Surly Seventeen

 Surly Seventeen. Strong Ale aged in bitter orange liqueur barrels and & bourbon barrels.

11% ABV, Surly Brewing, Mpls./BC, MN. 

Dark, impenetrable, slim head of foam. 

In the nose: cocoa, caramel, cream, mostly malty,…some bright spots, floral, sweet, intriguing…

In the mouth: rich, lush, malty, strong. Whiskey leads the way. Cocoa and caramel behind. Barrel aged. Bitter orange liquor. Some sweetness. Rich and pretty much delicious. Ever so delightful. Combination of dark malt and citrus. 

This was crafted to reproduce the flavors of the Boulevardier, a cocktail I’ve neither consumed nor made. A man once sashayed into Acadia Cafe (that’s what he did, sashay) and asked me for one to which I replied, “You can’t fool me, Boulevard doe’s make a beer called ‘E-yay’!”

So, I can’t say how successful they were in that endeavor.

As the story goes, a Prohibition-era secret society of cocktail enthusiasts known only as the International Bar Flies formed at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris, the alleged birthplace of The Boulevardier and the inspiration for Seventeen. 

Our 2023 anniversary beer blends a strong red ale and a wee heavy, aged in Tattersall Bitter Orange Liqueur barrels and 10-Year Henry McKenna Bourbon barrels, echoing The Boulevardier’s timeless flavor profile. Keep it a secret or share it with your fellow bar flies.

Oh, that explains the flies on the label. Now I get it.