Omar Ansari

Surly launches SeVIIn, their seventh-anniversary brew

Surly, the Brooklyn Center brewery with the ravenous cult following and huge presence in the local beer scene, is celebrating its seventh anniversary with a party at the Varsity Theater. The star of the party is, as always, the beer, and Surly looks to keep up its tradition of doing something differ ... More >>

Surly confirms Prospect Park for new brewery location

The deal is done, and if you live in the Prospect Park area of Minneapolis, you'll be getting a new neighbor. MPR reported yesterday that craft brewery Surly Brewing Co. has confirmed the purchase of an eight-acre plot of land near the Minneapolis/St.Paul border and will begin building its $20 milli ... More >>

Surly Overrated release party is tomorrow

In what turned out to be a Kaufman-esque (Andy, not Charlie, though we'd be interested to see that too) publicity stunt, several months ago Surly pranked the surprisingly stuffy beer community by leaking fake label art for its upcoming West Coast IPA called Overrated. After the pastel unicorn-sparkl ... More >>

Surly pranks beer community with unicorn label art for its forthcoming West Coast IPA, "Overrated"

Earlier this month, artwork for Surly's forthcoming project, a West Coast IPA it's calling "Overrated," hit the internet.Surly responded to the leak in its newsletter, and explained that the image going around wasn't the label the brewery had wanted. Their initial vision, Surly said, had been nixed ... More >>

Beer maker Nathan Berndt: Brewing "the Indeed way" in Northeast

There's no doubt about it, the Minnesota brew scene is booming. Indeed Brewing Company, which first opened its doors last winter, was the first brewery in northeast Minneapolis. Now there are three. The Hot Dish caught up with co-owner Nathan Berndt to talk about the company he helped found with lon ... More >>

Met Council approves $500k grant for Surly's new destination brewery

Surly announced plans for its $20 million dream brewery in February 2011, before it was even legal for breweries to sell their own in Minnesota.So then the brewery successfully lobbied to change the law. After that, what was convincing government agencies to fund the $2.5 million in estimated enviro ... More >>

Fulton's Brian Hoffman says brewery is already at capacity

Over the past few years new breweries, brewpubs, and contract brews seem to spring up monthly. As so many new companies start up, the market share continues to show room for growth. The Hot Dish sat down with Fulton Brewery's co-owner Brian Hoffman and two pints of the Ringer to talk about Minneso ... More >>

Best of Hot Dish: November 5-9, 2012

There is no better cure for your political hangover than the latest local food and drink news. Here's what's been happening this week at the Hot Dish. ~Legendary Uptown hotspot Figlio has been resurrected in St. Louis Park. Take a tour and read our review.~We share a cornucopia o ... More >>

Surly founder Omar Ansari on the MN brewing scene and "what makes a Surly"

When Minnesotans think of the recent boom in microbrewing, it's hard not to think of the 2005 upstart Surly Brewing, whose distinct marketing, award-winning, and high-demand beers have helped lead the revolution. The brewery has taken the reins on the growing scene, with Surly founder Omar Ansari se ... More >>

Powermad's Todd Haug on brewing Surly beer, Minnesota metal, and Dave Chappelle

The Twin Cities have long had a burgeoning independent metal scene, but few breakout stars. In the '80s, Powermad benefited from the major label rush to take advantage of aggressive trends and briefly joined the Metallicas and Slayers of the world. The group recorded a pair of records at Prince's Pa ... More >>

Surly launches Bandwagon, a beer exclusive to Target Field

Right after reporting on some of the food and drink items that are new to Target Field this season, we received a tip that should prove very exciting for fans of Surly Cynic, Bender, Coffee Bender, Bitter Brewer, and Hell -- all available on a rotating basis throughout the season in section 124. Sur ... More >>

Muddy Waters transforms into restaurant and bar

Iconic coffee shop gets new digs

SurlyFest vs. Summit Brewing 25th Anniversary Party: a beer drinker's dilemma

Summit vs. Surly: Clash of titans!​Locavore beer drinkers will be facing the mother of all dilemmas this fall: Surly Brewing Company's annual SurlyFest is falling on the exact same day as the Summit Brewing Company's 25th Anniversary Party. What's a hop head to do?

Gov. Mark Dayton proclaims tomorrow "Linda Scheid Day"

Senator Linda Scheid began her career in Minnesota politics in 1976. ​At sunrise tomorrow morning, all the flags at state and federal buildings throughout Minnesota will be ceremonially lowered to half-mast. That's because Tuesday has been proclaimed "Linda Scheid Day," in honor of the Brook ... More >>

Sen. Linda Scheid honored at Power of the Pint party [VIDEO]

Surly Nation celebrates the taproom bill and honors its biggest champion.​Despite the rain, Surly Brewing Co. fans came out in droves to the "Power of the Pint" event in Brooklyn Center, a celebration of the passage of the Surly bill. Scattered throughout the brewery and tented outdoor bar were b ... More >>

Surly's "Power of the Pint" party this Saturday

Shaking off the Prohibition-era laws with Surly.​Tuesday, May 24, was a historic day for Minnesota craft beer brewers, as efforts spearheaded by Surly Brewing to pass the so-called Surly Bill became law, allowing breweries producing less than 250,000 barrels of beer a year to sell pints on site. ... More >>

Power of the Pint

Jim Diley from Fulton Beer explains how the Surly bill becomes a taproom [VIDEO]

