Nov 29, 2018

Surly Mortal Sun American Porter

As mentioned in Liquid Stardust review, this years Frost Pack from Surly includes a couple of new beers. That first was a tasty, hoppy distraction from the cold weather. Mortal Sun, a 5.5% ABV American porter, is more an embrace the situation, get cozy and hunker down sort of affair.

The initial wafts of coffee and spicy cigar tobacco welcome you into the folds of your favorite Snuggy™ as a touch of cocoa, grain and a distant char fill in the gaps. The aroma has a slight robustness. Once the medium-bodied Mortal Sun hits the tastebuds you can rest assured that the experience to come will hit the spot like a good home-cooked meal. Dark roast coffee, a light earthiness, distant campfire char, a touch of tobacco and a hint of grain fill the mouth smoothly.

A light sweetness lingers, but doesn’t grow too much as a soft bitterness keeps it in check. That touch of hops at the end provides a light citrus note to brighten your mood, fading gently into the lasting and gently drying finish. Mortal Sun is a well-rounded and balanced porter.

I’m a big fan of well-crafted, as-the-crow-flies brews. Mortal Sun isn’t 100% by the numbers, but I’m certainly not going to complain about a soft burst of hoppy goodness at the end of an excellent porter. This is my kind of brew — one that I can sit down with and enjoy slowly (our quickly, depending on how much snow you’ve shoveled earlier) as I shelter from the cold winds outside.

This is a review of a promotional sample.