Tag Archives: Surly Brewing

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Surly Brewing Debuts #Merica! Pre–Prohibition American Lager

#merica!

Surly Brewing is debuting a new beer at the D4’th of July birthday bash show with Dillinger Four this Saturday at the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis. Surly thought a new summer beer was the perfect way to toast both birthdays at one great event. More Surly beers will also be on tap.

Doublewhiskeycokenoice from Dillinger Four on Myspace.

#MERICA! is a true ‘Merican beer – a pre–Prohibition American Lager with soft hops aromatics (probably Cluster) that is brewed with flaked corn, giving it a light–bodied subtle fresh corn flavor, 6% ABV. A summer beer perfect for celebrating ‘Merica and 21 years of D4.

Dillinger Four

It is unknown if #Merica! will be one-off, draft only, or appear in cans at some point. Let’s hope they drop the cheeky hashtag from the name and put it in cans. Personally, I would have gone with the traditional ‘Murica! spelling. But you know those Surly guys, always breaking from tradition.

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Surly Brewing Opens Brewer’s Table – A Stand-alone Fine Dining Experience at the Destination Brewery

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Surly’s Upstairs Restaurant Offers an Adventurous Menu, Beer Pairings & Takes Reservations

The last couple years for Surly Brewing has been crazy. Massive new Destination Brewery, incredible production and distribution expansion, and beer garden and hall with a full kitchen, and constant collaborations. One might think Surly would be very content with all this. Nope. Never content to just go big, Surly always tries to go over the top with everything they do. That is certainly case with Brewer’s Table, the new finer dining restaurant from Surly Brewing Company.
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Located upstairs from the regular Surly Brewing Beer Hall, the stand-alone restaurant premieres Friday, May 22. Brewer’s Table features an adventurous menu aimed at giving diners a full intimate eating and drinking experience at the facility.

Brewer’s Table falls within the Destination Brewery vision of Surly founder and president Omar Ansari to introduce a restaurant that explores new dishes and refined dining. Ansari says the name emphasizes the primary idea of the restaurant, where beer harmonizes with food to empower trailblazing pairings that showcase a pure and extensive representation of flavor profiles, of both food and beer.

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“We’re presenting a graceful yet casual finer dining venue where patrons can enjoy and be challenged by elevated foods,” says Ansari. “The quality and thought that goes into the food reflects the same passion we put into Surly beer — it’s all about serving exceptional food with exemplary beer.”

Ansari’s team on the project includes head brewer Todd Haug, hospitality director Linda Haug and executive chef Jorge Guzman.

“We are excited to introduce a dining experience where diners will have access to truly inspired plates that can be enjoyed in a comfortable and non-pretentious atmosphere.” says Linda Haug. “We are taking things to the next level yet still being accessible.”

Guzman and his chef de cuisine developed the menu for diners to enjoy dishes that can be easily shared or savored separately. The menu is Contemporary American. In beer terms that is akin to saying a beer is an American Strong Ale. It is a fairly ambiguous definition, but it tends to focus on ingredients, flavors, and execution. The Surly brand has never focused on staying within the style guidelines.

“The menu really sets us apart because of the challenge in pairing our food specifically with beer,” says Guzman. “Our goal is to take people to new territory when it comes to food meeting beer.”

Surly MenuLook for the menu to change often. Not only does this keep the dining experience fresh, but it is necessary with the focus on getting ingredients from local or well-sourced farms.

Like the Beer Hall beneath it and every taproom in Minnesota, Brewer’s Table may only serve Surly beers — and while this is necessary to adhere to state law, why wouldn’t they? Guests may ask servers will assistance if they would like to ensure their food selection is paired with the suggested Surly beer. Of course, food and beer pairing isn’t always about the perfect bite. Everyone has a unique palate. Do not be afraid to blaze your own trail. But, maybe save that for your second trip. I would certainly take the guided tour before exploring on my own.
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The space is located directly upstairs in the Beer Hall. It seats 85 and has an additional seats at the bar and outdoor deck. One of the nicest perks of this new space is the ability make a reservation. If you have tried to hit the Surly beer hall during peak hours you know it can be a wait. And while Brewer’s Table does some have walk up seating, you can make dinner plans ahead of time via open table.

Brewer’s Table opens this Friday, May 22nd. The restaurant hours are 5–10 p.m., Wednesday–Thursday, and 5­–11 p.m., Friday–Saturday.

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Surly Beer Hall Opens

On May 25th, 2011, Governor Mark Dayton signed into law a change to the three-tier system of Minnesota’s liquor laws to allow breweries to both sell their products on-site yet maintain the right to distribute beer to bars and restaurants. This proposed “Surly Bill” came after the announcement of Surly’s plans to expand into a new facility which was to include a restaurant and beer garden. Three and a half years later, Surly Brewing Company open its doors to the public at the new facility in the Prospect Park neighborhood of Minneapolis.

