Surly: Todd the Axeman

Picked up 2/23 cans from Zipps as well. Had 2 last night with no carbonation issues.

 

I had it kegged at red cow Edina last Friday. had 3 it was so good.

 

my 2/23 cans are low carb'd but still taste great.

 

2/17 cans that hit Iowa taste and smell great but head gone in a few minutes.

 

My 2-23 cans from Zipp's were spot-on!

 

That's how mine was - 2/23. If I were to drink if blind I would have no clue there was wasn't any head on it. Obviously there is no frothiness to it, but it by no means tastes under-carbed to me.

After drinking a couple of them last night, I knew I'd see this discussion though.

 

Last year it affected mouthfeel for me and it came across as being more syrupy. This year's carb issue just affects the head and the taste/aroma and mouthfeel all seem fine to me.

 

That's reassuring news. I've had it on tap a few times with absolutely no head and it was still fantastic. I think we're all kind of hyper tuned to look for these issues since it's happened a time or two before.

 

Man your quick! Took a pic and drank it to that in one minute! Or that is the smallest pour of axe I've seen? Not sure axe has ever had a big head on it, prolly due to the Malts used and brewing.

 

Last year I talked to the QC from the brewery and he told me axe man has low head retention because the amount of hop oils from the late addition and massive dry hops. I think you guys are equating head retention with carbonation which are different things.

 

Drinking 02/23, head retention is on the low side but its fully carbed you can see it when held up to light , taste is spot on.

 

Yup. Just as I remember. Head retention is low but who cares. This stuff is delicious! Carb is perfect on my cans.

 

Yeah, this is a head retention issue and not a carbonation issue, I think. Drinking more 2/17 cans tonight and the mouthfeel is unaffected. This is an aesthetic problem. Taste/aroma/mouthfeel all great.

 

Alright, now let's start delete all these negative posts and start really talking it up to drive up trade value!

 

I still thinks it's a carb issue, I've drank all kinds of massively hoppy as hell beers that had gorgeous towering heads. But I don't care because it's so damn delicious!!

 

Head retention was an issue last year. In my opinion some of that has to do with the recipe. All Golden Promise malt with no wheat, carapils, vienna,etc. Carbonation was perfect on my can yet the head dissipated to nothing after a few minutes.

 

Todd is supoose to use all golden promise for the grain and that can play into why it doesn't retain head. Flaked grains or carapils are added to beer to help with head retention.

 

Yet Mosaic Promise from Founder's and Golden Nugget from TG are both all Golden Promise malt and do not suffer from this issue…

 

Well there goes that theory... I guess it could come down to mash temp or hop methods used.

 

Makes sense that the issue could be caused by something other than carb and due to the recipe but still odd IMO. No matter I'll still drank cases either way.