Surly Bender

**Aroma:** “Moderate esters up front with a slight skunking note. Light lemongrass esters. Low bread note. As it warms the skunking starts to go away. High grain aroma. Medium-high lemon esters. Medium-high earthy hops aroma of lemon with a slight orange at the end.” **Flavor:** “Sharp carbonic bite up front with a slight lemon note in the background. In the aftertaste, mostly bitterness—some from hops but some from an astringent note. High spiciness. As the carbonation starts to dissipate, a slight lemon fruitiness starts to come out. Grainy malt flavor and a touch of Pilsner-like malt characteristic in the middle. High earthy hops flavor that dominates the back. Grassy and spicy notes that linger far into the aftertaste. Balance is toward the hops, but it pairs well with overall malt bill. Clean dry finish with a lingering hops astringency.” **Overall:** “Sharp astringency overall makes this an acquired taste. Significant bitterness and spicy notes up front with a moderate hops flavor toward the end of the sip. Missing the fruity esters one expects from a saison.”

**Aroma:** “Moderate spicy hops up front with a touch of honey and bread. Light skunk note perhaps? High fruity esters of lemon and citrus with a slight lemongrass and grapefruit pith. Wet hay funk and herbal hops follow with a bit of bready malt. A bit of oxidation in the aroma.” **Flavor:** “Big sweetness up front with a honey note and light lime. Transitions into a bitter, spicy note that extends all the way into the aftertaste. Big/high American hops flavor of grapefruit and other citrus. Orange and wet hay “farmhouse” character. Bitterness lingers beyond the finish. Dry and nice carbonation.” **Overall:** “Medium body and a moderate sweetness up front are a nice introduction, but then it transitions into a spicy bitterness that is very dry and lasts well after the sip. Citrusy with an earthy funk and finishes with a moderate bitterness. Dry and drinkable with nice complexity.”

Aroma: “Chocolate and biscuity malts, dark fruits, citrusy hops, light esters. The grassy character from the hops and the grainy character from the malt play off each other nicely. Toast-forward with some medium dark caramel and classic West Coast hops. Earthy, piney hops notes up front, with a touch of toast and malt sweetness.” Flavor: “Toasty malt with a bit of coffee roast. Toast and caramel with a touch of chocolate and classic West Coast hops. Grassy hops with a bit of herbal and pine. Moderate sweetness into moderate bitterness that all finishes clean and dry. Very well-balanced. A fairly hops-forward brown.” Overall: “An excellent brown ale. Malt is still up front, but the hops are there and support nicely. Malt sweetness is cut with hops bitterness perfectly, and it all finishes clean and dry. Very nice! A more aggressive hops-forward version of an American Brown than many consumers may be accustomed to.”