Seventeen
Surly Brewing Co.

16 ounce can into a tulip snifter. Canned 8/11/23 had 11/29/24.

Pours a medium reddish brown color, a little cloudy, with a one inch foamy head and some foamy lacing. Aromas of caramel bourbon, oak, some orange- more as it warms, light vanilla. Has an herbal aroma when warmed, smells a little smoky. Flavors of bourbon, caramel, orange, malt, oak, a little vanilla. Tastes herbal, with some herbal bitterness. Smooth, a very good medium body, well carbonated.

The bourbon barrels and caramel notes stand out, but there’s enough of a presence from the orange liqueur barrels that steals the show. Liked the strong herbal notes, too. Well done, interesting and very enjoyable.

 

Pours dark brown (SRM 25-30) and murky. The head, half an inch of light beige fine foam, slowly compresses to a thick ring. Traces of lace are left on an Oscar Blues highball glass. Red mahogany highlights are only visible when put to a light.

The aroma has mellow bourbon with a faint orange and light oak. It is super complex as it slowly opens to reveal peat, herbs, and slight roasted malt. Further warmth reveals plum pudding and old leather.

The flavor follows the aroma, adding mild sweetness to the bourbon. There is also an addition of light, tart cherries. The bourbon and orange work exceptionally well with the peat being ever present in the background. This warms nicely, adding layers of progression, as bitterness builds but never becomes strong. It has a touch of oxidation that is welcome, and a mild, lingering finish of malt.

The thin body has a silky smooth texture and soft carbonation. While the alcohol is as expected, it has no heat.

I am enjoying this with a Compte cheese and a good book. The afternoon of mild, late summer weather helps this beer to amplify and focus the creamy/nutty flavors of the cheese. The cheese is a bit selfish, as it has no real impact on the beer.

 

Pours murky brown with a thin tan head. Spotty lacing. Aroma is stone fruit, orange rind, bourbon, oak, caramel, and roasted malt. Flavor follows the nose, lots going on here. Fairly sweet with just a hint of bitterness. Feel is medium bodied, lightly carbonated. Overall, an interesting beer to say the least.

 

Dark brown in color with a murky complexion. There’s a fingernail of khaki brown around the rim and covering half of the top. The aroma is of oranges and lots of sticky sweet malt. I’m tasting sweet malt and bitter orange in harmony. The mouth is sticky and dry.

Pours a foggy reddish brown, khaki head and a spot of lacing. Nose says orange, and booze, taste buds agree and get some fruit dark fruit. Full bodied, well carbonated. Flavors just didn't work for me.

 

 

Seventeen pours a dark brown color with a small, lacing head. The aroma is sweet, with bitters, orange liqueur, and vermouth hints. The flavor is the same: very cocktail light, with a hint of bitters, orange, sweet, honey, and oak. Good feel. Overall, it is a very fun cocktail beer.

 

 

Appearance: Pours a clear auburn color with a one finger ecru head that slowly pancakes down; clumpy lacing

Smell: Bitter orange liqueur barrel tones dominate, with caramel, kumquat and a hint of Bourbon in the aroma

Taste: Herbaceous orange and kumquat, from the outset, with caramel and raisin tones underneath; assertive and boozy, with a medicinally bitter finish

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate to high carbonation; wamth in the gullet

Overall: I have enjoyed some beer "cocktails" but this one is just not that drinkable; I have never before heard of a Boulevardier so I don't have a basis for comparison - maybe this hit the mark but I guess that cocktail is not for me

 

Can. Caramel brown color with an amber hue.

Bourbon and booze. Oak. Kind of old fashioned vibe with the orange liqueur barrels. Definitely tastes like a cocktail. Caramel, toffee, dark dried fruits.

 

From a 16oz can, split with a friend:

Appearance: Dark amber, good head.

Smell: Strong barrel nose, lots of vanilla.

Taste: Moderately sweet, fruity, woody, orange flavor stays in the background. Not overly heavy for 11+% abv.

Overall: A little short review since I was at a friend's house and splitting this can. The Surly anniversary beers are almost always too strange to live and too weird to die. I've never had a boulevardier cocktail so I don't know how close they got to approximating it. It's worth a try but a one and done.

Pours a bronze or cola colored brew that has a small glaze of head on it. Aroma is raisins, caramel, bourbon and orange for a most unusual profile. Taste is lighter than expected, with flavors hitting in this order -- light caramel, bourbon and orange. A most unique flavor. All are presented in the strong ale package which works well.

16oz can. Poured out a clear, golden orange color with a small, off-white head of foam. It left thin rings of lace on the glass. It smelled of orange bitters, caramel, toffee and boozy heat. Sweet toffee and caramel taste with orange bitters.