Surly built its brewing reputation on not necessarily brewing to style. Our 15th anniversary beer embraces that ethos with a vengeance. There is a lot going on with this one, so we called in Surly Head Brewer Ben Smith to write about Fifteen’s development: The primary base beer is a Belgian Quadruple brewed with German … Continued
Slowly but surely, live music is returning. Beloved venues like Minneapolis’ First Avenue are reopening. The daily influx of new concert announcements, from stadium shows to nightclub gigs, are a welcome change of pace from Zoom concerts. If you’ve also found yourself giving a standing ovation to the busker playing atrocious Dave Matthews covers outside … Continued
Surly built its brewing reputation on not necessarily brewing to style. Our 15th anniversary beer embraces that ethos with a vengeance. There is a lot going on with this one, so we called in Surly Head Brewer Ben Smith to write about Fifteen’s development: The primary base beer is a Belgian Quadruple brewed with German … Continued
The Surly Pizza Upstairs oven is heating up and ready to bring back the New Haven-style pie back to the people. Here’s the top five things you need to know: The New Haven-style apizzas are coming back with their unique thin crust served hot, fast, and fresh. SPU is the only pie shop in the … Continued
In the farthest, deepest fathoms of the ocean, light is but a rumor. That vast, benighted place where the leviathans hold sway. Age of Leviathans, Surly’s BC Small Batch offering for September and October, reaches similar depths of flavor, sweetness, and body. Brewed with a new “ruby” chocolate variant—noted for being rich, fruity and just … Continued
Brave Noise Pale Ale is the collaborative, multi-brewery initiative of Massachusetts’ Notch Brewing and one of their brewers, Brienne Allan, designed to fund inclusive and safe environments for women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ individuals working in craft beer. As a priority of Surly, our DE&I Committee, and our Leadership Team, we’re proud to announce that we’ll … Continued
We’re thrilled to be pouring beer at the State Fair again this year. As in the past, we’ve brewed beers exclusive to the Fair that will pair perfectly with your annual late-summer gluttony. We also know that some of you are waiting until next year to attend due to the ongoing COVID situation. If that’s … Continued
Say what you will about Jason Voorhees, he was way ahead of the curve on wearing a mask and understood the importance of a good sequel. This Friday, August 13th, Surly releases the 2021 batch of 13, our maple barrel-aged imperial stout brewed with vanilla beans and lactose. Expect notes of dark chocolate, roasted malt, … Continued
To say that we’re ready for Oktoberfest at Surly is an understatement. For starters, there really wasn’t an Oktoberfest in 2020. There was plenty of great beer, but the parties didn’t really happen. And the ones that did were just 17 socially distanced guys in lederhosen standing around card tables in a repurposed parking lot. … Continued
We’ve had a long, hot summer here. Chances are you have too. We’re also aware, more than most, that this summer will eventually end. We know what awaits. Making the most of the sunstruck days and warm evenings on the calendar is essential. So is Invisible Rays. Surly’s late-summer seasonal is a tropical IPA brimming … Continued
Nate and Heather Jackson grow and develop hops in Wilder, Idaho as first-generation hop growers. When working with Sierra Nevada, Jackson Hop Farm submitted a handful of hop varietals for them to analyze. The seventh one really stuck out as a promising hop varietal, bridging the tropical/citrus gap with striking notes of melon, tangerine, pineapple, … Continued
Reopening the beer hall has given our extraordinarily talented brew team the chance to flex their muscles and work on all sorts of experiments with new hop varietals and styles. (As of this writing, we now have 32 beers on draft, a dozen of which are brand new.) It’s also allowed us to revive our … Continued
Certain things defy easy answers. Scientists are baffled. Religion offers no solution. When reason and faith are abandoned, when the standard frames of reference break down and rational explanations can’t be found, we’re left with something…else. Occult Philosophy reads the tea leaves, rolls the bones, and reveals the final card. This hop-heavy and hazy double … Continued
This year give the Father’s Day gift that keeps on giving for twelve glorious cans. Surly’s 2021 Hop Pack is the thoughtful gesture that says “Hey, Dad, these are all better served cold, please don’t warm store them in the unattached garage.” All four varieties are ideal for the Dad in your life, even if … Continued
Surly Gives A Damn (SGAD) works with many charitable organizations across the Twin Cities to give back to the communities and neighborhoods that support us. Throughout 2021, we’re going to highlight some of the longest-running SGAD partners and what they do. Who: The Loppet Foundation What: Founded in 2002, The Loppet Foundation changes lives. Underserved … Continued
Surly’s Beer Hall is on track to reopen this June. It would not be happening without the work of Aaron Johnson, a veteran of the Twin Cities culinary scene and the Beer Hall’s General Manager. Here’s a little more about Aaron. WHERE ARE YOU FROM? Chippewa Falls, WI WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST RESTAURANT JOB? Dining … Continued
Surly Gives A Damn works with many charitable organizations across the Twin Cities to give back to the communities and neighborhoods that support us. Throughout 2021, we’re going to highlight some of the longest-running SGAD partners and what they do. Who: Mississippi Park Connection What: Mississippi Park Connection began as the local fund of the … Continued
The women of Surly Brewing spent International Women’s Day working on a beer together. They named it after a phenomenon they’ve dealt with for many, many years, one that countless other women have also experienced: mansplaining. In the beer industry, this is most commonly found at beer festivals, in beer groups on the internet, during … Continued
Hops have been called a pernicious, devilish weed. If so, Surly chooses to dance with this devil and triple down on the hops. Introducing And The Devil Makes Three, a triple dry-hopped triple IPA. Appropriately enough, it’s Surly’s third BC Small Batch beer of 2021, and it begins hitting shelves May 3rd. This intense IPA … Continued
Surly Gives A Damn works with many charitable organizations across the Twin Cities to give back to the communities and neighborhoods that support us. Throughout 2021, we’re going to highlight some of the longest-running SGAD partners and what they do. Who: Memorial Blood Centers What: Memorial Blood Centers have been saving and sustaining lives since … Continued
Surly Gives A Damn works with many charitable organizations across the Twin Cities to give back to the communities and neighborhoods that support us. Throughout 2021, we’re going to highlight some of the longest-running SGAD partners and what they do. Who: The Food Group What: The Food Group is a local nonprofit focused on using … Continued
Cry havoc and let slip the hops of yore! Clean, hoppy, and devastating, Havoc Machine delivers an authentic West Coast IPA payload. Surly’s second seasonal of 2021 unleashes the classically dank and citrus-heavy assault of Cascade, Chinook, and Amarillo hops, wreaking havoc on the craft beer landscape. This perfect drinking machine, clear as a bell … Continued
Some say our beers are too hoppy. To that we say, “Damn straight.” The Hop Pack is the realization of this ideal. Our second variety pack of 2021 gives you all the hops you could ever want out of a 12-pack. Then we add more. In addition to Furious IPA, these three brand-new beers make … Continued
Vaccines for all Minnesotans 16 and older. Increased restaurant capacity. Social gatherings. Governor Walz’s recent announcement that “normalcy is on the horizon, and that brighter days are ahead” has given much-needed hope to many small businesses across Minnesota, including Surly Brewing Co. After indefinitely closing the Surly beer hall, pizza place and event center in … Continued
Why are Surly and the rest of the Alliance of MN Craft Brewers going on about the #FreeTheGrowler campaign? Rep. Jim Nash explains.
