Surly Eighteen

 

Surly Eighteen. Belgian-style Golden Strong Ale Fermented with Brettanomyces.u

11% ABV,  Surly Brewing, Minneapolis / Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. 

Clear, golden, slim white head.

In the nose: funky, sweet, fruity. Stone fruit, citrus, bubblegum. 

In the mouth: sweet and fruity up front, but balanced. Light bodied, easily drinkable, but for the high ABV coming on slowly but surely. Slightly sugary, while never overly sweet. Ending on a drying note. 

I like this, but I want to like it more. That’s just my way. As is, it’s a rarity these days. No one really makes anything like this, at least not around these parts. Wish this was something I could taste more often, rather than a once in a blue moon thing. 

Surly's anniversary beers are all about challenging ourselves, be it with ingredients, processes, styles, or all three at once.

For our 18th anniversary, a sturdy Belgian golden strong ale ferments on two wild yeast strains, allowing a funky/sour process to develop while aging in stainless for months. 

A portion was then removed and aged in virgin oak, before everything was blended back together, dry-hopped, and pasteurized.

The end result is an absolute gem, with notes of white wine, berries, oak, leather, and honey.

The path Eighteen travelled mirrors our 18 years of brewing, instigating, and making something worth seeking out, sharing and savoring. Thank you for taking that journey with us.

Stone 25th Anniversary Triple IPA

Stone 25th Anniversary Triple IPA.

12.5% ABV. 100 IBU. Stone Brewing, Escondido, CA. 

I was a little disappointed when this first came out. For their 25th anniversary, surely Stone should release a 25% ABV IPA, right? I mean, it's appropriate and so easy to do. Can't be hard. So, they half-assed it, and did one at 12.5%...that's okay, ...I guess. 

Let's drink it!

Clear, bold, rich amber hue, slim white head. 

In the nose: bomb-tactic! Creeping in on barley-wine territory with the richness and intensity. This is hop aroma as crack. Candied apricot and orange peels that are actually on fire doused with fusel alcohol, laced with pixie dust and goblin tears...or something like that. This is exactly what anything calling itself "triple IPA" should smell like, nothing less. 

In the mouth: Pow! Next level. Bigness, thickness, richness, all swirling around the nucleus of hoppiness. Citrus and stone fruit flavors ride lupulin highs. While this is definitely outsized and a bit of a challenge, with a bit of an alcohol burn, I find it endlessly delicious. 

It was 25 years ago that we planted our flag in North County San Diego. We showed up to a modest, empty warehouse with some mighty big dreams. We thought people deserved a world with better beer, and were determined to be part of a cultural transformation we believed could happen… even though few others shared our vision. This massive triple IPA is another important milestone on our continuing journey. Speaking of journeys, for reasons you may guess, our 25th Anniversary Celebration in 2021 will be a bit understated for such a monumental anniversary, so we’ve decided to hold our big event in 2022 with the Stone 25+1 Years In The Making Anniversary Celebration. After a quarter of a century and quite a few twists and turns, we’re still here. Here for hops. Here for quality. Here for making great mistakes. Here for more good times. Here for another round. We thank you sincerely for the years of support and pledge that we will, as always, strive to live up to the reasons for your loyalty! 

Surly Fourteen Barrel-aged Barley-wine Ale

Surly Fourteen Barrel-aged Barley-wine Ale.

11 % ABV. Surly Brewing, Minneapolis/Brooklyn Center, MN. 

2020-2006= Fourteen. 

Man, I miss bombers. I miss big, bad-ass bottles. The last Surly anniversary beer in a bomber was Eleven. There were eight before that (they didn't bottle One or Three). (Ask me about Two, though, or look it up here yourself.) They didn't release Twelve. Thirteen was the first released as a can in a box for about twelve bucks. The tradition continues. 

One tradition I thoroughly enjoy is that of barley-wines, especially barrel-aged ones. Long may they wave.

Clear, bright crimson coloring, slim ivory head. 

In the nose: Caramel, vanilla, cherries, oak. Sweetness abounds. And so much more...

In the mouth: A malt monster. Huge and sweet. So many flavors abound: burnt orange, caramel and toffee, candied fruit. Minor hop bitterness, major malt, increasing alcohol every step of the way, and amassing and amazing richness. Juicy, fruity, powerful and potent. A blockbuster and a barn-burner in one neat little can. I was thoroughly struck by this offering, and can highly recommend it. I will even proclaim it Yum a Dum Dum. Even Super YADD.

You know, a 16-ounce can for $12 versus a 25 ounce bottle for $24 is not that bad of a deal. I just miss bombers. 

I believer that I will procure more of these and stash them away for future consumption, as has been my habit through the years. This one feels just a little bit young. 

