Surly 2018 Brand Calendar

Where's their New England Style IPA?

(Chaz dodges the flying tomatoes . . . )

 

So much good news on that calendar. Especially interested in Hopshifter showing up in cans, especially if they play around with the ingredients like they do in the taproom.

And fuck. I was really looking forward to 60 Below, but these stupid "exclusive to 12 packs nomnomnom" are irritating. If this was really good I would have bought the hell out of it, but unless I see a single sitting on a shelf somewhere, I likely won't bite.

 

Not seeing Surlyfest? Hopefully I am missing something or an oversight by Surly? Personally, one I look forward to.
Also- not a fan of the variety packs but nothing in these that I wouldn't buy anyway.
Interesting calendar!

 

18 Darkness slotted for November?

Also isn't misanthrope BA to begin with? Maybe this version is done in another barrel like the rye whiskey pentagram. Hmm could be interesting

 

Whew. #Merica's still there.

 

Good to see these plans. They seem to be adapting to the market and what people want.

 

I like seeing the Surly Stout ,HopShifter, and Rising North plans .

Oktoberfest/SurlyFest is now draft only in 2018...interesting as that was in 12-packs and 4-packs last year.

 

Good to see Wet will be back again. I thought the '17 version with Mosaic was quite good.

 

But only for one month...lame.

Shocked to see Surlyfest not canned and rebranded as Oktoberfest (perhaps it's a totally different, more traditional beer?). It was a tasty beer even if it was most definitely a terrible version of a Maerzen (which Surly admitted and was proud of).

I also hate exclusives tied to variety packs, and since I'm not a big Furious or Hell fan, I guess I'll have to hope outlets break them up for mix-a-six if there's a beer I want to try.

 

My thoughts:
I saw Surlyfest collecting dust on some shelves last year so I wonder if Fest sales have been declining causing it to be eliminated.

There will be 10 full time beers in the Surly line-up. That seems like a lot for many stores to carry at all times plus the variety pack, innovation series cans (last 7 months) and a seasonal. I wonder if Surly will cut a few of the poorest selling full time brands for 2019.

Do liquor store owners have any insights on the first two thoughts?

Sad to see Darkness will be in bombers again and not cans. At least Surly Stout will be in cans in December.

 

Yes, this. Darkness needs a format change. Put regular Darkness in 4 pk cans and make BA Darkness a bottle release. Then again I don't think most of Surly's large format beers should be in large formats.

 

Needs more Bitter Brewer.

 

I thought that was were Pipeworks was going to go though?

 

At my store I dropped Cynic, Bender and Coffee Bender when Surly came out with 12 packs. When needed Hell 4 packs will be next to go, and I won't be bringing #Merica back in regardless of package format. I've got to carry what sells, and even Surly has brands that move slowly.

I'm actually more surprised that Cynic and Bender are still being canned than I am that Surlyfest isn't.

 

This won't happen until people stop going to Darkness Day.

 

Hopshifter is a superb IPA regardless of the hops employed. I'm happy the can-only crowd will get to enjoy that one. I hope its lack of haze doesn't doom its chance for much-deserved acclaim. I also hope Surly keeps shifting the hops. That seems like a good way to build frequent buzz.

It's also nice to see other Beer Hall favorites such as Dry-Hopped Kettle Sour, Furious Black, Stout, and Thanks, Obama! (assuming the rumors that 60 Below is an alias for the latter are true) getting the can treatment.

I'm interested to know if BAOW is a new beer or simply a rebadged rebrew of the great Eight, as has been speculated. I'm also intrigued by that J. Wakefield collaboration.