The art of the Indian Pale Ale is a complicated one. I’ve had my fair share of bad ones over the years. It’s difficult to get the hoppy flavor just right. In many IPAs the flavor of the hops doesn’t blend well with the rest of the ingredients, and in others it’s the hops are so weak that it hardly qualifies as an IPA.

It’s important to get these two elements right. And that’s exactly what Surly has done with their “Abrasive Double IPA.” While there are clearly a lot of hops in this particular brew, it’s still quite palatable. It definitely falls on the hoppy end of the spectrum, even for an IPA, but that’s exactly what sets it apart from any other ale. Clocking in at 9.2% ABV, it’s a beer drinkers beer to be sure.

It delivers that classic Surly bite and gives you the buzz you’re looking for rather quickly. The hops are accented quite nicely with notes of grapefruit, lime, and pineapple, giving off an almost tropical quality. All in all, it’s one of the most flavorful IPAs out there. I would definitely recommend this brew to any beer snob. You can pick up Surly’s Abrasive Double IPA at your local liquor store now.

More From 103.7 The Loon