Presenting Fourteen, our massive barleywine aged in Parker Heritage Wheat Whiskey barrels and Tattersall orphan spirit barrels. Rich malt character defines this beer, offering notes of caramel, toasted bread, and toffee combined with a kiss of hops, all finished by vanilla, oak, cocktail bitters, and burnt sugar flavors from the barrels.

BARLEYWINE ALE AGED IN PARKER HERITAGE WHEAT WHISKEY BARRELS

COLOR

Amber

HOPS

Warrior

Amarillo

MALT

2-Row

Wheat Malt

Flaked Wheat

Honey Malt

Acidulated Malt

Carafoam

OG

YEAST

English Ale

IBU

Moderate

ABV

11%

SURLY MN USA

North Coast Barrel-aged Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout XIX

North Coast Brewing Company Barrel-aged 
Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout XIX.
(19th Anniversary)
Stout aged in bourbon barrels. 11.2 % ABV.
North Coast Brewing, Fort Bragg, CA.

North Coast Brewing has appeared here in the Nib a mere 7 times in the history of this blog, and not once in over 7 years, even though Old Rasputin and Brother Thelonious are two of my all-time favorites. Jumping over to BeerAdvocate, I can see that I've reviewed 16 of their beers. It's not likely that I'll repeat them all here, for some are not easy to find. Such as the XII (12th Anniversary) version of this beer, which was probably the only one I've tried. Twenty-five dollar bottles tend to scare me off. But, I splurged on this one. Happy that some much-needed money fell into my back account while waiting for the world to turn back to normal, I thought I could excuse a little excess. Just a little. So, let's open it up.

Solid ebony appearance, thorough opacity, burnished brown head on top, lasting a little.

In the nose: Bourbon, smoke, chocolate, cherries, licorice. Port, sherry. Mmmm, this I dig.

In the mouth: Warm entrance on the palate, almost fierce and fiery. Chocolate and coffee, wrapped up in leather and smoke, doused with vanilla, dark fruits, bourbon barrel over all of it. Bright, grassy hop presence shines a light above the darkness. Thick and rich, but not too much. Fairly easy flowing, with the alcohol strength just now rearing (roaring) it's head.

I have to wonder what a fresh bottle of this was like. I am drinking a 2016 bottle in 2020, though I bought it four days ago, fresh off of a liquor store shelf. Has it been there the whole time? So many questions. The biggest is: Would this have been bolder, richer, etc. when it was first released? It feels like it's fallen short of it's true potential.

Well one way to find out is to look back. The 12th Anniversary bottling came out in 2009, and I reviewed it immediately. Here are the notes from a fresh bottle, taken 11 years ago:

Bourbon Barrel Old Rasputin, 12

Fully ebon hued, with little foam on top, rather bare capped, at that.

Whiskey hits the nose right off, then blackstrap molasses, leather, bittersweet espresso and cholate...all the usual, banged up with bourbon.

Mmmm, indulgent...thick, rich, dry, delicious. Deep, yet mellow. Actually, this is something lovely. It's ...nearly gorgeous, in the realm of the imperial stout. The whiskey's big in it, but not so big. And when it hits, you feel no pain, to quote Robert Nestor Marley. Yeah, what it is, is groovy. Real groovy.

Full body, full flavor, and amazingly complex. The flavors roll out, and over, up and down. They reverberate, shock a bit, send the waves out on a molecular level.

Tobacco, toast, dry, dark chocolate...mmm, mmm.

I'm pretty pleased, though still not sure whether $21 a bottle is quite fair. 22 ounce, maybe...25 ounce, now, you've got a party!
My second bottle will sit for some time, I think, and be enjoyed to it's fullest.

Here's what the brewery has to say: Every year we age a special batch of our much-loved Russian Imperial Stout in Whiskey barrels. The depth, intensity, and complexity of the flavor profile of this special release, like its predecessors, make it a worthy tribute to Old Rasputin.
Prior to 2010, Barrel-Aged Old Rasputin was released in such limited quantities that it was available only at the North Coast Brewing retail shop in Fort Bragg, California. However, we received so many requests for this beer that we began producing enough Barrel-Aged Old Rasputin to put into broader, but still limited, distribution.
Available in 500 ML bottles with a cork and wire finish.
Bourbon Barrel Aged: The most robust expression with a rich toffee nose, chocolate notes, and a silky mouthfeel.

Surly Eight Ale-Six Year Later

Surly Eight Ale-Six Year Later. 12 % ABV.
Surly Brewing, Brooklyn Center, MN.

Mostly hazed, dark crimson coloring, slim white head.

In the nose: Bright, bold fruit, almost wine-like. Vanilla and cherry. Slightly sweet, lightly tart, a wonderful complexity coming through.

