Furious | Surly Brewing Company

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Received in NBS BIF #4 – thanks @josholson666!
Canned on 8/16/16 at 42 degrees into a hand washed and dried JK snifter
Aroma – citrus and malt, citrus fades but malt stays
Head large (Maximum 5.5 cm, aggressive pour), tan, frothy, diminishing to irregular frothy ring and frothy partial layer
Lacing fair – multiple frothy islands of small to medium bubbles
Body medium orange, clear
Flavor – good balance of citrus hoppiness and some moderate malt backbone. No alcohol, no diacetyl.
Palate – medium, slightly oily, lively carbonation

A very good IPA, but I think I like Todd better. Still…

Appearance 4.25, Aroma 4.25, Flavor 4.25, Palate 4.25, Overall 4.25.

★ 675 characters

3.68/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

There's a point where it's too bitter even for someone who loves hops - this beer seems to have crossed over that threshold! I enjoy the taste up front but it's too much bitterness at the end.

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4.45/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Gives you an orange colored pour, fluffy white 1" head. Aroma is excellent, pine, grapefruit and sweeter citrus.

Dry toasted pale malt backbone, waves of simcoe and amarillo hops I think. Goes great with pub food. One of the first great ipas to be found in a can. Love this stuff, decent price, great format. Says toffee and caramel malt flavors, but those are held in check, not as dry as the overrated west coast one, but this delivers in every way.

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4.28/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Served in a snifter glass right from the can.

Appearance: Clear Amber color with medium to heavy bubbles from the can. (Off-white) head is about one finger's length dropping slowly after a few sips, slightly sticky lacing.

Smell: citrus scent which becomes pretty intense after a sip or two.

Taste: Sweet citrus, hoppy but not bitter to the point where the brew would make you turn away.

Mouth: Sticky brew, lightly sour.

Overall: Very good brew, Surly brewing has astonished me and a pure shame they haven't made their way to New York. If you're traveling like me, do not let this one go especially if you're an IPA fan. Salud!

★ 638 characters

4.58/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed this at a bar in the airport at Minneapolis. first beer i had while in MN.

Full rich flavor, deep Amber color as well.

Has a full taste that is full of hops and malt. Very surprised to see this was less than 7% abv. Great beer, would be an amazing fall/winter beer for me, if i could get it in NJ.

Damn good, had this at pretty much every pub/restaurant we went to while in Minneapolis.

pours dark amber with a thick head, looks amazing.

smell is sweet yet charred malt. sweet juice hops.

taste is amazing: sweet, malty, and bitter all at once. really does it all. one of the better all around beers. really solid but not special at any one thing, which is what makes it special.

★ 693 characters

4.35/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

4/19/16 can date. Didn't realize this was three months old, but oh well. I love the 16 oz serving size. Perfect amount of beer for a 6.5%abv. This one is hoppy with a good malt backbone. Kind of reminded me of an Arrogant Bastard light. Still hoppy with plenty of bite but less alcohol, more balanced even. A wonderful brew.

★ 324 characters

4/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

16oz can. 6/22/16 can date. Appearance: Reddish, amber brown with a slight haze and a moderate khaki colored head. Aroma: Toasty, light caramel maltiness, with a moderate resinous and light citrus hop aroma. Taste: Rich toast, bread crust and caramel maltiness dominates the taste profile. Strong hop character throughout to balance the rich maltiness, leading with resin and finishing with a moderately strong perceived bitterness and a quick burst of grapefruit. Mouthfeel: Fairly heavy body for the style, with a medium carbonation. Finish: Hop bitterness really lingers on this one, almost stronger than during the actual tasting. Sticky resin really lingers on the tongue. Overall: Really interesting in that this beer seems to be a blend of an American IPA, Red IPA, and and English Bitter. Malt profile reminiscent of English pale ales, but the hop profile is probably suited for a IIPA. One thing is for sure, there’s nothing weak about this beer. It’s very good, but the intensity would make it tough to power through multiple in one sitting.

