Welcome to Surly Pizza Upstairs. It’s on the second floor. Beer. Pizza. Any questions? Hours of operation: Monday-Thursday: 4-10pm Friday and Saturday: Noon-11pm Sunday: Noon-10pm We’re open nights and weekends because that’s when we’re at our busiest. We want people upstairs enjoying pizza and a beer rather than waiting in line. Also: It’s called Surly … Continued
Surly built its reputation on hops, even when that wasn’t the cool thing to do. (The Minneapolis bar owner who spit Furious out in front of Omar is foundational brewery lore.) Still, we hopped and dry-hopped and double dry-hopped the hell out of our beers, despite living among a radical sect of Scandinavians who think … Continued
One of the benefits of holding our 2018 Darkness Day celebration in Somerset, besides creating a better overall (and legally sound) experience than a cramped Brooklyn Center industrial park can offer, is that Wisconsin law allows us to spend our favorite weekend of the year with our craft brewing friends. Not only can we pour … Continued
Road construction. The two words that make Minnesotans cringe the most, more so than “Gary Anderson” or “zipper merge”. It impacts us all, even non-drivers. Multiple, concurrent apartment/condo projects across the Greenway from Surly’s Prospect Park location have turned one side street into gravel and narrowed another to about half of one lane. Both are … Continued
Our new BC Small Batch beer started as an attempt to solve a Beer Hall problem. The quandary: How to accommodate celebrants hoping to raise champagne toasts at our Destination Brewery for various weddings, birthdays, and graduations. This is extraordinarily difficult when you’re a Beer Hall, not a Champagne Hall. Our brewers got to work. … Continued
We’ve spent the last couple weeks featuring the most talked-about part of our 2018 Darkness Day blowout in Somerset: Darkness variants. We’ve experimented with complementary flavors for our Russian imperial stout in the Beer Hall and at select beer festivals, but never before to this extent. To say we’re excited to roll these out to … Continued
Surly Brewing’s Dave McGrath wasn’t even born out west. “I was raised in Miami, Florida, then I went to Wisconsin for college.” The journalism major-turned-homebrewer-turned-professional brewer found himself working in Minot, North Dakota, during the height of the Bakken Oil Boom. The boomtown atmosphere reminded him of the mother of all booms: the California Gold … Continued
The back-to-school sales are in full swing. The Vikings are practicing. The shuttered Circuit City by the mall is festooned with a COMING SOON: HALLOWEEN SUPERSTORE! banner. That’s right: The State Fair is near. Minnesota’s annual celebration of caloric intake and sitting on bleachers to watch local newscasters do their jobs kicks off on Thursday, … Continued
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be featuring the most talked-about part of our 2018 Darkness Day blowout in Somerset: Darkness variants. We’ve experimented with complementary flavors for our Russian imperial stout in the Beer Hall and at select beer festivals, but never before to this extent. To say we’re excited to roll these out … Continued
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be featuring the most talked-about part of our 2018 Darkness Day blowout in Somerset: Darkness variants. We’ve experimented with complementary flavors for our Russian imperial stout in the Beer Hall and at select beer festivals, but never before to this extent. To say we’re excited to roll these out … Continued
Barrel-Aged Oat Wine, or BAOW, is an updated take on an old favorite. Roughly based on the recipe for Surly Eight, BAOW adds some tweaks and a hell of a lot of oats for a highly drinkable beer that still packs a punch. We turn the floor over to Surly Head Brewer Ben Smith for … Continued
Want to win a Darkness Day Variant package? Here’s how: This one is for the Darkness Day vets. Have a great photo from past Darkness Days? A picture that represents the weird, wild spirit of the whole thing? Please send it to us via Instagram or Twitter (@surlybrewing) by Friday, July 13. Tag it with … Continued
What is the next hazy IPA? While that style shows no signs of slowing down (this is where we point out that we have a rotating series of them on tap in our Beer Hall), the beer nerd in your life can be found arguing in Beer Advocate comment threads about craft beer’s newest “it” … Continued
We have not one but two BC Small Batch Beers hitting the market this week. In addition to Rosé, we’re canning another Beer Hall favorite, Mosaic Kettle Sour. Summer is ideal for a fruit-forward beer. Mosaic Kettle Sour fits the profile perfectly. Only there’s no fruit. Our brewers have been trialing kettle sours for a … Continued
Ben Smith is the Head Brewer at Surly’s Minneapolis facility. Ben Smith looks like someone with that title: black t-shirt, black jeans, black boots. (Granted, he was wearing a Western-style plaid shirt during this interview, but go with it.) Ben Smith also loves rosé. “I’ve been a wine drinker my entire adult life, and really … Continued
