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Coffee Bender
Surly Brewing Company


Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Surly Brewing Company
- Minnesota, United States
- Style:
- American Brown Ale
Ranked #15 - ABV:
- 5.5%
- Score:
- 92
Ranked #4,329 - Avg:
- 4.15 | pDev: 10.6%
- Reviews:
- 901
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 25, 2023
- Added:
- May 28, 2006
- Wants:
- 675
- Gots:
- 445
SCORE
92
Outstanding
92
Outstanding


Notes:
Bender steeped cold for 24 hours in coarsely ground coffee beans from the Vinca Vista Hermosa plantation in Guatemala.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Rated by NCSapiens from Indiana
3.92/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.92/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Tastes as close to cold steeped coffee as I’ve had in a beer.
Jun 18, 2022Reviewed by lordofthewiens from New Mexico
4.18/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.18/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
The beer is a very dark brown with some garnet peeking through. Medium-sized tan head. A little lace.
Coffee aroma, some roasted malt.
Strong coffee taste, espresso. Coffee taste lingers. A little bit of chocolate, some late hoppiness.
Medium-bodied. I liked how the coffee stayed present.
Feb 26, 2022Coffee aroma, some roasted malt.
Strong coffee taste, espresso. Coffee taste lingers. A little bit of chocolate, some late hoppiness.
Medium-bodied. I liked how the coffee stayed present.
Reviewed by Wattie83 from Pennsylvania
4.21/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.21/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours a rich brown color, some ruby color around the edges. Tall khaki head falls to a nice cap. Opaque color, can't see anything going on in the body. Smell is coffee, chocolate roasted malt, some hop aroma evident. Taste follows nose with roast malt up front, cocoa and coffee in the middle with a bit of hop earthiness and bitterness. Finish sees the coffee stick around until the next sip. Feel is medium bodied, slightly creamy despite the carbonation. Finish is relatively dry. Overall, this is a good brown ale with solid coffee flavor without tasting burnt or stale. I'd revisit it again.
Aug 29, 2021Reviewed by dsa7783 from New Jersey
3.83/5 rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.83/5 rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Sixteen ounce four pack copped from Buy Rite in South Orange. Pours a smooth brown hue with semi-moderate frothing. Noticeable aroma replete with hints of cacao nibs and molasses. Similar overall flavor profile. Not bad.
Jul 15, 2021Reviewed by colts9016 from Idaho
4.23/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.23/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Review 1527
I just found this beer last year, alas I have never reviewed it. This beer is tasty, I am looking forward to finally reviewing it. This beer is 44 degrees and served in a Nonic. The pour of the beer created a massive three-fingered light tan head with excellent retention. The head slowly dissipated leaving lacing on the glass. The color of the beer is SRM 20, a dark brown with mahogany hues. The beer does have some clarity to it, despite it being darker. This beer is lovely.
I get coffee, dark roasted malts, and smoke for my initial sniff. Nosing further, I detect chocolate, toffee, a hint of caramel, and some floral esters. Lastly, I sense molasses, raisins, and a touch of herbal.
The flavors in the beer are dark roasted coffee, roasted malts, Maillard, chocolate, a hint of caramel, smidge of toffee, molasses, floral, herbal, and some earthiness.
The mouthfeel is somewhat dry and a touch bitter.
The body of the beer is medium, medium-low carbonation, and a medium-plus finish.
This beer is awesome. The coffee profile is not overpowering. The coffee does not give the beer any negative effects, like burnt or over roasted flavors. The brown ale is well done with a delightful coffee addition. The beer is well made, I have enjoyed drinking these beers.
May 09, 2021I just found this beer last year, alas I have never reviewed it. This beer is tasty, I am looking forward to finally reviewing it. This beer is 44 degrees and served in a Nonic. The pour of the beer created a massive three-fingered light tan head with excellent retention. The head slowly dissipated leaving lacing on the glass. The color of the beer is SRM 20, a dark brown with mahogany hues. The beer does have some clarity to it, despite it being darker. This beer is lovely.
