Inside Surly's new $30M Facility

Are they still serving cans of Abrasive? Headed up there now.

 

I was there around 3pm, and they were not, sadly.

 

I am going to try to make it to Surly's sometime prior to New Year's Eve. How packed has it been the last couple of days? I'd prefer if it wasn't completely crazy...

 

Here's my brief review of the new brewery as I saw it today for the first time.

Location may be tough to find for people not familiar with the area or Surly in general. Casual guests may struggle to get in and out. Surly enthusiasts are sure to locate the brewery with ease. The old industrial park where the brewery sits is a pretty cool area. There are a lot of abandon buildings near by and I found myself really taking the scenery in. The new brewery is industrial and new in a sea of empty and run down buildings and I liked it.

There's a lot of parking in the area but I'd imagine when the temp goes up parking will be a problem. There is a heavy amount of bike parking for those who ride back and forth. The light rail is also a cool option as an alternative to driving.

I was there to try out the whole experience and not just pop in for a brew and leave. We got to the brewery around 2pm, much later than I wanted but it was just fine. There was a ton of cars in the lot and I thought to myself, Surly was packed. I walked in and right in front for people to see is part of the new brewery and all the equipment and it's a pretty cool sight to see.

We looked around a bit to get the feel of the new digs and it was pretty amazing to see the leap forward from the old brewery that I'd been to a handful of times.

There was a 30 minute wait for a table and I thought it was pretty good for the amount of people in the beer hall area. I asked the hostess if Abrasive was available and she said no, rolling out that brew was to appease the opening night and following nights crowd.

We went over to the beer line and there was about 25 people in line but it moved pretty quick. I'd say I was in line about 7-10 minutes maybe less. Surly was out of Eight and Devils Work so I couldn't try those but Todd the Axe Man was there to cure my sorrow. The Surly staff was polite and prompt at the beer line. I know some have expressed otherwise and I can see how that can happen with how busy it was. The beer hall was packed and the tables were full.

We walked around the new place for about 25 minutes upstairs and downstairs and through the merch area before we got seated. Seating was on a park bench/table type seat. We ordered 3 menu items; a snack and two meals to share. We got the hog frites, Surly burger and the brisket sandwich. The wait staff were nice and helpful. After we ate, we bummed around the brewery a bit more to take it all in. The upstairs was all open, as was the exterior deck area. We took a lot of time looking at the new brewery equipment and trying to figure out what it all did. After about an hour of hangin out, it was time to call it a day.

Things I liked; awesome location, cool brewery layout, a lot of space, hog frites and of course the beer.

Things I didn't; poorly lit, the burger (no choice on preparedness), fries (seemed like fries you can get anywhere with Lowrys on it) the brisket sandwich (overdone) and the seating. Sitting arm and arm with strangers isn't the best for me. However, this may be intentional to generate a good time or conversation with others and in that sense, it's cool.

 

I hope they have Abrasive on tap eventually, and at a good price! I'm finding it quite difficult to find fresh Surly at liquor stores... Month, or even several month, old Abrasive is good, but nothing like week or day old Abrasive!

 

I'm confident that it's gonna be awesome as soon as the crowd is split in half.

Great to see the BC staff behind the bar. I hope they're finally gettin the tips that they've earned over the years.

 

Anyone else not like the menu? It irritates me how yuppie it is. For instance don't say Frites the majority of your customers are not French and, since you are in the USA say fries like everyone else. Saying things in French does not make the food better, nor does it make you more cultured, it makes you seem like an arrogant jerk. Also please get some normal food on the menu for Pete's sake, who the hell goes to a brewery thinking yes I would love some fresh goose/duck liver aka Foie gras? It's beer lets keep it simple! Have awesome ingredients to make awesome basic food (Town Hall). Don't put exotic food in a beer hall! If I want exotic food I'll go to a restaurant that serves exotic food! If I want upscale food I'll go to the Ruth Chris or something equivalent! Surly stop being something you are not!

 

I don't understand why this pisses you off so much. This is obviously supposed to be more than just a brewery. And how is terrine exotic? It's glorified spam. And I, for one, would have dove head first into that duck terrine (I really doubt it's "foie gras") had they not stopped serving food before I got in. You might as well give them shit for serving their beer in stemware and for not being bland, yellow, corn water. Excuse them for doing something ($30,000,000 worth of something) with a little extra class.

 

so, this is not a criticism, I have yet to visit this place, Ive just been chatting with folks trying to figure out how this place differentiates itself from a brewpub. Why can Surly do what they do but town hall, and fitgers cant distribute? i was under the impression that you can have one or the other but not both...? anyone know the loophole?

 

Oh for fucks sake...

 

I heard they have tacos. GO BACK TO MEXICO JOSE GUZMAN!!!!

#foxfoodchannel

 

Point well taken. I have no problem with a little extra class. In my opinion they have gone to far. They are serving food you would normally see in a 5 star hotel restaurant in France i.e. FOIE GRAS FRENCH TOAST. There's nothing wrong with that if Surly was a hotel restaurant in France. While I am certainly not saying that Surly should be exactly like everyone else, a more reasonable menu would be appropriate. It's like if you went to a metal show and the venue required everyone to wear a full suit and tie. The long tables where everyone sits arm and arm with one another implies a causal atmosphere, which I am all for, but the food menu very clearly does not imply this in the slightest.