In the mouth: Big hoppiness. Big malt. Massive barrel action. Tart tannins. Smooth stuff, underneath the bigness. Citrus fruit, stone fruit, berries and cherries. Quite tasty.

I'm going to have to check on my notes from the original release in 2014.

Six years on, it's much more mellow, alcohol strength isn't felt quite so hotly. Flavors remain plump and delicious. Holds up remarkably well after six years. Wish I had another.


When it’s done” is a phrase we’ve used to describe release dates for our beers for many years. When you’re putting the beer first, it just makes sense. Our anniversary is technically in February, but this unique Oat Wine style ale needed to age in High West Rye Whiskey barrels until, well… until it’s done. Here’s to Eight great years, and we’ll all be celebrating soon in our all new Destination Brewery.

Surly 13 Maple Barrel-aged Imperial Stout

It's been a couple of years since a Surly anniversary beer has appeared here in the Nib. And that's not the way it's supposed to work. Whatever happened to Twelve? Suffice to say that the official word from Surly was that it just didn't come out right. Wasn't good enough. So, it wasn't released and there officially was no Twelve. However, this decision came after the beer was bottled and wax-dipped.  Some exist out there, somewhere, and I hope I can try one of those, just to find out how bad it really could be.

Well, that was last year. And this year it's the thirteenth anniversary, and for the first time ever it's not a bomber, but a can, in a box, for thirteen bucks. Huh. Better be good. Also, it's the first package where I really notice the absence of the classic original Surly logo, being replaced by the simple letter S. It's probably been gone from the last few cans I've reviewed, but it's never been more apparent than now, as the original is being replaced on every platform they've got. It won't disappear from here, as I have plenty of representations on my glassware and coasters to last us for years and years. I will miss that silly little icon. This world will not see it's like again.

Let's crack that thirteen dollar can open, shall we?

Surly Thirteen. 12.5 % ABV. Surly Brewing, Minneapolis/Brooklyn Center, MN.

Black as night, slim, soon-gone dark ring of foam briefly clings to the top.

In the nose: Ridiculously rich and redolent, dark, deep and decadent. All the usual suspects combine: espresso, chocolate, anise, whiskey barrel, vanilla and cherry, and quite a potent dose of maple.

In the mouth: They it is again, all the more rich, thick, lush and delicious. Caramel and toffee and maple galore. Diving into the dark depths, sip and swallow, again and again. Massive malt. Moderate/low bitterness. Not too sweet. Full bodied, richly rewarding. Very luxurious and effortlessly likable. Again, if only it weren't a pint-sized can at $13 each, or I'd go out and hunt for more, but, alas, that should do it for me. Don't let it stop you, though.

MAPLE BARREL-AGED IMPERIAL MILK STOUT W/VANILLA BEANS & LACTOSE
COLOR
Black as a moonless night

HOPS Warrior
MALT
2-Row Pale
Chocolate Malt
DRC Malt
Crystal
Coffee Malt
Oats
Black Malt
Honey Malt
Carafa III
Flaked Rye
Flaked Oats

YEAST English Ale
IBU Low

BREWED FOR MAKING YOUR OWN LUCK
As black cats skitter, ladders loom, and mirrors break, a reminder: You make your own luck. Surly makes your beer. Presenting 13, our maple barrel-aged imperial stout. Notes of dark chocolate, roasted malt, and aromatic vanilla sit atop the rich maple flavors coursing beneath. This decadent ale appears on Friday the 13th for a limited time only. Good luck.

Wild Mind Third Round Triple IPA DDH IPA

Wild Mind Third Round Triple IPA DDH IPA.
(I mean, that's what the label reads. Pick one, guys!)
12 % ABV. 40 IBU.
Wild Mind Artisan Ales, Minneapolis, MN.

All kinds of hazy, of course. Dull orange color, slim ivory head.

In the nose: Floral, fruity hop aromas. Bright, shiny, citrusy. Sweet, tropical notes creep up next to the citrus.

In the mouth: Starts off strong and on the sweet side. From the get-go, the high-flying booze in this one is detected, far off in the distance. But, we don't mind, we're going in for the taste.
Along with the hoppy, fruity, malty flavors comes the heat. The unsubtle sting of alcohol that stands in for my night cap tonight.

This was not on tap when I went to the taproom a day after their 3rd anniversary party, but the crowlers were available. I can't say that it would be a big hit. Not a summer's day kind of a beer.

Triple IPA brewed with malted, unmalted, and flaked wheat, hopped with Citra, El Dorado, and Simcoe, and fermented using Voss Kveik yeast. The result is dank, bold, and boozy with a touch of fruit on the finish.

Sisyphus Cake Beer 2019

Sisyphus Brewing opened up in August of 2014. A year later, they celebrated their first anniversary with an imperial stout brewed with 24 chocolate birthday cakes, their first Cake Beer. It's now an annual tradition. Why not review it again, 3 years later?

