Joe Lunchpail says I’m not Bitter
August 20th, 2008
I’m not bitter about picking up this beer, but I am a little disappointed that I didn’t like it. The Surly guys have the Midas touch when it comes to beer, yet I can’t really see myself ever buying the Bitter Brewer again. The aroma and aftertaste was a bit too floral for my liking. Sure, it’s got a clean crisp intial taste, but something about it just doesn’t turn my crank.
flashmcduff says Paddington Beer
June 9th, 2008
Well, the can says it has hints of marmalade so this must be Paddington Bear’s favorite beer. Why not couple alcoholism with an already odd addiction to an orange jelly? He’s a bear in a raincoat! Cute!
The beer did have two distinct flavors: the hop blast at the beginning followed by the flowery/fruityness. It could pass as a marmalade flavor, I think. Definitely a good summer beer.
Tina says Love the Surly
June 4th, 2008
I love Surly. I always have cans of it waiting for me in my refrigerator. Only problem - if I have more than one, I get surly so I can only drink one if I’m out in public. I’ve tested my theory on my boyfriend (I don’t think he appreciated it). Maybe it’s all the hops going to my head?
Rett says I can relate
June 4th, 2008
Surly Bitter Brew is crisp and refreshing. I drank mine on a cold and rainy evening, and it was enjoyable, but I think it would be even better sitting outside in the hot sun. And by the beer being better I mean life would be better if it wasn’t raining every stupid day of the week. Anyway, it was comforting to spend some time with Surly Bitter Brew, especially since the can is covered with angry drawings, it made me feel like I wasn’t alone. The best part was that I finished my glass, took the dog for a walk, came back and realized I still had a good 4 ounces of beer left in the can!
Reebs says 2 much for me!
February 19th, 2008
Sorry Surly, but not a fan. Most people that I have talked to about this seem to either love or hate this one. I was sadly one of the haters. I was really excited to try a cranberry beer and loved the idea of a local bog, but…alas….I will stay clear of this cranberry beer in my future. Not sure how to even describe my thought process when sipping this bev: too tart, too strong, and too much for me.
atankgirl says I missed the boat.
February 19th, 2008
But I won’t let it tarnish my perfect record. The Dyers and I took a special trip to the Happy Gnome to taste the elusive Surly 2, only to find out that it was all gone - which must be a testament to it’s amazingness, right? Either way, I can almost guarantee I would have loved it, so I’m giving it 4 stars despite the failure to taste.
brendan says Two would be fine, but you can drive.
February 18th, 2008
I think this beer was pushing around 9%, but I did not notice. There was so much going on in the flavor department, that I missed the fact that my legs were being dissolved. Glad I walked. This one is really complex, and I really liked the contrasting flavors of the cranberry and chocolaty malt.
Eric says Soooo good
February 15th, 2008
Ok I tried this at Winterfest last weekend. It was good, but I thought I would probably pass on it the next time around. Then my wife and I had dinner at Cafe 28 tonight (owned by Linda Haug, wife of Surly head brewer Todd), and I thought, well I better give it a second shot, when I hadn’t had 20 beers already.
And I’m so glad I did. It had some of the same hop characteristics as Darkness, of course reduced by the cranberries and dark malts. Some have said its a one-and-your-done beer, but I could easily have had two or three. This is one of my favorite Surly beers. I can’t wait to pick up one of the bottles and throw it in my basement for a year or two.
Rett says Two of 2 is one too many
February 15th, 2008
I tried Surly 2 in small sample size at Winterfest last friday towards the end of the night. I was getting pretty toasted so the different beers were beginning to merge into one glorious happy generic beer. Then Surly 2 came through and it was like someone stabbed a straw through my throat and began pouring cranberry-flavored cough syrup in. I quickly asked for a tea-bagged furious.
Then on Monday Rebekah and I met up with Erin, Ben, and Josh at the Blue Nile for an official sampling. This time I enjoyed it. I think partly because I didn’t have a bunch of other beers fresh on my tongue, but also because I was able to get past the initial shock of flavor. I ended up finishing Erin’s as well, and I’d say two of 2 is 1 too many.
CJ Camp says abcdefg…n
February 13th, 2008
A is for Al, who served me Surly Two at Blue Nile this evening. A pleasant fellow, to be sure.
B is for Better, which Two got as it warmed. It’s also for Body, of which Two has plenty. Oh, and Balance, which it has, too.
