Coffee Bender
Surly Brewing Company

Coffee BenderCoffee Bender
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From:
Surly Brewing Company
 
Minnesota, United States
Style:
American Brown Ale
Ranked #15
ABV:
5.5%
Score:
92
Ranked #4,271
Avg:
4.15 | pDev: 10.6%
Reviews:
902
Ratings:
2,821
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 05, 2024
Added:
May 28, 2006
Wants:
  675
Gots:
  444
Bender steeped cold for 24 hours in coarsely ground coffee beans from the Vinca Vista Hermosa plantation in Guatemala.
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Ratings by AmberMan22:
Photo of AmberMan22
Reviewed by AmberMan22 from Minnesota

4.77/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
As the 5.0 score I've given this in several categories, implies this is an exceptional beer. I've had this before out of the can, and several times on tap, being lucky enough to live in Minneapolis.

It pours the color of a dark mahogany java drip, but there isn't much head retention or lacing to speak of. Most brown ales I've seen are better in this department, so I won't give it a 5.

The smell and taste, which are frankly the things I care most about when buying a beer like this, absolutely crush it. A perfect harmony between the bitterness of the coffee, with the bitterness from the hoppy undercarriage mixes with roasted malt and espresso taste. An absolutely delight to drink, and an excellent decision for the morning football game.

Mouthfeel is solid and pronounced, and might deserve more than a 4, but IMO with the other offerings from surly, this feels on the lighter end of their spectrum, certainly no different from the bender.

Absolutely dynamite fusion of coffee flavor and beer. A must try, and re-buy.
Oct 11, 2010
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.31 by Prospero from Colorado

Jan 05, 2024
 
Rated: 3.71 by Nyoder

Nov 27, 2023
Photo of jkblr
Reviewed by jkblr from Indiana

4.27/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
16oz canned 09/15/23 (about 2 months ago) poured into a tulip pint glass at fridge temp 5.5% ABV. The beer pours bright medium brown with chestnut highlights and light brown colored head. The head recedes to a thin cap of tight bubbles and leaves sticky lacing. The aroma is moderate in strength featuring dark roast coffee beans, baking cocoa, and hints of sweet toasted malt. The taste is bittersweet roasted/toasted malt with complementary coffee. Minimal finishing bitterness. The mouthfeel is thin bodied with average carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, excellent brown ale.
Nov 24, 2023
 
Rated: 4.19 by The_Kriek_Freak from Pennsylvania

Nov 11, 2023
 
Rated: 3.92 by HopBelT from Belgium

May 25, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by bruindre from Massachusetts

Feb 08, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by mpk2020 from Illinois

Dec 06, 2022
 
Rated: 3.79 by SViterileroux74 from Texas

Nov 15, 2022
 
Rated: 3.87 by Duncian from Pennsylvania

Oct 31, 2022
 
Rated: 4.14 by blissfulNemo from Michigan

Oct 09, 2022
 
Rated: 3.84 by brandoneast from Texas

Sep 17, 2022
 
Rated: 4.21 by Mikeluzzjr from Massachusetts

Jul 21, 2022
 
Rated: 3.75 by rare_bird from Michigan

Jul 16, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by shigg85 from Japan

Jun 29, 2022
Photo of NCSapiens
Rated by NCSapiens from Indiana

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, 2022
 
Rated: 4.06 by not2quick from Missouri

Mar 31, 2022
 
Rated: 4.5 by RBorsato from Virginia

Mar 28, 2022
Photo of lordofthewiens
Reviewed by lordofthewiens from New Mexico

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, 2022
 
Rated: 4.1 by RMW66 from Australia

Feb 04, 2022
Coffee Bender from Surly Brewing Company
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 2821 ratings