Sisyphus Cake Beer 2019. 9.5 % ABV. 51 IBU. Sisyphus Brewing, Minneapolis, MN.

Solid blackness. Slim brown head.

In the nose: Chocolate. Molasses. Fudge. Intense sweetness. Oh, yeah, this is gonna be a cake beer.

In the mouth: Rich. Dark. Massive malt. Sweet. Cake-y. Not a trace of hops to be found, and I'm not missing it. Gets a little thinner toward the end, but the deliciousness never leaves. Quite a tasty treat!
It's a gimmick, surely, but you can't debate the delicious.

Cheers to 5 years, Sisyphus!

Our yearly brew to help us celebrate our anniversary! Brewed with 24 chocolate birthday cakes, vanilla, cinnamon and ancho chilies.

Day Block 4th Anniversary Russian Imperial Stout

Day Block 4th Anniversary Russian Imperial Stout. 11.2% ABV, 55 IBU, Day Block Brewing Company, Minneapolis, MN.

Dark, dark black color, slim, soon-gone brown head, fully opaque, looking the part.

In the nose: pumpernickel, chocolate and molasses. Richness aplenty here. Quite nice.

In the mouth: vanilla. cocoa. espresso. slight cherry. Raisins, dates, figs, etc. Rich, full, major, ultra, bigness. All that. Big time bigness. I thoroughly dug it.

Cheers to four years and the tapping of this king stout to celebrate our Anniversary! We got together with FEW and brewed a chocolate forward Russian Imperial Stout. Barrel aged in Rye and Bourbon Barrels brings out a fantastic aroma of fresh dates, vanilla and chocolate.

Surly Barrel-aged Ten Ale

Surly Barrel-aged Ten, rum barrel-aged old ale. 10.5% ABV. Surly Brewing Company, Brooklyn Center/Minneapolis, MN.

Complete darkness, slim, soon-gone head.

In the nose: big sweetness, plenty of barrel. Potent alcohol presence. Dark fruits, molasses, and tons o' rum. Thick and sticky.

In the mouth: It's a strong ale, thoroughly covered over by the barrel, with little remnants of the ale it was before. I don't think I've had a Ten since it was released. (Wrong. According to my Untappd activity, I opened one in May.) What was it? And old ale aged on sassafras? I remember liking it. Any of the subtleties or nuances it may have had have been buried a bit by the barrel-aging.

But, I don't care. When you want the rum barrel treats, BA Ten is giving them, no tricks. Richness, decadence, a mellow nightcap. And with this I welcome slumber. Is it worth twenty bucks? I think so. I'll buy a few more to save up for special occasions.

Abbaye Val Dieu Cuvee 800

I haven't done a true Belgian ale here in the Nib in a while, and that's a shame. Partly because my focus has been turned to the local scene, and partly because I can't find a lot of affordable new ones. This bottle was fairly priced, and one I knew I was going to like, having had it before. That's a story I'm going to leave until the end.

What we have here, The Cuvee Speciale 800 Ans, the anniversary beer for the Abbaye Val Dieu, was released late last year, a Belgian blonde ale, 5.5% ABV. Brasserie de l'abbaye Val Dieu, Aubel, Belgium. "Let's celebrate this historic event with a beer brewed in the cisterian abbey of Val-Dieu. Rich in authentic taste, roundness and complexity, this beer also offers a subtle touch of hops. Unleash the art of beer craftsmanship and enjoy this Belgian-brewed beer. Limited edition." (Update: It's coming back.)
So, yeah, let's. Here are my notes:

Lightly clouded, bright golden, slimmed ivory head, looking very lovely.

In the nose: sharp and shimmering, alert and lively, brimming with the elegant promise of Belgian yeast and hops. Stunningly gorgeous.

In the mouth: Sparkling. Citrusy-y. Sunshine. Alive. Nothing short of wonderful. Lush malt, vibrant yeast character, and transcendent flavor. Not shy of saying it, this is one of those beers. Lifts up and separates from the common. Impossible to put into words. Neither sweet nor bitter, nor sour. Flat out wonderful.

Really. Honestly, Find a bottle yourself. (They're out there, believe me, despite the amazing quality, these didn't fly off the shelves.) If you put this past your lips and aren't lifted into realms sublime, well, buster, you and me don't see eye to eye, see? Citrus and spice and everything nice, little bits of angel dust, plus unicorn sweat and dragon wings. Gossamer fairy fuzz, smurf spittle, gnome niblets, ....all the good stuff.

