Drew Reviews 4 Beers From Surly Brewing

I've been drinking beer from Surly brewing for about a year now, and I'm always impressed with their brews. Today I wanted to review four of their most popular drinks. Here we go.

First Avenue + 1

Surly teamed up with First Avenue to create +1, which I thought was pretty cool. After gulping a pint of it down it struck me as the type ale that’s perfect for the occasional beer drinker. It’s moderately light with a nice, crisp taste.

Since not everyone likes heavy, dark beverages, I would say it’s the most universally palatable beer on this list. Personally, I’m the polar opposite. It’s not often I enjoy lighter ales, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Furious

Don’t let the name of this one scare you. Aside from the alcohol content (6.2%) there’s nothing about this IPA that’s intimidating. It goes without saying that IPAs are an acquired taste. I personally enjoy them, but I know a lot of people who don’t like the “hoppy” aroma.

However, I would feel perfectly comfortable giving Furious to someone who doesn’t typically enjoy the IPA. The “hoppy” flavor is just right. It’s not overbearing and it’s perhaps the most palatable IPA that I’ve ever consumed.

Todd The Axe Man

This is without a doubt the most famous beer on the list. It’s actually one of the most popular beers in Minnesota. Needless to say I was pretty stoked to try this one in particular. Whereas Furious is universally consumable, Todd The Axe Man is not. This ale is not for the faint of heart.

With the alcohol content coming in at 7.2%, this is a pretty stiff drink. The taste of the hops is much more pronounced with this guy. I wouldn’t recommend this bad boy to just anyone, but if you’re like me and you love stronger beers and hoppy aromas, you’ll fall in love with it.

Coffee Bender

Last but certainly not least on the list is the Surly Coffee Bender. Again, this is one that’s an acquired taste. I love this drink because the first thing I do in the morning is slam a pot of strong, black coffee, and in the evenings after work I love unwinding with a bold, dark beer.

I guess I like the taste of bitter drinks. The Coffee Bender is both of these elements in one beverage. It’s rich and dense. As someone who adores darker beers, I absolutely loved this one. It’s my new to-go-to beverage and my new favorite way to kick off my Saturday mornings. It’s hands down my favorite beer on the list.