They don't serve that, so I have no idea what you are talking about. Here's proof. http://surlybrewing.com/content/uploads//2014/12/beer-hall-menu-8_5-x-14-12_23a.pdf

First, I do not have any Mexican heritage so my name is not Jose. Second, since I am not Mexican I have no business in Mexico unless I am going on a vacation. Are you offering me a free trip? Third, hash-tags are really dumb unless you are doing computer programming. Fourth, I didn't know fox had a food channel, I don't watch anything that involves the Fox corporation (With the exception being sports). I have an education. Fifth, Surly doesn't serve tacos as evidence is given above in the food menu link. If they did serve tacos, they would haft to be caviar and moose balls, dipped in fondue, with a side of tofu and gluten free taco shells from northern Siberia. Sixth and finally all of this is just my opinion, my understanding is that this a craft beer forum in which people are allowed to voice their opinion. If you don't like that then you are in the wrong place. I am not out to insult anyone just give my opinion (take it with a grain of salt). So there's no need to be insulting let's be grown ups here. I like Surly, I like just about all of their beers. I think their menu is wrong for whom they are and their brewery. That is all.

 

I have to say that I do see what you are saying- not totally on board. I do give credit for doing what they did and trying something that is very different, but I too would like a few options that are more standard fare and maybe a couple of bucks cheaper. The one thing that does bug me is that I have gotten the impression that it is a little too much about the food, it's I nice addition and does help cater to the non beer drinking people (my wife!) but it just seems that they are really pushing it hard. Am I correct that you can't sit at the a table or the bar unless you order food? I belive that is the case and I definitely do not like that! That aside, I have been twice, planning to go again this weekend and I really do like everything else about it, I think they have built a world class facility and it will be fun to watch it develop as the other areas open. I sure hope they don't lose focus on what got them to where they are now, I doubt they will but it is something I think about.
BTW- if someone could explain the food/distribution law And what they are doing to make that work, I would appreciate it,

 

I will not whine about $5 goblets of Pentagram! Love the new digs.

 

The difference between Surly and the brewpubs in MN has been described in this thread already.

So if MTH changed their licensing and just served their beer, no wine, no liquor, no cider, no guest taps. They could then distribute like any other brewery.

 

So if that is indeed the case, couldnt all the other taprooms serve food?

 

Joke
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Your Head

 

Yes, all other MN taprooms can have a kitchen and sell their own food. Starting a brewery is a pain in the ass as it is, so adding a kitchen and extra staff is a crazy amount of work. Maybe we'll see more of it in the future.

 

I haven't been yet, as I'm waiting for the full restaurant to open to unleash my culinary can of whoop-ass / Foodie criticism, naturally. However:

> It irritates me how yuppie it is.

You're irritated at "yuppie" pretensions? Well, get this: the growth of Craft Beer (and Surly is a Craft Brewery*, after all) is pretty much exclusively FUELED by the disposable income of young urban professionals.

You say that you are college educated and that you don't watch FOX? Awesome! You are EXACTLY the sort of person that the growth of the Craft Beer segment has been contingent on: Educated, cultured, forward-thinking (unlike our knucle-dragging Macro Beer-swillin' in laws, no doubt.)

> For instance don't say Frites the majority of your customers are not French and, since you are in the USA say fries like everyone else.

Seriously, dude? If you are not simply *trolling* this forum for cheap and easy yucks, then I can't help you, but I'll be damned if your false sense of entitled American Exceptionalism hasn't warmed my cockles this Saturday! I mean, I sit here in my Chinese-made Carhartt drinking Starbucks (alternating with John Carling's finest, doncha know) and laugh at the idea of a college-educated, Craft Beer-drinking professional -presumably in his Thirties, as most active BA users are these days- and who doesn't understand the concept of New American Cuisine. Go ahead and 'Google' the term, I'll wait.

> Saying things in French does not make the food better, nor does it make you more cultured, it makes you seem like an arrogant jerk.

SHEER. INTERNET. GOLD!

> It's beer lets keep it simple! Have awesome ingredients to make awesome basic food (Town Hall). Don't put exotic food in a beer hall! If I want exotic food I'll go to a restaurant that serves exotic food! If I want upscale food I'll go to the Ruth Chris or something equivalent! Surly stop being something you are not!

(Chaz falls onto the floor laughing....)

Dude! You are a pip! If this is the best you've got, you need to get a job writing for Stephen Colbert.

Attention! Everyone else in Craft Beer Realityland! This guy. Cherish him. He is among our finest.

*Seeing as they belong to the organization which, while it did not create, but -sanctions- the use of Craft as a marketing term -- Brewers Association. But again, I wax serious...

 

I was there for the first time yesterday (1-3 pm), and I did not have any impression other than casual. I did not see one single person "dressed up", there were people with young children, young people, old people, beer geeks, non beer geeks, etc. You are able to walk around to so many different areas and just stand wherever and hang out with a beer or get seated at a table if you wish. Not once did I feel like this was some hoidy toidy high and mighty fine restaurant or bar.

I was in Denver last month and two craft beer bars and one brewery we went to all had duck frites on their menu. My understanding is that frites implies fries with gravy on them, not just plain french fries. Also, I've been to hot dog places that have used foie gras as a topping, so I don't really see your point.

If you're not into the food there, then eat before or after you go, or don't go at all, not that big of a deal really.

Buahaus had a wood fired pizza food truck last night. How dare they act so high and mighty using a wood fired oven when they could have simply used electricity like the rest of us!