Intelligent Design, if you’re unfamiliar, is a series of beers where one of our brewers gets to play in the sandbox (metaphor, there is no sandbox at Surly Brewing) and make their beer, their way. #6 is from brewer Barry Faust. It’s called Yummi Bear.
Who are you and where are you from?
Barry Faust. Grew up in northern Minnesota in the small town of Kelly Lake, about 300-400 people.
More northern Minnesota bona fides: Was part of a state hockey championship team in middle school and graduated from the same high school as Bob Dylan, who I adore. My garage band performed on the same stage for a talent show as Dylan did. We took first place, he got booed offstage.
What is your brewing background?
I was an award-winning homebrewer when I started unloading trucks and helping on the packaging line at Surly four years ago. I started brewing two years ago. I might be the only person currently at Surly who has worked their way up from forklift driver to brewer. It’s the only brewery I’ve worked for, and it’s been a privilege to learn from the best. I came to Surly wanting to know the entire production process, from raw materials to brewing to packaging, and I’m still learning new things every day. It’s been a hell of a ride.
What’s a Yummi Bear?
Sometimes there’s a man…I won’t say a hero, because what’s a hero? But sometimes there’s man…well, he’s the man for his time and place. He fits right in there. And that was this dude I met in a liquor store a decade ago. His passion for beer was contagious. He asked how I was doing, then mentioned how many great beers were now available to us beer geeks. He then recommended one that he described as “super yummy.” I found this ridiculous and fascinating, and soon brewed a beer in my garage that I called “Yummi Bear”.
It’s a double dry-hopped, West Coast-style IPA that calls back to those days when I first started getting into beer. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good, juicy NEIPA, but I sometimes long for a dry, balanced IPA. Yummi Bear has a simple malt bill and Simcoe, Amarillo, and Citra hops, with a dank, fruity, and super aromatic character. Imagine Furious and Abrasive had a baby and raised it in a VW microbus on a northern California beach. That’s Yummi Bear.
What’s your favorite Surly beer?
Right now, I’d say Pyrotechnic Pils. I love a good pils.
BEER INFO:
- ABV: 8.6%.
- Hops: Simcoe, Amarillo, Citra, Citra Cryo
- Malt: Rahr Pale, Flaked Oats, Carafoam, Acidulated Malt
- Aromatics: Honey, pineapple, pie crust
- Pour: Bright dark amber
Yummi Bear is pouring in the Beer Hall right now.
