Five (Surly)

Getting a bottle of this anniversary brew last summer was a bit of a trick. I happened to be in the area and happened to have an in of sorts to find one of the last stores carrying it. I wanted to wait for a special night to crack open this limited brew. The first bonfire of the year seemed a good time.

General Thoughts
Look and Smell: This brew was very dark, almost black, with a reddish/amber tint. The small-bubbled head settled into a thin ring that stuck with it. It smelled as sour I hoped it would taste.

Taste: The sourness of this Brett was smoothed out by the oak. It tingles the tongue. The sourness was more of the dark fruit variety, but not as heavy. More like a bright red sour cherry than a soured cherry or plum. The earthy maltiness came through to complement the oak. A very good brew to celebrate five successful years of Surly brewing. They really do it right.

From the Surly site:
In the Surly brewhouse, brewing our Anniversary beers means one thing: forget what ya know and try something different. In honor of FIVE glorious years, we bring you a 100% Brettanomyces-fermented Dark Ale, aged in red wine barrels. Flavors of sour cherry, tobacco, oak and classic “Brett” barnyard funk, balanced by Dark Munich malt chewiness. Enjoy immediately or age at cellar temperature for a couple years. 100% Brettanomyces-fermented Dark Ale aged in red wine barrels.


Five has strong flavors of earthy black cherry and raisins with a sour finish.