Surf - Surf Brewery

ElSid

California

4.09/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

The Beers of California

#51

On-tap at Father's Office in Culver City

A: Nearly pitch black but evaluated in poor lighting. Finger and a half of khaki head which clings and clings to the glass.

S: Caramel, chocolate, and roasted malt paired with bright pine, citrus, and flowers.

T: A ying-yang of a palate sporting dark roasted malt with mostly caramel and chocolate notes contrasted with pine needles, citrus zest, and flowers. The bitterness is leafy and earthy.

M: Medium bodied with good linger and appropriate carbonation.

O: The west coast sure knows what to do with hops. A black IPA with dark malt and bright hops which makes for an interesting and pleasing melange of flavors. The black IPA genre is growing and this up and coming brewery does an excellent job of crafting in this style.

Serving type: on-tap

01-15-2013 05:03:23 | More by ElSid

dominic4beer

California

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

05-18-2013 07:44:53 | More by dominic4beer

Bnoise11

California

4.25/5  rDev +7.9%

03-22-2013 01:25:37 | More by Bnoise11

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.96/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Served on tap in a pint glass

Appearance – The beer is served a nearly pitch black colored brew with a one finger cream colored head. The head fades over a moderate amount of lime to leave a fair level of lacing on the sides of the glass.

Smell – The aroma of the brew is heaviest of a roasted malt ad semi-sweet chocolate smell. Mixed with these are some sweet caramel as well as a lighter floral and citrus hop.

Taste – The taste begins with a smoother roasted malt and chocolate taste. Hints of a caramel sweetness are up front which fade more over time as flavors of a pine and citrus hop begin coming to the tongue. The citrus remains relatively light while the pine gets stronger to the end, where a earthy hop joins the flavor to leave a moderately hopped roasted flavor are linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer has a medium amount of creaminess and a slightly lower level of carbonation. It is quite nice for the moderate hop level as well as roasted flavors of the brew as it creates a very soothing feel on the tongue.

Overall – A very tasty, rather moderately hopped, black IPA. It is a good blend of a black ale, with nice roasty flavor with hints of sweetness, and hop.

Serving type: on-tap

01-22-2013 00:26:12 | More by Darkmagus82

BeerBeast

California

4/5  rDev +1.5%

01-21-2013 19:06:21 | More by BeerBeast

TicoCali

California

4.25/5  rDev +7.9%

11-03-2012 22:12:04 | More by TicoCali

profondo

Sweden

4/5  rDev +1.5%

11-03-2012 08:58:07 | More by profondo

wethorseblanket

California

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

09-23-2012 23:41:06 | More by wethorseblanket

mhaugo

California

4/5  rDev +1.5%

09-13-2012 03:11:09 | More by mhaugo

womencantsail

California

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

The pour is really dark brown with a tall khaki head. Really good hop aroma to begin. Plenty of citrus hops, light grass, pine, and pineapple. There is some good roast, very mild bread, and a light sweetness. The flavor has only a hint of cocoa and a moderate roast character. Mostly grapefruit, pineapple, and pine. Moderate bitterness on the back end with a light sweetness.

Serving type: on-tap

08-15-2012 03:48:57 | More by womencantsail

drewone

California

3.5/5  rDev -11.2%

08-13-2012 20:23:11 | More by drewone

UCLABrewN84

California

3.28/5  rDev -16.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On tap at Tony's Darts Away in Burbank, CA.

Pours a clear super dark brown with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small streaks and dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt and some citrus zest hop aromas. Taste is of dark roasted malt, citrus zest, and a weird perfume-like flavor. There is a medium hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty average beer flavor wise and I am not sure why the flavor has a perfume quality to it.

Serving type: on-tap

07-22-2012 02:47:29 | More by UCLABrewN84

Charlottini

5/5  rDev +26.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I love this beer. Arrogant Bastard is sometimes just one click too intense for me, this is just a little bit softer, and just a pinch sweeter. The taste was too good, so we had to have more than one. Really enjoyed it with the pub burger. Enjoyed on tap at the Anacapa Brewing company, Ventura, Ca.

Serving type: on-tap

05-24-2012 04:31:44 | More by Charlottini

crob3888

California

4.25/5  rDev +7.9%

04-27-2012 07:33:31 | More by crob3888

brentusaurus

California

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

04-22-2012 16:34:44 | More by brentusaurus

Souleman

California

4/5  rDev +1.5%

03-30-2012 00:40:12 | More by Souleman

Mollerina

4.25/5  rDev +7.9%

03-18-2012 01:25:57 | More by Mollerina

FutureJack

California

4/5  rDev +1.5%

03-02-2012 19:48:10 | More by FutureJack

DeezGunz14

California

4/5  rDev +1.5%

02-19-2012 23:07:02 | More by DeezGunz14

TeamUgly

California

4/5  rDev +1.5%

01-20-2012 19:55:34 | More by TeamUgly

GRG1313

California

3.4/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Posting Review instead of using "Hads" to assist this one in getting a grade.

Pours black with an initial nice khaki head; fades fast but comes back nicely with a swirl.

Nose is not IPA at all and actually "light Belgian esters." Sweet pear with light undertones of sweet lightly roasted grain. Nose fades as you drink it.

Mouthfeel is medium/thin with nice elegant carbonation that seems to thicken in texture as you drink it.

Flavor profile is a bit simple dark roasted grain that is pleasant, albeit simple, and goes to a nice long coffee/pine bitter finish.

Pleasant and drinkable but I don't see it as a black IPA as much as it reminds me of a lighter character bitter stout.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2012 01:44:02 | More by GRG1313

Jayli

Massachusetts

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

Acquired from mthomas84 via Secret Santa '11 so a big thank you goes out to him!
22 oz bomber
Poured in to a pint glass

A: This beer pours an a opaque with distinguished mahogany highlights. A three finger of light khaki head, sudsy head that leaves big sheets of lacing on the glass.

S: Nose is roast, char, then some caramel malts, and a touch of citrus.

T: Taste is big roasty notes at the forefront, lends to a lighter malt flavoring, a touch of carmelized malts, coffee comes in with big grapefruit in the aftertaste.

M: Lighter side of medium body, medium carbonation, slightly light and slightly slick in the body.

O: Goes down very easy, very tasty, not filling, mild kick nice drinklable version of the style. Never heard of this brewery before, but I'd this up for a while!

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2011 04:05:07 | More by Jayli

mthomas84

California

4/5  rDev +1.5%

12-16-2011 22:54:12 | More by mthomas84

charlzm

California

3.48/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Consumed November 5th, 2011 at the brewery. Reviewed from notes.

This beer is indeed black. No highlights when held to light. Wow. Small off-white head.

Aroma is all California IPA - pine and grapefruit hops.

Flavor starts with dark, roasted malts. Oily, piny hops dominate early on and stick with the palate to the end, when coffee grinds emerge. Some citrus mixed in there.

Mouthfeel is slightly thicker than water.

Drinkability suffers somewhat from a lack of balance; hops are well-represented, but malt doesn't really get its act together here.

Serving type: on-tap

12-13-2011 20:53:54 | More by charlzm

BigMilkDan

California

4/5  rDev +1.5%

11-18-2011 21:14:41 | More by BigMilkDan