Surly Brewing

Surly Brewing Company is an American craft brewery founded in 2004 by Omar Ansari in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. It developed from Ansari's long-running interest in homebrewing and training associated with New Holland Brewing Company in Michigan and Todd Haug of Minneapolis's Rock Bottom Brewery. From its beginning, Surly differentiated itself through assertively flavored beers, strong branding, and an early emphasis on cans rather than bottles. Its initial market was the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area, where limited production made the brewery's beers highly local and helped build a dedicated following often referred to as the Surly Nation. The brewery's best-known products include Furious IPA, a strongly hopped India pale ale; Darkness, a substantial imperial stout that became associated with annual specialty releases; CynicAle, a Belgian-style saison; Hell, a German-style lager; Bender, a brown ale; Coffee Bender, a coffee-inflected version of the Bender platform; and Overrated, another hop-forward beer. Product availability has varied by market and by release, with core beers distributed in cans and on draft and specialty beers appearing in limited quantities. Surly has also been associated with barrel-aged and other seasonal or experimental beers. Surly's growth was closely connected to changes in Minnesota alcohol law. In 2011, the company sought to build a large brewery, restaurant, and beer garden in Minneapolis, but state rules prevented a production brewery from selling beer directly for on-premises consumption in the way the proposed venue required. A campaign supported by brewery customers helped generate legislative pressure for a change commonly called the Surly Bill. Signed into law on May 25, 2011, the measure enabled the company to proceed with its destination brewery concept. Surly purchased an 8.3-acre site in Minneapolis's Prospect Park area in 2013. The property required environmental remediation, supported in part by Hennepin County grants, and was developed into a large brewing and hospitality complex. The Minneapolis facility opened in December 2014 and included a taproom, beer hall, restaurant, event space, retail operations, and outdoor areas. Its brewing system has a capacity of 100 beer barrels, while the Brooklyn Center brewery uses a 30-barrel Sprinkman system. The venues expanded Surly beyond packaged beer into food, live music, trivia, events, and beer tourism. Production increased rapidly during the early 2010s, reaching 21,000 barrels in 2012, 28,000 in 2013, and 47,757 in 2015. Distribution also expanded gradually. An early attempt to enter Chicago was withdrawn in 2010 so that the brewery could reliably serve its home market, but Surly returned to the Chicago area in 2013. Distribution subsequently expanded to Iowa, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and other states. The company has been reported as distributing in 13 states, mainly in the Midwest but also including Colorado, Kansas, Texas, and Arizona, as well as in some international markets. The COVID-19 pandemic created a major disruption. In 2020, Surly announced the layoff of 150 employees and the indefinite closure of its Minneapolis beer hall, pizzeria, events center, and retail store. The company attributed the decision to an employee's COVID-19 infection, public-health restrictions, and an 82 percent year-over-year decline in on-site sales. The announcement followed employees' stated intention to organize with Unite Here Local 17, leading labor representatives to allege that the closures could be retaliatory and to file unfair-labor-practice charges. The union vote later failed by one vote in October 2020. Surly reopened its Minneapolis hospitality operations in June 2021. In 2025, Surly announced plans for its first out-of-state taproom and restaurant, in Grand Forks, North Dakota, through a partnership with Short or Tall Eatery and Drink Hall. The planned venue near the University of North Dakota c…

