Surly Abrasive Release Info

Evidently there are jillions of 'regular' people that will spend that much on a IIPA...or a Russian Imperial Stout.

No question Surly will weather this. But I'm surprised they'd leave an evidently crippled product on shelves. Every time any company does something like that, they lose some customers (though likely casual ones, not us nut-jobs).

 

Finally hit the Abrasive lottery tonight - on my third try.
1/09
Maybe I should lay down, thank my lucky stars and praise Surly now for keeping some good ones on the shelves.
Because, after all, .333 is a spectacular average....if you're hitting a baseball for a living.


Yeah, I know - small sample pool.
But it just happens to be the only pool I'm swimming in currently.

 

No question Surly will weather the storm. I am sure they will or have figured it out. I just this it's fucking hilarious that for every person that complains about opening an inferior product a fan boy comes to the rescue.

 

Ya but Brady likes his beer a little deflated.

 

Drank the first one last night from a 4 pack dated 1-13, good head and delicious. Hopefully the other 3 will be the same.

 

I know plenty of people that aren't beer nerds or BAs or anything like that, but when their favorite beer comes out they go pick it up, $16 for a 4pk or not.

 

This thread is getting as deliciously stupid as some of the previous Toppling Goliath speculation extravaganza threads.

 

I really lol'd at this....

 

Hey BA Forum Folks. I have been offline for a bit with the new project, but I am back on to address concerns of under-carbonated cans of Abrasive and what we are doing about it. Part of what is making this problem so difficult to address is the spotty nature of the issue. On social media, we have seen descriptions of Abrasive ranging from “perfect” to “flat” to “tastes fine but low on carbonation,” with at least two people reporting both well-carbonated and under-carbonated beers within a given 4-pack. Also, we have heard of no issues with kegs pouring flat. We’ve only released one batch thus far, so all of this came from the same source. That makes it a hell of a problem to decipher. Please know,


1) We have always and will always stand behind our products. The integrity of our beer and the trust you have in it is what has brought us this far. Your good will is what keeps us going, and this issue is our #1 concern at the moment. This isn’t bullshit or lip service. Nothing makes my stomach turn more than hearing that people aren’t happy with our beers.

2) We ARE listening to what you are saying. With the volume of comments in this thread, there is clearly an issue. We are working to figure out where the problem lies. We have spent the last few days pulling Quality Control data from countless points (from the fermenters to the moment the can is seamed) to determine where the problem lies.

3) The Commissioning Technician from Comac (the Italian manufacturer of both the new canning line and our previous line in Brooklyn Center) is involved, to aid us in pinpointing and troubleshooting the line. He has been setting up the new line and is still here.

4) Yesterday we spent almost all of our energy checking carbonation levels, weights, and quality of the beer package, and all of these tests noted the desired levels. This weekend we will be checking cans from previous runs to attempt to get answers.

5) To date, we have received only two emails sent to Surly regarding flat cans of Abrasive. While BA is a great place to discuss issues, it’s not allowing us to get in front of the problem with specifics and information. If you have beer that is below standard, PLEASE email ([email protected]) us so we can have a dialogue and respond to you directly.

6) We are working on it. We promise. We are taking it seriously and doing everything that we can. We just need a little time to get you answers, and we will do so early next week.


If you have bad cans, send us an email. Then, please, hold on to them. We will make it right.


See you drinking,

Omar

 

First off, condolences on the loss of your father, he seemed like an inspiration and just a flat out good guy to be around. I'm surprised and grateful that you took the time to personally respond to this thread in what must be an extremely difficult time for you and your family. In hindsight, a little perspective is probably warranted in this situation.

 

Echo play36's condolences for your father, SM. Tough times.

Thanks for your professional response. The two cans I had yesterday (first with a date code of 1/12/15, second with no date code) were of the quality of previous Abrasive vintages. That quality is reflected in Abrasive's rating on BA, which is probably driving the emotion you're seeing from folks with cans that have the issue(s). Your "make good" statement will help salve those emotional responses. Good luck to you and everyone at the brewery working through this.

 

They are in the retail market this week we got 5 cases yesterday

 

I LOVE Abrasive and trade for it every year.. It's one of my favorite DIPAs.

Just received 9 cans in a trade. Two 4 packs still in plastic and a single can. Drank the single can 1st, canned on 1/12/15 and it was killer, just as I had remembered. Great smell/flavor with lively carbonation.

The second one, canned 1/12/15 but from a different 4 pack, was extremely undercarbonated. Not flat but pretty damn close. Bummer.

Cracked a 3rd Abrasive from the last 4 pack also canned 1/12/15 and it was flat. Super bummed.

3 cans all with the same canning date from different 4 packs. 1 great, 1 mediocre, 1 crap.

Figured that I would just eat shit on this one and move on but I am encouraged by @SurlyMan 's post and will be emailing quality@surlybrewing as well.

 

I've sent a letter to Surly using the email address Omar provided above.

Hopefully everyone here who's had quality issues with Abrasive in the past week will do the same.

I too, have much respect for Omar in his response in this forum.

But, as I stated in my letter, I would expect a statement concerning these quality issues to be made at a much more public level.
Even if that means a recall, as many people who are still making purchases are totally unaware of these problems.
At the very least, retailers should be making the consumers aware of the risk and giving them return guarantees at the point of purchase.
It's simply not acceptable, IMO, to keep them (the consumer) in the dark.

 

I'll chime in on my experience. Just bought a case from France 44 which is an awesome retailer by the way. All cans dated 1 9. The first can I opened was very undercarbed. I have not tried another one but it matches the descriptions of the group. Still a tasty brew but the lack of carb is unfortunate. My pour looked nothing like the pictures in th is thread. No head.

I plan to contact the retailer and will email surly as well. This is probably my favorite beer of the year and I love that brewery. I'll bet they make things right.

 

Now 9 cans in, all dated 1/9. Still no issues...

 

Had a couple 1/10 cans tonight...perfect carbonation....same taste as always...it was what I expected exactly

 

I have had 3 cans all dated 1/9 all perfect. Just lucky I guess.

 

Had 3 cans so far, all dated 1/13, all awesome. Picked up another case on Thurs, gotta check the date on those...fingers crossed!

 

Some people have alot of time on their hands