Brew52

Bender is like your best friend

Rett — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 15:16:01 +0000

For me, the bottom line is that I will always choose a Furious over a Bender. Not that the two are really even in direct competition, they’re different styles of beer. It’s just that I love the extreme bite of a Furious so much. So it’s hard to pass that by and opt for a Bender. Of course if I were going to be drinking one after the other, Bender would be a much better companion. But typically when I have Surly it’s that I’m splurging on a 4 pack, and I want to savor them, so I’m only gonna drink one at a time anyway.

Here’s a good analogy I just thought of (mornings happen to be my most creative time): Bender is like your best friend. You can go over to his house and play war, video games, go skateboarding, etc, all day long. He’s awesome. But he’s got an even awesome-er older brother. When the older brother is around he’s kind of a dick to your best friend, but he’s just so damn cool, that you’ll join in and be a dick to your best friend, just so that Furious, I mean the older brother, thinks you’re cool.

ready for some fries?

Rett — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 15:02:56 +0000

Let me be the first to say that the novelty of having a keg of beer at work never wears off. And not just any keg. It’s Summit EPA; it always has been and it always will be. It’s the only authorized Clockwork beer, and it’s become a standard by which my coworkers and I judge and compare most other beers. The only side effect is that I never order a Summit EPA on tap at the bar. It would be like if you always ate really good mashed potatoes for dinner at home. When you go out to a restaurant, you’ll probably order fries or baked potato or something. Is this analogy a stretch?

A big commitment

Rett — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 14:52:14 +0000

I’ll be honest, I preferred last year’s Snowstorm. I think it had to do with the surprise of what looked to be a darker winter ale actually being a fruity Belgian. But then it’s unfair to compare these two completely different styles. So for the rye that it is, I enjoy it quite a bit. Enough that I just picked up another 12 pack, and for me, the guy with a 9 months pregnant wife who’s cut way back on beer intake, that’s a big commitment.

Full Circle

Josh — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 03:10:05 +0000

I can’t believe it’s already time for Schell Snowstorm again. I think Joe is right that this year’s version is better than last year. It’s maltier and while still sweet, it’s not as sickly sweet as last year’s version.

It’s been a fun year of beer tasting and this has been a great forum for sharing opinions about different beers every week. Thank you to all the other reviewers who shared your views on various beers, I learned a lot about beer this year thanks to you. Thanks also to Rett for putting up and maintaining the brew52 site, I know it’s been a burden at times but it’s been fun for me and I know others have enjoyed it as well.

Gateway Beer

Josh — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 18:47:31 +0000

Summit EPA is the beer that weaned me off of domestic light lagers and on to a new appreciation of what beer could be. Even better, its still one of my favorite beers after sampling a ton of craft beer offerings the last few years. It’s a great session beer with plenty of hoppyness to keep things interesting. It’s nice to get out there and explore Belgians, imperial IPAs, porters, black lagers and the like, but there’s something about Summit EPA’s chilly embrace that keeps me coming home. Thanks Summit!

Bender, but don’t break ‘er

Joe Lunchpail — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:22:53 +0000

I absolutely love everything about Bender. The look, flavor, aroma-all of it. Deceptively smooth and expectedly delicious. It is a bastard child of a brown ale and a porter, with a little more hops than either bring to the table alone. I’d constantly keep this in the fridge if the price was a little bit easier on the pocket. Go on a bender with Bender and your wallet will certainly feel it too. But as the old adage goes, you get what you pay for. A premium price for a premium beer. Don’t let imminent economic meltdown make you drink crap beer, though. I think it was the Bible that stated, “Man cannot live on crappy beer alone.” Preach.

Bender Rodriguez

flashmcduff — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 20:08:51 +0000

Synopsis: brown ale with a bite.

I’ll second the claim that it follows the Surly formula of taking a good beer and kicking in a few more hops just because. It has a complex flavor but is easy to drink and finishes smooth. I had it on tap with pizza…what could have gone wrong?

Follows the Surly Equation

Josh — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 02:40:43 +0000

Take an ordinary oatmeal brown ale and add more hops then seems prudent, then add a bit more hops and you end up with Bender. I like Bender for the contrasting tastes and smooth finish. Also, the Surly beers are great for camping since they can be crushed and easily packed out when you’re done. Something we took advantage of last summer. Just be sure to take one glass because this is a beer for a glass… from a can.

Flurries

Joe Lunchpail — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 00:19:50 +0000

While much better than the 2007 Snowstorm, I’m not really that impressed with the 2008 version. Definitely malty, with the rye coming through as well. They say hints of chocolate, but I’m not catching it. Good head and carbonation. Not bad, not great. Pretty much par for Schell.

The old reliable Twin Cities metro area beer

Joe Lunchpail — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:16:03 +0000

The reason I say this is that, usually, no matter where you go in the TC, you can at least get yourself a Summit EPA. I take advantage of this when I end up at bars/restaurants that have limited beer selections. The Summit EPA, to me, is what Grain Belt Premium is to a lot of people. The EPA is not a world-class talent, but it sure beats the pants off of the typical bland domestic light beers. It is versatile enough to appeal to the light beer crowd, but is hoppy and flavorful enough for those like me that would rather take a punch in the teeth than to be stuck sipping a Bud, Miller, Coors, Busch, or Michelob. A reliable old friend that can be counted on to be there for me when others don’t show up, that’s my Summit EPA.