Surprise Attack
Big Boss Brewing

Beer Geek Stats
From:
Big Boss Brewing
 
North Carolina, United States
Style:
English Strong Ale
ABV:
8.5%
Score:
Needs more ratings
Avg:
4.3 | pDev: 5.81%
Reviews:
5
Ratings:
7
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 19, 2012
Added:
Jun 01, 2007
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews.
 
Rated: 3.75 by adam_e from North Carolina

Nov 19, 2012
Photo of duckrabbitfan
Reviewed by duckrabbitfan from North Carolina

4.38/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This was a great introduction for me to the English Strong Ale, and it is probably my favorite offering from Big Boss. I wish they'd put it into full-time production!

Alcohol content is sneaky in this one, as is the taste; malty but with a hoppy finish; complex and mysterious but very drinkable.

This one leaves a phenomenal taste in my mouth. Makes my entire palate happy.

Pours a lovely dark brown and the head sticks around for a sec. This was suggested by my friend at Big Boss and I will absolutely return for more and more. This is one I need to fill a growler with.
Jan 16, 2012
 
Rated: 4.5 by twowheelssoar from North Carolina

Nov 15, 2011
Photo of wagenvolks
Reviewed by wagenvolks from Texas

4.2/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Horniblow's "Double Tavern" = Surprise Attack

Surprising, indeed.

Anyway, the beer supplied to me at this fine establishment was an elegant, deep chestnut-brown color with a small amount of beige foam on top. The aroma had some nice citrus notes, alongside a strong, malty backbone.

The taste was both sweet & bitter. Fruit notes could be immediately detected, and included banana, pineapple, and mango. There was a slight floral presence, and a biscuity bread note as well. Very tasty, I must say. The mouthfeel was medium bodied and, again, bitter on the tongue. The aftertaste had a great bitter finish as well, not surprisingly. All in all, this is a great beer. It's tasty, bitter as all hell, and fairly complex. It'd be difficult to have more than one, however, due to the high alcohol content, but I definately recommend trying one.
Aug 31, 2007
Photo of blackie
Reviewed by blackie from Oregon

4.28/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
aka "Double Tavern"

a: Big fluffy dark tan head atop a rich mahogany colored beer, looks even darker in the dimly lit tavern. A decent layer of carbonation remains.

s: Earthy aromas of sweet toasted and biscuit malts with a pretty nice hop presence that's both earthy and citrusy at once. Smells rich and woody, I like it.

m: medium-low carbonation and a thick, smooth body

t: Rich and malty but extremely well tempered so that it's not overdone. Not overly complex but seriously rich and delicious. Bready, dark caramel, and toffee notes, mmm. Earthy English hop flavor and a nice bitterness.

d: pretty easy to drink, but certainly a sipper
Aug 30, 2007
Photo of CWiggins
Reviewed by CWiggins from North Carolina

4.38/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
From Tyler's beer menu: "A strong ale brewed with 5 different English malts for a complex, authentic flavor balanced by a judicious amount of European hops to provide a subtle herbal taste."

The above description certainly caught my attention, as did a few others. I only had time for one beverage, so I chose this one. It poured a dark nut-brown; the off-white head was very short and didn't last long. The aroma betrayed the dark malts used to brew it, as well as the tell-tale scent of piney hops.

I was surprised at how smooth this beer is. It's very nearly silky in texture. The flavor is of medium-dark malts, with overtones of caramel and nuts. The hoppy finish made me wonder if the intent of the brewer was to create an Indian IPA, but I suppose the ABV, at 8.5%, is a bit too high for that. By the way, the alcohol is hidden very well; this one could certainly sneak up on if not careful. I also found the finish to have a nice bready affect, which lingered with the hops for a bit.

This may be the best brew I've ever had from Big Boss (formerly Edenton) Brewing. That statement isn't meant to denigrate their other products, which are quite good; it's just that Surprise Attack is so different, big, and complex that is may overwhelm anything in close proximity!
Jun 27, 2007
Photo of atsprings
Reviewed by atsprings from North Carolina

4.58/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a hazy amber with a great frothy head that was lasting and left great lacing on the glass. The aroma was a great blend of malts and earthy hops. The taste was a wonderful blend of caramel and pale sweet malts against a great citrus and pine hop backbone. The beer is very crisp and the alcohol is extremely well hidden, likely the reason behind the name. This is certainly one to be careful with. This is a very enjoyable beer, but the name ends up being very appropriate.
Jun 01, 2007
Surprise Attack from Big Boss Brewing
Beer rating: 4.3 out of 5 with 7 ratings