Bitter Brewer | Surly Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Surly Brewing Company
Minnesota, United States
surlybrewing.com
Style: English Bitter
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.00%
Availability: Spring
Notes / Commercial Description:
Brewed with a significant portion of Simpsons Golden Promise, the malt character comes across as toasty, and the flaked oats provide some additional mouthfeel to offset the bitterness. The hops provide an orange aroma and flavor, almost like marmalade. The current signature hop is Mandarina Bavaria, a new aromatic varietal coming out of Germany that has distinct tangerine and orange-like notes.
Added by BeerAdvocate on 05-05-2007
Ratings: 1,088 | Reviews: 446
4.33/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours hazy light orange with a small retaining head. Smells a bit yeasty and bready with big orange zest and musty hop bitterness. Taste is bracingly bitter and refreshing with hints of bread and citrus. Feel is soft, crisp, and bubbly. Great english bitter.
262 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours hazy light orange with a small retaining head. Smells a bit yeasty and bready with big orange zest and musty hop bitterness. Taste is bracingly bitter and refreshing with hints of bread and citrus. Feel is soft, crisp, and bubbly. Great english bitter.
262 characters
3.58/5 rDev -10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
4.22/5 rDev +5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
3.75/5 rDev -6.7%
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
3.94/5 rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I don't have much experience with this style of beer, but I can't imagine this not being what it is supposed to taste like. As in the name, this beer is quite bitter. Lots of strong earthy flavors. Good use of malts.
I would definitely drink this again, and it was good enough to make me seek out more beers of this style.
324 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I don't have much experience with this style of beer, but I can't imagine this not being what it is supposed to taste like. As in the name, this beer is quite bitter. Lots of strong earthy flavors. Good use of malts.
I would definitely drink this again, and it was good enough to make me seek out more beers of this style.
324 characters
2.47/5 rDev -38.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.25
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.25
3.75/5 rDev -6.7%
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
3.63/5 rDev -9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.36/5 rDev -16.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to GaryMuchow for this one. Poured from 16oz can into 10oz goblet. Poured a cloudy straw yellow color, with 1/4 inch of white head that instantly dissipated, leaving no lace.
The aroma was lightly malty with low hops, very balanced, and kind of on the neutral side. On the tongue though, the grains showed through nicely, providing an earthy base for the lightly floral, lemony hops. There was a pleasantly strong citrus-bitter finish.
The body was the typical medium-light of the style. Drinkability was good, I could easily see pouring a few of these down as part of my regular rotation. Overall, a crisp and enjoyable beer that's worth your time i you have a chance to grab one.
690 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to GaryMuchow for this one. Poured from 16oz can into 10oz goblet. Poured a cloudy straw yellow color, with 1/4 inch of white head that instantly dissipated, leaving no lace.
The aroma was lightly malty with low hops, very balanced, and kind of on the neutral side. On the tongue though, the grains showed through nicely, providing an earthy base for the lightly floral, lemony hops. There was a pleasantly strong citrus-bitter finish.
The body was the typical medium-light of the style. Drinkability was good, I could easily see pouring a few of these down as part of my regular rotation. Overall, a crisp and enjoyable beer that's worth your time i you have a chance to grab one.
690 characters
4.5/5 rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
L: Pours lightly orange tinted amber under a 2” finely bubbled foam collar that slowly recedes and provides thick lace. S: Spicy, grassy, fresh mown grass. T: Grassy flavors over biscuit and light nuts with a slight astringency on the end. F: Creamy smooth with a medium body and carbonation. O: They have nailed the classic ESB and added slightly more aggressive hops.
371 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
L: Pours lightly orange tinted amber under a 2” finely bubbled foam collar that slowly recedes and provides thick lace. S: Spicy, grassy, fresh mown grass. T: Grassy flavors over biscuit and light nuts with a slight astringency on the end. F: Creamy smooth with a medium body and carbonation. O: They have nailed the classic ESB and added slightly more aggressive hops.
371 characters
3.73/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Poured into a large stemmed tulip at the new Surly facility.
Definitely bitter, maybe the lowest ABV on today's menu. This one was served too cold. Please let it warm up before judging it. Would be much better if served on cask. 3.5
A – Pale cloudy yellow like a bad piss (get to the doctor!) 3.25
S - Peach and gooseberry marmalade, grassy herbal, a bit of peppery, citrusy - definitely lemon 4
T - Grassy and resinous, citrus rind, but not fruity in anyway 3.75
MF - Medium light and bone dry bitter and lasting in the palate. 3.75
537 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Poured into a large stemmed tulip at the new Surly facility.
Definitely bitter, maybe the lowest ABV on today's menu. This one was served too cold. Please let it warm up before judging it. Would be much better if served on cask. 3.5
A – Pale cloudy yellow like a bad piss (get to the doctor!) 3.25
S - Peach and gooseberry marmalade, grassy herbal, a bit of peppery, citrusy - definitely lemon 4
T - Grassy and resinous, citrus rind, but not fruity in anyway 3.75
MF - Medium light and bone dry bitter and lasting in the palate. 3.75
537 characters
4.34/5 rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I was very impressed with this beer. Very smooth, almost silky feel was unexpected but pleasant. Really nice golden color and poured with a fairly thick, creamy head. Smell was almost sweet. Overall, I've decided that the one I still have is not enough and while I'm still in Minnesota I'm going to go grab some more to take back home. Don't pass this one up if you see it, it is awesome!
388 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I was very impressed with this beer. Very smooth, almost silky feel was unexpected but pleasant. Really nice golden color and poured with a fairly thick, creamy head. Smell was almost sweet. Overall, I've decided that the one I still have is not enough and while I'm still in Minnesota I'm going to go grab some more to take back home. Don't pass this one up if you see it, it is awesome!
388 characters
Bitter Brewer from Surly Brewing Company
4.02
out of 5
based on 1,088 ratings.
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4