Surly Brewing Company Bender

Bender

 

Surly Brewing Company in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States 🇺🇸

  Brown Ale Rotating
Score
7.10
ABV: 5.1% IBU: 25 Ticks: 102
This beer is an amalgamation of styles; brown/porter/APA. Five distinct malts, including two from Belgium, give this beer added complexity and depth. We also add oatmeal to this beer to give it a smooth texture not usually associated with this type of beer. We add large amounts of American finishing hops to give Bender a citrus hop aroma because... we like hops. This is a session beer weighing in around 5% alcohol and 25 IBUs. Grab one today, we think you will want another!

Admin Note: Discontinued in 2019, but occasionally turns up on draft.
 

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7/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 8
Can @ chriso’s Pre-GBBF Shindig 2008. Pours a dark brown color with a small off-white head. Has a roasted malty caramel and chocolate aroma with some hoppy hints. Roasted malty chocolate flavor with hints of hops and coffee. Has a roasted malty choclate and coffee finish.
Tried from Can on 27 Mar 2009 at 07:29

7.8/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 7
Pours a dark reddish-brown with a good-sized head. Complex mix of flavors--coffee, chocolate, nuts, etc. Very smooth-drinking and delicious. Not quite as intensely (or overpoweringly) full of hops as Furious. This is my favorite Surly beer.
Tried on 21 Mar 2009 at 10:07

7.1/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 6.5
16 ounce can split by cdumler with Alraomon and myself. Thanks! Pours a clear reddish brown color with a medium head. Average head retention and lacing. Aroma is chocolate, hops and a slight nuttiness. Taste is caramel, chocolate and mild bitter hops in the finish. Smooth mouthfeel, medium bodied.
Tried from Can on 06 Jan 2009 at 23:07

6.3/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 7
Bottle at Chris o’s…deep brown... bright hoppy nose ... hoppy malty ale, over hopped
Tried from Bottle on 20 Aug 2008 at 14:58

6.8/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 7
Pour was a brown with a tan head. Aroma was quite hoppy for a brown with seom nots of caramel and chocolate. Flavor was more of a roasted malt with some chocolate and roasted nuts. A decent brown.
Tried on 11 Aug 2008 at 18:27

6.8/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 7
Clear brown with medium beige head. Sweet aroma with roasted malt, caramel and chocolate notes. Sweet flavor with roasted malt, caramel, plums, prunes and mild chocolate notes.
Tried on 03 Aug 2008 at 06:55

8/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 8 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 9
Courtesy of Gunhaver. Red amber with a nutty head. Another great suprise in a can. Aroma is caramel malt, roasty and coffee flavor. It packs an amazing punch filled with flavor and taste.
Tried from Can on 22 Jun 2008 at 13:17

7.4/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 8 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
Scored this in a trade with Scubarex. Many thanks! Pours a nearly opaque dark, nut brown from the can with a thin head that faded fast. Aroma is malty with biscuits and dough enticing you to come in. Flavor is very sweet and drinkable. Slightly roasted nuts (think dark peanuts) with crackers, biscuits, sweet blonde brownies, caramel and toffee all working well together. Dry finish allows the beer to go down easy. Great session beer that I can’t imagine anyone ever getting sick of.
Tried from Can on 18 Jun 2008 at 17:10

7.4/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7.5
On tap at the Dock Cafe in Stillwater, MN. Unfortunately, I lost my notes (damned text message clean-up...). From what I recall, this was a murky brown ale dominated by toast and chocolate notes, earthy, with a bitter finish and a touch of dark fruitskin. No single element stood out, but the sum was greater than the whole of the parts.
Tried from Draft on 05 May 2008 at 17:43

6.4/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 6.5
sampled from the can at DLD - Pours dark brown with a thin white head. the aroma is mainly of caramel malt. The flavor isn’t quite what I’d expect from the style. The caramel malt is in there but it’s fairly light. There’s also ample hops with some citrus notes and maybe some chocolate. the palate is rather lighter than I expected. It’s certainly an unusual brew for the style though I’m not sure it works for me as well as it does for many people.
Tried from Can on 27 Apr 2008 at 19:43