Surly has an actual Irish beer in stores this St. Patrick’s Day. No, it’s not Xtra with green food coloring. Sharp like a straight razor and smooth as a Gaelic brogue, Razor Gang Dry Irish Stout combines rich roasted malt flavor with a sweet cocoa-like body and dry finish. It’s one of the featured beers … Continued
Our second BC Small Batch beer of the year centers hellacious amounts of hop flavor, fiendish notes of stone fruit and citrus, and a smooth, sinister finish. It sounds almost sinful doesn’t it? Give The Devil His Due is a diabolical, double-dry-hopped double IPA that’s worth the indulgence. Lotus, Amarillo, El Dorado, and Citra hops … Continued
In the spirit of other weekday timekillers like Minesweeper, Cosmo relationship quizzes, and doomscrolling, Surly offers the following Minnesota March Bingo Card. Some of these things are evergreen while some are very much specific to the month and year we’re all trying to get through. There are also a handful of non-subtle promotions for Surly … Continued
Surly’s Shannon Stroh and Julia MacLean joined forces with the other professional women brewers of Minnesota to create a collaboration beer at Badger Hill’s Shakopee facility. It’s called Nevertheless, and this West Coast IPA is being released on March 8th, International Women’s Day. Women are sorely underrepresented on the brewing side of our industry. As … Continued
Grapefruit Supreme, in the span of a couple short years, is now one of Surly’s cornerstone beers. Mango Supreme, released as part of our 2020 summer variety pack, was an immediate hit. How do you follow them up? You make a whole damn 12-pack out of Supreme. Introducing the Supreme Variety Pack, Surly’s newest year-round … Continued
Darkness is a beer that earns its reputation. Malty and intense yet velvety smooth, our Russian imperial stout’s yearly release is a de facto holiday, and not just because it’s Halloween. It also plays well with others. It’s a perfect candidate for barrel-aging, which can accentuate all the aspects that make the O.G. Darkness so … Continued
We have a Darkness Artist! After judging entries from dozens of highly qualified artists and illustrators, we’ve found a successor to 2020 Darkness Artist Barbara Guttman. Congratulations to Justin Bergo, our 2021 Darkness Artist! Here’s a little more about him in his own words. “I’m Justin Bergo and I’m a freelance artist working out of … Continued
Surly Gives A Damn works with many charitable organizations across the Twin Cities to give back to the communities and neighborhoods that support us. Throughout 2021, we’re going to highlight some of the longest-running SGAD partners and what they do. Who: Bridging What: Bridging provides donated furniture and household goods to families and individuals transitioning … Continued
All that we know, all that we’ve ever known, and all we will know exist at the same time. Space, time, matter, energy, folding a fitted sheet, everything. It’s a lot to contemplate, but the answers lie somewhere in the haze. Look within, and let juicy, hop-forward flavor be your guide to total understanding. Introducing … Continued
2020 presented a unique challenge for Surly Gives A Damn. The needs in our community were never greater, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic and the civil unrest following George Floyd’s murder. And working together to help in whatever way we could was made exponentially more difficult by the pandemic’s safety restrictions. Still, like so many … Continued
In the landmark case of Jacobellis v. Ohio, Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart defined the difference between art and hardcore pornography as such: “I know it when I see it.” The search for Surly’s 2021 Featured Darkness Artist is underway. Who will it be? We’ll know it when we see it. (Your art, not hardcore … Continued
As a craft beer enthusiast, you’re likely aware of the aluminum can shortage our industry faces. (If not, here’s the nickel version: Pandemic leads to people drinking beer at home from cans instead of at bars from glasses. People drinking beer at home buy in bulk, depleting the supply faster. Same thing happens at the … Continued
Our first variety pack of 2021 rounds up a motley crew of delicious beers. Unusual Suspects lines up three all-new beers and one legendary IPA for you to pick out. A true variety pack, Unusual Suspects gives classic and new styles the Surly treatment. In addition to three fresh Furiouses, here’s what you can look … Continued
Pentagram is finally back. It just looks different. Surly’s legendary dark, barrel-aged sour beer hasn’t changed. It still ferments in stainless steel and spends 18 months or more in red wine barrels. It still has yards and yards of funk from the brett yeast blend. It still centers notes of sour cherry, oak, and tobacco … Continued
At Surly, we want to help you reach your goals and change your trajectory, be it in one day, one night, even Saturday’s all right. Introducing the Rocket Surgery Exam. If you have the base of knowledge to answer the questions below about Surly’s hazy ale, you’ll receive your Master’s Degree in Rocket Surgery. (To … Continued
There might not be two greater cultural touchstones in the Twin Cities: Enjoying a craft beer at your neighborhood taproom and watching live music at your favorite local venue. A few years back, Surly Brewing and First Avenue forged a partnership on both these fronts, be it serving +1 Golden Ale in the Mainroom or … Continued
The season’s upon us, whether you asked for it to be or not. As we attempt to make the best of the worst holiday season ever, at some point you’re going to need to sit down, take a moment for yourself, and enjoy a beer. We offer the below Surly pairings for some of the … Continued
Years ago we released a beer called Dumpster Fire, so named due to a literal dumpster fire in our parking lot. Long story short: someone emptied their charcoal grill into a dumpster at Darkness Day. The end result of that is too obvious to require elaboration, but it did inspire a beer the following year. … Continued
Moving Pictures is Surly’s first new beer of 2021. As we’ve discovered with social media, some claims need to be examined more closely to determine their veracity. We’re offering this guide to help you be a better Surly consumer. (We considered calling this Fake Brews but quickly thought better of it.) TRUE: It’s a juicy … Continued
It gives us no small amount of pleasure to deliver some authentic, no-BS good news: With no Darkness Day and an overwhelming need for something special to brighten up this holiday season, we’re sending Darkness variants to liquor stores for the first time ever. We’ve discovered over the last few years that our legendary Russian … Continued
We asked our in-house mixologists to use their not-insignificant time cooped up at home this fall to create some custom holiday cocktails with a Surly beer base. They came through in a big way. Here are four drinks that will deck the halls with boughs of holly, metaphorically: Supreme Margarita Ingredients 1.5 oz. silver or … Continued
The annual release of Surly’s brand calendar is always a welcome experience for us and Surly Nation. It gives us a chance to let you know what we’ve been working on and it gives you a chance to get your Outlook calendar updated with critical release dates. (If you’re wondering if we’re making too many … Continued
The 2020 holiday season is going to be difficult on many fronts. In addition to the “usual” problems of hunger, housing insecurity, and a lack of toys under the tree, this year adds a surging pandemic and its attendant health and economic crises. Today, one in eight Minnesotans are hungry, compared to one in eleven … Continued
Mixed Messages, our holiday season variety pack, is so named due to the different beer styles contained therein. It also references the tactical-grade passive aggression of our beloved home state and the entire Upper Midwest. Saying what you mean without ever saying what you mean, or even the precise opposite? That’s a Mixed Message. Think … Continued
The 2020 holiday season is going to be difficult on many fronts. In addition to the “usual” problems of hunger, housing insecurity, and a lack of toys under the tree, this year adds a surging pandemic and its attendant health and economic crises. Today, one in eight Minnesotans are hungry, compared to one in eleven … Continued
Friday the 13th has many unlucky, sinister connotations, never more so than when it lands in the year of our lord 2020. That said, for all of Jason Voorhees’ many faults, he was way ahead of the curve on the mask front and understood the importance of a good sequel. This Friday, November 13th, Surly … Continued
