Happy Friday people! This will be the third Surly beer I’ve had on the show and the second in these large format 750ml waxed bottles. This one in particular is called Four, which is just another name for their fourth anniversary beer. Each year, Todd Haug, Brewmaster of Surly, is allowed to brew a special one-off beer to commemorate another year of business for the brewery. The last few years have seen beers like One (Doppelbock), Two (Imperial Stout), and Three (Braggot). With Four, the brewery has gone back to stout territory, but this time they’ve brewed a massive double espresso milk stout loaded with dark intense aromas and flavors. You’re immediately met with a nice punch of coffee from the espresso followed quickly by a faint amount of smokiness and chocolate. As this one warmed it also released a nice touch of sweet tobacco. The flavor on this one is HUGE – so much so that I almost think they should categorize this thing an Imperial Stout. The intense flavors of the coffee, roasted malts, tobacco, and smoke sit on your tongue for as long as it takes you to enjoy your next sip. Surprisingly enough the booziness is hidden pretty darn well in here. Stouts can get away with that and this one certainly does. All in all this is a very solid beer and it’s even better knowing that Surly has only been around for four years. They’ve certainly mastered the art of brewing high gravity stouts and creating unique bottle art that make people line up to purchase these things on day of release (see also Darkness). Up next: Boulevard Collaboration No. 1
Check out all sessions of The Hopry here.
This beer can be found in these states.
On the iPod: The Big Pink “Dominos”
Brewery: Surly
Beer: Four
Style: Milk Stout
Location: Brooklyn Center, Minnesota
ABV: 10%
Rating: 96/100
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Posted by Jordon on July 16, 2010 at 6:11 AM
Great review! Never had anything from Surly before, but I will be on the lookout. As far as LeBron James goes, he is my favorite athlete and basketball player. I was a LeBron fan, and not a Cleveland fan, so I for one am glad he is out of Cleveland. To be honest, nobody wanted to play with LeBron in Cleveland, not because of him, but the city. So being that it’s nearly impossible for one man to win a championship without a good supporting cast, why not join up with your friends in Miami and try to take a run for the championship for many years to come? Nobody complained when the best baseball player in the league at the time Alex Rodriguez joined the Yankees which is Derek Jeter’s team, now he will forever be embellished in history as a champion. You can’t blame LeBron for leaving Cleveland it’s a chance of a lifetime he had to take, and if the Heat brass created enough cap room for all three of those guys to play, you can definitely tell they want to win, and fast. Sorry for the long rant Mark!
Posted by leszczynski23 on July 16, 2010 at 10:18 AM
To be the best you have to beat the best…….Not join them! Would have been cooler if he brought a title to Cleveland……..But I for one really don’t care for all the hype of the Lebron thing. Hes been in the league 7 years and has no rings. I actually hope the heat fail in the attempt to win a title, but that is only because I’m a die hard Bucks fan.
Fear the Deer!
Posted by Big Mike on July 16, 2010 at 11:28 AM
Bird, Magic, Jordan and even Kobe didn’t need to jump ship on their squads and they were all able to bring home the trophy. 19 between them.
Posted by Kelly on July 16, 2010 at 12:28 PM
This beer is the only ICED beer that I have really really enjoyed!
Fantastic beer and great review!
Posted by theReaper16 on July 16, 2010 at 12:32 PM
I’m not really mad that LeBron left Cleveland. I’m disappointed in the way that he did it. His TV special was so obnoxiously egotistical that it has, frankly, damaged his brand. He hired Jim Gray to ask whatever questions LeBron wanted to be asked; Gray didn’t represent ESPN and this wasn’t journalism. He had these kids from the Boys & Girls Clubs of America sitting there in the background for sympathy – all the while those kids are absorbing this shameful spectacle and seeing it as an example of the success men and women should aspire to. LeBron, when announcing his decision, didn’t even say that he was going to Miami or the Miami Heat organization; he said that he was going to play in South Beach. In doing so he sounded like an 18-year old choosing a party college rather than a 25 year old man making the biggest decision of his career. I am also disappointed that LeBron, perhaps the most physically talented player we’ve ever seen, has decided that he shouldn’t be the go-to guy on the team. Dude should have been in the discussion for best player ever, but now that he’s #2 to Dwayne Wade his ceiling is going to be top 10-15 player of all time.
I don’t think that the Heat will win the title next year. They don’t have enough depth on the bench, enough big men, to deal with Dwight Howard or the Celtics’ parade of bigs. I don’t know where the Heat’s rebounds are coming from. If I were a Heat opponent, I’d play a 2-3 zone defense – which would prevent Wade and LeBron from penetrating to the hoop. It would leave my team vulnerable to the 3-point shot, but if all they have is Mike Miller to shoot the 3 then I am taking that risk every game.
Posted by Brian on July 16, 2010 at 5:35 PM
I also love Surly Four. Surly has canned or bottled some great beers this year: Smoke, Four, and Abrasive Ale, in addition to their regular lineup. I am not sure which is my favorite, but these and 2009 Darkness are all amazing. Great review Mark.
Posted by placlair on July 16, 2010 at 7:05 PM
Very nice review once again Mark. I had to immediately add this to my wants list on BA. BTW, I recently enjoyed the BA Boris from our trade, for which I must express a tremendous amount of gratitude. This year’s version was a little subdued in the barrel-aged department, I thought, but still quite good and tasty.
RE: Lebron. “The Decision” was an absolute farce and an egotistical display unlike anything that we’ve ever witnessed in the sports world. The whole thing made him look like a total douchewaffle. That said (and spoken as a lifelong, diehard Celtics fan), these guys should be commended for all taking less money for the chance to form something very special. We all talk about the theoretical athlete who puts his money where his mouth is, at least when it comes to taking less money for the chance to win; and they all did it, end of story. Whether or not their master plan comes to fruition, only time will tell, but it’s slightly refreshing to see an athlete (let alone 3, or more) back up their “It’s not about the money” statements.
Posted by Jon on July 16, 2010 at 9:32 PM
I’m a fan of the term douchewaffle. I’ve always wondered what the pockets in waffles were for and now I know.
Posted by thehopry on July 17, 2010 at 9:03 AM
Hahahahaha…
Posted by Big Mike on July 16, 2010 at 9:47 PM
Wish I was able to get Surly here. There’s alot of brews I’d love to try from them.
Posted by thehopry on July 17, 2010 at 9:04 AM
Anyone here wanna hook Mike up? He lives in Pennsylvania which means he has access to the best beers…