If it's one Surly Brewing is known for, it's for pushing the envelope, trying new things with traditional recipes and challenging it's drinkers. So I was a little surprised when I read that Surly was introducing a new beer, Surly Mild.
I brewed a mild ale a while ago. It wasn't horrible, but it lacked any real depth. It tasted like it was supposed to taste, I suppose, but in the end I guess I'm just not a fan. That's how I felt about Surly Mild.
Maybe that's the way Surly anticipated it would be. They're known for extreme beers, and so they wanted to challenge the concept of what Surly is. And I would say they succeeded. Maybe a whole new crowd of beer drinkers--the folks who think that Bass is a heavy beer--will give the Mild a try and then move on to Furious. Maybe, just maybe, they've duped us all and will get the hopheads and fans of high ABV brews to recognize there's success in subtlety.
Which is fantastic.
But for me, I'd rather drink my Darkness imperial stout or some crazy bourbon barrel aged cranberry ale.
Cheers
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9 comments:
I'll certainly give it a try...
Seems I brewed one for you a few months ago....
More than likely this 'mild' is the second runnings off of one of their big beers.
Just tried the Surly mild at Buster's and I really liked it. I thought it was still hoppy, but a little more middle-of-the-road. My guess is that it's a beer that will appeal to a broader population than perhaps, Furious. I still found it to be full-flavored and with a strong finish. My husband disagrees. He thinks the finish is incredibly weak, but thought the flavor was good... Either way...I'm glad they added to their repertoire. Now when is Two coming out? Next week?
Remind me why Cranberry Ale is not fruity beer? Because I thought fruit in beer = bad.
Jones: Two is being released tonight at the Blue Nile in Mpls.
Caves: Yes, I'm generally of this consenus, but apparently the Surly Two, which is made with 40 lbs of cranberries per barrel, is pretty incredible. Point being, I'd rather try an experimental fruity beer than drink another pint of Mild.
Surly Mild is a classic brown ale, an excellent session beer. I had several pints last night at Grumpy's northeast and it tastes just about how I expected it to taste and made it much easier to get up for work this morning. South Shore Nut Brown Ale is really a mild but everyone is put off by the 'mild' name. Maybe if they called it Surly Manly more people might try it. Great beer when you're having more than one. Great Waters has a nice mild on cask as well.
I think this is a great move by Surly, creating a beer that isn't widely released here in the US and that it seems most people aren't familiar with.
Everything now is hops this and hops that and how many hops can I fit in a barrel, which I do like(he says as he sips from a kegerator-served Furious), but sometimes it's nice to sit with a pint of something that isn't going to destroy me for the next day, yet still has plenty of flavor to satisfy me at the same time.
Damn, now I wish I could get a keg of Mild, too!
Holy bajebus, I didn't realize this post was from 2008! I sure am timely...
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