Cacao Bender
Surly Brewing Company

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From:
Surly Brewing Company
 
Minnesota, United States
Style:
American Brown Ale
Ranked #4
ABV:
5.1%
Score:
95
Ranked #1,449
Avg:
4.29 | pDev: 8.39%
Reviews:
44
Ratings:
500
Status:
Active
Rated:
Oct 31, 2022
Added:
Jul 20, 2012
Wants:
  94
Gots:
  37
Mahogany hued ale infused with coffee, vanilla beans and cacao nibs.

45 IBU
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Ratings by Dave11899:
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Rated by Dave11899 from Minnesota

3.6/5  rDev -16.1%

Sep 04, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.09 by Duncian from Pennsylvania

Oct 31, 2022
Photo of feloniousmonk
Reviewed by feloniousmonk from Minnesota

4.49/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
2013 notes:
I've written about Bender, Coffee Bender, and Mo’s Bender. Apparently, Cacao Bender is actually different from Mo’s Bender, and I don't know how, but they keep saying it is. Vanilla beans and cacao nibs added to coffee bender. Here's one description: "Mahogany hued ale infused with coffee, vanilla beans and cacao nibs. 45 IBUs." Here's how I described it: "Take Surly Bender (oatmeal brown porter) , add Coffee from Guatemala to make Coffee Bender, bring in African vanilla nibs and Guatemalan cacaoa nibs, and that equals utter deliciousness. That's Cacao Bender." I 'm not sure if I didn't use my Moe's Bender brief description, and replace it with Cacao. Anyway, let's drink some….

Deep, dark brown body, creamy head, lovely soft tan colored, long-lasting, lace-leaving.

Aroma: here it is. Coffee first, then cream, vanilla next, and cacao (cocoa?) all the way home. Perfection.

Taste: Lands on the palate all full of flavor. Small but palpable bitterness, gives way to intensive, sweet, but balanced malt. Coffee and chocolate stay on top of the flavors, with vanilla showing itself at the sides. A ton of stuff gong down here, and the caffeine isn't going to interrupt too much with my sleep schedule, I keep telling myself….

Yummy.
Guess what? I like Bender, I like Coffee Bender…I love Cacao Bender. Mmm, mmm good. Beautiful stuff, Surly. It's a tasty treat that can't be beat.
Aug 15, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Nov 27, 2021
 
Rated: 4.25 by ian_graf from Minnesota

Jun 09, 2019
 
Rated: 4.63 by cmsfish from Minnesota

Nov 03, 2018
 
Rated: 4.24 by jakecattleco from California

Oct 15, 2018
 
Rated: 4.5 by Gaddabble from Ohio

Sep 27, 2018
Photo of Victory_Sabre1973
Reviewed by Victory_Sabre1973 from Minnesota

4.08/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours pitch black with minimal white head. The nose is a combination of coffee and chocolate. Just a touch of vanilla to it
Taste the coffer part hit hard up front. On the backside a mellow chocolate flavor hits, but the flavor is dominated by coffee.
A bit more water than I would like, but not too bad.
Delicious lunch beer.
Aug 09, 2018
 
Rated: 4.26 by Taybeh from Minnesota

Jul 05, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by GreenBayBA from Wisconsin

May 10, 2018
 
Rated: 3.43 by KevinMc from Illinois

Mar 29, 2018
 
Rated: 4.32 by Richie_C_Johnson from Minnesota

Feb 26, 2018
 
Rated: 4.05 by boogerisu from Iowa

Feb 07, 2018
 
Rated: 4.26 by Chuckdiesel24 from Illinois

Jan 28, 2018
 
Rated: 4.5 by SiepJones from Pennsylvania

Dec 18, 2017
Photo of zacnock
Rated by zacnock from Arkansas

4.3/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Chocolate milk in your mouth so so so smooth.
Aug 10, 2017
 
Rated: 4.31 by cbcrunch from Wyoming

May 29, 2017
 
Rated: 4.59 by TonyTwins from Nebraska

May 20, 2017
 
Rated: 4.04 by BirdsandHops from Oregon

May 07, 2017
Cacao Bender from Surly Brewing Company
Beer rating: 95 out of 100 with 500 ratings