I first had this one early this year when I had a keg of it at Acadia. I bought it late last year at the urging of my sales rep from the distributor, who also sold it on the basis of those gorgeous chalices you see above. I didn't tap it until early this year, and it was a bit of a hard sell, but only to those who are not devoted followers of Belgian ales. The price was too high for a "boring blonde" of "only" 5.5% ABV. Far too many people look at a high price point (based, of course, on a high cost for the keg), see a medium-range alcohol level and assume that they aren't getting "bang for the buck". If the only draw is a beautiful flavor, not a big buzz, they feel their money isn't well spent. It's too bad.

I started seeing this beer in bottles, and eventually picked one up, holding on to it until the other night. I needed to have enough time to take proper notes on it. Those of you who have stuck it out and read this far, get this beer if you see it. It's well worth the price.

Stone 21st Anniversary Hail to the Hop Theif Double IPA

Stone 21st Anniversary Double IPA Hail to the Hop Thief, brewed and bottled by Stone Brewing, Escondido, CA & Richmond, VA. 9.8% Alc. by Vol.  80 IBU.

 "A double india pale ale fit for our 21st year."

Hazy, bright golden, voluminous ivory head, and composed of a multitude of "floats". Did I get an old bottle? Not sure. Huh.

In the nose: lovely hop expression, floral, lightly citrus, slightly tropical, delicate fruit notes. Nice.

In the mouth: Bold, brash bitterness at the start, resinous, oily, hop-forward for sure. A barrage of bitterness, a brisk blast of hop flavors. Lean bodied, mellow malt, all here is in service of letting the hop flag fly.  Creamy, smooth, and big and bitter. Just like I like my double IPAs. Yum. Yu-um. Or even, as I like to say from time to time, Yum-a-Dum, Dum! (Don't forget to quote me when you use that next!)

This is awfully good, forgiving the floaties. (Storage issue? The bottle was sitting at room temp at the store where I bought it.)
There's a whole lot of gobbledygook on the label....maybe I'll find a link for it. I'm sure it's amusing and informative.

The big wide world inspires our imagination and fuels our passions. Anything from music, film, beer, literature, architecture, food, engineering, poetry…all art forms essentially, including more beer. We steal with any and all things that possess the one value that we hold most dear: authenticity. The important thing of course is that ‘It’s not where you take things from – it’s where you take them to.’ So, what are we saying about this beer, exactly? We gave it our take. We took all there is to love about the IPA, got creative, dry-hopped it a lot, left it unfiltered and shared it openly in the hopes that in some way it may, in turn, inspire you. Hail to The Hop Thief, an original.

That's much shorter than what's on the label. Guess I've got to break out my reading glasses....

Surly Eleven

Sorry, doubters, I got all that wax off with
a minimum of effort.

Surly Eleven.

On Thursday, May 18, I was part of the final volunteer crew to dip the wax on the bottles of the 11th Anniversary Surly beer that has been cleverly titled Surly Eleven. I did several jobs that day, including unboxing un-waxed bottles, waxing bottles, and boxing waxed bottles. My turn at waxing ended when I dripped a bit on my fingers. Still have a blister, though it no longer hurts. Next time: gloves. (Update: blister's healed. Thanks for asking.)

During the session, I told a friend that this was all my fault. The first anniversary beer ever bottled was Surly Two, the one I did the label art for, and that was also the second bottle from Surly, ever. Darkness 2007 had been wax-dipped. When Omar delivered a bottle to me with a naked cap, I asked, “What, no wax?” He returned to the brewery with the news that they had to be waxed, by my imperial fiat, or course, and the bottles were released with red wax atop. All the anniversary beers have been wax-dipped ever since. My friend said: “So, it’s your fault we get to hang out with friends, help out our favorite brewery, and get a bottle to take home? Boo hoo.”

Don't look for this bottle in stores, it was for
my personal amusement. 

We finished the last of eight palletes of bottles in 3 1/2 hours, and had the option of just taking a random bottle, or giving a special twist to one with our own hands. Well, you know what I did. Some doubted that this excess of wax would prove my un-doing and be impossible to open. Well, ha! I say to they, and I did get it off, with no further bandages to my fingers necessary. Took some effort, a few grunts, some finesse, but it was worth it.

And I waited these 3 days because a request was made from Surly that we not review the beer online until it was released for sale. I’m drinking this Sunday night, and will post it Monday morning, and you’ll get your chance to buy some soon thereafter. Spoiler alert: it’s good.

Edit: And guess what? " I wrote the above two weeks ago. I was under the impression it was being released the following Monday, and I was wrong. So, it was not an act of procrastination, the most inactive kind of act there is, that stopped me from sharing these notes, it was to comply with the wishes of the brewery. But I can wait no longer! It's being released tomorrow, Monday the 5th of June. Publishing this now will certain not keep anyone from going out and buying it tomorrow. Unless they hate good beer.

