Happy new year everyone. The new 2024 Surly Brand Calendar has dropped and includes a few surprises for the new year . Gone for now are Logic Bomb Pale Ale, Contolled Chaos IPA and Drips & Drops Hazy IPA . I always felt none of these really hit with me and rarely bought them . As many already know the classic Coffee Bender was sadly discontinued in 2023 so is now replaced by the Nitro Coffee ale which is a nice year round alternative ,if you have not tried it I can recommend it . Added to the 2024 Lineup - more Mosh Pit : -Mosh Pit juicy Pale Ale which lands at a nice 5.5% and I for one am curious to try it . -Mosh Pit Imperial IPA at 9% -Velvet Jam Sour Ale in 16oz Cans ! Surly Hell and First Ave Golden Ale remain year round beers … don’t ask me how ! Surly NA - Outlook good is a year round non alcoholic beer for those that want Surly without the ABV . Surly Wet and Darkness make their triumphant return later this year which I am good with as both were excellent this year . Of note this years year round Variety pack now includes Axe Man in 12oz format for the first time and is an excellent addition to this pack . Here is the official breakdown :
This is what I was hoping to hear. I've been fortunate to have the bourbon before and it's excellent. And BA Darkness is always solid. Figured it'd be a win win. Thoughts on the other variants? We got all of them in town. Smoked cherry one sounds intriguing. I'm not a huge smoked beer fan, if it's nuanced and not a campfire I can appreciate it though.
A buddy bought the smoked cherry and shared it with me. Could barely pick up on the smoke and I'm quite sensitive to it. The cherry was not as subtle but certainly did not dominate. That one was very enjoyable too.
Had the Parker's Heritage 10 year on tap at the Surly tap take over on Great Taste Eve. The 15 year that is in cans that are now available, is on a whole another level in my opinion
Drank my can the other day. Agreed that it is excellent. Leaned a little sweet, but I don't mind that. Superb BA stout.
God I miss Coffee Bender. Currently drinking a Bent Paddle Coffee Press Black Ale. Last week it was Prye's Coffee Stout. Before that, the Surly Nitro Coffee Ale (which I can't seem to find anymore). While all are respectable, nothing has come close to Coffee Bender. Drank that beer at least 2x/month since 2016. Grindcore would've been a nice consolation prize. RIP Coffee Bender. As an MN native, I haven't mourned this hard since the day Michael Jackson passed away.
