Omar Ansari

Brewed with pale ale, crystal malts, invert sugar and aged on toasted sassafras, this celebratory Old Ale is meant for sharing. Amber in color with aged flavors of toffee, sherry and vanilla-sassafras, finishing with a warming full-bodied swallow.

ToddHaug

==Introduction==

The first time I tried a Surly beer was when I saw the Surly 5th Anniversary. It was the first time I saw a beer that had some crazy paganistic and satanic artwork. I was like damn, that’s pretty bold of Surly to do. Once I tried their beers I was hooked! Yes, as evil looking as the beers looked, they were damn fine marvels of delicious dark liquid. Since that time, I have tried many ways to get these beers either online or via trades as Surly has not hit my market yet. So yes, while I would like to visit their brewery someday, for now, I will keep adding their beers as I can find them. Cheers for 10 more years Surly!!

Aromas:
Dark fruit raisins, currants, prunes, blackberries, grapes, port wine, dark cherry yogurt, earthy hop hints, dulce de leche Caramel, vanilla, oak, sassafras, Gansito (Chocolate Mexican Raspberry Twinkies), raspberry Chambord, milk chocolate, cinnamon, biscuit bread, mixed berry preserves, figgy pudding, oatmeal cookies, dark chocolate, flan, Danish cream, dark candy sugar, fruit cake, molasses, anise, stone fruit pears and brown sugar.

Flavors:
Rich dulce de leche Caramel, vanilla, oak, sassafras, Gansito (Chocolate Mexican Raspberry Twinkies), leather, toasted rye bread, tobacco hints, English Toffee, Sherry, dark fruit raisins, currants, prunes, blackberries, grapes, port wine, Danish cream, Dark candy sugar, fruit cake, molasses, anise, stone fruit pears, ginger bread, raspberry Chambord, milk chocolate, cinnamon, biscuit bread, mixed berry preserves, figgy pudding, oatmeal cookies, dark chocolate, flan, clove spice, bananas, hazelnut nectar, pecan pie, dark cherry yogurt, earthy hop hints, apple pie and cherry cobbler hints.

Aftertaste:
Finishing with Rich caramel, vanilla, dark fruits, butterscotch, anise, port wine, oak, stone fruit and fruit cake. No alcohol in the taste, Crimson clear body, creamy, velvety smooth and syrupy mouth feel and sipping drinkability.

Overall:
An exceptional brew that was very different from the ones before and yet so complex and delicious. I have not tried Sassafras, or at least I do not think but the flavors on this one were very unique. Something a crazy scientist would definitely come up with. I would highly recommend this one as well. Love those Surly brews. Now it is on to the newer ones, cheers!

Anime Corner:
Fuwa Hyouka from Shimoneta: A Boring World Where the Concept of Dirty Jokes Doesn’t Exist was used in this pairing as Fuwa is one of my favorite characters from the show along with Anna but she is the only other scientist, aside from Washu from Tenchi Muyo, that I know of. The fact that her colors pair so damn well with the colors of the label of the beer is simply awesome! It was just a matter of finding the right pieces of artwork and it was the perfect girl for pairing.