Minnesota’s first double IPA is back. Abrasive takes its name from Sparky Abrasives, the original occupant of our original Brooklyn Center location. Fueled by a mountain of Citra hops, Abrasive centers aggressive notes of tropical fruit and a bracing bitterness, all offset by a remarkably smooth finish that belies its double IPA strength. Not only … Continued
Surly’s Beer Hall will close its doors indefinitely after last call tonight. The COVID-19 pandemic makes operating a large gathering place impossible, especially in a Minnesota winter. We hope to reopen when it’s safe to do so, but the “when” is simply unknown. COVID sucks. The “Surly bill” passed in 2011. It changed the Minnesota … Continued
This is the first year in over a decade without an official Darkness Day. Oh, there’s still Darkness to be had–available wherever Surly is sold on Halloween–but no bacchanal of beers, bands, and bottle shares. We miss it too, and we hope that public health and Minnesota liquor laws will change for the better in … Continued
You ever go into a liquor store and find yourself entirely unable to decide what you want? You’re craving an IPA, but it’s also your personal coffee beer season. You want to try something new, but you also want a reliably perfect beer that never goes out of style. The correct answer to this dilemma … Continued
A few things to note as we wrap up food and drink service in the Beer Hall: We strongly encourage reservations. Walk-ins are allowed but they might be seated in the upstairs overflow sections depending on capacity and weather. Our last day of service is October 30th. Staff will be on premises and payroll through … Continued
Over a year in the making, our latest beer is a true collaboration of ideas, flavors, and craft. Surly and New Belgium proudly present Culture Collab, a blended culture American sour ale aged in virgin oak and red wine barrels. The beer’s genesis began 5-6 years ago, when Surly Head Brewer Ben Smith and New … Continued
The traditional 14th anniversary gift is ivory. Two things about ivory you should know is that it’s remarkably cruel to animals and impossible to drink. Barleywines, on the other hand, are perfect for sipping and do zero harm to elephants. Fourteen, Surly’s 14th anniversary beer, is just such a beer. We aged this massive barleywine … Continued
Surly Hospitality employees have completed their free and fair election on the issue of union representation, which was conducted by an independent third party. A majority of the eligible employees did not cast ballots in favor of representation by the union. The results do not affect the Beer Hall’s stark financial reality that led to … Continued
The hits just keep on coming. Since the pandemic began, we’ve all faced uncertainty and the need to constantly adjust to changing circumstances. This weekend was no exception as we learned that one of our employees tested positive for COVID-19. Everyone, guests and employees, who came into close contact with the employee have been notified … Continued
Direct Current IPA, Surly’s fall seasonal, hums with an overload of hop flavor and character. Charged with generating an IPA that will light up your cooler, our brewers chose an electric blend of Galaxy and Vic Secret hops, overwhelming the grid with a juicy, orange-grapefruit jolt. The shockingly smooth finish ignites the palate and sparks … Continued
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March, Surly has had to adapt, change, pivot, and change again, all in the hope of pushing the two sides of the business–the Brewery and the Beer Hall–through this unprecedented situation and the economic disaster that’s followed. The Beer Hall had to make the most significant changes … Continued
As you might have heard, there’s no traditional State Fair this year. Yes, there’s a sold-out drive-thru version that allows you to approximate the gluttony in your Ford Focus, but the wandering bar/buffet/carnival/seed art gallery is postponed. No live butter sculpting (although you can watch a time-lapse video). No quest for free street parking. No … Continued
A lot of our favorite fall rituals are cancelled, postponed, or still up in the air. As we continue trying to make the very best of the very worst year, Surly Brewing would like to offer some alternatives that can pick up the slack until whatever “normal” looks like returns. COLLEGE FOOTBALL: From the Big … Continued
Surly’s BC Small Batch August release imagines a world where an IPA gets dry-hopped not once, not even twice, but three entire times. We call this brave new reality Trip Hop, and it’s available to all U.S. Surly markets. This massive attack of Lotus, Amarillo, and El Dorado hops isn’t tricky in the slightest, and … Continued
Welcome to Version 3.0 of Surly’s Beer Hall 2020, opening at 3 pm on Thursday, August 6th. We’re healthy and excited to get back to what we do best. Here’s what you need to know: CONTACTLESS ORDERING. No paper menus. Don’t leave your phone at home, you’ll need it to check the menu and place … Continued
The Menu: Surly Burger Double patties, American cheese, lettuce, red onion, fancy sauce, toasted bun. Served with potato chips. Philly Cheesesteak Smoked prime rib, whiz, beef-fat mayo, peppers & onions, toasted bun. Served with potato chips. Boar Bratwurst House-made boar bratwurst, beet mustard, cider braised onions, house-made brioche bun. Served with potato chips. Texas Hotlink … Continued
Welcome to the strangest goddamn 4th of July weekend ever. (OK, the 1776 one was also weird, but that’s because it was brand new and toilets weren’t invented.) As we all continue adapting to everything 2020 throws at us, one thing you needn’t worry about is which Surly beer pairs best with your holiday plans, … Continued
Like many of us, our BC Small Batch Series laid low this spring. But with summer here and a little more freedom of movement for now (wear your masks, people), we were able to flex our brewing muscles at the original Brooklyn Center brewery and send a new beer out into the world this week. … Continued
KNOW THE DIFFERENCE Saber-Tooth Tiger: an extinct tiger-cat, more accurately known as a Smilodon. Sabrotooth Tiger: a Sabro hop-driven IPA from Surly Brewing Co. The Sabro hop brings what we in the beer industry call “a hell of a lot” of flavor and aromatics to the table, with citrus, pineapple, and coconut character to spare. … Continued
As we dip our toes into the water of “being around other people again,” it helps to have an ice breaker. You can talk about whether you’re recycling or composting your formidable array of takeout containers. You can discuss the vacations you didn’t take. You can compare the long-delayed home projects you’ve finally completed halfway. … Continued
We put out a 2020 Brand Calendar way back in November 2019, as we looked forward to an exciting year of new beer releases and returning favorites that could be enjoyed with large groups of friends at gatherings, bars, and restaurants across Surly’s distribution footprint. So yeah. As the COVID-19 shutdowns tore through our industry, … Continued
We stand with our community in the fight for justice for George Floyd. We see the community’s pain from a critical lack of resources. We join the community in demanding justice, equality, change, and police reform. We’ve struggled with how to use our voice to support our community. We struggle with how to look past … Continued
Minnesota’s summer is roughly Memorial Day through Labor Day. The grills fire up, the patio furniture gleams, and the Drinking Beer Outside Season officially opens. With that in mind, please welcome Heat Slayer back to an ice-filled cooler near you. An ideal summer crusher, Heat Slayer is a crisp and refreshing Kölsch-style ale that finds … Continued
Minnesota Central Kitchen announced Surly Brewing Co. as its newest partner in the effort to address growing demand for food assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Surly Brewing is the fifth local organization to sign-on as a KitchenPartner, opening its doors to Minnesota Central Kitchen and transforming space in the kitchen of its Minneapolis restaurant to … Continued
Good news: We’re extending our Virtual Food Drive through May 8th to provide continued support to The Food Group as they provide emergency meals for families affected by COVID-19. The Food Group is participating in the #GiveAtHomeMN campaign, taking place May 1-8th. This GiveMN.org online fundraiser supports nonprofits and schools all across Minnesota. #GiveAtHomeMN is about … Continued
Surly Gives A Damn’s annual Earth Day Clean Up is cancelled due to sheltering in place, as working side-by-side to save our planet needs to be metaphorical for a while. However, there are still ways to observe the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day in a socially distant, environmentally positive way. We present… SGAD’s Six Tips … Continued
