‪Surly to close Brewer's Table, chef out.

Isn't it slightly more accurate to say that they are putting out the same beer they always have but relative to the greater market they are no longer seen as being innovative? Let's be honest, if Surly opened today with Furious, Bender, Hell, and Cynic we would see the lineup as being pretty middle of the road, right? But relative to what was on the market in 2006 those beers and their general approach was quite different than what was out there. Yes, they introduced Darkness and the anniversary beers and such but these days that sort of stuff is pretty par for the course (and compared to other regional breweries at the time that was pretty standard too, actually). As far as I can tell Surly is doing pretty much what Surly has always done, we're all just looking at them through the lens of a very different context than before.

 

I understand what you are saying, now that you said it.

 

I agree that the craft beer market here has changed significantly from when Surly was the wunderkind brewer, and we own them a debt of gratitude for what they did in shaking up the market.

I disagree that they are doing what they have always done.

Yes, they are continuing to brew the same beers, which is actually symptomatic of the difference in Surly some are talking about.

What made their place in the MN beer market was their bringing new beers to Twin Cities craft drinkers, and otherwise breaking MN boundaries, stuff that falls under the banner of "innovation."

Furious et al are just as good as they always were. Surly, though, does not seem to be exhibiting the same creativity, the same passion, the same fervor. They are not the same, IMO, and much of their lineup has been surpassed by other local brewers (again, IMO).

 

Yeah, I'd buy the argument that they've changed while making the same beers since they've failed to continue to innovate. Two sides of the same coin, seems we're both right.

 

Surly making a cream ale, how very death metal meets innovation on brand for them

http://surlybrewing.com/news/bash-action-surly-grumpy-cream-ale/

 

Birch's on the Lake. It is not Surly. Think less beer geek, more of a BMW crowd. But they do serve great food and brew great beer.

 

This is really is disappointing, I loved the food.

 

I never rode the Surly hype train. But there are many local places making better beer than Surly for sure.

 

Five year ago they were making Furious, Bender, Hell, Cynic, Abrasive, Surlyfest, and Darkness.

BC taproom didn't even open until 2013 with the cask beers and other small batch stuff such as Vanilla bean Darkness.

Todd the Axeman is a recent addition and world class.

What makes their beers world class 5 years ago and just ok now if they are the same plus some great addiitions?

 

If you consider almost 3 years ago recent.

 

Oh Chryst! I can't tell you how many "world class" beers I used to trade for 4 packs of Furious years ago! Maybe before your time, but, there was far less breweries with a name out there!

 

For example, Todd. Just 3 years ago, they were bringing that beer to us and it was amazing.

In that time period, what new Surly has even come close to Todd?

 

It's a shame. I only made it there once, but I really loved the food. It was a great idea, and I think there is more room for it at a different establishment. Surly just doesn't scream "fine dining" to me, and I always thought that the whole space (including the beer hall) was way too ostentatious for their heavy metal, blue collar image. I went there constantly when I lived in the Twin Cities, and I can count on my thumbs how many times metal was playing (it was basically elevator muzak all the other times). To me, they've lost their identity, ironically at the same time as they have been trapped by it.

Surly has already fallen a few pegs for me after losing Todd, and I never thought they were the best brewery in MN (even the best brewery within a couple mile radius), since that honor goes to Town Hall for me. Nowadays they have so much competition and are as stagnant as ever besides some interesting stuff that is taproom only (and often misses the mark). I still enjoy some of their beers (though their main lineup has always been very meh besides Todd and Overrated), but I certainly don't seek them out. Losing the Brewer's Table is just one less reason for me to go there when I'm in town.

Wow, that's grotesque.

Their Oktoberfest is pretty awful as far as the style goes (but it's a decent beer).

 

Any guesses as to how much brett they added to this?

 

Intentionally or unintentionally?

 

Went yesterday and I had hands down thee best pork chop I've ever had in my life! Reading through this thread again and I don't understand all the Surly hate, their biggest problem from a beer geek standpoint is availability. BA Darkness for example is world class but since it was so readily available it lost its trade value so that somehow makes it less of a beer? Same with Todd, when it first came out and even the second release I made a bunch of trades but then Surly did what everyone wants and made it year round and suddenly we don't care. It's no different then your favorite band getting songs on the radio and now they sold out. Isn't the point in both to get famous and make money? My dad orders Todd everywhere he goes (if it's available) and always has some in the fridge, we have to acknowledge that there are more people like him then like us so why devote tank space to something new when what you already do works. My point I guess is get over it and accept that Surly has evolved and is not the small metal brewery it used to be! They still make very good beer and have an excellent tap room, I will say that Avery's tap room for example has better beer and really good food but overall Surly is a better destination. In closing I will say that I've always wished they had a few more barrel aged offerings and did Darkness variants as they certainly have the resources.

 

Get over what???? Nobody is claiming Surly is a small metal brewery any longer and any reference to metal is tongue in cheek. If you feel so strongly about your pork chop I suggest you email Omar and invite him to dinner at the brewer's table and you can address your rambling barrel aged beers selection concerns and praise the food. I bet reservations will be wide open any time after August 5th or so...

 

Surly's a solid brewery but like a lot of beer geeks they move on to the next new brewery. What do have that's new, what's new, what's new? Like Summit before Surly they are all yesterdays mashed potatoes. Loyalty? meh. What's new?

 

Yesterday's mashed potatoes taste great with today's lima bean-infused Brett saison.