Thoroughly hazed, mahogany-hue, bright ruby red at the edges, with a generous creamy, lace-leaving head. Looking nice.

In the nose: Right away we now we’re dealing with a Belgian Quad, the special malt is there, that undoubtable yeast. Earthy, sweet, fruity, with a multitude of other associations coming into the fold. Citrus and spice, dark fruit, pepper, Raisins, cherries, cinnamon. Not saying they put those in there, of course, just that it’s coming out of the aroma. So inviting, so far….

So beautiful.

Let’s drink! Mmmm. Wow. I can’t find the ABV anywhere on the bottle (10%, it turns out) , but it hits like a doozy right off the bat, though I can’t imagine anyone calling this “hot.” Well, some will, I’m sure. Alcohol strength is a big part that shows early on, but there is so much flavor here that slowly unfolds that this one has to be tried, at the very least. Smooth entry on the palate, with lush, rich malt flavors climbing on board right away. Slight, ever-so slight tart/funk character, a mass of dark fruit flavors, spices, etc, but never a chore to chase past the tongue and down the throat. Wow.

I mean it, Wow. A Belgian quadruple ale blended with a brett-fermented wheat ale. And it works. It works exactly as it should. It’s as if these brewers actually know what they’re doing. Imagine that.

I’m not surprised that artist Adam Martin chose the 2-faced Roman god Janus for his illustration, as this is the first anniversary beer by the two-headed head brewers Jarrod Johnson and Ben Smith, after the departure of original head brewer Todd Haug. And they are doing his legacy proud. So much flavor, but so well balanced and blended. It’s big, and you’re not guzzling pints, of course, but should be serving this at the end of an evening with a friend, or just enjoy one solo with enough time, like I am. And you should definitely sock a few away for later years, as I most certainly will.

Cheers to 11, Surly!

Summit 30th Anniversary Keller Pils

I received a sample can of this beer back in June, while this blog was taking a break. I went through a keg of it quickly at Acadia. And I did take notes on that can, six weeks or so ago. But sometimes I look at my handwritten notes and I don't feel like typing. You've probably already had it many times over, so why should you care about what I say about this one? Especially since they've already got Anniversary Beer #3 coming out, reviewed here last week? So many questions! I'll just start typing, mostly because I don't want to look back on this blog and wonder why is Anniversary beer #2 missing? Oh, yeah, I was lazy, and didn't feel like typing.

Summit #30th Anniversary Beer #2: Keller Pils. Unfiltered German-style Pilsner.

Clear as a bell, bright yellow, firm ivory head, lacey.

Aroma: lightly floral, grainy, clean, delicate & delightful.

In the mouth: more clean, bright, & smooth, but with enough yeast left in the give it a little extra flavor. Just enough bitter on the tongue. Clean, hoppy, smooth, with the requisite hops & yeast to keep my palate happy. Light bodied, incredibly easy drinking. Or slammable, crushable, all those things the kids say these days.

If you still see some around, go get it. Nothing beats a beer like this, when the heat's on.

Summit 30th Anniversary West London-style Ale

Damn, why don't I have any "Skol! To Nearly a Third of A
Century! pint glasses?

Summit West London-style Ale, Third in a Series of Celebratory Ale. Traditional Premium Bitter, Nutty Malt, Complex, Fruity Hops. All. 4.9% by Vol. Brewed and canned by Summit Brewing, St. Paul, MN.

Clear, bright golden hue, hefty white head, lasting long and leaving lace.

Aroma's nice and hoppy, lemon-y, citrus-y, bold and bright.

In the mouth: Fresh and zesty. Alert and lively. Hoppy up front, crisp and clean malts out the back. I have to admit that this "West London Ale" is not a style that I'm familiar with, but I leave it to the knowledgable folks at Summit to know what they're talking about. It's lean and clean and drinks down ever-so nicely, guv'nor. Blimey, it does.

There ain't nothing wrong with this one, folks. It's good beer, and you can drink it.

Final thought: I was wondering about this West London-style Ale designation, and why I've never heard of it before, and it just hit me. This is their way of doing an ESB, without having to use the word bitter. Way to go, guys!

Surly Ten Ale

Surly Ten. Old Ale. 9% ABV.

Surly brewed their first batch at the end of 2005, and released their first kegs in early February of 2006. Ten years. Wow. The 10th Anniversary beer has just been released, I got a couple bottles tonight, and couldn't resist.

Opened one right up and took these notes:

Dark chestnut brown color, tannish head, lasts long...
Aroma is sweet and nutty, deep and malty, little hop presence to speak of...nothing wrong with that...creamy, and inviting...

In the mouth: more of the same: smooth, creamy, malty, caramel and toffee tones low hop bitterness, if any, and just flat out deliciousness. Rich, lush, delicious malt in this. So good that it doesn't need a few more years. Drink it now. Maybe sock a few away, if you're so inclined.

