Get Surly!
June 2014
Greetings!  

The Destination Brewery is Halfway Built

Seven months after we broke ground on our new $30-plus million Destination Brewery project, we're halfway done. The concrete is poured, the structural steel is up, and the roof is on. Not bad considering the crew was working through the coldest Minnesota winter in more than three decades. We've said it before, "the Surly way is not the easy way."

 

 

 

At least unlike the last time we built a brewery, Todd hasn't had to weld or assemble anything and Omar hasn't had to cut any concrete (or water mains). Needless to say, it's more enjoyable to sit back and watch the pros do the construction.

 

We're hoping to have you all in for a beer in the New Year, but until then we're going to be working hard to get this thing finished and get the brewery brewing beer. Bob Frei, the Project Superintendent at McGough Construction and Omar recently shared their thoughts on what it's like building the brewery at 520 Malcolm Avenue SE. As Bob said: "We're excited to be here because ultimately, we're making beer out here." 

  

Watch the interview with Omar & Bob here: http://youtu.be/CVlDRVL1pV0

 

Beam Us Up

We celebrated the hoisting of the last structural steel beam that will hold up our new roof earlier this month. We asked friends, family, employees, and the crew to sign the beam before it was installed. Then we all raised a glass to close the workday in what will eventually be the beer hall. Thanks to everyone who came out. 

 

Check out the photos here: http://on.fb.me/SWAXxT

The Power of the Pint, Three Years Later

Just over three years ago, a Prohibition-era law was changed, allowing us to pursue our dream of building a Destination Brewery where we could sell pints of our own beer.

 

We never dreamed of how big an impact this change would have on the state of beer. Since Governor Dayton signed the bill, more than 20 Taprooms have opened up around Minnesota (including ours in Brooklyn Center), helping a bunch of small businesses get started and helping Minnesota plant its flag as a great craft beer state.

 

This could not have happened without a lot of support from our bill authors, the late Senator Linda Scheid and Representative Jenifer Loon, an overwhelming majority of the legislature, and a lot of people who said "why the hell not!?" Thank you, Surly Nation!

 

We've Got One Executive Chef All-Day!

We're already planning for the opening of our beer hall and restaurant by hiring one of the most talented young chefs in the Twin Cities, Jorge Guzman, to lead our food and dining experience.

 

Linda Haug, Surly's Director of Restaurant Operations, said: "We needed an executive chef that not only had the experience in quality dining in volume, we needed an executive chef that could remain calm in the eye of this storm. We also knew that we wanted a candidate that had a commitment to create food that will equal the quality of our amazing beer. We have found all that in Jorge."

 

Linda, our Director of Restaurant Operations and Jorge, our new Executive Chef. 
 

Jorge has been the Executive Chef at Solera in downtown Minneapolis for more than three years. Starting in August, he will be the Executive Chef at our craft beer-inspired, chef-driven 100-seat full service restaurant, 300-person casual dining beer hall and 175-person event center, not to mention our two-acre beer garden, which will also be served by the kitchen.

  

Jorge said: "Building the Destination Brewery restaurant is going to be a challenge, but chefs are like brewers, we thrive on big challenges. I'm excited to build a team and begin collaborating with the Surly Brewing crew."

 

Check out Jorge's Interview with Mpls. St. Paul Magazine:

http://mspmag.com/Blogs/Dara/June-2014/Jorge-Guzman-Named-Chef-At-Surly/

 

The Executive Chef position is just one of many jobs that need to be filled before we open the doors to the brewery later this year. Keep an eye out for updates on Surly job postings on social media and our careers webpage.

Das Brauhaus

 

You can't brew beer without a brewhouse, and ours is going to be on its way soon. In case you're wondering 'what the hell is the difference between the brewery and the brewhouse?' Well, the brewhouse is the heart of the brewery, where the beer is made. It's pretty damn important.

 

For more than a year ROLEC, a world-renowned brewhouse manufacturer from Germany, has been building our brewhouse and tanks. Earlier this year, our Director of Brewing Operations, Todd Haug and Director of Restaurant Operations, Linda Haug, visited ROLEC and checked in on how things were going. They assured us that the brewhouse and tanks were looking aw�some. And big. 

 

 

Our Eye in the Sky

You can see the progress of the Destination Brewery anytime by visiting our Construction Camera at http://oxblue.com/open/surlybrewing/destination. Finally, a webcam that's safe for work. 

Dates For Your Calendar

Sync your beer-drinking calendar with ours: 

6/21: Surly Open at Blue Ribbon Pines - East Bethel, MN
6/26: Pig & Fiddle Beer Dinner - Minneapolis, MN
6/27: Beer Dabbler at Twin Cities Pride - Minneapolis, MN

6/28: UCare Tri-Loppet Festival - Minneapolis, MN
6/28: SGAD - UCare Tri-Loppet - Minneapolis, MN
6/29: Travail Kitchen and Amusements Block Party - Robbinsdale, MN
7/10: Surly Beer Run: Furious Five-Miler - Minneapolis, MN
7/11-7/13: Hopped Up Caribou Beer Festival - Lutsen, MN
7/19: Apple Adventure Beer Run - Brooklyn Center, MN
7/26: Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild's All Pints North Festival - Duluth, MN
8/1: Northgate Beer Tasting - Blaine, MN
8/7: Surly Beer Run: Furious Five-Miler - Minneapolis, MN
8/8: Brew at the Zoo - Apple Valley, MN
8/9: Mystic Lake Beer Festival - Prior Lake, MN
8/16: Monticello Lions Brewfest - Monticello, MN
8/21: Brew Love 2014 - Minneapolis, MN
8/23: Chipotle Cultivate Festival - Minneapolis, MN
9/11: Surly Beer Run: Furious Five-Miler - Minneapolis, MN
9/20: SurlyFest - Brooklyn Center, MN
9/20: Surly Trail Loppet - Minneapolis, MN
10/25: Darkness Day - Brooklyn Center, MN

See you drinking,
Surly Brewing Company