Get Surly!
January 2015
Greetings!  
Surly Brewing Lost Its Biggest Fan
It's with heavy hearts that we let you know that Omar's father, Naseem "Nick" Ansari, passed away last week. Without his guidance, influence, and support, Surly Brewing wouldn't be what it is today. The brewery started out of the building that housed Omar's parents' abrasives business, which they built from the ground up while chasing the American dream. Nick pushed Omar to follow his dreams, and when Omar told him that he wanted to start a brewery, the news was met with a handshake and encouragement. There aren't words to describe how meaningful that was, and it set the tone and helped pave the path to where Surly is today.

Nick was incredibly proud of what Surly has become and thankfully was there when we opened the Destination Brewery to the public. Just a few weeks ago he was at the new brewery picking up empty glasses and helping out.

If you've been to either of the Surly breweries, attended a Surly event, or gone to a beer release party, you probably saw Nick. He was a near permanent fixture because he loved hanging out with Surly Nation. Chances are pretty good that he shushed you on a tour.

Nick's spirit is woven in one way or another into everything we've done at Surly, and how we've done it. His hard work, attitude, and determination helps define our mantra: The Surly Way Is Not The Easy Way.

http://archive.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=698424 
Surly MSP Is Up 'N Running 


The Beer Hall and Company Store have been open for a month! Thank you for your support through this whole process, we say it a lot but we mean it, we really couldn't have done any of this without you.

Back in 2010, we had a simple idea: Let's build a new brewery where we can sell folks our beer and a meal. To make that happen, we needed the support of so many people to help us change the law, find, design, and build a place where we can share the Surly experience. Now, after four years and a lot of hard work, it's here. Check out the Ox Blue Camera video here. 

 
To honor our opening of the new brewery the City of Minneapolis and Mayor Betsy Hodges proclaimed Friday, December 19 as "Surly Brewing Day". Council Member Cam Gordon was at the brewery to kick off our opening and read the proclamation. 

Thanks to everyone who came out to visit us over the last month.
 


Beer Hall Tips

Here's a few pointers to help you when you visit our new digs:

 

We do not take reservations, it's first come, first served. If there's a wait for a table, we'll put your name down and let you know when your table is ready. In the meantime, have a beer and take a look around.

Follow the new Twitter handle, @SurlyBeerHall to get updates on the Beer Hall, the menu, the beer list and more.
 
Get up-to-date info on what's on tap and what food we're serving at http://bit.ly/SurlyBeerHall.
 
You can get a beer at the 'Beer Only' line on the far end of the bar, without awkwardly squeezing between people at the bar.
 
Ditch the car and take the Green Line or if you're badass enough, ride your bike - we've got a lot of bike rack parking! We're really close to the Green Line Prospect Park stop and we're near the Dinkytown Greenway/University of Minnesota Transitway bike paths.

If you must drive, please note there are No Parking areas around our brewery, in particular across the street. DO NOT PARK IN NO PARKING AREAS. It's as simple as that. We like it when our neighbors like us. Also, there is a stop sign at the transitway so please abide by that, those big buses coming in each direction do not stop.

We also added valet service Wednesday through Saturday but seriously take public transit if you can.  

Surly Sweet Tooth

We've got dessert (other than beer) at the Beer Hall! That's right, you can drink, get a meal and get some dessert (if you have room). Pastry Chef Kayla Baumler and the team came up with some awesome desserts:

 

Surly Devil's Work Gateaux

Banana Cream, Chocolate Buttercream, Cocoa Nib Crunch

 

Potato Chip Kettle Corn Sundae

Izzy's - Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Chocolate Ice Cream, Salty Caramel, Chartreuse Hot Fudge

 

Warm Pineapple Frangipane
Poached Pineapple, Pink Peppercorn, Salty Coconut Toffee Sauce, Blood Orange, Vanilla Marshmallow

 

Vanilla Crème Brûlèe
Seasonal Shortbreads

 

You can check out the full lunch, dinner and kids menus at http://bit.ly/SurlyBeerHall.

