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Surly Brewing Company

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From:
Surly Brewing Company
 
Minnesota, United States
Style:
Wild Ale
Ranked #386
ABV:
6.66%
Score:
92
Ranked #4,347
Avg:
4.15 | pDev: 9.64%
Reviews:
127
Ratings:
1,106
Status:
Active
Rated:
Aug 20, 2023
Added:
Feb 19, 2013
Wants:
  229
Gots:
  387
This Arcane Seal guards an enigmatic brew that is FUNKY, DARK, and SOUR. If you choose to break the seal, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

100% Brettanomyces Dark beer fermented in stainless and aged in red wine barrels. "Brett" is a unique yeast strain that produces flavors that would be considered offensive if they were not intentional. Flavors of sour cherry, tobacco, oak, and classic "Brett" barnyard funk balanced by dark Munich malt chewiness. Enjoy immediately or age at cellar temperature for a couple years.
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Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by NWer:
Photo of NWer
Rated by NWer from Washington

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%

Mar 24, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of Bouleboubier
Reviewed by Bouleboubier from New Jersey

3.45/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
(10 oz tulip pour at their Beer Hall)

Reddish brown liquid; little to know foam... Vinous (barrel), dark grapey (like a grape freeze pop) expression on the nose... Acetone dominant, up front and in the aftertaste; grape Jolly Rancher in the near background... Lightly viscous body; bitey acidity... Not sure why they tout its 'classic barnyard funk'; it's merely a sour grape nail polish. Did they ever think of blending this into something more mature? I'm sure somebody likes this. No thank you. (2174)
Aug 20, 2023
Photo of nwalke16
Reviewed by nwalke16 from Michigan

3.94/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Look: Definitely dark reddish purple almost like a red wine.
Smell: Funky, sour cherries, brett barnyard, smells like sour wine.
Taste: Some lingering funk, balanced yet bordering on being a little too aggressively sour for my taste buds. This is a sipper for the fall season.
Feel: A sipper, somewhat aggressively sour.
Overall, it's not bad at all, but you'll have to be in the mood to try sour beers to try this one and this is more of my limit.
Jul 26, 2023
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

4.01/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Bomber at share, 2015 vintage. Mahogany pour, ring of fine beige bubbles. Fruity, tart aroma, pit fruit, figs, stone fruit. taste brings out the re wine barrel aging adding a nice wine-like taste and feel that accentuates the tart fruit.
Jul 02, 2023
 
Rated: 3.47 by Mac_Cheesin from Maryland

Feb 25, 2022
 
Rated: 3.69 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Nov 29, 2021
 
Rated: 4.74 by Rhetion from Florida

Oct 22, 2021
 
Rated: 3.46 by JustLikeMyDad from Michigan

Aug 22, 2021
 
Rated: 4.1 by ChrisMon02 from Ohio

Jun 08, 2021
 
Rated: 4.08 by Dope from Massachusetts

Jun 06, 2021
 
Rated: 3.89 by rorjets from Connecticut

Jun 05, 2021
Photo of Angus_12
Reviewed by Angus_12

1/5  rDev -75.9%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1
This isn't beer, it strictly tastes like your jailcell friends first attempt at making toilet wine. Exactly like the $3 wine they sell at a grocery store that will remain unnamed but less than half the ABV. By far my most regretful purchase of any beer ever. Yes it smells like fermenting apples but so does my lawn on a hot summer day.
Jun 04, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by Patches826 from Massachusetts

Jun 02, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by prototypic from Ohio

May 30, 2021
Photo of clayrock81
Reviewed by clayrock81 from Florida

3.9/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured a ruby-tinted brown body with minimal head and lace down the glass. The aroma is sour, not really tart, acidic, and a little woody. Smooth, medium-bodied, mellows from overtly sour on first few sips to something that tastes like sweet and sour grape juice (would that be blackberry?). The finish is slightly sharper than the beer itself and has some funk to it, but isn't bad and this is beer worth sipping on.
May 20, 2021
 
Rated: 3.95 by Jsalz21 from New Jersey

May 19, 2021
Photo of Gajo74
Reviewed by Gajo74 from New York

4.35/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a hazy ruby red color with brown prune like dark notes. A modest head rapidly dissipates. Looks inviting.

The smell opens quite funky with notes of wine barrel and tart fruit backed by bready malts. Aromas of sour cherry, red grape, raisins prunes and currants.

The taste is sour and quite mouth puckering. Very vinous and bone dry with notes of oak, grapes and currants. Notes of cherry, raisin, vinegar, peppery and rustic spices, all well supported by a doughy malt backbone.

Medium bodied with a nice malt fullness. The mouthfeel is mostly smooth, chewy at times. The carbonation is moderate.

This was complex and well executed; I liked it a lot. Reminds me of a Flanders Red. I would definitely have this again if I’m in the mood for a strong sour.
May 19, 2021
Photo of Roy_Hobbs
Reviewed by Roy_Hobbs from Connecticut

4.15/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance is reminiscent of root beer, both the actual pour and in the glass. Small amount of fizzy, short-lived head. Aroma is quite vinous, but with plenty of sour / funky notes that I am immediately intrigued by. Taste is really interesting. Plenty tart, but not one dimensionally so. There's a really nice underlying funk that is balanced with the vinous notes and maybe a bit of cherry lurking in the background. Overall, this is refreshingly complex and just an overall very interesting beer.
Apr 04, 2021
 
Rated: 4.18 by minterro from California

Apr 04, 2021
 
Rated: 4.7 by Bear1964 from Nebraska

Mar 26, 2021
Pentagram from Surly Brewing Company
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 1106 ratings