Coffee Bender | Surly Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Surly Brewing Company
Minnesota, United States
surlybrewing.com
Style: American Brown Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.50%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
Bender steeped cold for 24 hours in coarsely ground coffee beans from the Vinca Vista Hermosa plantation in Guatemala.
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers
Ratings: 2,719 | Reviews: 872
3.69/5 rDev -11.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Roasty aroma with plenty of roasted coffee. Deep brown, slightly reddish, color that is a crystal clear ruby with backlight. No carbonation visible. 1/2 inch tan bubbly, but somewhat thin, head that dies fairly quickly to a thin cap with bubble islands and a bubble ring. Disconnected light lacing. Taste is strongly coffee, roasted, but the feel is flat on the tongue. Slightly bitter in the middle and finish. Aftertaste is very slightly astringent (so slightly that the term "astringent" may imply more than what is there). There may be a nicely done brown ale underneath, but all the coffee hides it pretty well. The coffee is overdone and renders the beer one dimensional.
677 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Roasty aroma with plenty of roasted coffee. Deep brown, slightly reddish, color that is a crystal clear ruby with backlight. No carbonation visible. 1/2 inch tan bubbly, but somewhat thin, head that dies fairly quickly to a thin cap with bubble islands and a bubble ring. Disconnected light lacing. Taste is strongly coffee, roasted, but the feel is flat on the tongue. Slightly bitter in the middle and finish. Aftertaste is very slightly astringent (so slightly that the term "astringent" may imply more than what is there). There may be a nicely done brown ale underneath, but all the coffee hides it pretty well. The coffee is overdone and renders the beer one dimensional.
677 characters
4.16/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Deep, dark brown body with a thick, frothy head. Balanced aroma of roasted grain and coffee; mocha. Excellent flavor with elements of sweet cocoa, coffee bitterness, baker's chocolate; vanilla bean. Medium body; underlying moderate sweetness with some fine coffee dryness.
This beer delivers excellently balanced and complex flavors with a nice, moderate body, light sweetness, and all-around coffee presence.
410 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Deep, dark brown body with a thick, frothy head. Balanced aroma of roasted grain and coffee; mocha. Excellent flavor with elements of sweet cocoa, coffee bitterness, baker's chocolate; vanilla bean. Medium body; underlying moderate sweetness with some fine coffee dryness.
This beer delivers excellently balanced and complex flavors with a nice, moderate body, light sweetness, and all-around coffee presence.
410 characters
4.16/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.22/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L: Pours a brown purple color with a medium tan head and no lacing on the glass.
S: Rich fresh roasted coffee, some berries and fruit, some roasted malt. The coffee smells really good in this beer.
T: Rich fresh roasted coffee, some berries and fruit in the coffee, a light to medium bitterness from the coffee.
F: Fuller body that coats the mouth in coffee taste and medium slightly cola like carbonation.
O: The coffee in this beer is really nice and it is a really tasty beer.
489 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L: Pours a brown purple color with a medium tan head and no lacing on the glass.
S: Rich fresh roasted coffee, some berries and fruit, some roasted malt. The coffee smells really good in this beer.
T: Rich fresh roasted coffee, some berries and fruit in the coffee, a light to medium bitterness from the coffee.
F: Fuller body that coats the mouth in coffee taste and medium slightly cola like carbonation.
O: The coffee in this beer is really nice and it is a really tasty beer.
489 characters
4.15/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A-Pours a very dark opaque color with a slight head and lacing
A-Aroma has abundant coffee hints
T-The taste follows the nose with a nice coffee flavors.
M-A medium bodied moderately carbonated beer
O-A nice coffee flavored beer
229 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A-Pours a very dark opaque color with a slight head and lacing
A-Aroma has abundant coffee hints
T-The taste follows the nose with a nice coffee flavors.
M-A medium bodied moderately carbonated beer
O-A nice coffee flavored beer
229 characters
4.68/5 rDev +12.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
It's not just a hint of coffee, it's borderline an iced coffee. If you are a coffee lover, it is superb.
106 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
It's not just a hint of coffee, it's borderline an iced coffee. If you are a coffee lover, it is superb.
106 characters
4.46/5 rDev +7.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
The bottom of the can says: "CANNED ON 07/20/18 F4370 10:46"
Appearance: The body is a dark brown with hints of dark reddish-brown in the light. It has a large khaki head that is fluffy and has both good retention and lacing.
Aroma: The smell of coffee is present even when the glass is on the table. Closer inspection reveals a slightly peppery and earthy espresso aroma that smells very fresh.
Taste: It has a nice mix of flavors, including toffee, burnt caramel, coffee, and toasted bread. There is a faint hint of mint and a touch of burnt carbon towards the finish of the beer. It has a coffee aftertaste.
Mouthfeel: It is a smooth and easy drinking beer with a pleasant medium body and great carbonation. There's no room for improvement on this beer.
Overall: It's a very impressive beer. It has a good coffee flavor but it doesn't use that flavor to mask the flavor of the beer. What you have here is an outstanding Brown Ale that has been supercharged with even more flavor in the form of coffee. I would highly recommend it to both individuals who like coffee and those who simply like a good Brown Ale. It is a very enjoyable and easy drinking beer that I would like to buy again.
1,195 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
The bottom of the can says: "CANNED ON 07/20/18 F4370 10:46"
Appearance: The body is a dark brown with hints of dark reddish-brown in the light. It has a large khaki head that is fluffy and has both good retention and lacing.
