Surly Mortal Sun American Porter

Another Surly sample pack came out for the final season of the year, the Frost Pack, as they call it. There are two new beers, besides two stand-by year-rounds (Furious and X-tra Citra). The first of these I've already sampled already, the Liquid Stardust IPA, and now on to Surly Mortal Sun American Porter.

Surly has never made a traditonal, straight-up porter in it's entire history. A terrific lineup of stouts, brown ales, and hybrids to be sure, but never this classic beer style.

True fact: the first time I tried Bender, I was in the presence of Omar and Todd at the original factory. Omar called it an American Brown Ale, but Todd corrected him by saying it was an Oatmeal Brown Porter. Brown Porter is the lighter-bodied cousin to the better known Robust Porter. Maybe the use of oatmeal as well as Belgian malt made it less traditional. Nonetheless, I've always called that beer an Oatmeal Brown Ale, while Surly stuck to the appellation applied by Omar. (And I can't stop alliterating!)

So, the first porter in nearly 13 years? Sure. Let's drink it.

Surly Mortal Sun American Porter. 5.5 % ABV. IBU: Moderate. Surly Brewing Company, Twin Cities, MN.

Suitably dark brown, nearly black coloration, entirely opaque, voluminous cocoa-tinged head, leaving lace.

In the nose: Soft, caramel-toned, traces of cola, toffee, nuts. Minor notes of coffee & cocoa. Much malt. Semi-sweet.

In the mouth: Floods the palate with warmth. Cool malt enchantment. Light roast, with all those flavors noted from the nose arriving on the tongue. Ends just a little dry. Medium-bodied, and excellently quaffable, for those of us who enjoy indulging in a session on the dark side. Nicely hoppy at the end. (Making for a more American style, versus traditionally British-style.) Quite tasty, too.

Overall, I like this. I would buy a case of it, turn to it for comfort when there is nothing but dreary darkness and such outside. It's snowing outside as I write this. Ugh. Winter Wonderland, my ass.

The ancients feared the long winter nights meant a dying sun. For us, these dark nights call for a dark beer, brewed with roasted malts and a pop of citrusy, dry-hop flavor.

PORTER
COLOR
Dark Brown

HOPS
Willamette
MALT
Two Row
Medium Crystal
Munich Light 1
Munich Dark 2
Chocolate
Acidulated
Carafoam
Beech Smoked
Flaked Oats
OG
12.5
YEAST
English Ale
IBU
Moderate
ABV
5.5%
SURLY MN USA