Surly Blonde - Barrel Aged
Phillips Brewing & Malting Co.

 

 

 

A nice, smoother version of Surly Blonde. Golden orange colour with a fluffy, white head.

Slightly sweet, vinous head. Low hop profile - big malts and a good dose of candi sugar.

Wine in the flavour, and light alcohol burn. Light fruit hints.

Smooth body, nice drinker but the high alcohol forces one to slow down on this one.

The label is very similar to the original Surley Blonde which is now discontinued. Pours a clear apricot orange with a whispy white head. The smell is very full with warm boozy scents and esters. There is also some spice, clove and star annise. Some ripe pineapple and green grape with maybe a touch of oak. On the taste I get toffee and yeasty bread. There is a lingering fruity mild sweetness. Very good Belgian tripple that is true to style. The mouthfeel is quite dry and the alcohal warmth balances nicely against the sweetness. Lots of flavours and very easy to sip for such a big ale. Not too sure how much the barrel is adding here. This will do you in if your not carefull, but if your into big Belgians youu must try this bomber.

I almost overlooked this one, the label barely differentiates itself from the regular Surly Blonde Triple. The beer pours a clear orange with a foamy head that doesn't linger. The aroma is fruity, pale malt, with hints of dry, chalky yeast. The flavor is just a bit sweet, and mildy fruitiness. The sweetness fades quickly, but the esters linger, leading into a dry, almost sour yeastiness. The finish is crisp, with barely a hint of the high alcohol. I swear there is almost a peanut-like flavor to the beer. I'm not picking up any specific oak flavor. It's hard to say for sure without comparing the two, but I think I like the non barrel aged version better. I definitely like the experimentation by the brewery, and appreciate the reasonable price (around $5 for a bomber).

According to the label: Let sleeping dogs lie... in a merlot barrel and you're gonna get bit! This ol' girl's not getting any tamer with age. Grab a muzzle if you plan on taking her for a walk around the block.