Surly entered the Arizona market roughly six months ago. Besides being welcomed with open arms and full pints, we also made friends with The Shop Beer Co., a fantastic independent craft brewer in Tempe. And when two craft breweries become friends, they make a collaboration beer. That’s just how it works, people. As it happens, … Continued
If you can remember as far back as 237 years ago to the 2019 holiday season, we ran a very popular gift card promotion wherein you could buy a $50 Surly gift card and get a $15 bonus card to do with as you please. We’re bringing it back. We’re not doing this because it’s … Continued
The emergence of COVID-19 and the resulting public health crisis has shaken us all to our very foundation. The response from health care professionals, government officials, and the public at-large to mitigate the rapid spread of the virus has been unprecedented. Here at Surly Brewing Co. we’re trying to make sense of the situation. We’re … Continued
The concept behind Stunner is simple: A hop bill that leans heavily on Amarillo, El Dorado, and Mosaic hops for tropical notes of mango, orange, and papaya. A hit of lactose to add some sweetness. And an overall easy-drinking profile that gives you a taste of the tropics in the comfort of your own home. … Continued
Surly releases a variety pack every quarter. It introduces new beer to the market, highlights some of our flagships, and gives Surly Nation a good idea of where the brewery’s head is at. Like everyone, our collective head is in a vastly different place right now. One thing we’ve found to be true is that … Continued
We were really looking forward to Opening Day at Target Field. On the brewery side, we had more locations and beers at the ballpark, including the major league debut of Grapefruit Supreme. On a personal level, more than a few Surly employees were going to spend Thursday at the yard, soaking in the return of … Continued
Minnesotans pride themselves on where they’re from and supporting each other when the rubber meets the road. In this time of extreme challenges and uncertainty, we’ve witnessed this compassion firsthand. We also know we need to keep at it. The Food Group, Surly Gives a Damn (SGAD) and 10 local liquor stores are providing an … Continued
The Zoom meet-up became an everyday feature of our lives just like that, didn’t it? While infinitely preferable to the other things that have come along with it (existential dread, Charmin deficits, inability to bomb the neighborhood bar’s TouchTunes with $10 worth of “All Star” on repeat), it’s been a bumpy process. We’d prefer not … Continued
Many of us are spending more time at home lately. And by “more time” we mean “all of it.” Watching daytime TV the other day (might have been Ellen or Dr. Phil or one of those shows where people sit at a table and talk over each other for like an hour), we saw an … Continued
We miss live music. We miss encores and wristbands. We miss First Avenue. As you know, First Avenue postponed or cancelled upcoming shows at all their properties due to the COVID-19 outbreak. It’s a substantial loss for them, their employees, the bands, and the entire community. What you can do: Buy First Avenue gift cards … Continued
Surly Nation, Providing you an environment that is clean, safe, and fun is what Surly Brewing and our destination brewery are all about. The coronavirus pandemic has required us to take action to make sure this is still an option and we’ve taken every step to ensure our doors will remain open for your drinking, … Continued
Surly is a long-time friend and sponsor of 30 Days of Biking, and as they enter their 10th year of riding, we’re proud to continue that. We’ll be sponsoring a weekly ride during the month of April at various locations around the Twin Cities, originating at our Brewery. All participating riders will receive a free … Continued
This Saturday (3/7), we’re encouraging Surly Nation to open their cellars, clear out their refrigerators, and Drink It Now. Our friends at Allagash Brewing in Maine introduced this concept, which we endorse without reservation: Beer lovers can end up with some amazing bottles of beer – whether it’s a bottle purchased on a vacation, one … Continued
Visitors to the Beer Hall marvel at the pierogies. Based on a dough recipe from Surly Chef de Cuisine Tom Beheba’s grandmother, they’re filled with a creamy blend of potato and gruyere cheese and dressed in horseradish crème fraiche, buerre blanc, and frisee. Sounds delicious! But you still need someone to execute the recipe. And … Continued
Three new Surly beers are hitting shelves this week. There’s the highly anticipated yearly variant of one of our most beloved beers. There’s also our monthly BC Small Batch release, which finds one of our Beer Hall favorites in cans for the first time. Oh yeah, and the other one is our newest year-round beer. … Continued
You may have seen that we’re putting Darkness Day on hiatus. Our reasons are here. Our goal is to resurrect it at our Minneapolis brewery when it’s legal to do so. The Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild is working to change our current laws and give consumers more choices. Currently, laws prohibit breweries that brew more … Continued
Darkness Day is over. For now, at least. The annual celebration of our legendary Russian imperial stout is officially on hiatus. The move from Brooklyn Center to Somerset, WI, while necessary to keep it safe and create a better experience, also made it very apparent that this event needs to happen here in Minnesota. And, … Continued
We’ve selected Surly’s 2020 Darkness Artist, and it is Minneapolis illustrator Barbara Guttman! We asked her for a brief bio to introduce herself to Surly Nation, and she obliged: “Barbara is a Minneapolis-based comic book artist, illustrator, and bone collector creating stories about monsters, witchery, and making the best of a bad decision.” Barbara’s work … Continued
There are many reasons to hold your wedding at Surly: the one-of-a-kind venue, the dedicated, on-site event coordinator, the state-of-the-art A/V system, everything. But today, we’d like to focus on two of the most important things: food and beer. The Food You have to eat on your wedding day. This is easy to say but … Continued
The most Overrated! thing in Minnesota? Minnesota Nice. Plucky upstart Duck Duck Grey Duck made a valiant run but was simply no match for our state’s peerless passive aggression. Thanks to everyone who voted and a reminder that a limited amount of Overrated! is on Minnesota/Dakota shelves and on draft at the Brewery. Online Form … Continued
The BC Small Batch series prides itself on experimentation, whether we’re aging Mexican lagers in tequila barrels or pushing the hop envelope as far as nature and our brewing equipment allows. February’s entry in the canon is no different. Brewing a bold and flavorful lager is an ambitious task, but we’ve never shied away from … Continued
The winners have their flights/hotel rooms booked. Our staff has the stamps and ink for your passports–look for the people in the red Surly beanies from Love Your Melon if you have any questions. Our Beer Garden is prepped, all our bar partners have their kegs (and in at least one case, a goat), and … Continued
Surly is a longtime supporter and sponsor of The Loppet Foundation. Surly Gives A Damn volunteers assist with everything from course construction to clean-up, and you can find us manning the taps in the Loppet Village at the Surly Beer Garden for attendees and competitors. Especially the competitors. This winter is no different, as Surly … Continued
If you’re familiar with our brewery, then you’re likely familiar with Surly Gives A Damn. Our charitable arm, SGAD focuses on giving back to the communities that built us, both in time and money. Stocking food shelves, planting trees, cleaning up parks, Toys for Tots drives, building an entire damn house–the list goes on and … Continued
So, you’re getting married. First of all, congratulations! You probably weren’t expecting a leading independent craft brewer to tell you this today, but it’s just the beginning of the positive difference Surly can make for your wedding. If you’re tying the knot in 2020, particularly in the fall or winter, Surly would love to host … Continued
Executive Chef Ben Peine and our culinary team revamped our daily Beer Hall offerings, adding new options to never-leave-the-menu favorites. All of them are available now and all offer an excellent reason to get out of the house this winter and try something new with your hog frites. MUSSELS—these return to our shareables section in … Continued
We’re not so different, you and I.