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3.9/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

16 oz can. Pours slightly hazy light copper amber with a medium frothy off white head that retains fairly well and leaves little lacing.

The aroma is sweet caramel malt, fruit and resiny hops.

The flavor is sweet bready caramel malt with some caramel apple fruit and a resiny hop finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with low carbonation.

Overall, a nice IPA.

★ 366 characters

3.5/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Brewed with 2-row, Golden Promise, Aromatic, Medium Crystal, Roasted Barley. Hopped with Warrior, Ahtanum, Cascade, Simcoe, Amarillo. OG=15P, English ale yeast. Bought at Goodmans in Kenosha, $8.99/4pk 16oz cans. 6.60% ABV

Pours out to a brilliant medium amber with ruby highlights, forming a poofy meringue like light yellow/off white head with beautiful retention and lacing. Carbonation is moderate, ~2.5 carbs or so. The nose is mostly piney, a little tropical fruit hop nose, not catty, just a little dank. Mouthfeel is a little acidic from the hops, medium bodied, finishing astringent from the hops. The taste is a recap of the aroma, mostly piney, like a slightly lighter version of arrogant bastard, definitely a west coast red. Bitterness is firm, and a bit much, limiting it's drinkability. One 16oz can is plenty for me.

A solid west coast red. The bitterness is a bit much and the mouthfeel could stand more body. I'm not really inclined to buy it again if it were in my area.

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4.44/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a can, a deep orangish color (sunset after a good downpour color) Not too heavy of a head. Tastes exactly as described on the can, heavy hops aroma. Fantastic tastes, this is definitely a favorite.

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4.23/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

poured out of a can. barely 30 days old.

pours a golden orange. smells of citrus, hops and malt.

taste is citrusy hops with a solid malt backbone. very good.

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4.27/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A - Pours a dark amber with a two finger foamy off white head. Good amount of soapy lacing.

S - Aroma is grapefruit and resinous hops.

T - The taste starts with some sweet caramel malts, orange peel and grapefruit followed by a big punch of resinous piney hops. The finish has a lingering bitter finish.

M - Medium bodied with medium carbonation. Smooth creamy mouthfeel with a crisp dry finish.

O - A very solid IPA. The hops dominate the finish but solid nonetheless.

★ 474 characters

4.04/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Aroma is fairly malty, with notes of caramel countered by muted grapefruit, pine, and resin.

Flavor is similar, with a biting bitter finish. Lightly sweet caramel malt carries throughout, with muted grapefruit juice and lots of pith adding complexity. The finish is a bit more harsh than I'd prefer.

★ 300 characters

3.63/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Well. Can advertises citrus and pine with notes of caramel and toffee. What I got was tremendously tea forward, followed by notes of citrus, pine, caramel and toffee. Which was ok, kinda reminded me of an old Northern Hemisphere tea bomb and a young Weyerbacher Harvest Ale I had once. I like tea, but not this much. No excuses this beer is barely over one month old. Overall disapointing at best.

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4.74/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

This beer is amazing!!!
A: a deep golden amber
S: nice aroma of hops & malt
T: hops upfront with a sweet malt backbone
F: so smooth
O: the balance of malt & hops is incredible. I new this beer was great & I wasn't let disappointed.

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4.19/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Deep amber color, good clarity. Poured modest whitish head, okay retention.

Caramel malt and a nice piney earthy hop aroma

Nice meld of malt sweetness and earthy hop flavors up front. Pine and pineapple. Nice hop bitterness in finish - assertive but not overpowering.

Med carbonation and body. No astrigency. Very slight warming.

Beautiful example of an "old school" AIPA (not overly fruity). Very clean, and full of big malt and hop flavors. Very pleasant bitterness in finish.