Abrasive Is Here

Thanks to everyone who came out last week for the Abrasive release party at Pub 42 in New Hope and Pinstripes in Edina. 

 

Abrasive started going out to liquor stores and bars yesterday, January 19. Look for it at your favorite bars, restaurants and liquor stores over the next few months.

 

Beer Details:

Double IPA 8.8% ABV
Hazy gold in color, this Oatmeal Double IPA has intense candied pineapple flavors and aromas. The oats greatly enhance the body and help balance the hop bitterness. Citra hops are used for aroma and dry hopping and Warrior hops are used for bitterness.


Surly Doomtree Merch 

We now have Surly Doomtree merch on our web store as well as in the Company Store at the new brewery.    

We've got a beanie, men's and women's t-shirts, hoodie, pint glass, and a poster, all featuring the artwork created collaboratively by Surly's creative director, Michael Berglund, and Doomtree founding member and artist, Cecil Otter.  
 
And yes, it's perfectly acceptable to wear Surly Doomtree clothes, while drinking Surly Doomtree beer out of a Surly Doomtree glass, while listening to Doomtree.
 
Head to the Company Store (Sunday - Thursday from 11am-11pm and Friday and Saturday from 11am-12am) or get Surly Doomtree merch on our online store.

Doomtree Album Release Crawl  

On Tuesday, January 27 Doomtree will be releasing its new album, All Hands. To celebrate, the crew will be hanging out at local venues in the Twin Cities before heading to the Surly MSP Beer Hall at 8pm. Check out where they'll be and get info on where you'll be able to get a pint of Surly Doomtree: More info at Doomtree.net.

 

10:00am - Glam Doll Donuts (2605 Nicollet Ave. S.)

They'll be serving a special All Hands donut made for the occasion and the Doomtree crew will be making some announcements that you won't want to miss.

 

12:00pm - Muddy Waters (2933 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis)

Doomtree will be doing an album christening by breaking a bottle of champagne like they're launching an ocean liner. You can also get some Surly Doomtree on draft and pizza.

 

4:00pm - The Depot (17 North 7th St., Minneapolis)

Head to The Depot to hang out with the crew and drink some Surly Doomtree on tap.

 

6:00pm - Electric Fetus  (2000 4th Ave. S., Minneapolis)

The Doomtree crew will be hanging out in the store signing albums and posters.

 

8:00pm - Surly MSP Beer Hall (520 Malcolm Ave. SE, Minneapolis)

The Doomtree crew will head to Surly MSP to hang out and drink some beers.





 

Swarming With Surly 

You can get Surly at Minnesota Swarm home games at Xcel Energy Center this season. They'll be selling Furious, Hell and Bender at various sections:

 

Furious & Hell Draft: Section 103 and 117
Furious Cans: Section 104, 105, 115, 125, and in the Fan Zone Bar & Grill
Bender Cans: Section 103, 105, 117, 125, and in the Fan Zone Bar & Grill
All Along The Witch Tower

We have a new beer on tap at Surly MSP - Witch's Tower. It's a low alcohol, sessionable brown ale that is driven by the contributions from toasted green cardamom pods and toasted ash wood. 


Green cardamom pods are frequently used in Scandinavian and Indian cuisine and offer an intensely fragrant and unique mint-like spicy flavor that verges on sweet with a hint of licorice.

Overall, the beer has a mild, malted milk chocolate aroma that lives only in the nose: the flavors across the tongue are driven by the cardamom. It's reminiscent of mint chocolates with a tingly, cleansing spiciness that lingers on the tongue.

The name is a nod towards our neighbor to the south, the Prospect Park Water Tower. More commonly known as the Witch's Hat Tower, it dominates the local landscape. 
Get Surly At The City Of Lakes Loppet Ski Fest

We're a sponsor of the 2015 City of Lakes Loppet Ski Festival and we're going to be serving Surly throughout the weekend to celebrate.

 

The Loppet kicks off on Friday, January 30 and runs until Sunday, February 1. We're going to be pouring beer in the Big Tent in the Loppet Village near Lake Calhoun Center on Friday from 5pm-9pm, Saturday from 10am-10pm and Sunday from 10am-4pm. We'll also be pouring at a second location near the lake on Calhoun Parkway on Saturday from 10am-5pm.  