#MERICA, Surly’s pre-Prohibition American lager, is back. Defined by flaked corn and soft hop aromatics, it’s an easy-drinking summer beer ideal for lawn mowing, hot dog preparation, and observing sunsets in the backyards, patios, and front stoops of the greater Upper Midwest. We first brewed it in 2015 for the annual D4th of July Party … Continued
Here we go. The first two tiers of Darkness Day ticket packages are now available. A third, Darkness-less, general admission tier will be released closer to the party (which, as noted many times now, is Saturday, September 29 at Somerset Amphitheater in Somerset, Wisconsin). All tickets include a camping spot for you to use or … Continued
Want to get a little Surly in your Pride Weekend? We have an array of activities lined up all over the Twin Cities. They are listed below. PRIDE BINGO Kick off Twin Cities Pride Weekend with Pride Bingo in the Beer Garden on Thursday, June 21! This event is presented by Surly Gives a Damn, … Continued
As Surly looks at 12 years… This year, Surly will mark 12 years in the independent craft brewing industry. It’s had me thinking about what a wild and non-stop ride it’s been since the first keg of Furious sold in 2006. Every year, the plan is to release an anniversary beer that’s extreme. The … Continued
Welcome to Surly Pizza Upstairs. It’s on the second floor. Beer. Pizza. Any questions? Hours of operation: Monday-Thursday: 4-10pm Friday and Saturday: Noon-11pm Sunday: Noon-10pm We’re open nights and weekends because that’s when we’re at our busiest. We want people upstairs enjoying pizza and a beer rather than waiting in line. Also: It’s called Surly … Continued
Roughly every Friday from now until Darkness Day Eve, we hope to share a little bit of news on the event, which you may have heard is taking place on Saturday, September 29 at Somerset Amphitheater in Somerset, WI. For the inaugural post, we want to start off with a bang. Here, then, is the … Continued
In our ongoing and frankly heroic quest to make Tuesdays good, we’d like to tell you a little more about Surly’s Summer of Sound. Every Tuesday ‘til Labor Day, a local music luminary will take over our Beer Garden (weather-permitting, but you live here, you know that already) and share the sounds that define their … Continued
We hope you enjoyed the 17 hours of spring we got this year in the Upper Midwest. It was a wild ride and will be fondly remembered by us all. We’ve heard some places get a few months of mild weather between howling blizzards and stifling humidity, but that sounds real unlikely. With summer apparently … Continued
The big pile of snow/crud in the Sears parking lot is gone. Road construction makes your phone’s traffic app more important than significant family members. The shovels and winter coats are put away WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION. Welcome to summer, Minnesota. Surly is celebrating the three months where we can safely go outside with … Continued
We love our Brooklyn Center brewery. This is not to say we don’t love our big, shiny Prospect Park brewery. It’s what brings the world Furious and Xtra-Citra and hog frites and pizza, it’s where people bring their excellent dogs to the beer garden in the summer, and it was a primary reason for changing … Continued
Our latest collaboration started like this: Let’s make a hazy IPA, only clear. This thought occurred, as such thoughts often do, at Grumpy’s in northeast Minneapolis. Surly’s Ben Smith and Fair State’s Niko Tonks were kicking back after work and talking about Fair State’s successful experimentation with hazy IPAs. Like Ben and fellow Head Brewer … Continued
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. #3 is from brewer Robbie Denaway. It’s called Galactic Descent. It’s *shuffles papers, looks closely, looks again* …a hazy IPA. … Continued
Minnesota United second season of professional soccer is underway. It’s only right that Rising North Pale Ale, the official beer of Minnesota United, returns for its sophomore campaign as well. “Being able to partner with the team and MLS on this is fantastic,” says Surly Brewing owner Omar Ansari. “The fact that casual fans and the … Continued
Surly’s QC Boss Riley Seitz writes about the creation of The Familiar. “Proud” is the first word that comes to mind when I taste The Familiar, along with tart, juicy, fresh, crisp, citrusy, and bright. The Familiar is the product of learning, teaching, sharing, and curiosity. In collaboration with the Witch Hunt, we at Surly … Continued
Surly Festival Field is going to be a concert destination this summer. We have three big shows lined up already, and they all own. If you’d like to get your tickets and line up your calendar for the warm weather months, here are the appropriate links and intel: SPOON & GRIZZLY BEAR WHAT: Spoon and Grizzly … Continued
We have a new year-round, draft-only beer. It’s called Grindcore. Here’s what you need to know. It’s a nitro espresso milk stout. The nitro aspect provides a creamy, velvety mouthfeel that sets it apart from a CO2 beer. Expect full coffee flavor with the rich, slightly sweet body of a stout. “We’ve brewed several coffee … Continued
That’s a great question, headline. If you are at Target Field for a professional baseball game and you’d like a delicious Surly beer, we made a map to help you find it. Print, save, clip, and share with friends, family, and trusted advisers.