Omar Ansari had been homebrewing since 1994 before establishing Surly Brewing Company in 2004. He gained additional brewing experience through an apprenticeship at New Holland Brewing Company in Michigan and worked with Todd Haug of Minneapolis's Rock Bottom Brewery as Surly began production in Brooklyn Center. The brewery initially served only the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area and was notable for packaging much of its beer in cans rather than bottles. This approach, combined with limited supply and strongly flavored beers, helped create a distinctive local identity. Surly explored broader distribution as its production increased, but expansion was cautious. An initial move into Chicago was reversed in 2010 so the brewery could maintain dependable supply in its home market. The company returned to Chicago in 2013, supplying more than 100 venues and retailers. Distribution later reached Iowa, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and other states. By the mid-2010s, Surly was reported to distribute in 13 states, with its footprint concentrated in the Midwest and extending to Colorado, Kansas, Texas, Arizona, and some international markets. A decisive turning point came in 2011, when Surly proposed a major brewery, restaurant, and beer garden project. Minnesota's three-tier alcohol system did not permit the proposed production brewery to sell beer on its own premises in the desired manner. Surly customers and supporters organized around the issue, while legislators including Jenifer Loon and Linda Scheid introduced changes in an omnibus liquor bill. Governor Mark Dayton signed the legislation on May 25, 2011. The measure became widely known as the Surly Bill and allowed the brewery to proceed with its destination venue. Surly purchased an 8.3-acre industrial property in Minneapolis's Prospect Park neighborhood in April 2013. The site had accumulated pollution through more than a century of industrial use; Hennepin County provided $2 million in environmental mediation grants. The resulting Minneapolis complex opened in December 2014. It complemented the original Brooklyn Center brewery with a 100-barrel brewing system, taproom, beer hall, restaurant, event facilities, retail space, and outdoor hospitality areas. Live music, trivia, food, and other events made the site a destination as well as a place to drink beer. The company expanded its production substantially during this period. Reported output rose from 21,000 barrels in 2012 to 28,000 in 2013 and 47,757 in 2015. The Brooklyn Center system is a 30-barrel Sprinkman installation, while the Minneapolis facility operates a 100-barrel system. Surly's portfolio centered on Furious IPA and Darkness, but also included CynicAle, Hell, Bender, Coffee Bender, Overrated, and seasonal, specialty, and barrel-aged beers. In 2012, Esquire included the canned version of CynicAle among its recommended canned beers. The COVID-19 pandemic severely affected Surly's hospitality business. In 2020, the company announced 150 layoffs and an indefinite shutdown of its Minneapolis beer hall, pizzeria, events center, and retail store. Surly cited an employee COVID-19 infection, government restrictions, and an 82 percent fall in on-site sales compared with the previous year. The announcement came shortly after employees announced plans to seek union representation through Unite Here Local 17. Some labor leaders characterized the closure and layoffs as potentially retaliatory and filed unfair-labor-practice charges. The union vote failed by one vote in October 2020, and the Minneapolis venue reopened in June 2021. Surly remained active after the pandemic disruption. In 2025, it announced plans to open its first taproom and restaurant outside Minnesota in Grand Forks, North Dakota, in partnership with Short or Tall Eatery and Drink Hall. The planned 7,000-square-foot location near the University of North Dakota campus was described as including an outdoor patio and New Haven-style pizza. Surly Brewing Company is distinct from Surly Bikes, although an agreement permits the bicycle company to use the word “Surly” on its products.

1. 2025Grand Forks venue announced

   Surly announced a planned first out-of-state taproom and restaurant in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

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2. 2021Minneapolis hospitality venue reopens

   The Minneapolis venue reopened in June after the COVID-19-related closure.

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3. 2020Pandemic-era layoffs and closures

   Surly announced 150 layoffs and closed its Minneapolis hospitality operations indefinitely.

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4. 2015Reported production reaches 47,757 barrels

   Reported annual production reached 47,757 barrels during Surly's rapid-growth period.

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5. 2014Minneapolis facility opens

   The new Minneapolis brewery and taproom opened in December.

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6. 2013Minneapolis brewery site acquired

   Surly purchased an 8.3-acre Prospect Park property for its planned brewery and hospitality complex.

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7. 2011The Surly Bill becomes law

   Minnesota changed brewery-sales rules, enabling Surly to develop a brewery with on-site beer service.

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8. 2010Chicago expansion is withdrawn

   Surly reversed an initial Chicago distribution move to maintain reliable supply in its home market.

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9. 2004Surly Brewing Company is founded

   Omar Ansari founded the brewery and began production in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota.

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10. 1994Omar Ansari begins homebrewing

    Founder Omar Ansari began homebrewing, preceding his later professional brewing work and the creation of Surly.

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An independent-minded, flavor-forward Minnesota craft brewery combining packaged beer, limited releases, and destination hospitality.

• Furious IPAIndia pale ale

  Surly's signature India pale ale and one of its most recognizable beers. Furious represents the brewery's hop-forward, assertive approach and has served as a core packaged and draft offering across its distribution markets.

• DarknessImperial stout

  A substantial imperial stout associated with Surly's specialty-release program. Darkness is positioned as a robust, collectible beer rather than a light everyday lager and has helped establish the brewery's reputation for intense, cellar-worthy releases.

• CynicAleBelgian-style saison

  A Belgian-style saison that was among Surly's early distributed beers. CynicAle was offered in cans and kegs and received national attention when Esquire included its 16-ounce canned format in a 2012 list of notable canned beers.

• HellLager

  A lager in Surly's core portfolio. Hell provided a more restrained counterpart to the brewery's stronger ales and was distributed in draft and packaged formats as the company expanded through the Midwest.

• BenderBrown ale

  A brown ale that formed part of Surly's regular range. Its malt-led style broadened the portfolio beyond IPAs and imperial beers and served as the base for the coffee-infused Coffee Bender variant.

• Coffee BenderCoffee-infused brown ale

  A coffee-infused interpretation of Bender. The beer extends Surly's brown-ale platform with roasted coffee character and was included among products distributed in the Chicago market.

• OverratedHop-forward ale

  A hop-forward beer included in Surly's distributed portfolio. Overrated was among the canned and kegged beers supplied to Chicago during the brewery's 2013 market re-entry.

• 2016Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives appearance

  United States

  Surly was featured on Guy Fieri's food and restaurant television program, providing national exposure for the brewery and its hospitality operation.

