Surly / J. Wakefield Inside the Upside Down, BC Small Batch #1

I got a package. It came via UPS, on a Sunday, no less. My first special delivery from Surly. Two cans inside and and a letter detailing this new BC (for Brooklyn Center) Small Batch Series. I finally cracked can #1 on Monday night, but didn't feel my notes were good enough (it was the third beer review of the night), and felt that I should keep can #2 to flesh it out. And so I shall.

Surly / J. Wakefield Inside the Upside Down. "An Imperial Kettle Sour Ale brewed with Strawberries and Raspberries. Brewed and canned by Surly Brewing, Brooklyn Center, MN. Brewed in collaboration with our friends at  Miami's J. Wakefield Brewing. Surly BC Small Batch. Small batch beers from Brooklyn Center, where it all started. " 9% ABV, IBU:?. 

Gorgeous reddish coloration, under a slightly pink-ed out head. Beautiful.

In the nose: Tart, Sweet, fruity. Raspberry-licious. Strawberry-tastic. Very nice.

In the mouth: More intense tart, more bright, funky, fresh raspberry flavor, with strawberries on the side. Lighter bodied. Modicum of malt. Focus is on funk and fruit. Very tasty this one, very enjoyable. This one nails it.

Let's hear more, from the press release: ""an Imperial kettle sour brewed with strawberry puree and whole raspberries. It's a collaboration beer with the fruited beer geniuses at J. Wakefield and a variation on a beer Surly brewer Josh Lemke made with them last winter. "It's a true attempt to marry Surly's style with Wakefield's style," says Lemke, "they're known for their fruited Berliners and we're known for our hop-forward beers. This collaboration perfectly showcases both."

Be careful when you use the word "perfectly." In general, try not to say that anything you do is
"perfect."

As it is, there is little hop-forwardness. It's all fruit and all-sour, and only a little bit bitter or hoppy.

There's a constant tease between sour and sweet in this one, and it's a treat for the tongue. It's delightful and delicious. If you're a fan of the fruit and the tart, go on and give it a try. It's got a lot of good stuff going on here.  I'm not really getting the ABV, by the way, until, ...oh, wait, now I get it.

This one was only 60 barrels, cans released this week, on tap at MPLS next week. Get it while you can. No pun intended.