 

If you're a Comcast Luminary Loppetparticipant, make sure to stop by the Post-Luminary After Party in the Big Tent after the event for a free 12 oz. pour from 7pm-10pm. Free tickets for this can be picked up at the Beer ID & Ticket Tent near the Surly pouring station in the Big Tent (ID required). See you drinking!


   

New Year's Resolution: Give A Damn And Do Good 

If your New Year's Resolution was to become a better person, help out more in your community and drink more beer, then you should come and Give a Damn with us in 2015. There's going to be lots of opportunities to make the world a better place, one beer at a time.  

 

On Monday, December 29 we held the annual Surly Memorial Blood Centers Drive and reached our goal of 54 pints of blood! Thank you to everyone who gave a damn and came out. On Thursday, January 8 we also went out to Open Arms of MN Kitchen and shredded chicken, bagged up fresh salads and packed hot meals and desserts.  

 

  

We'll be heading to Habitat for HumanityReStore on Tuesday, February 3 from 5pm-9pm and will need 30 volunteers to help with the ReStore ReSet. The ReStore (Twin Cities Habitat store which sells home improvement and household goods) will be shutting down for a few days in order to 'ReSet' and rebuild sections of it to make it better for its clientele. We will help the ReSet and ReBuild. The sign up will be posted today, January 20 on the  SGAD webpage and on Facebook and Twitter. 

 

Get more info online and check out this video to learn more about SGAD: http://bit.ly/SGAD-Video 

'Wolves Beer O' The Game: The Devil's Work

There'll be a 'Surly Beer of the Game' at the Timberwolves game at Target Center on Saturday, January 31 when they take on LeBron, Kevin Love and the Cleveland Cavaliers. They'll be pouring The Devil's Work, our robust porter brewed with blackstrap molasses, star anise and dry hopped with Sterling hops, at the Surly cart in section 106. You can also get Furious and Hell in sections 111 and 229, and in the Backcourt Club at all games.

 

 

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs  

We're nearing 200 employees and still hiring! If getting a new job at a place with great beer is your New Year's resolution, check out the openings and apply on our website: bitly.com/SurlyCareers. Here's what's open:

  • Back of House: Expo and Lead Event Cook
  • Brewing (Brooklyn Center): Cellarman and Shift Brewer
  • Front of House: Event Center Staff

Check out our LinkedIn page thingy HERE and check out our job postings and submit your resume to our website HERE.   

Dates For Your Beer Drinking Destiny

Here's where you can #GetSurly in the near future. Want more info? Check out our new events section at surlybrewing.com. You're welcome.

 

1/22: Surly Meets High West at Bluestem Bar - Minneapolis, MN
1/22 - 1/24: Crashed Ice - St. Paul, MN
1/24: SGAD: The Loppet Foundation, West side of Lake Calhoun - Minneapolis, MN
1/27: Doomtree Album Release Party at multiple locations - Minneapolis, MN
1/29: Doomtree Show with Surly Doomtree Beer at Grandma's Sports Garden - Duluth, MN
1/30: Firkin Friday at Grumpy's NE - Minneapolis, MN
1/31: Timberwolves Beer of the Game at Target Center - Minneapolis, MN
2/3: SGAD: Habitat for Humanity ReStore - New Brighton, MN
2/4: Tap Takeover at Mackenzie Pub - Minneapolis, MN
2/5: Surly Beer Dinner at Gold Nugget Tavern & Grille - Minnetonka, MN
2/6: Overrated Firkin at Lola's Lakehouse - Waconia, MN
2/10: Northgate Liquors Presents Surly Seminar - Blaine, MN
2/11: Surly Brewing Presents Napalm Death, Voivod, Exhumed, and more at Amsterdam Bar and Hall - St. Paul, MN
2/18: Double IPA Throwdown at Grizzly's - Plymouth, MN
2/19: Surly Brewing Presents Swami John Ries and The Blind Shake at the Turf Club - St. Paul, MN