Surly’s first variety pack of 2020 is designed for these post-holiday months, as we trudge our way out of winter’s grip. There will be days where the temperature sneaks above freezing and you lose your mind a little. There will be days with a foot of damn snow and snarled traffic and you lose your … Continued
Our first seasonal release of 2020 stands out in a crowded IPA market by taking a little from the new school and a little from the old school for a beer that sends your palate swirling. Dots & Loops IPA finds common ground between citrusy and tropical flavors and a pleasingly bright and bitter bite … Continued
Making an approachable beer that still gives you the hop character and juiciness of a hazy IPA isn’t rocket surgery. It’s Rocket Surgery. This uncomplicated, easy-drinking ale has an abundance of Citra, Simcoe, and Amarillo hops and the juicy, citrusy flavor of a haze bomb twice its size. Debuting in our 2019 Hop Pack, Rocket … Continued
We’re headed to Breckenridge, CO later this week for the 20th Anniversary of the Big Beers Festival right in the heart of the Rockies at the Beaver Run Resort. Not only will Omar and Aaron bring some heavy hitters to Saturday’s main event, they’ll also be stationed at a number of pre-parties, which you can … Continued
When formulating Surly’s 2020 release calendar, we had a couple choices: Introduce a CBD-infused, barrel-aged, hard seltzer smoothie in cans that explode if handled by a non-first-born son, or Make hop-forward beers with undeniable flavor and aromatics, be they clear as a bell or hazy AF. We chose wisely. These three beers begin hitting shelves … Continued
Furious48 has some winners! Congratulations to Walter from St. Paul, Christopher from Bloomington (MN), Jared from Denver, and Eleanor from Chicagoland. They and their +1s will all be partying on our dime from Friday, January 31 to Sunday, February 2. But that’s not all. We’ve scheduled a weekend’s worth of activities and every member of … Continued
It’s the coldest and darkest time of year. When metal legend Avril Lavigne sang “It’s a damn cold night,” we felt that. What better way to cope than with pizza and pinball? This January and February, our friends at Tilt Pinball Bar are setting up a pinball residency in Surly Pizza Upstairs with a variety … Continued
When are we open? When are we closed? When are we open late? When are we closing early? Can I get on a tour? ANSWERS TO ALL THESE QUESTIONS ARE REVEALED BELOW: Monday, December 23rd Beer Hall: 11am – midnight Pizza: 4pm – 10pm Tuesday, December 24th – CLOSED Wednesday, December 25th – CLOSED Thursday, … Continued
Black cats skitter. Ladders loom. Mirrors break. Danzig writes a song that Johnny Cash covers. The calendar reads Friday, December 13. Disregard these ominous portents and remember: You make your own luck*. Let Surly make your beer. (*This does not apply to any counselors at Camp Crystal Lake reading this. You should heed these ominous … Continued
Our final BC Small Batch release of 2019 shares a name with one of our tattoo-loving staff’s favorite things. (Besides metal/hardcore bands with names your parents are iffy about.) Sharp and clean like an artist’s line, Fresh Ink packs a dangerously drinkable, sweet-tart punch. Blackberry and black currant puree elevate this imperial kettle sour, and … Continued
Thanksgiving is this week. You think you’re ready. You’re not. The armada of snowstorms, 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 in their quiet, gravy-laced menace. Here are the things to look out for, … Continued
Kim Syring is Surly’s Quality Lab Specialist, and performs the critical task of ensuring your Surly beer tastes good. With science. She was recently asked to give a presentation at the Master Brewers Association of the Americas Conference in Calgary, Alberta. Her topic: The development of controlled spoilage studies to determine microbial tolerance limits. Short … Continued
It’s that time of the year again. The quest for a perfect gift is underway. A thoughtful expression of love and friendship that delights and surprises the people in your life. But enough about them. What’s in it for you? Surly has your back. From Black Friday (11/29) through 12/31/19, every $50 in gift cards … Continued
2020. Just looking at that number, it feels like there should be jet packs and flying robot dogs. Instead we have *gestures at all the remarkably stupid stuff around us right now* this. Fortunately, there’s beer. Without further ado, let’s introduce the 2020 Surly Brand Calendar. NEW YEAR-ROUND BEERS Grapefruit Supreme. It started in our … Continued
The BC Small Batch series encourages our brewers to experiment with unexpected flavors and collaborate with our fellow independent craft brewers. November’s selection fulfills these expectations with a vengeance. Introducing Magic Formula for Peace, an imperial oatmeal stout with espresso and citrus, courtesy of Surly, Chicago’s Mikerphone Brewing, and Modist Brewing in the North Loop. … Continued
The response to Black Horsemen Danish-style black lager, our collaboration with metal legend King Diamond, has been astonishing. Fans from across the world (no, seriously: we just had a request from Moscow) have been asking how they can get the beer, including offers to buy used cans. While we can’t sell our beer online and … Continued
Surly Gives A Damn (SGAD) is looking to close 2019 out with a sustained barrage of damn-giving before and during the holidays, as we’ve lined up a series of events to flex our public service muscles. (If you’re new here, SGAD is the public-spirited side of Surly, dedicated to volunteer and charitable donation support in … Continued
Given our Upper Midwest home base, we’re often asked when Surly will be available in Michigan. After all, Ironwood is only two hours from Duluth (Deb from Ironwood has pointed this out to us a couple times on Facebook). Good news for Deb, Ironwood, and the entirety of the Lower and Upper Peninsula: Surly is … Continued
Yeah, about that. We updated our website last year. One of the things we updated was the field where you enter your email address to subscribe to the newsletter. IN THEORY: That email address gets routed to our newsletter service, and you get next week’s newsletter. IN PRACTICE: That email address got routed to the … Continued
The good people at Brew Pipeline and TapRm in New York City did a one-time drop of Axe Man out east this spring. The reaction was overwhelmingly positive, so much so that we’re doing a second drop with multiple brands this week. Expatriates and/or native New Yorkers who want to see what all the fuss … Continued
At first blush, there might not be many similarities apparent between Arizona and Minnesota; however, the two states share many important things in common. We love Larry Fitzgerald. We’ve all loaded up the Touch Tunes on a desperate Friday night with Gin Blossoms deep cuts. And there are significant chunks of the year where the … Continued