This anniversary beer should surely please those who've been burned but the big booze of earlier years. This one isn't so "hot" that you can't drink it now,  but a few years on it can only give more complexities. nice, nice, nice.
a mellow version of 6?
This is described on the label as one to share, and share I did. The last third of the bottle was what I took notes on.
I will return to this one, again and again. Perhaps I'll have more to say about it with other visits to my lips.

Summit 30th Anniversary Double IPA

Summit 30th anniversary Double IPA.Alc. 8.5% ABV. Summit Brewing Company, St. Paul, MN.

Here's a beer I tapped a keg of at Acadia a while back, but I much prefer to take notes at home, if I can, than at the bar. So, I picked up a 4-pack today, and let's get cracking'....

Beautiful, bright golden coloring, lightly hazy, slim white head hold forth above.

Aroma comes tearing out of the glass. It's a tropical note nose, with citrus tones, too, and that's what I'm picking up without raising the glass to the nose. Piney, lemony, pineapple-y....lovely stuff. More fruity than bitter.

In the mouth: hop attack starts swift and sure, unleashing bitterness and fruity notes in unequal amounts. There's the prickly pine, the bitter fruit, and then it's altogether tasty. Body is lean and light, like a good DIPA ought to be, leaving the hops to shine, without a lot of malt muddying things up. I like this one quite a lot.

Here are the "flavor notes", if you didn't feel like clicking on the link. (Damn, I always get the wrong fruits! "mango, papaya..." Of course!) "Bursting with tangerine, papaya and mango hop aroma. Pronounced yet smooth bitterness with malt background of toast, slight caramel and bready notes."

Surly SeVIIn Ale

Note for the contemporary reader. I recently edited this two year old post. when I was done it looked like I posted it now. Not sure how that happened. This is from July of 2013, not December of 2015.

I wrote these notes late Monday./early Tuesday, while drinking a glass of this on tap. I didn't post it for two reasons: the internet was down, and I wasn't sure if I got it right. Maybe I wanted to do one of those high-flown, poetic, lofty pieces that would make everyone and my mother proud. But it just wasn't hitting me then. So, I returned to my place of work on one of my weekdays off to have another, before it runs out, but couldn't think of anything much more significant to say. I had one more glass Thursday night (it ran out after the first pour Friday), and again, no new revelations. So, I guess the initial scribbling will have to do...until I open a bottle, perhaps. I've purchased four, so far.

Here we go, notes on the 12.5% ABV Belgian-style from Surly, a brew I really enjoyed.


Surly Seviin. Trappist yeast, 3 malts, rye, wheat (first time at surly), and oats. 12.5 % ABV. Topped off with brettanomyces. I'd been looking forward to this one. Had a few (too many) at the release party last night, didn't go hunting for bottles today, but got a keg of it, which I just now tapped. Now, to drink. But first, to look, and then to smell.

Gorgeous, bright shining crimson hue, under a lush, creamy head. Fantastic looking beer in this glass (an old Darkness snifter from 2007, with the logo still hanging on there).

Aroma: deep fruit and wild funk hit first. Lovely stuff, herbal, floral, fruity, very rich and complex. Tart cherries, mangoes, and far below, some banana. Amazingly intriguing. Mystery upon mystery.

Taste: big and bold fruit flavors match with the vast malt complexity. Spicy rye meets smooth wheat, while cherries and raisins abound in the flavor. Very bright and bountiful. Low bitterness, high maltiness, caramel tones, sweetness is kept in check, with a tart twist rising up and blazing the palate.

Medium-bodied, long finish, bit of fruit and funk. High alcohol shows itself, bites a bit.

Rich rye malt spice, …maelstrom of malt…spice meets sweet…big booze, …if anything it reminds me of a Scaldis, mixed with a trappist quadruple.

very bright, brash and loud while young…have to wonder what it will be like in a year or two.

Surly Nein, Ninth Anniversary Imperial Oak-Smoked Dunkel Weizen

Surly Nein. Ninth Anniversary Imperial Smoked Barrel-aged Dunkel Weissbeir. Ja.

