Brewery Updates in Minnesota (2020)

If they don't, that's alot of taxes and mortgage being paid on a large, empty space.

 

Sorry, I'll sit out now. Just frustrating. Carry on!

 

It does come on the heels.of the employees voting to unionize. That and acombination of lost revenue with high overhead to be open, thats hard to sustain I look for them to open again April/May of 2021.

 

Surly's Beer Hall is a large beer-centered restaurant. It is much different from smaller brewery's taproom in size, overhead, sources of revenue, and number of employees.

The Beer Hall is at a disadvantage compared to other restaurants. Because Surly is a brewery, MN law forbade them from selling beer to go, even though their restaurant competition could.

And (an assumption on my part), Surly's Beer Hall provided a larger percentage of the company's revenue and profits than the taprooms of other similar sized breweries in MN. Surly seemed to distribute only their flagship beers while having a large and diverse collection of taproom only beers.

Their statement says at this point, the Beer Hall is a major financial drain on the company.

I wonder if they will now ramp up the variety of beers they package and put into distribution?

What I find odd is the long lead time to closing - 2 months!

Perhaps that is weather related. But that would indicate they are at least making some money so long as they can seat people outside.

 

Most likely 60 days notice,due to layoffs?

 

That's sure what it sounds like.

The optics of this make Surly look anti-Union. It's likely that the decision was made (as they say) weeks ago to close the beer hall, but why wait until November? By that time, it can be cold up here, and their patio/outside service will dry up (only costing them more money). Timing of this just comes across as odd.

 

I'm glad this group is discussing the Surly situation fairly and calmly. It seems the pitchforks are out on Twitter/Instagram....

 

Yes, me, too.

The timing is bad relative to the union issue, but lacking any facts other than the timing, I think it is unreasonable and unfair to accuse them of anything other than struggling under the COVID-19 edicts.

Besides, Twitter and Instagram ARE Torches and Pitchforks Nation.

 

City Pages, too:

http://www.citypages.com/restaurant...yees-closing-beer-hall-indefinitely/572296671

 

If Surly had been planning on the closing for weeks, why still have job postings online?

 

The source of the accusations seems to be the union organizer.

The past would suggest people with that position tend to grandstand to the media.

If, indeed, Omar decided to shutter the Beer Hall two days after the employees informed him of their intent to seek union representation, then it is a poorly run business just on that basis alone, IMO. (i.e. closing a major part of the business operation as a knee-jerk reaction.)

IOW, I seriously doubt the decision to shutter the hall happened that fast. Omar's explanation makes more sense to me than the union organizer's accusations.

Generally when businesses decide to take action like layoffs, etc., the fact that the business is thinking of this is closely held to just a few people, while the rest of the business operations proceed normally.

This, alone, could explain the job postings, etc.

Such things must NOT EVER be allowed to leak until the decision is made and the announcement is ready.

 

Seems odd though they would bother posting on their social media about unions and then two days later just close it up. Why just say on monday to the union reps that they are closing it up instead of letting people think something was gonna change.

 

Quoting myself:

 

They are required to notify the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development 60 days prior to the layoff.

Seems like the timing corresponds to this as well as just weather factors. I'm sure they are making some revenue from the beer hall being open, but as they said, down 80% is going to make profits unlikely. Maybe they can manage some expenses for the next two months and then reopen in the spring in a better situation. Sucks all around.

 

Update to an inquiry made by @BeerDrinkinGuy from last year’s thread in this topic:

Google notes that it is temporarily closed, but there is new content (photos) on the website, along with a 2020 copyright.

Their five year mission to transform the space is proceeding apace:

https://www.stcroixbeer.com/

St. Croix Brewing, as we’ll recall, is part of the ever expanding Fytenburg family of breweries.

 

Luce Line Brewing in Plymouth has revised their Facebook page and posted OPENING IN FALL 2020.

 

Per MplsStPaul Magazine:
Down in Burnsville, Nutmeg Brewhouse has been sold, and is on its way to becoming Ineffable Brewing Co. Barbara and Richard Stein are the buyers, and Richard worked as a brewer at LTD in Hopkins. His mentor from LTD, Steve Larsen, taking the plunge with them as their head brewer. Look for an October opening.

 

Yeah they have a few pictures of developments on their instagram account.

 

Is this only project now because he had a little too many on his plate before which never came to fruition.

 

Not Minnesota but New Richmond Wisconsin 45th parallel distillery is going to start making selling their own beer. https://www.facebook.com/45thParallelDistillery/posts/3479683058721347