Abrasive Ale
Surly Brewing Company

Abrasive AleAbrasive Ale
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From:
Surly Brewing Company
 
Minnesota, United States
Style:
Imperial IPA
Ranked #13
ABV:
9.2%
Score:
99
Ranked #171
Avg:
4.5 | pDev: 7.78%
Reviews:
999
Ratings:
4,832
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 02, 2023
Added:
Dec 27, 2008
Wants:
  2,138
Gots:
  742
Hazy gold in color, this Oatmeal Double IPA has aggressive aromas of candied grapefruit/tangerine and tropical fruit. Malted oats greatly enhance the body and the high level of bitterness is balanced by this sweetness. Citra hops are used for aroma & flavor additions and for dry-hopping, while Warrior hops are used primarily for bitterness.

OG 19.5 Plato
Color 5 SRM
Hops: Citra, Warrior
Yeast: English Ale
Malt: 2-row, Golden Naked Oats
ABV: 9%
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Ratings by StlHopHead77:
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Rated by StlHopHead77 from Illinois

4.5/5  rDev 0%

Dec 27, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.33 by joran from Kansas

Dec 02, 2023
Photo of ZebulonXZogg
Reviewed by ZebulonXZogg from Illinois

4.31/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Not quite a clear golden color, soapy white head and some greaat lacing. Nose says fruit, citrus, maybe some mango. Nice bitter finish but smooth. Really nice beer, don't see much Surly here.
Nov 10, 2023
 
Rated: 3.79 by HighwayChile from Kansas

Nov 09, 2023
Photo of Tsar_Riga
Reviewed by Tsar_Riga from Minnesota

4.43/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A - Pours out a hazy copper-orange color, super fluffy off-white head, persistent, with lots of small gauge bubble lacing.

S - Strong hit of pine and citrus in the nose, some resin and Citra-brand funk on the tail end.

T - Lovely blast of lemony citrus in the front, an undercurrent of grapefruit comes forward with juicy maltiness through the middle, pepper spice and pith coming forward to a sharp, assertive bitterness in the finish.

M - Super easy to drink, smooth and clean, with moderate weight and an ABV completely hidden, closing with enough dryness to invite immediate return for more.

O - I'd heard about this one for years, but just had never had a chance to get Abrasive until I moved here. Glad to make its acquaintance. I'll be picking this one up again when I get the chance.
Oct 29, 2023
Photo of lwillitz
Reviewed by lwillitz from Wisconsin

4.35/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
16-oz can into nonic pint glass

A - cloudy body of golden amber under a finger of off white foam

S - floral, citrus, pine, sweetness

T - big citrus (mainly pink grapefruit), bitter floral notes, a little pine, peppery spice, quite fruity, heavy malt backbone (but the bitterness never lets up); bitter, complex, and enjoyable!

M - bitterness bites all the way through, smooth full body, average carbonation

O - an excellent DIPA from Surly!
Aug 01, 2023
 
Rated: 4.68 by whynot44 from Missouri

Feb 16, 2023
Photo of Bouleboubier
Reviewed by Bouleboubier from New Jersey

4.4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
(16 oz can, canned on 11/18/22, F5670; purchased 4-pack off shelf at Shangy's... poured into a fat tulip)

L: slightly-hazy medium amber-colored liquid; not a huge head on the pour, but it's tight with a frayed cotton contour... only holds a thin collar, thin misty cap; does leave a big band of lace oppo of sip spot

S: very floral initial pop (rosewater), followed by some fleshy orange pulp, lemon/grapefruit zest, background hint of pine... a little honeyish malt wants to poke through... gummy orange slices... only a soft essence of alcohol... excellent overall intensity

T: citrus kiss, but a rush of florality right behind it... the aftertaste is spicy, with a green bitterness that slowly swells... certainly a big malty base, with a muffin/cakey quality, but it's sodden with hop resins... vague dried pale-colored fruit (apricot, sultana) slowly creeps into the aftertaste, while the residual bitterness grows some peppery hair to it... the volume on the bitterness just keeps increasing, speakers cracking and shaking; hop artifacts emerge