Is the West Coast the Best Coast? That’s not for us to say here in flyover country. But we absolutely love a good West Coast-inspired IPA, market trends be damned. That’s why we made Yummi Bear, our 2019 fall seasonal. You’ll notice it says “inspired” up top. Departing from the dank, resinous profile of a … Continued
The Great American Beer Festival is upon us. The annual Denver convention is a craft beer lover’s Wonka factory, with hundreds of breweries in attendance and just as many pre-parties, after-parties, probably some during-parties too. There’s a lot going on is the point here. Not only will Surly be pouring at the Convention Center throughout … Continued
Furious48 has some winners! Congratulations to Walter from St. Paul, Christopher from Bloomington (MN), Jared from Denver, and Eleanor from Chicagoland. They and their +1s will all be partying on our dime from Friday, January 31 to Sunday, February 2. But that’s not all. We’ve scheduled a weekend’s worth of activities and every member of … Continued
King Diamond is embarking on 23 black masses across North America starting Nov. 2. To make the tour even more memorable, King Diamond has collaborated with Surly Brewing Co., the Minneapolis-based craft brewery, for a limited release beer: Black Horsemen Danish-style black lager. The beer will be available at select venues within the Surly footprint … Continued
For some, going to Darkness Day weekend is all about being in the moment, and just letting the whole experience wash over you like a river made of imperial stouts. For others, it’s about making sure this guy, who we’ll call Terry, knows where the bottle shop is, when the bands are playing, and if … Continued
Seasons change. Summer turns to fall. Your buddy Kyle who wears shorts all the time begrudgingly wears jeans for the first time since April. Our Frost Pack eases the transition. The fourth Surly variety pack of 2019 features our Furious and Xtra flagships, a returning favorite from 2018, and a fresh new beer we’ve previewed … Continued
You’ve read about Darkness. You’ve read about the Variants. You’ve read about the guest breweries. You’ve read about the campground beers. Fine. That’s fine. But what have you done for us lately, Surly? Terrific question. Here are all the other beers Surly is bringing to the party on Darkness Day (Saturday, 9/28). Take a seat. … Continued
We now know what many of our friends are bringing to the Dawn of Darkness Beer Festival on Friday, September 27th–tickets here. Reminder: All these breweries are unavailable in Minnesota and western Wisconsin, and you can enjoy all-you-care-to-sample pours from 6-9 pm on Darkness Day Eve. We’ll have stouts, sours, a Shower Beer (no, really, … Continued
Halloween is a mere six weeks away. The 2021 edition of Darkness approaches, its arrival heralded by the son of Darkness, ruling at its baleful side with a dark energy all his own. Birthed in ritual and ceremony from the depths of our brewhouse, the beer known as Damien rises from the second runnings of … Continued
Our September BC Small Batch selection is a returning favorite, and probably the most hop-forward beer our hop-forward brewery makes. 3DH, a highly aromatic and flavorful triple IPA, is available to all U.S. Surly markets beginning the week of September 2. One difference from last year: there are more hops, somehow. Head Brewer Ben Smith … Continued
What started out as a closely fought battle between two titans of batter-slathered wiener-dom turned into a rout, as the Pronto Pup cruised to an easy victory over the corn dog in Surly’s Corn Dog vs. Pronto Pup showdown. The contest coincided with the Minnesota State Fair, the Upper Midwest’s premier event for deep-fried foodstuff … Continued
After a successful draft rollout in June, Surly is incredibly pleased to announce a full brand launch in St. Louis beginning the week of September 2.Online Form – DRI RTW FOR RFT “I’m not sure there is a market where we get more requests to bring Surly brands than St. Louis,” said Bob Repp, vice … Continued
After a successful draft rollout in June, Surly is incredibly pleased to announce a full brand launch in St. Louis beginning the week of September 2.Online Form – DRI RTW FOR RFT “I’m not sure there is a market where we get more requests to bring Surly brands than St. Louis,” said Bob Repp, vice … Continued
After a successful draft rollout in June, Surly is incredibly pleased to announce a full brand launch in St. Louis beginning the week of September 2.Online Form – DRI RTW FOR RFT “I’m not sure there is a market where we get more requests to bring Surly brands than St. Louis,” said Bob Repp, vice … Continued
Every year, we look at ways to make the great Darkness Day (Sept. 27 & 28, Somerset, WI, tickets here) experience even greater. Never too much of a good thing and all that. One of the ways we’re doing that this year: More packaged beer. Many of you understandably hold onto your Darkness and variant … Continued
Can a non-traditional craft brewery make a traditional Oktoberfest? That was the challenge Surly faced as we contemplated the kind of beer enjoyed for literal centuries, from Munich to Minnesota. As it turns out, the answer is “Hölle ja.” Surly Oktoberfest is rich, sweet, and malty up front, bookended by a clean, dry finish with … Continued
Every great temple starts with a simple foundation and rises to spectacular heights. Temple, Surly’s BC Small Batch beer for August, earns the comparison. It starts as a relatively uncomplicated imperial kettle sour. Then the going gets weird: It’s embellished with pomegranate, mango, and peach additions. Then the going gets weirder: A heap of vanilla … Continued
Certain things are matters of settled law in Minnesota. It’s hotdish, not casserole. It’s WILLmer, not willMAR. It’s “leave the barest sliver of a cake donut in the box in the break room” not “eat the whole thing like a regular goddamn human being.” However, one thing continues to drive a wedge between us. Marriages … Continued
There are multiple places to Get Surly at the 2019 Minnesota State Fair, from the Midway to Machinery Hill. Enjoy flagships like Furious and four beers brewed exclusively for the occasion: Onesie Twosie LuLu Lucy: We still have people visiting our brewery asking if we have the hazy IPA we brewed for LuLu’s Public House … Continued
We’ve already revealed the 2019 Darkness art, courtesy of Tim Chapman, our 2019 Featured Artist. It’s our privilege to share with you his art for our three Darkness variants. If you need a refresher on what those are: Double Stuffed Darkness–Rum Barrel-Aged Russian Imperial Stout with Vanilla Beans and Cacao Molé Darkness–Bourbon Barrel-Aged Russian Imperial … Continued
A select crew of Surly employees is headed south, as we visit Iowa for a whirlwind tour of some of the Hawkeye State’s finest craft beer destinations. We’ll be taking over taps, giving out swag, and asking to see the banished Cy-Hawk Trophy. Check out the schedule below:
Craft beer has always been about the hops, and in recent years that emphasis has only heightened: Single hop IPAs, experimental varieties, otherwise normal people with jobs and families who get into heated arguments about the merits of Citra vs. Mosaic on the internet where other people can see it. That’s why we’d like to … Continued