We knew Glen Perkins was retired. We knew he liked to brew beer. And we knew we wanted to brew a beer that we could pour at Target Field (where Glen used to work) and the bars and restaurants in the area for Opening Day and beyond. We asked him if he wanted to a … Continued
Can you draw a turtle, pirate or beer-drinking mythological monster? Wanna stick it to everyone who said your art was a waste of time? We’re looking for this year’s Surly Featured Artist. We’re continuing our annual tradition of picking one artist to create label art for our 2018 projects. The art will be featured on … Continued
Brewed for flannel, winter, bikes, basement rock shows, long hair, bars with minimal sunlight, and more. Our beer is made for this.
An old Minneapolis bus station. An abrasives factory in the ‘burbs. From these humble beginnings sprang the last great rock club in the country and one of America’s leading craft breweries. A collaboration just makes sense. First Avenue and Surly Brewing are proud to present +1, an easy-drinking, classic-style golden ale ideal for the Mainroom, … Continued
When we started canning and distributing 12 oz. 12-packs in 2017, the response was twofold: Alright, 12-packs! Surly rules! Where’s the variety pack? The first response was heartening. We like compliments. Thank you. The second response was understandable, because why choose between Furious and Xtra-Citra when you can have both? That’s why we’re pleased to … Continued
Welcome to Minnesota. You probably have a lot of questions. We don’t blame you. It’s cold (it’s been colder, as someone already told you) and there are giant piles of snow and people keep talking about “Juicy Lucy” and you don’t even know a Lucy. Here’s what we can tell you. Please enjoy Nicollet Mall. … Continued
We just celebrated our 11th anniversary. We’re gearing up for our 12th. But before we get to that, we’d like you to revisit an old friend. As you may recall, Surly TEN was an old ale aged on sassafras wood, with toffee, sherry, and caramel malt flavors. The wood-aging imparted a boatload (non-brewing term) of … Continued
Throughout 2018, Surly will be collaborating with brewers from across town and across the world, and bottling the results for you to enjoy. We kicked around a ton of names for the series (Garage Karate, we loved you most of all), but in the end settled on…the Collaboration Series. “The spirit of collaboration in the … Continued
The 2018 Surly Brand Calendar is brimming with surprises, new beers, and what we in the brewing industry call “cool shit”. We can’t wait to share it with you. Here’s what’s what: VARIETY PACKS When we started canning and distributing 12 oz. 12-packs, the response was twofold: Alright, 12-packs! Surly rules! Where’s the variety pack? … Continued
Outdoor soccer in northern climates runs into certain obstacles. Like, say, the fact that winter happens. And it just keeps happening. For months! Sure, you can find an athletic dome or some abandoned warehouse in Chaska to get your fix, but it’s just not the same as taking the pitch in fresh air under a … Continued
There are three things you need to know about Hopshifter, Surly’s newest year-round beer: It’s a new IPA. From Surly. That should be enough, but we committed to three things in the first sentence. It’s crafted to reduce gluten. The next one you have may very well be different from this one. Let’s address the … Continued
It’s nice to be able to answer the questions you get on social media in a positive, affirmative manner. Sometimes you simply can’t: To the person on Instagram who asked us to distribute Furious to all 50 states and sell it out of pop machines, the former will take some time, and the latter is … Continued
Our lunch program is well underway in the Beer Hall, and we’re excited to announce a couple new menu items that will blow your mind grapes. These will be available every weekday from 11 am – 3 pm, and were crafted with lighter appetites and quick service in mind. The items: French Onion Soup (vegetarian) – … Continued
Pentagram is our dark sour ale, fermented on Brett and aged in red wine barrels for 18 months. What Barrel-Aged Pentagram does is take it one step beyond. After its 18 months are up, this Pentagram is moved from the wine barrel to the rye whiskey barrel, where it sits and thinks about what it’s … Continued