C is for Cranberry, which was definitely present, but not overpowering.
D is for Dessert, which is when I’d like to have another sometime.
E is for Evil, which is what I thought of the first sip. I had just brushed my teeth.
F is for Finish- tart and still roasty. Favorable.
G is for Good God, when will this end?
N is for Now.
al says Think “dessert beer”… enjoy in patient moderation.
February 13th, 2008
“Surly, two years old/ not ev’ryone’s cup of tea / as this beer will prove.” Haiku #4, you’re welcome. I had the first taste of this when I tapped it on the 23rd of January, (at the Blue Nile) and I sipped it and raised my glass and smiled. The bar was surrounded by throngs of Surly fans, and I didn’t want to spoil their enthusiasm. It didn’t win me over with the first slip down my lips, unlike Surly Furious or Darkness.
(I’ve heard this from other folks since then, that the first sip is not the best.) By night’s end, though, when I got a chance to relax and take my time, I was won over. Deep black, with crimson tinges, cocoa-tan head, with purple tints. Fruity nose, matched with roasted malts. Lightly sweet, with a side order of tart.Taste: there’s the tannins. I heard Todd Haug talk about why cranberries have that tannin feel we know from red wine, but I forgot most of what he said. Damn. Something in the bogs, I guess. There’s a flash of sweet, met with a smack of tart, a fun little jitterbug on the palate, followed by some black and chocolate malt flavors. A very unusual brew, closest I’ve encountered has been Bell’s Cherry Stout…never heard of one done with cranberries. It’s probably been done, heck, just about everything’s been done with fruit and beer by now, but I haven’t had it, yet. More I drink, more I like, not too sweet, not too dark, not too rich, not too tart…an intriguing blend, very fresh and lively, a labor of love to commemorate two fun years of great beer. I can certainly see how opinions here will divide on this one, and the extreme flavors, and high alcohol will surely temper enthusiasm. It’s not a session brew, and maybe would be best enjoyed as a dessert brew. Nothing wrong with that. Nothing wrong with “one and you’re done”…although I could go for another. But, just one more. So, don’t knock this for what it’s not. You can only enjoy it for what it is.
Mac says In the minority?
February 13th, 2008
Well, by the looks of the reviews so far I might be in the minority on this beer. My wife and I stopped in at the Happy Gnome for lunch and had a couple of glasses. When I was reading about the beer beforehand I had been thinking “cranberries? That sounds awful.” But I couldn’t have been more wrong, this is an outstanding beer!! Because of the tartness it reminded me of something from Belgium. Not overly sweet, very, very good!!
flashmcduff says “this is..
February 11th, 2008
..the hoppiest beer I’ve tasted to date.”
–Spoken by me after taking the first sip of one at Pizza Luce in St. Paul. I had one more. Enjoy.
EDIT 2-15-08: the hoppiest beer award now goes to Bells 3rd Coast which feels and tastes even more like a cleaning agent.
moe says Surly Two
February 11th, 2008
I had the Surly Two at the January 23rd tapping at the Blue Nile and enjoyed every sip of the first one. It was made with loads of cranberries so that was the dominant smell. Not a lot of hops aroma, but there rarely is in a fruit beer like this. I ordered a second one but I wish I wouldn’t have. Just one was perfect, and would have gone great with the right food (pork), but a second glass was just too much.
moe says Surlious
February 4th, 2008
I was really drunk at a beer festival last year at Macalester College when I walked up to Omar and thanked him for the Furious. I said it was the best beer I’ve ever had. I no longer think it’s the best beer ever, but I still love it.
peteryan says Hoptastic
January 27th, 2008
I have loved this beer from the moment it first hit my lips. Not everyone loves a hoppy brew but if you do you can’t miss this tasty treat from the friendly folks at Surly.
Purchased at Cellar’s in Eagan for $8.99+tax.
Erica says Okay, yeah, hops. Seriously. Hops.
January 27th, 2008
Only because I’ve homebrewed do I really know what hops smell like (probably because nobody’s ever pointed it out to me while drinking a beer). Hops smell like green. Grassy, earthy (but not like dirt), and a little sweet. Sniffing a can of Surly Furious is exactly like cutting open a package of hops and taking a big whiff. A sweet smell that turns into a sour taste on the tongue, and back to that sweet green on the aromatic finish (and upon burping). I needed a water chaser.