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The new location, sandwiched in between the two downtowns, is prime location just off of Metro Transit’s new Green Line and minutes away from TCF Bank Stadium and the University campus. Public transit users planning on going opening weekend should visit Surly’s website – Metro Transit is offering free rides to and from the brewery with a pass you can download and print.

It will truly function as a destination for Surly beer lovers both local and national. The brewery looks to offer a full lineup of Surly beers, including some taproom exclusives. You can still get your Furious on draft or any of your other favorites. I personally recommend the new West Coast IPA, Todd the Axe Man. It’s a fantastic single malt and single hop IPA.

The Surly Beer Hall kitchen, led by Chef Jorge Guzman, is offering up a small, but mighty menu featuring a variety of chef-driven, beer-focused food items. “It’s fuckin’ awesome!” says the new Executive Chef describing the excitement to be a part of such a large project.

Chef Jorge comes most recently from Solera, primarily a wine bar with a big focus on pairings. “Beer pairs better with food,” says Guzman, “it’s easier.” The wide variety of beer flavors and styles will allow Guzman more room to be creative with the menu and their pairings. “I’m scared as hell to have a project of this size, but humbled to be involved.”

The chef’s recommendations on pairings for the beer hall menu include the barbecue and Surly Furious or the Surly CynicAle with lighter dishes like the salads.

As for the brewing itself, Surly is over tripling its brewhouse size moving from 30 barrels (60 Kegs) to 100 barrels (200 kegs). The fermentation space is also upgrading 10 fold per unit, so Surly should be able to pump out a whole lot more beer to keep up with demand. At Brooklyn Center, Surly would only able to produce 42,000 barrels a year total. Todd Haug, head of brewing operations, says that the new location will aim to produce 1200 barrels of Surly’s flagship beer Furious every week.

Surly Brewing Co. has certainly taken a strong foothold and has become one of the centers of craft beer identity in Minnesota in the last decade. Now Surly aims at the national market and has begun distribution outside of Minnesota as well.

Follow me on Twitter @TCBeerDude for more news about MN Breweries

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SurlyFest 2014 – Recap

Rain or shine, you can be sure that SurlyFesters will show up in full-force. When the 7th Annual SurlyFest opened on September 20th at 2 pm, the crowd couldn’t wait to get in and rush past Gastrotruck and Natedogs to get their first sweet taste of their favorite Surly beers or taste one of a few new unique brewery offerings. Admission provided attendees with a commemorative half-liter glass beer stein, access to some fantastic beer, music, and 4 drink tickets.
Surly Fest 2014
The tap list included Furious, Bender, Cacao Bender, Cultivate (dandelion saison), Todd the Axe Man (IPA named for Surly’s Director of Brewing Operations and guitar shredder), and of course, SurlyFest. After filling their steins, the crowd was ready to hear some traditional Oktoberfest jams from none other than Alpensterne a.k.a.The Bratwurst Bros or get some grub from one of the food trucks.

Fest-goers spent the first 3 hours of SurlyFest basking in glorious sunshine, using the tents only for reprieve from the sun. At around 5pm, the sunny weather changed and hundreds took to the tents when the wind switched and the rain began to dump down. Hoards of beer fans drank and toasted each other, “Zicke zacke zicke zacke! Hoi hoi hoi!” Some of the brave stayed out in the rain, took to the puddle-filled dance area, and sang along while DJ Shannon Blowtorch pumped “Turn Down for What” from the speakers.

The 7th Annual SurlyFest came to an end as the rain let up. The tents emptied in a mass exodus, festers left the brewery grounds just as quickly as they had filled them 4 hours earlier. As the grounds emptied and the clean up crew followed behind them, a rainbow appeared. Not very metal for a brewery like Surly (don’t tell that to Dio). Perhaps it was a not a rainbow, but a Norse Bifröst symbolizing a bridge from the last SurlyFest at the old brewery to the new SurlyFest location at the nearly complete Surly Brewery in Minneapolis. Then again, maybe some unicorns just wanted to make last call.

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Photo Credit: Josh Shomion
Bilröst or Bivrost, is a burning rainbow bridge that reaches between Midgard (the world) and Asgard, the realm of the gods.
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Surly Darkness 2014 Artwork – Updated

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Surly Darkness 2014 artwork by Minneapolis artist Erica Willams has been released.

Erica’s macabre theme fits the tone of Surly’s Russian Imperial Stout, which is released around Halloween each autumn. This year Darkness descents on Brooklyn Center on October 25th. Are there people in line yet?

