Four
Surly Brewing Company

FourFour
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From:
Surly Brewing Company
 
Minnesota, United States
Style:
Sweet / Milk Stout
ABV:
10%
Score:
96
Avg:
4.34 | pDev: 10.14%
Reviews:
148
Ratings:
313
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jan 11, 2019
Added:
Feb 24, 2010
Wants:
  433
Gots:
  54
No description / notes.
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Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by jera1350:
Photo of jera1350
Reviewed by jera1350 from Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours into a Darkness tulip a jet black color with a nice creamy light brown head. Nice lacing around the glass.

The nose is quite robust. Nice light hop scent with a big smokey coffee and toasted malt smell. A creamy almost cola like scent too. One of the more complex noses I've experienced in a while.

The taste mirrors the nose nicely. Sweet, smokey, toasty, creamy and complex. Awesome array of flavor that just compliment each other perfectly. Almost like a Smoke meets Darkness taste. The smoke works so well with the sweetness of the beer. Nice hop presence to finish it off. A vast array of pleasure to be found here.

I guess I would call this close to full bodied, but it is really pretty light on the palate. Lightly creamy carbonation with a dry finish.

Drinks so unbelievably well for a 10 percent beer. I don't know how they keep doing it, but Surly hits another home run. An awesome beer that I want more of.
Apr 28, 2010
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 2.5 by DissentFatsquirrel from Minnesota

Jan 11, 2019
 
Rated: 4.28 by MrUse from Minnesota

Jan 19, 2018
Photo of Boldbrew
Rated by Boldbrew from Minnesota

4.66/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
On tap at the taproom. Tastes excellent right now.
Aug 05, 2017
 
Rated: 4.47 by Wisconsin_IPA_Lover from Wisconsin

May 07, 2017
 
Rated: 4.24 by PhineasMcClintock from Massachusetts

Apr 20, 2017
 
Rated: 4.24 by Nolster from Minnesota

Jan 23, 2017
 
Rated: 4.75 by kraticus41 from Minnesota

Dec 27, 2016
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

4.25/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
really awesome that they remade a few of these. this is killer beer, and it would have been a shame to never get to try it. a huge coffee stout, but something a little different. even though its a milk type stout, all that lactose seems to do it add body, the sweet part is only on the front end, and the rest of the beer is dry and bitter from the coffee and the roast of the barley, actually earthy and clean by the time it wraps up. lots of bitternss and some acidity from the coffee, i think this originally came out before cold brew was real thing, so perhaps its more acidic because that tactic likely wasnt employed? lots and lots of body here, and a wonderful smoothness and integration of the ingredients, no need for a barrel here to accomplish any of that, and even when it warms up its not too boozy. a really sturdy and striking beer, a great use of coffee, dry in the end, smoky just a little bit, and quite memorable. i like when these are carbonated sometimes too, this is more lively than man of its peers, a nice feature. sure to age well, but the coffee is likely the most forward when its fresh...
Nov 01, 2016
Photo of Sirwootalot
Reviewed by Sirwootalot from Minnesota

4.64/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Poured on-tap at MacKenzie's customer appreciacion day - this beer is old enough to learn how to spell!

Pours black as sin, with a thin, espresso-like creamy head, and smells like a pastry pantry.

"Oh sweet baby jesus" is more or less what tumbled out of me when I tasted it - this is some seriously rich and thick stuff! Mocha dominates, with a body of creme brulee custard, salted caramel, chocolate ganache, and ancho chili mole sauce. The aftertaste is borderline fruity (more of that ancho), carbonically bitter, and effervescently peppery. It coats the mouth like fine chocolate, and whatever hops are there add a slightly juicy, pleasantly astringent feel.

This is beer heaven. I wish I could've grabbed a bottle back in the day!
Sep 08, 2016
 
Rated: 4.5 by enelson from Illinois

Aug 14, 2016
Photo of mjpolzin
Reviewed by mjpolzin from Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at Surly. A great mouthfeel, good nose and overall a pretty good taste. What kept this beer from being better though was a slightly tangy, sour taste on the backend of the coffee. It is something I get from coffee stouts that are not quite done as well as they could be. So this beer was good but not great.
Aug 09, 2016
 
Rated: 4.43 by Cramerican from North Dakota

Aug 04, 2016
 
Rated: 4.18 by Dactrius from Netherlands Antilles

Jul 31, 2016
 
Rated: 4.75 by Cpt_splding from Minnesota

Jul 27, 2016
 
Rated: 4.5 by hegg4345 from Minnesota

Jul 22, 2016
 
Rated: 4.12 by lic217 from Connecticut

Jul 18, 2016
 
Rated: 4.38 by Ristaccia from Nebraska

Jul 18, 2016
 
Rated: 4.48 by BrewNoob1 from Minnesota

Jul 02, 2016
Photo of thorkelson
Reviewed by thorkelson from Minnesota

4.74/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
10 oz pour @ happy gnome

L - jet black with off white head - small, milk stout head appears to be lower carbonation
S - huge whiffs of coffee (duh), some dark fruits, milk, general roast
T - absolutely wonderful. Perfect example of an imperial milk stout - coffee hits up front with vigor and finishes sweet & alcohol is masked well
F - just like it appeared, lower carbonation, easily pallatable

this is my favorite surly anniversary beer by far. Thank you for the rebrew!
Jul 01, 2016
Four from Surly Brewing Company
Beer rating: 96 out of 100 with 313 ratings