I get coffee, dark roasted malts, and smoke for my initial sniff. Nosing further, I detect chocolate, toffee, a hint of caramel, and some floral esters. Lastly, I sense molasses, raisins, and a touch of herbal.
The flavors in the beer are dark roasted coffee, roasted malts, Maillard, chocolate, a hint of caramel, smidge of toffee, molasses, floral, herbal, and some earthiness.
The mouthfeel is somewhat dry and a touch bitter.
The body of the beer is medium, medium-low carbonation, and a medium-plus finish.
This beer is awesome. The coffee profile is not overpowering. The coffee does not give the beer any negative effects, like burnt or over roasted flavors. The brown ale is well done with a delightful coffee addition. The beer is well made, I have enjoyed drinking these beers.
Reviewed by rudiecantfail from Pennsylvania
4.04/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.04/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16 ounce can poured into a tulip glass. Canned on 3/24/20.
L---Darkest brown color. Medium, khaki head has good retention and left nice lacing.
S---Strong coffee and lighter roasted malts.
T---Coffee, obviously. Some caramel and something sweet and vaguely fruity/berryish.
F---Medium bodied, but thinner than expected for the rich flavor.
O---Damn fine beer. I'd get this one again.
Mar 14, 2021L---Darkest brown color. Medium, khaki head has good retention and left nice lacing.
S---Strong coffee and lighter roasted malts.
T---Coffee, obviously. Some caramel and something sweet and vaguely fruity/berryish.
F---Medium bodied, but thinner than expected for the rich flavor.
O---Damn fine beer. I'd get this one again.
Reviewed by nick_perry from North Carolina
4.12/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.12/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Foamy white head. Roasted malt and coffee aromas. Flavor is pretty much as advertised. Dry brown ale with a strong coffee note. Medium bodied. Strong carbonation. Not a whole lot to say about this one, but a solid example of a coffee beer.
Jan 31, 2021Reviewed by Blogjackets from Ohio
4.21/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.21/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
5.5% ABV makes this an easy drinker. Fresh roasted flavor and aroma are dominant. Pleasant mouthfeel and the malty backbone provides a smooth finish. As good a coffee beer, without additional flavor profiles, that I have had since Rogue’s Fresh Roast. Drank from can dated 10-13-20.
Jan 24, 2021Reviewed by beerthulhu from New Jersey
4.46/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.46/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A: Beautiful roasty coffee flair pour from the pour with Auburn highlights from backlighting. The capping is impressive, dark tan color, firm and spongy texture and build, with large cavernous pits, but holds amazingly well despite. A good collection of carbonation bubbles gather on the bottom of the chalice. Full band lacing tops off an outstanding visual, finished with a milky band coating.
S: Big wiff of freshly cracked coffee beans, earthy roast and oily fresh, with beautiful tones of of deep chocolate malts. Earthy damp forest leaves, with a touch of fresh charred firewood. The coffee grounds are as fresh as can be, late addition rather kettle boil? Milky roast of good strength that I can smell all day and will surly perk you up on any morning with some vanilla. Some warming brings out a gentle smokiness.
T: Roasty flair for flavor, fresh grounded beans, dried milky chocolate malt with a soft bitterness, earthy and well rounded and smooth. Some black cherry and plum fruitiness, sweetly dark highlights the fresh roast along with some smoky charred character on the tongue with a good hold.
M: Nice fullness, malty, thick of malt and coffee oils, softly carbonated with a milky depth. Warming smoky charred character on the tongue.
O: Smooth and beautiful drinker of fresh cracked coffee bean aroma, and some vanilla rich coffee that has support of deep rich chocolate malts. Nice smoky character and an underappreciated style that doesn't get enough recognition. The fresh roasty character only builds on to the flavor with an innovative twist that blends so well together. Let this warm up a bit to really bring out the coffee aspect. Even love the redesigned can which looks like starbucks cold coffee.