From the bottle:

The legendary Harpy tortured unwary travelers by stealing their precious food and drink. This year’s cruel creature defends her cauldron of Darkness with razor claws and dead stare of malevolence. Don’t mess with her Darkness.

She is hoarding this massively opaque barrel aged Stout screaming with notes of chocolate, coffee, dried tart cherries, vanilla, rye whiskey and raisins. The thick body of this Russian Imperial Stout finishes sweet, with a piney resinous hop character.

Dare if you will to open the bottle and steal the from the imagination of our 2014 Darkness artist, Erica Wiliams.

Update

Plenty of people picked up on the fact that Darkness is barrel aged this year. Brewer Todd Haug confirmed the fact on twitter. He also said that there will be even more Darkness than ever, about 30K bottles.


Surly Darkness 2014

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Surly Brewing to co-release collaboration beer, BLAKKR

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BLAAKR, an imperial black ale brewed in collaboration by metal brewing friends Three Floyds Brewing in Indiana, Real Ale Brewing in Texas, and Surly Brewing in Minnesota, will have a limited release in bars, restaurants and liquor stores in Minnesota starting Monday, February 24.
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BLAKKR (an old Norse word for ‘dark’ or ‘black’) was brewed at all three breweries, and will be distributed in all three breweries’ home markets. Real Ale’s BLAKKR will be available in four packs of 12oz cans, Three Floyds will be packaging the beer in bombers and Surly will be releasing BLAKKR in 16oz cans.

“The most metal Brew Masters felt compelled to learn about each other’s brewery processes, drink beer, listen to metal and brew the most metal beer ever. Black as the sky on a moonless night, BLAKKR has flavors of black licorice and bitter sweet hops with strong hop aromas of pineapple.”
– Todd Haug, head brewer at Surly Brewing

Surly Brewing will host a BLAKKR release party will be held at Grumpy’s Downtown Minneapolis on Monday, February 24 at 6pm. There’ll be BLAKKR on tap, as well as various other Surly specials on tap and live music.

BLAKKR DETAILS:
Style: Imperial Black Ale
Malts: Pale Malt, Carafa Special, Oats
Sugar: Brewers Crystals
Hops: Bittering – Warrior, Aroma- Simcoe, Centennial
Yeast: English Ale
OG: 22 P
FG: 4.5 P
ABV: 9.99 %
IBU: 85

Surly always does a great job with the art surrounding their beer, BLAKKR is no different. Surly’s Michael Berglund, was inspired by Medieval engravings of monsters and chimeras. (I had to look up chimeras, too.) He said: “The idea came from having to please three metal brewers—a three headed beast.” He said the symbols are from Medieval alchemy, and are, in order from left to right: water, alcohol, eternal darkness, fermentation, fire, flavor, pint, grain, trinity, boil, union (collab), carbon dioxide, metal, and wizard. Berglund added: “It’s up to the viewer to decide if the souls in the fire are burning, worshiping, partying, or just asking for a beer.” See if you can spot Berglund’s initials in the artwork after you’ve poured that bad boy into a clean glass.

BLAKKR

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Surly Brewing and Three Floyds to Release Blakkr

Surly Brewing Company has brewed another collaboration beer with Three Floyd’s in Indiana. However, this time they are bringing Real Ale Brewing from TX, in the mix.

The new brew is an Imperial Cascadian Dark Ale, or an an Imperial Black IPA, whichever you prefer. The jury is still out on how this “style” of beer will be known to future beer historians.

No word on when the beer will be released. The shortest day of the year is Dec 21st, and would be a cool day to launch a beer named Blakkr.

The beer will be available in 16oz cans in Minnesota, 22oz bottles in IN. No word yet on how this three headed monster will be packaged in TX.

Surly Brewing, Three Floyds, Blakkr

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Surly Brewing Company Re-Enters Chicago Market

Surly DarknessOnce upon a time Surly Brewing had a much bigger distribution footprint than it currently does. Way back then (3 years ago) the brewery was considerably smaller than it is now, and had to pull back to meet local demand. With expanded production, increased staff, and giant brewery on the way, Surly is beginning what is likely to be a long steady increase in growth and availability.

Beginning Monday, November 12th, Surly beer will begin to be available at Hopleaf, Map Room, and several other well known Chicago beer bars. The beer will be moved via Windy City Distributing, purveyors of many fine beers such as Port/Lost Abbey Brewing Company, Oskar Blues Brewery, and The Bruery.

The additional distribution makes a lot of sense, the Minnesota brewery is clearly focused on growth. My only question is how much of their specialty/seasonal beers will find their way out of the local market. Surly Brewing Co. has already cut back on volume of the special stuff. If there are bottles of Darkness sitting on the shelf at Binny’s and none to be found locally, the consumers that helped put Surly on the map won’t be happy.