BEER HALL HOURS: Closed December 23-25. Open 11 am – 8 pm New Year’s Eve. Open 11 am-4 pm New Year’s Day. Normal hours of operation all other days. Regardless of how or what you celebrate (or don’t), one thing is absolutely true: it’s the holiday season, and we need to do something about it. … Continued
UK-based Simpson’s Malt was founded in 1862, and over five generations, the Simpson family has provided their malting expertise to breweries and distilleries the world over. Their base of operations, Berwick-upon-Tweed, is a city on the England/Scotland border, and its name could not be more appropriate. “Ber” is Old English for barley, while “wick” is … Continued
Bike and beer lovers rejoice because it’s finally happening. Surly Bikes and Surly Brewing are teaming up to help produce the Surly Masher – the FIRST-EVER collaboration between these two iconic Minnesota brands! It all happens on February 11, 2018, when bikes and beer(s) meet for a celebration of winter biking at Surly Brewing. The … Continued
Thanksgiving is this week. You think you’re ready, but you’re not. The surprise snowstorm, the request to bring a side you don’t know how to make, the relatives who show up out of nowhere—these obstacles and more loom in the distance, foreboding with quiet, gravy-laced menace. One thing you can rely on: A Surly beer … Continued
Get it, because we have a beer called Furious Black? We like to have fun here. Anyhoozle, like any self-respecting retailer, we have a fistful of screaming deals for the Surly enthusiast in your life on this, the kickoff of the holiday shopping season. And if that person is you, hey, treat yourself. You deserve … Continued
Hey, remember a couple weeks ago when it was 75 and the falling leaves and warm autumn breeze were like an embrace from an old friend? Anyway, that’s done now. It’s winter and you don’t know where you put your gloves* and everyone forgot how to drive and the weather will try to straight up … Continued
Hopheads are some of our favorite people. They’re like this obsessed (in a good way) network of beer-loving thrill-chasers who always alert each other when the next object of their affection hits shelves or goes on draft nearby. It is our pleasure, then, to contribute to their next text chain/Facebook group chat, as they can … Continued
Ultimate is one of the fastest growing sports in the world with over five million people playing in North America. Today, Omar Ansari, owner and founder of Surly Brewing Co., announced he is joining the global expansion of the sport through his purchase of the Minnesota Wind Chill, the state’s first and only professional American … Continued
When we found out Minnesota United, our local MLS team, was moving into TCF Bank Stadium for a spell while their new stadium was under construction, we wanted to do something. We’re a brewery with a giant beer garden just down the street, so we had two groundbreaking, outside-the-box, Galaxy Brain ideas: Make a beer … Continued
Wet hop beers are worth the trouble. You have an incredibly limited window in which to brew them. The farther away you are from the hop fields, the more hoops you jump through to make it happen. Your brew team and equipment get pushed to their limits. The result, through planning, skill, and a big … Continued
You line up for Darkness Day. You get your wristband. You purchase your allotment of 2017 Darkness. Now what? Given that you’re at a brewery, and you maybe want to cellar those bombers, can we suggest trying some of the other beer we made for the occasion? Many of which are Darkness Day exclusives? We … Continued
Darkness Day is a thing that should not be. We didn’t plan it. We didn’t start it. If we had, it wouldn’t be the same, and maybe wouldn’t exist. This one is entirely on Surly Nation, and we ride the wave (“the wave” = booking the bands and making sure there’s enough beer and food … Continued
The varieties of metal music are astounding. Any genre that contains both Bon Jovi and Napalm Death is going to have more breadth and depth than any “it all sounds alike” stereotype will lead you to believe. If you can’t square this concept in your head, look at a different genre: Merle Haggard and Sam … Continued
That’s a great question, headline. If you are at St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center for a professional hockey game and you’d like a delicious Surly beer, we made a map to help you find it. Print, save, clip, and share with friends, family, and trusted advisers.