Surly Abrasive Ale

Beer Name: Abrasive Ale
Brewery: Surly Brewing (Brooklyn Center, MN)
ABV: 9.0%
How sold: 16 oz. tallboy cans
Where bought: Purchased online at France44 (Minnesota)
Price: $15.99 for 4-pack of 16 oz tallboys

Date Canned: October 28, 2015
Date Purchased: November 11, 2015
Date Opened/Drank: November 17, 2015
When brewed? Seasonal release (this shipment was released November 2015)

Where distributed: Surly Brewing ships to select U.S. states and is usually NOT shipped to the Pacific Northwest. Click here for more!

What's on the Can: "Sure we're abrasive. We were abrasive long before we were Surly. If you visit the brewery you can still see remnants of the industrial manufacturing factory Omar's parents ran for 35 years within those same 4 walls. Bandsaw blades, grinding wheels, and sanding discs came long before ales and lagers. But let's be honest, this is a lot more fun. Pale in color, this over-hopped, under-brewed Double IPA has almost twice the amount of hops & malt crammed in the can."

What's on the Website: "Hazy gold in color, this Oatmeal Double IPA has aggressive aromas of candied grapefruit/tangerine and tropical fruit. Malted oats greatly enhance the body and the high level of bitterness is balanced by this sweetness. Citra hops are used for aroma & flavor additions and for dry-hopping, while Warrior hops are used primarily for bitterness." Click here for more!

REVIEW:

Appearance (5%): Pours a clear golden into a pint glass with 2-3 mm of off-white head. The head dissipates rather quickly to a sudsy surface. Fairly vigorous pour out of the can. Some lacing (rings) left on the glass. 4.75/5

Smell (25%): Intense citrus-grapefruit and piney aroma that blends wonderfully with malty qualities. Outstanding, especially for a double IPA. 4.75/5

Taste (40%): A balanced attack of citrus-grapefruit, pine, and malt that also thwarts any alcohol flavor which may attempt to assert itself. Basically no aftertaste; nothing bitter and actually incredibly smooth. Outstanding. 4.75/5

Mouthfeel (10%): Medium bodied. Citrus stays on the tongue but in such a pleasing way. Alcohol leaves a warmth in the mouth (and throughout the body) but really nothing more. 4.5/5

Overall (20%): A world-class Double IPA. This was the Surly beer I looked forward to the most, and logically, I had to try it first. Unfortunately, that probably means the other two Surly beers I bought for now (both Single IPAs) will be judged in some way against this. Reviewers on BeerAdvocate (99) and RateBeer (100) have universally given two thumbs up. The people at Surly created a balanced beer in taste and aroma that drinks so much lighter than its stated 9%. Comparing to some West Coast Double IPAs I have had, Abrasive drinks similar to the Stone Enjoy By series that I've personally loved so far, and has similar qualities to the legendary Pliny the Elder. Abrasive may be on the pricier side for a 4-pack, but in my book, it's well worth the buy. 4.75/5

Final Weighted Rating: 4.725/5