Jim Diley standing behind his future taproom bar.​Local beer lovers celebrated when Surly Brewing Co. owner Omar Ansari successfully got the taproom license bill passed. But, that's not the end of the process. The guys at Fulton Beer could be the first proud owners of a taproom license, so w ... More >>

Surly bill is now law

Victory!​Raise a glass, beer lovers--the Surly bill is now officially law. With one fell swoop of his pen, Gov. Mark Dayton has made it legal for brewers to sell pints of their own beer in the state of Minnesota. "We just appreciate all the support from the craft beer scene, the Minnesota Be ... More >>

Gov. Mark Dayton supports the Surly bill

The fact he can't have any doesn't hold Dayton back from supporting Surly.​The Minnesota Legislature has finally finished hammering out the differences between their two versions of a liquor omnibus bill, and the finished product is now heading for Governor Mark Dayton's desk. Contained in it ... More >>

Surly bill passes Senate floor vote 60-0

Sen. Chris Gerlach explains the liquor package and Surly bill to a full Senate.​This afternoon, the Surly bill sailed over its final legislative hurdle and is poised to become a law. Just hours ago, the Senate voted unanimously for passage of its omnibus liquor bill, which included the popular ... More >>

Minnesota Beer Activists fight for your drinking rights

Lobbying for booze one beer at a time

Surly bill passes House floor vote 127-5

The Surly destination brewery dream that started it all.​Beer lovers, rejoice! Moments ago, the House passed the Surly bill by a landslide vote of 127-5, a moment many craft beer fans feared would never come to pass. Minnesotan brewers are now one giant step closer to opening taprooms on-site at ... More >>

Surly bill packaged in House omnibus liquor bill

One step closer to a reality?​Last night, the House Commerce Committee officially passed its version of an omnibus liquor bill package, and the Surly bill was front and center. While the legislation allowing brewers to sell their own pints was initially controversial, it found lots of support fr ... More >>

Surly provision in House omnibus liquor bill is ready for approval

The House committee was too busy arguing to get Surly yesterday afternoon.​A long argument over a car insurance bill prevented the House Commerce Committee from approving its version of an omnibus liquor bill yesterday afternoon. However, the House version is now public and it does contain the Sur ... More >>

Surly Brewing Co. receives a gigantic delivery [VIDEO]

These tanks at the Surly brewery will soon have new brothers and sisters.​While the Surly bill meanders its way through the legislative process, time and beer wait for no man. Today, Surly Brewing Co. owner Omar Ansari posted some videos of the expansion of his Brooklyn Center brewery -- includi ... More >>

Surly bill packaged in Senate omnibus liquor bill

Beer today, gone tomorrow for the Senate Commerce Committee.​It was a cold and windy day at the Capitol today, but inside there were nothing but blue skies for the Surly bill.With little discussion, the Senate Commerce Committee folded the "brewer taproom license" bill into a larger omnibus liquor ... More >>

Surly Brewing Co. bill clears House committee [VIDEO]

Omar Ansari's dad Naseem and Rep. Jenifer Loon outside the House committee hearing.​The Surly Brewing Co. bill got a slightly different treatment in the House Commerce committee's basement hearing this afternoon. A new onetime opponent's voice was heard, and Surly owner Omar Ansari got a bit o ... More >>

West Bank Brewing Association hosts discussion of beer laws

Tip back a few of these and talk brewing laws.​Whether you're finding yourself fired up about or confused by all the recent discussion of brewing laws, Something's Brewing next week that you might want to check out. The West Bank Brewing Association, a U of M student group, has assembled spe ... More >>

Surly Brewing Co. bill clears Senate committee [VIDEO]

Surly owner Omar Ansari testifies alongside Sen. Linda Scheid and Fulton Brewing owner Ryan Petz.​In what was for the most part a very friendly hearing, the so-called Surly bill has passed its first hurdle. "It's a rollercoaster," says Surly Brewing Co. owner Omar Ansari of the process. "There h ... More >>

Mayor R.T. Rybak calls for changing beer law

R.T. Rybak is slinging guns so Surly can sling suds.​In his state of the city speech, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak made his strongest endorsement yet of a change to local liquor laws proposed by Surly Brewing Co. "Beer is a part of our history, beer is a part of our future," he said. "We need ... More >>

Surly Brewing Co. bill unveiled

Surly Brewing is one step closer to building the hoppiest place on earth.​Today, the language of a bill that will enable Surly Brewing Co. to build a huge $20 million destination brewery was revealed. The concept now has authors, a bill number and -- possibly -- a chance of becoming law. "He ... More >>

Surly's $20 million dream brewery: A first look

The $20 million house that suds built--someday.​The local beer community is buzzing with news that Surly Brewing Co. has hopes to build a $20 million brewery and restaurant. The operative verb there is "hopes." Although they've got the vision and the sketches, they've got to change Minnesota law ... More >>

Surly Brewing celebrates five years

Surly is five!​Five years ago this month, Omar Ansari and Todd Haug launched Surly Brewing--a named that represents the anger they felt when trying to find good beer. They're celebrating their anniversary with a month of fan-appreciation parties, hosted by some of the bars and restaurants that ... More >>

612 Brew, Fulton Beer, Surly, and the craft beer renaissance

Raise a pint to local breweries

Minnesota's craft beer renaissance

Surly, Summit, Brau Brothers among the intoxicating additions to Minnesota culture

Surly Bitter Brewer released at Common Roots tonight

Also, are they really, possibly ALMOST OUT OF FURIOUS??? Or is this an awful April Fool's joke?

Surly Nation

Need a drink? Yeah, It's been that kind of month. So how about a local surly ale?

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