Demand, meet supply. The craft beer world’s bottomless desire for IPAs and hop-forward beers shows no signs of abating. Surly shares that thirst, and our latest variety pack is primed to quench it. Hop-heavy flagships Furious and Xtra-Citra are joined by two new contenders for cooler space this summer. Rocket Surgery A question our brewers … Continued
We encourage you to enjoy the impossibly refreshing Grapefruit Supreme all on its own. The bright flavor, gentle tartness, and crisp, citrusy finish make it an unbeatable crusher. That said, Surly’s in-house cocktail enthusiasts have also found it to be the perfect mixer. From basic drinks to complex cocktails, is there anything Grapefruit Supreme can’t … Continued
This summer, Surly encourages everyone to bring Xtra. Be it a party, cookout, wedding, pontoon, happy hour, family reunion, or a boiling-hot July Wednesday, Xtra-Citra brings an IPA wallop to the session beer party. When you bring Xtra, not only will you be the guest of honor wherever you go, you’ll join others throughout history … Continued
With certain beers, you just know. Surly wanted to brew a fruit-forward, lower-ABV beer for its second variety pack of 2019. It would be in market when spring started turning to summer and would be an ideal complement to the warmer weather. Many of our brewers are fans of German radlers, the oldest of old-school, … Continued
Seasonal summer beers, particularly in our part of the world, are often paired with bucolic imagery of lakes and cabins and canoes. We love a good pontoon beer too, but there’s another part of summer up here. The concrete and steel and heat of a city in the summer deserves a beer to call its … Continued
You can celebrate Twin Cities Pride and Get Surly at the same time this week! Here’s a rundown of how and where you can observe the occasion with us. TUESDAY, JUNE 18: Summer of Sound w/ Jana Shortal Our Tuesday DJ takeover in the Beer Garden features KARE’s iconic Jana Shortal, as she shares her … Continued
It’s time to make it official: Surly is expanding distribution to St. Louis starting the week of June 10. The initial launch will be draft-only, with bars and restaurants pouring core brands like Furious and Axe Man for Surly Nation’s newest outpost. “I’m not sure there is a market where we get more requests to … Continued
Surly loves a good, dark Mexican-style lager–we’ve even gone so far as to collaborate with our friends at Cerveceria Transpeninsular on one. Sun King Brewing out of Indianapolis shares that affection, along with our interest in what would happen if you tweaked this very traditional beer with a smack of dry-hopping and letting the situation … Continued
Excellence should be celebrated. Sustained excellence should be revered. The U.S Women’s Soccer team should be kings for life of all they survey. As they look to continue their domination of the Women’s World Cup this summer, Surly will be hauling our Big Ass TV (that’s its name, please be respectful) into the Beer Garden … Continued
Tim Chapman! Tim comes to Surly from St. Paul via Sydney, Australia. You know, the traditional journey that everyone takes. He’s creating label art for our 2019 Darkness line–the OG, the barrel-aged, and any variants. The art will be featured on bottles, posters, shirts, and at our annual Darkness Day celebration. It’s a full-fledged, paid … Continued
The people have spoken, and our May BC Small Batch launch will be (drum roll sound) exactly the same as April’s BC Small Batch launch. Space Race, a double dry-hopped hazy double IPA, rocketed off store shelves this month, moving as fast as any previous BCSB release. We know hazy IPAs are an in-demand style, … Continued
Surly is very proud to be a founding partner of MN United and an official member of the 2019 Black & Brew Collection at Allianz Field. There will be multiple places for you to Get Surly at Allianz Field all season long. Here’s a helpful map to guide you: We’ll also continue providing a pre- … Continued
What makes you Furious? This isn’t a question about what angers you the most. That could be anything–various global crises, insurance premiums, placekickers, etc. What we’re asking, as evidenced by the capital F, is: What makes you Furious? This started as an internal conversation at Surly. Our flagship IPA contains multitudes. It’s the beer that … Continued
Our April new release lineup is formidable, and rather than make you slog through a long introductory paragraph about hops and barley and the American West and the changing of the seasons, we’re just gonna tell you about ’em. Let’s go. SUMMER VARIETY PACK. We’re absolutely stoked for warm weather, and our Summer Variety Pack … Continued
We made it through winter. (Yes, we know it snows in April. Shut up, Matt.) This means it’s also baseball season, and you likely want to know where you can get Surly at the ballgame. Below you can find a map of all our can/draft locations. We’ll be serving Furious, Xtra-Citra, +1, Hell, and, getting … Continued
The arrival of April means spring thaws, baseball, and 30 Days of Biking. Surly is proud to once again sponsor The Joyful Riders in their campaign to get you, them, and everybody on a bike every day of the month. Take the pledge here. If you want to make Surly a part of your 30 … Continued
If you’ve ever put quarters down to reserve a turn on the Donkey Kong machine, made Gretzky bleed in your dorm room, or done the Carlton Dance in Fortnite, you need to cancel whatever plans you’ve made and check out The Science Museum of Minnesota’s Game Changers exhibit. It follows the evolution of gaming from … Continued
Surly constantly innovates and R&Ds new items and processes, and this is not limited to our brewery. The culinary team in the Beer Hall has spent these long, LONG winter months tweaking recipes, adding new menu items, and even traveling to a couple of America’s great food cities to learn, grow, and eat entirely too … Continued
Ice dams suck. You don’t need us to tell you this. As your roof sags beneath the weight of more snow and ice than should be legal, and with the forecast looking dire, Surly wants to make the best of your bad situation. Take a photo of your ice dam. Post it on Twitter, tag … Continued
Chromesthesia is a sense impression wherein someone hears a sound and sees/feels a color their brain associates with that audio cue. Often associated with genius, it seemed fitting to name our March BC Small Batch release Sound Into Color, as it’s a beautiful, brilliant beer. Complex, sweet-tart, and refreshing, this imperial kettle sour is brewed … Continued
Surly Rosé, our spring/summer smash of 2018, is back for 2019. The brainchild of Surly Head Brewer and unofficial rosé wine ambassador Ben Smith, this fruit-forward lager is unlike just about any other beer of its kind. Put another way, it’s a rosé-influenced beer that everyday beer drinkers like. “Over the last few years, we’ve … Continued
Surly Nation: Clear your schedule for September 27-28, 2019. Tickets on sale now!