Jan 11, 2021S: Big wiff of freshly cracked coffee beans, earthy roast and oily fresh, with beautiful tones of of deep chocolate malts. Earthy damp forest leaves, with a touch of fresh charred firewood. The coffee grounds are as fresh as can be, late addition rather kettle boil? Milky roast of good strength that I can smell all day and will surly perk you up on any morning with some vanilla. Some warming brings out a gentle smokiness.
T: Roasty flair for flavor, fresh grounded beans, dried milky chocolate malt with a soft bitterness, earthy and well rounded and smooth. Some black cherry and plum fruitiness, sweetly dark highlights the fresh roast along with some smoky charred character on the tongue with a good hold.
M: Nice fullness, malty, thick of malt and coffee oils, softly carbonated with a milky depth. Warming smoky charred character on the tongue.
O: Smooth and beautiful drinker of fresh cracked coffee bean aroma, and some vanilla rich coffee that has support of deep rich chocolate malts. Nice smoky character and an underappreciated style that doesn't get enough recognition. The fresh roasty character only builds on to the flavor with an innovative twist that blends so well together. Let this warm up a bit to really bring out the coffee aspect. Even love the redesigned can which looks like starbucks cold coffee.
Reviewed by MutuelsMark from Kentucky
4.25/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Dark in color with a light brown to tan head. Nose is similar to colas but the coffee smell comes through. The taste is straight up coffee with cocoa and vanilla. Not too bitter I assume because of the vanilla I again assume has been added. Great follow through taste!!
Dec 24, 2020Reviewed by hopsputin from New Jersey
4.21/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.21/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
*2 month old can
a: super dark brown, almost black in color. quite silky. pours a 1.5 finger tan head
s: really nice punch of roasted malts, caramel, and coffee upfront. freshly roasted coffee beans, a touch of grassy hops behind that. milk chocolate powder and a little bit of a woody note. a touch more sweet malt and coffee at the end. not too complex in the nose, but very nice if you like coffee
t: rich roasted malts and caramel upfront. a nice sweet nutty flavor followed by ground coffee. a faint kiss of sweet chocolate and just the faintest hint of sweet berries. there is a touch of earthy bitterness in here as well, which tastes like faint tea. more coffee and malt sweetness to close out along with a nice bready note
m: mouthfeel is on the fuller side of medium, a touch chewy. low carbonation - i think it could use just a touch more carb
o: a really nice Coffee Brown Ale. I thought from the aroma that the coffee would dominate the rest of the flavors, but it doesn't. the sweetness and nutty flavors that you want still shine through and have a really nice harmonization with the coffee. my biggest knock is I think it could use a touch more carbonation
Dec 18, 2020a: super dark brown, almost black in color. quite silky. pours a 1.5 finger tan head
s: really nice punch of roasted malts, caramel, and coffee upfront. freshly roasted coffee beans, a touch of grassy hops behind that. milk chocolate powder and a little bit of a woody note. a touch more sweet malt and coffee at the end. not too complex in the nose, but very nice if you like coffee
t: rich roasted malts and caramel upfront. a nice sweet nutty flavor followed by ground coffee. a faint kiss of sweet chocolate and just the faintest hint of sweet berries. there is a touch of earthy bitterness in here as well, which tastes like faint tea. more coffee and malt sweetness to close out along with a nice bready note
m: mouthfeel is on the fuller side of medium, a touch chewy. low carbonation - i think it could use just a touch more carb
o: a really nice Coffee Brown Ale. I thought from the aroma that the coffee would dominate the rest of the flavors, but it doesn't. the sweetness and nutty flavors that you want still shine through and have a really nice harmonization with the coffee. my biggest knock is I think it could use a touch more carbonation
Coffee Bender from Surly Brewing Company
Beer rating:
92 out of
100 with
2818 ratings
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