber

Indiana

4/5  rDev -1.7%

04-19-2013 20:16:56 | More by hansgruber

Kelp

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%

04-16-2013 09:58:55 | More by Kelp

NathanFink

Iowa

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

04-14-2013 15:33:07 | More by NathanFink

Jeffrey2310

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%

04-09-2013 14:35:21 | More by Jeffrey2310

DaftCaskBC

British Columbia (Canada)

4.43/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Generously shared by Rutager.

A: Black liquid with a slight tan head around the edges of the glass.

S: Smells like an oud bruin. Caramel malt and sourness.

T: Pears, white wine, red wine, oak, chocolate, hazelnut and caramel.

M: Medium to thin viscosity and a low level of carbonation.

O: Interesting wild ale reminiscent of an oud bruin.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2013 01:19:03 | More by DaftCaskBC

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Huge thank you to Steasy66 and Mikesgroove for each getting me a bottle of this!

Appearance. Pours a deep dark brown with half a finger of khaki head.

Smell. Malt vinegar and sweet dark malts, a little cherry and dark fruit. Yum!

Taste. Sour, cocoa, red berry tartness, old dank barrel, a little dry funky brett.

Mouthfeel. Lighter than medium body, lowish carbonation.

Overall. Interesting, different and very tasty.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 02:21:54 | More by Rutager