It’s definitely flavorful, just not my kind of flavor, so it gets a higher score than if I thought it was just bad.
Rett says Heavy on the Hype, I mean Hop
January 27th, 2008
Don’t get me wrong, I love Surly, and I really enjoyed my can of Furious, but there’s something going on here. Something more than just the beer. Let me take a minute to throw out a few ideas on what’s gotten everyone so hyped up about Surly. Continue reading Heavy on the Hype, I mean Hop
atankgirl says Surly, my love.
January 25th, 2008
This week I find myself at a loss for clever words and a witty evaluation of Surly’s Furious. In fact, all I need are two succinct words to assert my feelings: loved it. However, as a designer, I must shout out to Surly – dude, what’s up with the can?!
manofwy says Surly - Furious in a can not a tap
January 24th, 2008
I have had this one on tap at my favorite pub a couple of times. This time I tried it in the can. It can stay in the can. It is much better on tap. I am sure that everyone is surprised by that statement. I expected hops from my previous taps. Somehow the can seems to make it even more hoppy and bitter. I will have to switch to a nice porter to cleanse the palate.
Julie says Furiously strong
January 24th, 2008
Pow. I like hoppy beers, don’t get me wrong, but Furious is pretty strong. It is definitely on the more bitter side of beers, but there were some nice hints of citrus. I also definitely tasted the pine taste that Surly boasts of it having. For some reason this beer always reminds me of summer.
What’s the alcohol content in this beer? It’s strong in more ways than one!
Mac says A Quality Beer
January 23rd, 2008
Sometimes I really like a hoppy beer like this, not so much tonight, for whatever reason….I would like to try it on tap since I’ve only ever had it in cans. It is a bit expensive, but I love that its a bit stronger than the usual beer and also that it comes in pint cans.
CJ Camp says damned ellipses
January 21st, 2008
used to hate American hops… still think they’re overused, and still really prefer European hops, but as they say- when in Rome… have come around to grapefruity beer in the last couple years… also in the last couple years, don’t wear as much vintage clothing…
prefer to drink this beer in the summer… drank a lot last summer… nearly went broke…
lined up a Furious and a Bender side-by-side last Wednesday evening… more on that later, I’m sure… did not do well at trivia that night, but it’s not Surly’s fault… maybe…
vonklebs says shot through the tongue, you give hops a good name
January 21st, 2008
I love everything about this beer. I love to take a can out of the fish killing rings (i do cut them up). I love the “crack” sound. I love first smelling the beer out of the can, then pouring it into a glass and smelling it more. I keep smelling it until my tongue wants in on it. The furious is so pretty in its glass, all amber and hazy, reminds me of this hippie chick….. What can i say, if you dont enjoy intense hop flavor you probably wont like this. If you see the Furious on cask, give it a try. Even some hop-haters (joking, dont get so serious) like this beer on cask. I really like this on cask and tea-bagged!
Kassie says Sooooo Good
January 21st, 2008
Surly Furious is, hands down, the best Minnesota brew that is produced year round.
Thinking about its hoppy goodness brings a tear of happiness to my eye.
Good Stuff.
al says Crack for the Hop Head
January 20th, 2008
Hops, hops, hops, hops, hops/ bed of Golden Promise malt/you are perfection…there ’tis, #3 in the haiku series, enjoy!Fresh off the tap. Cloudy and red, big head, leaving lace…lovely to look at, delightful to smell. Grapefruit, pine, pithy citrus, and loads of other tropical fruits, a bit of mango, too, I swear. Blissful bitterness!Drink up! A blast of beautiful hoppy flavor, mixed with lush Scottish malt, full of satisfying flavor for any hophead. Not one? Not for you!It’s a lip-purser, and a mouth puckerer, a palate smacker, a bitch slapper! Each swallow and sip brings it back. The hops slip under the tongue, lay on the palate, and hang around. Some don’t like that, some compare it to “aspirin”…I think it’s tingly tasty ‘tantastic! If you hunger for the flavor of hops, this is your candy, your mistress, your heroin, your hustler. The malt is here in plentitude, too, and eventually reveals a hint of chocolate, as well. I’ve been loving this for two years now, and await a lifetime of more such love!Looking forward to the rest of your thoughts, but take it easy on the can copy…I wrote that stuff! Will you perceive it as a tempest on your tongue, or…will you love it? You know I do!