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. … Continued
Next week, a select group of Surly employees is going to Colorado. Their mission, which they’ve chosen to accept: Drink Surly all over Denver. That’s not all they’re doing, obviously. Maybe they’ll hang out at the mall, go to Illegal Pete’s, pick up the things they forgot at the hotel during GABF. You don’t know. … Continued
The post-funeral meal is an Upper Midwest constant. Mourners gather in a fluorescent-lit church basement to nibble on hotdish, drink weak coffee, talk about the weather, and go to town on the star of the show (no offense Uncle Earl you sold a lot of insurance RIP): the rich, decadent dessert bars crafted by the … Continued
We get a lot of questions online. Some are more consistent than others: “What are your hours?” “Where are you located?” “Is Ben going to grow his mustache back?” In the last couple years, though, nothing has been quite as constant as “So, is Surly going to brew a hazy IPA?” The polite answer has … Continued
When we were looking to name our new rye IPA in 2018, we wanted it to have a sense of place. Given that it was coming out in the dead of a Minnesota winter, we settled on naming it after the record low temperature for Surly’s state of birth. We had no idea just how … Continued
BeerAdvocate is the largest online community of beer enthusiasts anywhere, and they love to rank beers. Not like. Love. As craft beer has exploded over the last decade, the sheer number of beers for that community to rank has also spiked. For example, there are over 34,000 American IPAs as of this writing. To put … 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. #5 is from brewer Brenton Tuominen. It’s called Osmotar’s Forest Mild. Who are you and where are you from? Brenton … Continued
We tracked how many damns Surly gave in 2018. (Not included are the Surly beers we bought for our volunteers at the end of the day, but rest assured that every one of them was well-earned.) We share them with you now. If you’d like to make a difference in your community (and get … Continued
So You Wanna Brew a Beer is a Surly pilot brewing program that allows non-brewhouse employees to experience the brewing side of the business. They’re fully immersed in the entire process, from formulating the recipe to sourcing the ingredients to creation. We even put some of it on in the Beer Hall for consumers–our last … Continued
In the landmark case of Jacobellis v. Ohio, Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart defined the difference between art and hardcore pornography as such: “I know it when I see it.” The search for Surly’s 2019 Featured Darkness Artist is underway. Who will it be? We’ll know it when we see it. (Your art, not hardcore … Continued
The polar opposite of a hazy IPA, a “brut” IPA is effervescent as hell. They get the bejeezus hopped out of them, with none of the bitterness associated with a West Coast-style hop bomb. The fruit-forward aromatics sparkle and pop. And, they’re dry. Really, really dry. Not in an unpleasant way, and when you do … Continued
Our first variety pack of 2019 welcomes the new year with a couple flagships, a favorite from 2018, and a new beer that embraces our Minnesota roots. The Thaw Pack is designed for these post-holiday months, as we trudge our way out of winter’s grip. There will be days where the temperature sneaks above freezing … Continued
The season’s upon us, whether you asked for it to be or not. In the tumult of work and school and shopping and travel, at some point you’re going to need to sit down, take a moment for yourself, and grab a pint. We offer the below Surly pairings for some of the situations that … Continued
The 2019 Surly Brand Calendar is early this year (for us, anyway). The reason? We didn’t want to wait and tell you about all the good shit. Here’s what’s what: WE’RE CANNING A HAZY IPA Don’t bury the lede, as they say. It’s called One-Man Mosh Pit, and it joins our year-round roster of beers … Continued
Grindcore is a ferocious blend of heavy metal and hardcore punk. It’s also the ideal name for our final BC Small Batch release of the year, a ferocious blend of in-your-face coffee flavor and subtle stout sweetness. If you’ve been to the Destination Brewery lately, you’ve noticed that we have a hell-ton of beers tapped … Continued
The haunting images and rising death toll from California’s Camp Fire are almost too much for anyone to process. The scale of the damage defies comprehension, and the need to assist survivors is immediate and ongoing. No one understands this more than our friends at Sierra Nevada Brewing, as the Camp Fire happened in their … 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 in their quiet, gravy-laced menace. Here are the things to look out for, … Continued
The story behind Wake N’ Haze, our collaboration with Champion Brewing, starts with Darkness Day. We invited a hell-ton of breweries to pour at our 2018 release party, and if they wanted to send some people along with their kegs, go ahead, we’d get an air mattress and some couches. One of the breweries who … Continued
Quality has always been a key priority at Surly Brewing Co. We strive for the highest quality in every corner of our business – from the experience and food we offer in the beer hall to the beer we package and send out to your favorite bars, restaurants, liquor stores, and your home. Our quality assurance … 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
The final Surly variety pack of 2018 lands this week, and it’s ideally suited to the coming months. We call it the Frost Pack, and it’s crafted to pair with the features of the season. As with previous variety packs, beers-for-all-seasons Furious and Xtra-Citra are included, along with two new ones exclusive to the 12-pack. … Continued
What October loses in light, it gains in Darkness. Throughout the month, Surly will be releasing several beers, each one darker than the last, in anticipation of our beloved Russian imperial stout. (Yes, we’re also releasing WET, our flat-out amazing fresh-hop beer made with 6000 lbs of fresh-off-the-bine Citra hops, and it is decidedly not … Continued
Key words and phrases you need to know about the 2018 version of WET. 6000 POUNDS: The amount of Citra hops that were harvested at Gasseling Ranches south of Yakima, Washington. A GIANT DAMN TRUCK: Where the fresh hops were placed after harvest. DWIGHT*: The truck driver who drove these hops from Yakima to our Brooklyn … Continued
If you were waiting to get your Darkness Day Bottle Package, stop. Online sales for both end at 5 PM Central on Thursday. If you need a refresher, or have somehow missed every part of our Darkness Day media blitz: Tier 1: Darkness Day Bottle Package: Campground access from 12 pm September 28 to 12 pm … Continued
There are three ticket tiers for Darkness Day 2018. We’ve had some questions about what each one entails. We have answers, along with a hell-ton of other information. TIER 3: General Admission (purchase here) $35 Campground Access & Site from Friday 12 PM thru Sunday 12 PM Darkness Day Eve Access–At 5 pm, the gates … Continued
The massive 2018 Darkness Day lineup can’t even be contained in one day. For the first time in history, the traditional Darkness Day Eve bottle share/campout will have its own metal/hardcore soundtrack. (Get your tickets right here.) Contained herein is a brief description of each band, a video, and a one-sentence review from Dr. Professor … Continued
“The trouble with a lot of triple IPAs is that I’ve never really had one I liked.” This, from Surly Head Brewer Ben Smith, was the hurdle to clear for making 3DH, the triple IPA that’s our latest BC Small Batch offering. “Finding one I truly liked was difficult,” said Smith. “They’re under-attenuated, too boozy, and … Continued
Darkness Day is different this year. For one, it’s no longer in the suburban business park where our original Brooklyn Center brewery sits—we moved it 45 minutes east to Somerset, WI. For another, Darkness Day covers a full weekend, with the party and music starting Friday night before we pack it up on Sunday morning. … 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
There are very few Minnesota institutions like the State Fair. You know how there are multiple Paul Bunyan statues here and people have hard opinions about which is the best one? This is like 12 days of that particularly regional pride, manifested in deep fryers, Holsteins, and free lip balm from the local paper. Now, … 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