Steph’s New Brew Review: Xtra-Citra

Surly Brewing Company Xtra-Citra, a 4.5% ABV Sessionable Hoppy Pale Ale

Appearance	Golden color with fluffy white head.
Aroma	Bursting with citrus and tropical fruit aromas. Grapefruit, melon, passionfruit…
Taste	Matches the nose. Bright citrus and tropical fruit flavors.
Mouthfeel	Lighter bodied, crisp, easy-drinking.
Overall	Extremely drinkable and refreshing with satisfying hop aroma and flavor.

The story of Surly Brewing Company begins in 1994 when founder Omar Ansari received a homebrewing kit as a gift. It wasn’t until a decade later that he decided he wanted to be in the beer business.

Joined by Todd Haug, the first batch of Surly beer was brewed in December 2005, and the first kegs of Furious were sold in February 2006. By 2007, Surly was named the Best Brewery in America by BeerAdvocate.

In order to meet demand, the team decided to build a new brewery in 2011, but not until Surly Nation spoke out and changed Minnesota law that prevented production breweries from selling pints of their beer at their breweries. On May 24, 2011, Governor Mark Dayton signed the “Surly Bill” into law, making it possible for breweries that produce less than 250,000 barrels each year to sell pints of their beer at their brewery.

Surly broke ground on that new brewery in October 2013 in the Prospect Park neighborhood of Minneapolis. The destination brewery opened in December 2014, increasing production capacity to 100,000 barrels a year.

Xtra-Citra is a 4.5% ABV sessionable hoppy pale ale bursting with Citra hop flavor and tropical, citrusy notes, showcasing Surly’s bright side. Xtra-Citra is brewed with 2-Row, Weyermann Acidulated, Gambrinus Honey, and Simpsons Golden Naked Oats, as well as Warrior and Citra hops. The beer is fermented with an English ale yeast.

Wanna pick this one up? Click here to find Surly beer.
Check out… this video about the “Surly Bill” from Surly Brewing Company.