★ 493 characters

3.94/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

From can dated 3-15-16

Look- Crystal clear, reddish, orange hue. Minimal head with nice lacing.
Smell- Pine up front, citrus in back , but also get the malt.
Taste- Perhaps this is due to an 8 wk old can, but the taste massively underwhelmed me. Stale, cardboard taste, with alcohol taste very strong on back end.
Feel- Light on tongue, otherwise appropriate for style
Overall- I wish I could try a fresh can, but I have to review on what I have. Traded a bunch of tree house with this as part of my returning end. I def got short end of the straw

★ 561 characters

4.49/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

APPEARANCE: Just slightly hazy. The beer has a red and what I would call tea-like appearance. A finger + of foamy tan-ish head that quickly settles down to a ring. Minor lacing.
AROMA: I get a herbal tea quality. Big pineapple, pine and citrus. Caramel bready notes.
TASTE: Sweet right away which gives way immediately to a nice grapefruit bitterness. Lots of caramel undertones along with pine and that herbal mint quality.
FEEL: Medium thin to medium body. Carbonation is a little light, I think. A little sticky/oily up front, dries on the finish.
OVERALL: Very nice flavors. A little on the thin side, but it is a single IPA, so. I like just a bit more carbonation. The color is very nice, ruby, and tea like. (Edit: The pour is really important to the particular beer you are drinking. Poured slowly at an angle, the carbonation jumps out, which turns this into a different and better experience. Worth sacrificing the good looking head with some brews, IMO.)

★ 964 characters

4.49/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours orange brown with slight head, thick lacing. Floral and almost buttery notes on the scent. Crisp citrusy tasting. The slight bitterness and alcohol are more on the aftertaste. Very full mouth feel.

★ 203 characters

4.26/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Beautiful Amber. Carmel and a hint a sweet fruity bubblegum, floral hops. Above average nose but very great flavors. I am really starting to like surly beer. I enjoy the complexity.

★ 181 characters

3.26/5  rDev -24.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

What was I thinking ?
(Am I being subjected to the onset of short-term memory loss ?)
I've Had Furious and several Surly beers and most (if not all) were too hoppy for me.
Yet, I let history (and mistakes) repeat itself. So, my rating reflects my being mad at myself. (I actually think that Surly celebrates the mainstream of American craft beer culture well... and so do its fans.)

My mistake seems setup by the Fates... from a limited beer list in a nice restaurant (that pushed wine), I order this can of Furious on a snowy April day.
While the aroma was interesting, the hops take over. I drank fast before any food came. By the second course (a delicate spring vegetable risotto), my taste buds nearly got back to normal. Barely.

#1 Moral of the story: don't forget what you don't like... and keep it appropriate.
#2 Moral: write your reviews so you remember what you don't like.... and can keep it appropriate.

Furious is reviewed in "1001 Beers to Taste Before You Die." (And arguable by me at least, should not be.)
So next is the existential question: Is drinking an inappropriate beer twice similar to dying twice?

★ 1,127 characters

3.47/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Poured a cloudy golden color. The hoppy, fruity smell is strong and the best part. The taste was overly hoppy for me, and almost too complex, leaving a bitter aftertaste. Not a favorite.

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4.08/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

I purchased a four pack of cans of this from France 44 in Minneapolis, MN. Furious pours a copper hue with a moderate head and some lacing. The aroma has hints of grapefruit, pine and caramel malt. The taste has all three of those as well as a bit of bread going on. The finish is actually a bit spicy. Overall this is good but I have had better IPAs.

★ 351 characters

4.46/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Pours dark orange, one finger of head that doesn't linger very long. Smell is aggressively hoppy. Taste is not as hoppy as the smell would indicate, but is warm and smooth, balanced. Taste is long-lasting. Feels creamy and gentle going down. Very nice!

★ 252 characters

2.49/5  rDev -42.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Furious has one of the most succinctly accurate label descriptions ever.

Amber red hue that's just a touch lighter than Killian's Irish Red, with a moderate, spotty beige head that dies down to nothing after a short time.

Lots of toffee aromas come off first, quickly taken over by something metallic, then something grassy or green in the background.

There are certainly caramel undertones, but this is far more bitter than I usually prefer, with those fiery hops being very present, as warned.

★ 498 characters