Aroma: The smell of coffee is present even when the glass is on the table. Closer inspection reveals a slightly peppery and earthy espresso aroma that smells very fresh.
Taste: It has a nice mix of flavors, including toffee, burnt caramel, coffee, and toasted bread. There is a faint hint of mint and a touch of burnt carbon towards the finish of the beer. It has a coffee aftertaste.
Mouthfeel: It is a smooth and easy drinking beer with a pleasant medium body and great carbonation. There's no room for improvement on this beer.
Overall: It's a very impressive beer. It has a good coffee flavor but it doesn't use that flavor to mask the flavor of the beer. What you have here is an outstanding Brown Ale that has been supercharged with even more flavor in the form of coffee. I would highly recommend it to both individuals who like coffee and those who simply like a good Brown Ale. It is a very enjoyable and easy drinking beer that I would like to buy again.
1,195 characters
4.24/5 rDev +2.2%
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
4.5/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.35/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 16 OZ can into a pint glass. The appearance is a brown color with a medium sized tan head. The aroma is all coffee. The taste is an excellent blend of coffee and malt.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 16 OZ can into a pint glass. The appearance is a brown color with a medium sized tan head. The aroma is all coffee. The taste is an excellent blend of coffee and malt.
185 characters
4.25/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.02/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.5/5 rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Well, I'm hoping that 1) this is not one of those hoppy brown ales and 2) that it's not a stout masquerading as a brown ale. Here goes:
A: Looks very nice. Clear but very dark brown with a wonderful red tint. The head is also nice and brown. Great.
S: Nope, this most certainly isn't a stout or hoppy brown ale. Very rich smell. Lots of brown sugar, caramel, molasses, hazelnuts, and peanuts. Lots and lots of nuts. Can also smell fairly robust coffee. Great - very complex and rich.
T: Follows the nose. Lots of rich nuts and vibrant coffee. Peanuts and hazelnut coat the aftertaste, along with an aftertaste of coffee bean.
F: Nice and thick.
O: Very rich and complex beer. Loved it.
709 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Well, I'm hoping that 1) this is not one of those hoppy brown ales and 2) that it's not a stout masquerading as a brown ale. Here goes:
A: Looks very nice. Clear but very dark brown with a wonderful red tint. The head is also nice and brown. Great.
S: Nope, this most certainly isn't a stout or hoppy brown ale. Very rich smell. Lots of brown sugar, caramel, molasses, hazelnuts, and peanuts. Lots and lots of nuts. Can also smell fairly robust coffee. Great - very complex and rich.
T: Follows the nose. Lots of rich nuts and vibrant coffee. Peanuts and hazelnut coat the aftertaste, along with an aftertaste of coffee bean.
F: Nice and thick.
O: Very rich and complex beer. Loved it.
709 characters
3.71/5 rDev -10.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a black color. 1/2 inch head of an off-tan color. Good retention and slight lacing. Smells of strong fresh coffee, sweet malt, slight alcohol, and a hint of citrus hops. Fits the style of an American Brown Ale. Mouth feel is sharp and clean, with an average carbonation level. There is an elevated roasted bitterness and dryness. Tastes of strong coffee, sweet malt, hint of citrus hops, and slight alcohol. Overall, almost completely coffee, lacking complexity, good flavors though.
489 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a black color. 1/2 inch head of an off-tan color. Good retention and slight lacing. Smells of strong fresh coffee, sweet malt, slight alcohol, and a hint of citrus hops. Fits the style of an American Brown Ale. Mouth feel is sharp and clean, with an average carbonation level. There is an elevated roasted bitterness and dryness. Tastes of strong coffee, sweet malt, hint of citrus hops, and slight alcohol. Overall, almost completely coffee, lacking complexity, good flavors though.
489 characters
4.23/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.18/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
4/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Canned 02/26/18
Appearance - Pours deep chestnut brown with a tan. finger width head. Fair retention results in a thin, broken layer of suds, thickening up at the edges. Solid lacing with broken lines and spotting decorating much of the glass.
Smell - The nose is immediately greeted with a wonderful roast and slight caramel undertone.
Taste - Follows the nose. Fresh roasted coffee with a touch of creamy caramel malt sweetness riding beneath. Finishes strong and the aftertaste lingers with roasted bean.
Mouthfeel - Light-bodied with low, tingly carbonation. Slick drinker with a mostly dry finish.
Overall - Solid coffee brown. A bit thin, but not terribly so for a brown. A little more depth in flavor and this could be killer.
739 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Canned 02/26/18
Appearance - Pours deep chestnut brown with a tan. finger width head. Fair retention results in a thin, broken layer of suds, thickening up at the edges. Solid lacing with broken lines and spotting decorating much of the glass.
Smell - The nose is immediately greeted with a wonderful roast and slight caramel undertone.
Taste - Follows the nose. Fresh roasted coffee with a touch of creamy caramel malt sweetness riding beneath. Finishes strong and the aftertaste lingers with roasted bean.
Mouthfeel - Light-bodied with low, tingly carbonation. Slick drinker with a mostly dry finish.
Overall - Solid coffee brown. A bit thin, but not terribly so for a brown. A little more depth in flavor and this could be killer.
739 characters
Coffee Bender from Surly Brewing Company
Beer rating:
4.15 out of
5 with
2,719 ratings
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