Sur Real
Alvarado Street Brewery

Had Sur Real poured from pint can, bottom stamped "CANNED ON 05/17/2022" and "90 PRISTINE MILES," muled from Cali. by my little bro., into nonic pint.

Pours deep (murky) orange juice with huge off-white head, with excellent retention, leaving chunky rings of lace down the glass. Solid malt aroma off pour, which gives way to a little mild citrus, and some tart stone and sweet tropical fruits as warms. Starts with smooth, mouth-filling body and biting citrus, which never really stop but carry into some sweet tropical fruit (pineapple), and a little mild malt, and then just a bit of citrus rind (hop resin) for the still-pillowy, warming (it's a DIPA) finish.

Malt aroma off pour fooled me. This is a soft, pillowy, but big NE IPA.

 

Can poured into an Alvarado Street Brewery beer glass

A: Pours hazy golden amber with a frothy eggshell white head that hangs around before settling to a firm layer and leaves some very nice lacing.

S: Floral, citrus, tropical and stone fruit, slightly grassy and herbal, a little spicy pine, biscuity malt, and a little caramel sweetness.

T: Floral, bright citrus, lemon, grapefruit, and almost candied orange, underlying tropical and stone fruit comes out as it warms, apricot, peach, mango, passion fruit and a hint of papaya, some spicy pine, faintly yeasty, biscuity malt, and caramel sweetness. A hint of alcohol can poke through.

M: A bit on the fuller side of medium body, moderate carbonation, soft on the palate, with a touch of warmth.

O: Really solid use of 2 great hops. This one is very much West Coast meets East coast. Pretty soft, but still plenty of bitterness to keep things balanced. My only gripe is I wish the alcohol was a little better hidden.

 

Canned 1/3/20 - poured into a teku glass.
L: pours a couple fingers worth of a nice foamy head. Bright yellow and wonderfully hazy. Retention was great and it leaves gorgeous lacing.
S: hints of lemon, mango and pineapple strike me first. Subtle bits of candy or general sweetness. Very bold aromas you would except from ASB. Slight dankness and earthiness as well.
T: that candy sweetness on the nose really hits you first. There is a tang and peppery note in there as well. I lose some of the notes of the nose on the taste but that predominant note is very tasty and unique so not complaining or disappointed by that.
F: medium in body with slightly more carbonation and a nice dry finish.
O: to me these guys own the Double IPA and specifically the hazy style. Incredibly unique taste here and every other aspect far above average.

 

L: Pours out murky yellow in color. A simple pour yielded about 2 fingers of a loosely packed stark white cap that dissipate rapidly. Minimal traces of lacing left on the glass.
S: Aromas of yeast, apricot, passion fruit, and citrus with a mixture of earthy grass.
T: Really great. Upfront is the classic ASB juice presence- apricot, mango, citrus (namely grapefruit) and that pink starburst/candied fruit flavor. Then on the finish you can taste the Centennial hops. Pronounced pine presence that reminds me of being in BIg Sur surrounded by trees. The citra start and centennial finish lend a very unique experience taste-wise.
F: Also great, typical of ASB. Medium in body and in weight. Moderate carbonation lending a perfect fizzle. No abv detection.
O: The more I drink it, the more I enjoy it. The Citra and Centennial is a strange combination but seems to mesh with the theme ASB was going for. Drinks easy for 8 percent as well. As always, I am very glad to have tried. Cheers!

 

The look is ideal. A bit cloudy which defined mystery. Smell is not quite there but poured fresh at Monk’s Kettle and it smelled fresh without much distinction. Down the hatch was interesting. Picked up the can right away and trying to figure out the hops....not just Citra...maybe Centennial? Good mix and unique. Feel in the mouth is not ultra smooth but this is a true beer with a slight bite and standout flavor.

 

 

 

 

Nice and easy drinking hazy double! Nose is subtle, though. Whiffs of fresh dank hops and light tropical notes. Taste follows, but, for my palate, the bitterness is over-cooked a bit. That bitterness and carbonation on the heavy side makes the feel and finish not ideal. It may be the Centennial hops to blame...

Pours cloudy, murky yellow orange, look like a combination of orange & pineapple juices, thick finger+ sized head with good retention and lots of thick lacing.

Aroma is a bouquet of citrus/tropical/stonefruits with just a very slight bit of herbal/grassy notes. Taste follows with a bit more pop.

Feel is smooth, creamy, nice med/full body with a nice little tongue tickling zing.

Overall solid ASB hazy, shocking I know.