Smoke
Surly Brewing Company


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- From:
- Surly Brewing Company
- Minnesota, United States
- Style:
- Baltic Porter
Ranked #58 - ABV:
- 8.2%
- Score:
- 91
Ranked #6,983 - Avg:
- 4.08 | pDev: 11.76%
- Reviews:
- 290
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 28, 2021
- Added:
- Dec 05, 2007
- Wants:
- 350
- Gots:
- 284
SCORE
91
Outstanding
91
Outstanding


Notes:
Ebony-hued, Smoke wafts out of the bottle and into your senses, borne on the wings of European traditions, wrapped in American innovation. Lager-brewed, like any true Baltic Porter, with smoked malts from Bamberg, Germany, the home of Rauchbiers, then mellowed by oak-aging. Black malt flavors mesh with notes of raisins, plums, figs and licorice with the subtle smoke on the side, for a complex and luxurious, yet silky smooth drinking experience. It's a sipper at Alc. 8.2% by VOL., but everyone knows you can't have Smoke without fire!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
3.54/5 rDev -13.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.54/5 rDev -13.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
750 ml bottle, kindly shared by gunnar. ABV was 8.2%. Black colour, moderate beige head. Smoky aroma, notes of tar and bonfires at the seaside. Smoky flavour, notes of smoked meat and roasted malts.
Mar 22, 2021Reviewed by Treyliff from West Virginia
4.2/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.2/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
750ml silver wax top bottle poured into a goblet
2015 Vintage
A- pours deep brown in color with a one-finger khaki colored head that has short retention and leaves nothing behind
S- a nice array of smoked malts, similar to a rauchbier, gives notes of campfire, smoked pork & black licorice. Undertones of figs & chocolate
T- sweet chocolate and figs up front are quickly followed by a waft of smoke, adding flavors of smoked barley, smoked pork and black licorice. The finish gives notes of raisins, molasses and brown sugar, more smoke sticks around long after the linger
M- medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel and a slightly warming finish
O- well balanced with just enough smoke to compliment the dark chocolate and dark fruit notes of the beer
Nov 09, 20192015 Vintage
A- pours deep brown in color with a one-finger khaki colored head that has short retention and leaves nothing behind
S- a nice array of smoked malts, similar to a rauchbier, gives notes of campfire, smoked pork & black licorice. Undertones of figs & chocolate
T- sweet chocolate and figs up front are quickly followed by a waft of smoke, adding flavors of smoked barley, smoked pork and black licorice. The finish gives notes of raisins, molasses and brown sugar, more smoke sticks around long after the linger
M- medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel and a slightly warming finish
O- well balanced with just enough smoke to compliment the dark chocolate and dark fruit notes of the beer
Reviewed by GoBearsWalter34 from Illinois
4.49/5 rDev +10%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.49/5 rDev +10%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
L- ours black with a lightrr, lan head that dissapates quickly.
S- smokey malts, black ucorice.
T- Smokey black ale taste in which smoke lingers. Slight meat taat in which oak presence smoorhs all.
F- nice warming especially from smokiness lingering.
May 03, 2017S- smokey malts, black ucorice.
T- Smokey black ale taste in which smoke lingers. Slight meat taat in which oak presence smoorhs all.
F- nice warming especially from smokiness lingering.
Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois
3.97/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.97/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Charcoal black appearance with a tan head. Indeed plenty of smoke fillings the nose with campfire and general roasted tones with licorice, bitter dark chocolate and earth supporting. Taste is overwhelming with the wood and more so smoke, baltic porter influences get covered up for the most part minus the roasted malts and leather. Feel is smoky but crisp and thin for style, want more balance here too. Good for a smoke kick but not much else
Sep 12, 2016Reviewed by ScruffySouthpaw from New York
4.15/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
4.15/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Served in a pint glass from the tap here at Surly Brewery.
Appearance: Thin black body coming off with medium bubbles. Head is tan roughly half a finger's length. Looks pretty descent.
Smell: Light smoked meat. You smell malts.
Taste: This brew will twist your palates, bacon and malts with light sweet notes.
Mouth: Sticky brew which overpowers almost anything you're eating. I have a side of beef brisket and still feel the beer.
Overall: Definitely a must grab for any advocate. Had the luxury of having this on tap and easily one of the better porters. Salud!
Aug 22, 2016Appearance: Thin black body coming off with medium bubbles. Head is tan roughly half a finger's length. Looks pretty descent.
Smell: Light smoked meat. You smell malts.
Taste: This brew will twist your palates, bacon and malts with light sweet notes.
Mouth: Sticky brew which overpowers almost anything you're eating. I have a side of beef brisket and still feel the beer.
Overall: Definitely a must grab for any advocate. Had the luxury of having this on tap and easily one of the better porters. Salud!
Reviewed by Peepskp from Wisconsin
3.98/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.98/5 rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Had this at the Surly beer hall. Excellent balanced nose of campfire and sweet malt. Well balanced for a smoked since some can be overpowering. I really enjoy the raisin sweetness they introduced, it plays well off the subtle but present smoke. I'd have this again.
May 18, 2016Reviewed by tillmac62 from South Carolina
4.49/5 rDev +10%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.49/5 rDev +10%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Dark brown, almost black, pour. Outstanding head volume, quite outstanding retention and lacing.
Rich Rauchbier style nose that is world class. Bacon cooking over a campfire aroma with emphasis on the wood smoke. Subtle notes of roast, molasses and dark fruit lurk underneath. As it warms, a light licorice note mingles with the campfire.
Medium body that is smooth in texture and has nice creamy aspects in the finish. Superb carbonation that has an effervescent tingle in the middle and a nice burst in the finish.
The flavor profile is world class, rich in complexity and extremely well balanced. This balance is exemplified by smoke not dominating the palate as was the case in the nose. Rising to balance, is a rich sweet base that is heavy caramel with very subtle hints of bakers chocolate. The middle hints at bitterness, but serves as the smoke / caramel battleground. As the middle fades, plum, fig and raisin flavors separate. The finish is preceded by a light licorice note just before the aged oak aspect arrives. The finish is a slow fade of smoke, caramel, oak, and a hint of alcohol that delivers a drying finish with a hint of heat.
Apr 06, 2016Rich Rauchbier style nose that is world class. Bacon cooking over a campfire aroma with emphasis on the wood smoke. Subtle notes of roast, molasses and dark fruit lurk underneath. As it warms, a light licorice note mingles with the campfire.
Medium body that is smooth in texture and has nice creamy aspects in the finish. Superb carbonation that has an effervescent tingle in the middle and a nice burst in the finish.
The flavor profile is world class, rich in complexity and extremely well balanced. This balance is exemplified by smoke not dominating the palate as was the case in the nose. Rising to balance, is a rich sweet base that is heavy caramel with very subtle hints of bakers chocolate. The middle hints at bitterness, but serves as the smoke / caramel battleground. As the middle fades, plum, fig and raisin flavors separate. The finish is preceded by a light licorice note just before the aged oak aspect arrives. The finish is a slow fade of smoke, caramel, oak, and a hint of alcohol that delivers a drying finish with a hint of heat.
Rated by zapjones from Florida
4.27/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
4.27/5 rDev +4.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Bacon bacon bacon!!!!!!
Mar 10, 2016
Smoke from Surly Brewing Company
Beer rating:
91 out of
100 with
914 ratings
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