  Outcome. The brewery received television exposure; specific commercial results are not documented in the supplied sources.

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• 2011Surly Nation legislative campaign

  Minnesota

  Surly supporters advocated for changes to Minnesota's alcohol laws so the brewery could operate a destination brewery, restaurant, and beer garden with on-site beer sales.

  Outcome. The legislation known as the Surly Bill was signed into law on May 25, 2011.

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• 2025Plan first out-of-state taproom and restaurantStrategy

  Surly sought to extend its destination-brewery model beyond Minnesota.

  What changed. The company announced a partnership with Short or Tall Eatery and Drink Hall for a planned venue in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

  Aftermath. The proposed 7,000-square-foot restaurant near the University of North Dakota campus was to include an outdoor patio and New Haven-style pizza.

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• 2020Close Minneapolis hospitality operations during the pandemicOther

  Surly cited an employee COVID-19 infection, public-health restrictions, and an 82 percent decline in on-site sales.

  What changed. The company announced 150 layoffs and indefinitely closed its beer hall, pizzeria, events center, and retail store.

  Aftermath. The venue reopened in June 2021, while the decision also became part of a labor dispute involving unionization efforts.

  Year-over-year on-site sales change. Down 82 percent (2020 compared with 2019)

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• 2013Develop the Minneapolis Prospect Park complexStrategy

  Surly needed a larger production and hospitality site to support growth and direct customer experiences.

  What changed. The company purchased an 8.3-acre property and pursued environmental remediation before constructing the brewery and taproom.

  Aftermath. The Minneapolis brewery and taproom opened in December 2014 with a 100-barrel brewing system.

  Environmental mediation grants. $2 million (2013)

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• 2011Pursue a destination brewery and beer gardenStrategy

  The proposed approximately $20 million facility required changes to Minnesota's liquor laws before it could operate as intended.

  What changed. Surly worked with customers and legislators to support legal reform and later developed a Minneapolis brewery and hospitality complex.

  Aftermath. The Surly Bill passed, and the Minneapolis facility opened in December 2014.

  Proposed project cost. US$20 million proposed investment (2011)

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• 2010Withdraw from Chicago temporarilyStrategy

  Surly had limited production and prioritized dependable service in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul home market.

  What changed. The brewery reversed an initial Chicago distribution expansion.

  Aftermath. Surly returned to Chicago in 2013 after increasing production.

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• 2020Labor dispute surrounding pandemic-era closuresControversy

  After Surly announced layoffs and the closure of its Minneapolis hospitality operations, employees announced an intention to unionize with Unite Here Local 17. Some labor leaders alleged the action was retaliatory and filed unfair-labor-practice charges. The union vote failed by one vote in October 2020.

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• 2025Surly announces first out-of-state taproom in Grand Forks

  Surly announced a planned Grand Forks, North Dakota, taproom and restaurant in partnership with Short or Tall Eatery and Drink Hall.

  Product launch
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• 2021Surly Minneapolis venue reopens

  The company's Minneapolis hospitality operation reopened in June after its pandemic-era closure.

  Other
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• 2020Surly closes Minneapolis hospitality operations during COVID-19 crisis

  Surly announced 150 layoffs and the indefinite closure of its beer hall, pizzeria, events center, and retail store after citing COVID-19, restrictions, and an 82 percent decline in on-site sales.

  OtherBankruptcy
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• 2020Surly workers' union vote fails by one vote

  Following employees' announced organizing effort and allegations by labor representatives that the closure could be retaliatory, the unionization vote failed by one vote in October.

  LawsuitOther
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• 2016Surly featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives

  The brewery was featured on an episode of the American food and restaurant television program hosted by Guy Fieri.

  Campaign
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• 2014Minneapolis brewery and taproom opens

  Surly opened its new Minneapolis brewing and hospitality facility in December, adding a large taproom and beer-hall operation to its Brooklyn Center production base.

  Product launch
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• 2013Surly purchases Prospect Park brewery site

  Surly acquired an 8.3-acre Minneapolis property for development of its large brewery and hospitality complex, with environmental remediation supported by county grants.

  Other
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• 2013Surly returns to the Chicago market

  After withdrawing an earlier Chicago expansion to protect supply in Minnesota, Surly re-entered the market through more than 100 bars, restaurants, and liquor stores.

  Other
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• 2011Surly announces Minneapolis brewery, restaurant, and beer garden project

  The company announced a proposed approximately $20 million hospitality and brewing facility designed to expand production and include a restaurant and beer garden.

  Other
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• 2011Minnesota passes the Surly Bill

  Legislation changing Minnesota brewery-sales rules was signed on May 25, allowing Surly's planned destination brewery to sell beer for on-site consumption.

  RegulationOther
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1. Surly Brewing Company
2. Surly Brewing Company official website