F: its bitter bite takes hold on the tongue, mildly intensified by the ethanol, which sets and singes (and yet cools?!) a touch near the back of the palate... its body and resins make for a silky lusciousness up front, giving way to a growing heat; soft carbonation

O: why did this take so long to be released out east here(?), especially considering Furious had been here for years now; this was the first Surly beer I ever heard of c. 2011 (though Darkness and Bender weren't far behind)... I am going to try the next can in a pint, which they're website suggests is the preferred vessel... aggressive and comforting (2081)
Feb 01, 2023
 
Rated: 4.42 by Manthon from Pennsylvania

Jan 14, 2023
Photo of gcasher
Reviewed by gcasher from Pennsylvania

4.85/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
I am so happy to have finally found this locally (PA) after searching for it for years. It did not disappoint. While the can is over a couple of months old, the ale still tasted very fresh. I rate it as having a NE flavor profile while having a west coast appearance. It is translucent and golden, but definitely not cloudy. The head was white and not too foamy. The aromas came in waves of sweet fruit. The flavor came in waves and it seemed each one was a different type of tropical fruit. What a fantastic drinking experience. The only downside was the $5 price tag, but that would be a bargain in a tavern.
Jan 12, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by Bhubbard34 from Pennsylvania

Jan 05, 2023
 
Rated: 4.79 by Beergod420 from Michigan

Dec 15, 2022
Photo of defunksta
Reviewed by defunksta from Wisconsin

4.29/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Canned 11/7/22 (1 month ago)

Appearance: Pours a slightly cloudy (80% clarity) medium orange color with a strong white head. SRM of 9. (4.00)

Aroma: Strong aromas of rich grapefruit, tropical mango and melon. Resinous, earthy, and tropical. Some tropical peach evolves as it warms. (4.25)

Flavor: Flavors follow the nose with strong tropical grapefruit, pineaple, mango/melon with a sweet peach undertone. A moderate balance of sweet and smooth caramel balanced by bitter pine notes. (4.25)

Feel: Heavier bodied, strong carbonation and finishes sweet, but surprisingly clean and drinkable on the palate. (4.25)

Compared to Revolution Anti-Hero IPA 12/2022: Pours lighter, stronger aromas. More juicy grapefruit, tropical pineapple, melon, and peaches. Less resinous nectarine and syrup. Juicier, but also more balanced with pine bitterness. Winner: Surly

Compared to Surly Axe Man 2/2023: Pours darker, hazier. Stronger aromas. More sweet and juicy tangerine and peach. Less dank berry and pine notes.
11/2023: Pours darker, more rich and tropical flavors. More dank and bitter. Heavier, but more flavor overall.

Compared to Great Lakes Ancient Arctic 12/2023: Pours hazier, milder head. Stronger aromas. More dank grapefruit, orange, pine, melon. Less sweet overripe grapefruit, orange, and fruit punch. More bitterness and flavor.

Overall: Wow a surprisingly fantastic IPA here. Grapefruit, tropical pineapple, mango/melon, and peach flavors. Juicy with enough pine and grapefruit citrus rind to balance. Beldns NEIPA juicy flavors with west-coast body and mouthfeel. Sort of reminds me of Half Acres IPA blends and not unlike Axe Man in many ways. I hate imperial IPAs as the alcohol and sweet malts ruin the hop flavors and IPA bitterness nearly every time. This one may be the exception. It's has big juicy orange and tropical melon/berry flavors with a resinous pine bitterness off the end. Sweet, but nicely balanced by bitterness. An imperial WCIPA that packs enough bitterness. Fantastic. (Rating: 4.29)
Dec 14, 2022
 
Rated: 4.41 by LunchMoney from Minnesota

Nov 14, 2022
 
Rated: 4.5 by Mr_Beer_Belly from Illinois

Oct 21, 2022
 
Rated: 4.08 by beerman2017 from Virginia

Aug 31, 2022
 
Rated: 4.25 by shigg85 from Japan

Jun 21, 2022
 
Rated: 4.25 by MaximumYuks from Oregon

Jun 16, 2022
 
Rated: 4.25 by Stengelfoot from California

May 24, 2022
 
Rated: 4.72 by mpow34

Apr 17, 2022
Abrasive Ale from Surly Brewing Company
Beer rating: 99 out of 100 with 4832 ratings