Chicagoist's "Beer of the Week:" Surly Bender

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Oct 8, 2008 6:00PM

A reader mentioned last week that Hackney's South Loop location has an excellent beer selection. We think it's probably one of the more underrated beer bars in the city. Their draft selections are a creative and varied blend of some of the best European and American craft brews around. Minnesota's Surly Brewing Company is one of the latter. We've profiled their "Smoke" Baltic style porter earlier this year. While we wished we could get our hands on some 16-ounce cans, drinking Bender from the tap isn't a bad alternative.

Don't be fooled by the deep black color of Bender; this is an American-style brown ale, not a porter. It's a bold brown ale, also, teeming with flavorful chocolate malt and coffee flavors, with lots of hops balancing the sweetness. There's also a hint of almond on the palate, with a thick mouthfeel. Again, you could be mistaken into thinking this is a porter. We've had Bender many times and always had to do a double take. It leaves a warm, rosy glow on your cheeks as it's absorbed into your system.

Hackney's sells Bender on tap for $5.50 a pint, which is a steal considering the skyrocketing price of hops and malts. Pair this with the "Inside Out" burger, sit back and enjoy Surly Bender, Chicagoist's "Beer of the Week."