Surly Overrated West Coast IPA

Doubtful Surly is taking any kind of shot at Stone, its a West Coast the idea that it closely resembles a west coast brewery's IPA isn't a big surprise to me. Given some comments and photos on twitter I'd actually guess Stone and Surly have a pretty good relationship and the Overrated name is actually simply poking fun at people who believe Surly brews are just that.

 

I thought it was like a west coast IPA too, but some people on here say it's not even close to resembling a west coast IPA? Maybe a blind taste test would be smart for those people to do.

I always thought the name was exactly what you said, and I told them that. I just thought it was interesting when they said that.

 

I figured the name was poking fun at the people who said Surly was overrated as well. I think the name is great, though the unicorn and rainbow artwork would have been classic on the cans.

 

Some people on here don't know half as much as they think they do.

 

…and their confidence in their knowledge increases exponentially as they drink more

 

A herd of buffalo can move only as fast as the slowest buffalo. When the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members.

In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, we all know, kills brain cells, but naturally it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. That's why you always feel smarter after a few beers.

 

Actually, beer doesn't kill the weaker brain cells, it just puts them to sleep for the night. The next morning they come out in full force.

 

Some*

 

Yep, the great Cliff Claven, good stuff.

 

It is fantastic and deserves a permanent spot in any hop lovers line up. We drank our first flat of it last weekend (thanks Brett!) and mules and everyone was looking for more! And stumbling as we used it to chase Assassin, Mornin Delight, Naught Temple, SR-71 and way too other fun stuff. Great balance of malt and hops, and very hard to just sip.

 

That's either because they are clueless of what constitutes a "West Coast IPA", or their experience is limited to the last few years. This is a perfect example of CA/OR IPAs up until recently, when more emphasis on hop varieties and late additions/dry hopping took hold . Minimal malt, heavy bitterness, more pine than citrus, dry as hell. Just tried it tonight and was a little surprised at how much I liked it.

Besides the fact that they're both hoppy and brewed by Surly, you're comparing very different beers. Overrated is also heavier on the bittering hops (with a lighter body), as it is supposed to be. In terms of hop "bite", personally I would say Overrated is hoppier.

 

picked up 2 4ers of overated and 2 stone enjoy by. that 3 miles home was a long one.

 

Hopefully getting some tonight, as my brother-in-law is coming down to Des Moines from the Twin Cities.

 

What are some examples of the older style CA/OR west coast IPAs? Are we talking Stone IPA, Ruination, Blind Pig, stuff like that? What are some other examples? Sorry to threadjack but I'm really curious.

 

I think Duet, Nelson, Sculpin, et.al. have been around more than "the last few years".

Different strokes for different folks, but Overrated doesn't have the hop profile (to my palate) of those beers listed in my post above. "West Coast" or not, it's more muted re: hops, and has an easy drinking and smoother bready profile.

Again, doesn't mean it's bad, just not the zesty hop bite some of us look for in an IPA. (and I really liked bandwagon. I was hoping they'd just can that.)

 

Yesterday.....(I know ) sorry, First Grand had $6.99 4-packs of Overrated. A steal at that price.

 

Just so people remember, Fury is 7.99 all the time at Liquor Barrel in NB. Only place I ever buy it, but its on my way home.

 

Did he bring you some more Mrycenary?

 

Don't know what goodies he is bringing. More Myrcenary would would be awesome. He did text and say he is for sure bringing some Overrated!

 

caskstrength's post covered most of the common bottled ones I can remember. Green Flash is the classic for me. Deschutes (Inversion?) and Bridgeport IPA...Sierra Nevada had a few short-lived (seasonal?) versions. And most IPAs at brewpubs in the Northwest (and I would assume CA) followed that style. Lots of Cascade, Chinook, CTZ. To be fair, I think a lot of those IPAs from the early and mid-2000's would not seem that hoppy now in comparison to today's norm. But you had heavy hops to malt ratio, loads of bitterness and very dry relative to english/east coast(don't think that term was used) style IPAs. Sorry I can't give you more good examples.