Bender | Surly Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Surly Brewing Company
Minnesota, United States
surlybrewing.com
Style: American Brown Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.10%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
Here's what happens when substance meets smooth. This oatmeal brown ale defies traditional categories. Bender begins crisp and lightly hoppy, complemented by the velvety sleekness oats deliver. Belgian and British malts usher in cascades of cocoa, coffee, carmel and hints of vanilla and cream. An easy-drinking ale with many layers of satisfaction.
Added by tavernjef on 02-04-2006
Ratings: 1,957 | Reviews: 760
4.11/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Pours a dark reddish brown with a finger of tan head that dissipates quickly. Smells malt-heavy, and I get a bit of toffee and caramel sweetness. Nothing super distinct, just a lot of malt. Taste is similar to the smell, with a touch of coffee as well. Mouthfeel is smooooooth and the carbonation lingers just a tiny bit, and it's not terribly heavy. The oatmeal really shines here.
The brown ale is one of my favorite styles, and Surly never disappoints. Very easy-drinking, and it makes a great base for the coffee variety as well.
535 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Pours a dark reddish brown with a finger of tan head that dissipates quickly. Smells malt-heavy, and I get a bit of toffee and caramel sweetness. Nothing super distinct, just a lot of malt. Taste is similar to the smell, with a touch of coffee as well. Mouthfeel is smooooooth and the carbonation lingers just a tiny bit, and it's not terribly heavy. The oatmeal really shines here.
The brown ale is one of my favorite styles, and Surly never disappoints. Very easy-drinking, and it makes a great base for the coffee variety as well.
535 characters
4.42/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
3.87/5 rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.68/5 rDev +13.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.24/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.05/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I would give this a slightly higher score if it weren't for an ash-like flavor. Not quite a cigarette flavor (that would be worse) and not entirely off-putting, but not a beneficial flavor either. Still definitely a tasty and well-balanced beer.
245 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I would give this a slightly higher score if it weren't for an ash-like flavor. Not quite a cigarette flavor (that would be worse) and not entirely off-putting, but not a beneficial flavor either. Still definitely a tasty and well-balanced beer.
245 characters
1.08/5 rDev -73.7%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.25 | overall: 1.25
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1.25 | overall: 1.25
3.69/5 rDev -10.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.09/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Hard to believe I haven't rated this one before, though I suppose that I drink this less often than most of Surly's other offerings often found on tap around the Twin Cities. This one is from a tallboy into a nonic. Pours a sienna slightly hazy brown, a good off-white head that leaves some decent lacing. Nose has some great bready malts, baker's chocolate, a little vanilla, and some herbal hops. The brown ale isn't really a favorite style of mine, but...for the style, this is a real winner, and the taste follows the nose, though there's some coffee and caramel as well. medium body, oats make it nice and smooth, really great mouthful.
647 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Hard to believe I haven't rated this one before, though I suppose that I drink this less often than most of Surly's other offerings often found on tap around the Twin Cities. This one is from a tallboy into a nonic. Pours a sienna slightly hazy brown, a good off-white head that leaves some decent lacing. Nose has some great bready malts, baker's chocolate, a little vanilla, and some herbal hops. The brown ale isn't really a favorite style of mine, but...for the style, this is a real winner, and the taste follows the nose, though there's some coffee and caramel as well. medium body, oats make it nice and smooth, really great mouthful.
647 characters
4.19/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.1/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Very easy drinking brown ale with a bit of porter to it. This baby is uber smooth and would be the perfect compliment with dessert. A bit of brown sugar and maybe raisin on the taste? Quite good.
Low abv makes it a safe and tasty treat. Enjoy.
245 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Very easy drinking brown ale with a bit of porter to it. This baby is uber smooth and would be the perfect compliment with dessert. A bit of brown sugar and maybe raisin on the taste? Quite good.
Low abv makes it a safe and tasty treat. Enjoy.
245 characters
4.34/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
3.75/5 rDev -8.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.58/5 rDev -12.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Surly Bender, 5.1% ABV, 45 IBU, American Brown Ale. Pours thin and dark brown, with one finger white head. Nose is slight coffee and malt, hint of chocolate. Taste follows - not much flavor, tastes brown. OK mouthfeel, and overall meh. I prefer Coffee Bender, but this was a better alternative than the macros and ex-craft on tap.
335 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Surly Bender, 5.1% ABV, 45 IBU, American Brown Ale. Pours thin and dark brown, with one finger white head. Nose is slight coffee and malt, hint of chocolate. Taste follows - not much flavor, tastes brown. OK mouthfeel, and overall meh. I prefer Coffee Bender, but this was a better alternative than the macros and ex-craft on tap.
335 characters
4.14/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
10-16
5 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
10-16
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Bender from Surly Brewing Company
4.11
out of 5
based on 1,957 ratings.
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4