Surly Fest Lager

"Bier for a Stein, From a Can."  This is a unique take on an Oktoberfest seasonal from the Surly Brewing Company of Brooklyn Center (and now Minneapolis), Minnesota.  It is brewed with three different types of rye malt in addition to malted barley, uses a German lager yeast, and then is dry hopped.  It is 6.0% ABV.

The beer pours a deep, dark copper and dark, burnt orange in color.  There is an inch of creamy off-white head.  The aroma is malty, with crisp rye toast and light caramel, toasted, roasted, nutty, with some fruitiness, dark cherries, and a bit of pine.  The taste is roasted, toasted, nutty, deep caramel and dark cherries.  The finish has the perfect amount of moderate bitterness.  It is creamy in the mouth and finishes lightly dry.  This beer does not knock you over the head, it is somewhat subtle, but still very flavorful.  It is elegant.

Still tasting good in 2015: The beer pours a deep burnt orange and amber. There is a half-inch of off-white to light tan foam. The aroma is dark fruits, plums, caramel, along with piney and slightly musky hops. The taste also starts with the dark fruits, adds in citrus, along with deep caramel and roasted malts. The finish has a touch of pine and light bitterness. The beer drinks easy, light, and smooth. This is a very drinkable, Surly hopped-up, take on an Oktoberfest.

2017: The beer pours a dark amber with copper tints. There is a half-inch of light tan head. The aroma is malty, caramel and fruit, tangy, citrus, and spicy all at the same time. The taste follows the aromas, caramel, tea with lemon, citrus, with a spicy rye note. This drinks malty, bright, citrus, clean, with a touch of spice. The finish is lightly to moderately bitter. The beer drinks very easy. This is quite enjoyable.