I’m going to skip my usual method and read Omar’s part of the label first, before opening the bottle. “Who would have thought, when we sold our first keg in 2006, that we would raise our 9th Anniversary glasses in a new brewery, restaurant and beer hall? So much has changed in such a short time, both at Surly and across Minnesota. The state’s beer scene is exploding and we are proud to have been part of the boom. Two, things, however, haven’t changed a bit—Todd’s distinctive take on beer styles and our local artists’ amazing talent. Erica Williams’ meticulous design for Nein is the perfect match for Todd’s approach to his craft. Cheers to nine years!—Omar Ansari”

He’s right, the label art is amazing, better than what she did for the SurlyFest art last year and the 2014 Darkness bottle, and I loved those, as well. The 3 3-eyed lions represent nine years. What the other symbols mean, I am not sure. I’ll be certain to pick up some merch soon, t-shirts, poster, etc, but 9th Anniversary glassware? That’s a first. I could have gotten one cheap at the release party Monday if I’d only arrived a little earlier. But, cool as it may look, and be, do I really need more glasses, I ask myself? And yet, I keep collecting. Broke my Surly spiegelau glass recently, so I went back and bought one with the Todd the Axe-Man artwork. Because. Apparently, I have to.

So, I bought this bottle earlier tonight, about six hours ago, and now it’s time to drink it.

Dark and caramel colored, shining crimson highlights at corners and edges. Beautiful brown head that crumbles quickly.

Aroma spills out bananas and smoke, together. Wheat-y wafts and creamy tones. Caramel and toffee tickle the nose, while alcohol looms in the distance. Dizzyingly complex.

More complexity invades the senses once Nein boards the palate. This one ain’t fooling around. Whiskey barrel-aging, smoked malts, hefe weizen yeast, ringing in at about 10% ABV. Boom, boom, boom, boom. All the while, myriad flavors travel the tongue and delight the senses, as long as the senses are still around.

Okay, I love dunkelweizens, adore barrel-aged beers, delight in the smoked stuff, and cheer on the big and ballsy brews. This much you may have gathered if you have read this section of the internet I call home with any regularity. Here in Nein they come together as never before.

I had this for the first time at the Black Forest restaurant in a glass mug, and then in a plastic cup, with the noise of a crowd and an accordionist distracting my brain. With my choice of glassware and personal pick of music or not, I can relax in contemplation of the many brilliant aspects of this brew. How to unpack and parse them, though, how to pick apart and lay bare? Chocolate slips in for a bit, oak and vanilla knock on the door, whiskey speaks it’s peace, and that undercurrent of banana tones keeps whispering in the background. Meanwhile, the brute from this bottle bellows and calls out not to forgets that we’re in double digits, in terms of alcohol percentage.

Talk about this beer has been that it’s the best anniversary beer since Five, a return to greatness, I guess. I did like Syx, Seviin, and Eight, but they were a bit out there. Not for everyone. Neither is this, though. Look, if you can’t hang, scram, we ain’t got no room for no squares, man.

Time to read what Todd wrote on the label: “Inspired by a recent trip to Bamberg, Germany, Nein is brewed with oak-smoked wheat malt, fermented with German hefeweizen yeast and aged on charred oak. It is a huge, dark, complex beer, delivering the intense flavors of smoked banana, vanilla, and clove.”--Todd Haug.

Smoked banana? Mmm, hmmm, we drink that every day.

This is great stuff. I was glad to see it priced at $13.99. Not cheap, but cheaper than twenty bucks. So, I’ll be picking up more to keep and enjoy on those days when I’ll salute 10, 11, 12 years of Surly beers, and then some.

If you've got time to waste, read about Surly Eight here, (where I also listed my reviews of other anniversary beers and their variants not found on this blog), Surly Seviin here, Surly Syx here, Surly Five here, and Surly Four here. And let us not forget the two-pronged attack of Surly Two, the beer..... and please, won't you consider taking a peek at Part Two, Surly Two, the Art. It would mean so much to me.

Sisyphus Cake Beer

Notes from July 25, 2:42 A.M.


Sisyphus Cake Beer, Imperial Stout brewed with 24 Wuollet Bakery birthday cakes, ancho chilies, cinnamon and vanilla. 10% ABV. 51 IBU. Brewed to commemorative the first anniversary of the brewery and taproom.

I must be a lucky fellow. They say there were only 5 of these crowlered. (Because that's a word now, the verb "to crowler.")

Solid blackness, with a rich, creamy tan head atop, long-lasting and looking good.

Aroma: More richness, more depth, more malt. Sweetness is stronger than roast here. Vanilla and cinnamon are picked up easily, and then, yes, it does come across cakey!

Taste: Once on the tongue, it gets even cakier. How can you really quantify and describe that experience? You just feel it, the cakes comes into your senses, and spreads the birthday cheer. Bitterness is kept at bay by sweet malt, and vice versa. Some of the elements we look for in an imperial stout are somewhat muted and masked by the massive load of cakiness. Not quite as much of bittersweet roasty notes, of coffee, but cocoa, sure. And the peppers and spice jump back in place from time to time, just when you forgot they were there.

Full-bodied, fully-flavored, a glorious celebration stout. A gimmick beer? Yeah, but a tasty one, and that's all that matters. The cakitudalescence reigns over all, and it's good. Cheers to more years!