Beer Me! — Surly's Destination Brewery, Beer Garden & Restaurant

Revived! After an eight-year hiatus, The "Beer Me" Blog is back!

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Surly's Destination Brewery, Beer Garden & Restaurant

520 Malcolm Avenue SE
Minneapolis MN 55414
Telephone: +1 763-999-4040
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 3:00pm-9:00pm, Friday 3:00pm-11:00pm, Saturday 11:00am-11:00pm, Sunday 10am-3pm.
[Update]

Notes

Visited: February 1, 2020

Opened: 2014

Contributors: Ralph Wells, Siegfried Binge

Updated: April 24, 2022

News

2020-10-08: RESULTS OF SURLY HOSPITALITY UNION ELECTION (Surly Brewing)
2020-09-02: Surly to Shutter Beer Hall in November, Lay Off Staff (Brewbound)
2016-11-01: Surly's former head brewer leaves the Twin Cities for Indiana's 3 Floyds Brewing Co. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
2014-12-20: Fans fill new Surly brewery at furious pace (Minneapolis Start Tribune)
2013-10-31: From cutting government tape to ground breaking ribbon: The Surly Brewing story (Craft Brewing Business)

Beer List

+1 First Avenue Golden Ale

Golden or Blonde Ale

5.10% abv.
- Date: October 26, 2020 (#10369)
  
  Package: canned
  
  Place: Trader Joe's Maple Grove, Maple Grove MN
  
  Score: 17 points
  
  Appearance (3)
  Golden. Dense head.
  
  Aroma (3)
  Bready. Honey. Mildly floral.
  
  Mouthfeel (9)
  Light and fizzy. Mild bready malt behind a surprising grassy hop bitterness. Finishes clean and hoppy.
  
  Overall Impression (2)
  I did not expect that.

Abrasive Ale

Imperial or Double India Pale Ale

9.00% abv.

Date: February 20, 2017 (#9701)

Package: draught

Place: Cask Republic, Omaha NE

Score: 17½ points

Appearance (3)
Golden. Dense head.

Aroma (3½)
Citrus and tropical fruit.

Mouthfeel (9)
Medium-big body, smooth. Big spicy, apricot hop flavor. Medium-high bitterness. Sweet clean malt background. Warming in the finish. Curry.

Overall Impression (2)
"Oatmeal Double IPA".

Barrel-Aged Darkness

Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Stout

12.00% abv.

Awards:

Gold Medal, 2016 Great American Beer Festival

Date: March 12, 2021 (#10456)

Package: bottled

Place: Place unknown

Score: 20 points

Appearance (3)
Black. Dense brown head.

Aroma (4)
Dark chocolate. Raisins. Coffee. Vanilla.

Mouthfeel (10)
Massive in body and in flavor. Perfectly smooth. Richly malty, nicely roasty. Oak and mild whiskey throughout. A little coconut, a little more vanilla. Sweet without being sticky. Warming without being hot. Dark fruit in the finish.

Overall Impression (3)
Great stuff. Aged in rye whiskey barrels. Thanks to KJ Harnack for the bottle!

Barrel-Aged Darkness 2022

Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Stout

12.00% abv.

Date: April 23, 2022 (#11009)

Package: canned

Place: Costco St. Cloud, St Cloud MN

Score: 20 points

Appearance (3)
Black. Moderate beige head.

Aroma (4)
Intense whiskey, intense dark malt, intense oak and coconut.

Mouthfeel (10)
Thick and smooth. Hugely malty, nicely roasty. Oak, coconut, vanilla. Nice whiskey flavor, not at all overpowering. Alcohol is very well hidden.

Overall Impression (3)
Incredibly tasty complex strong beer.

Date: April 24, 2016 (#9577)

Place: Place unknown

Score: 16½ points

Appearance (3)
Bright golden. Dense head.

Aroma (3)
Fruity, spicy. Peppery, bready.

Mouthfeel (8)
Light and fizzy. Sweetly malty, with a big apricot note. Low bitterness. Clean, fruity, biscuity finish.

Overall Impression (2½)

Date: December 25, 2019 (#10137)

Place: Northbound Liquor Store, Elk River MN

Score: 17½ points

Appearance (3)
Black. Big creamy head.

Aroma (4)
Richly chocolaty, richly malty.

Mouthfeel (8)
Light-medium body, fairly fizzy. Big chocolate flavor all the way through. Malty, mildly roasty. Grassy, herbal hop flavor, low bitterness. Chocolate malt finish.

Overall Impression (2½)
Good beer.

Date: February 1, 2020 (#10198)

Package: draught

Place: at the brewery

Score: 20 points

Appearance (3)
Black. Moderate head.

Aroma (4)
Spicy alcohol. Mildly roasty. Oaky.

Mouthfeel (10)
Thick, creamy. Rich malt, intensely and nicely roasty. Spicy alcohol. Definite oak flavor, but I don't think it's a barrel aged beer. Smooth, warming, malty, roasty, tasty.

Overall Impression (3)
I wanted to try the 2010 bottle too, but they want $70 for it.

Date: February 1, 2020 (#10197)

Package: draught

Place: at the brewery

Score: 18½ points

Appearance (3)
Black. Low dense head.

Aroma (3½)
Chocolate. Grassy. Mildly roasty and mildly sweet.

Mouthfeel (9)
Thick and chewy. Richly malty, nicely roasty. Hint of alcohol. Hint of mint. Some vanilla. Some black molasses and some plums. OK, more than a hint of alcohol.

Overall Impression (3)
Rich and complex.

Date: December 26, 2019 (#10139)

Place: Northbound Liquor Store, Elk River MN

Score: 15½ points

Appearance (2½)
Yellow, hazy. Huge dense head.

Aroma (3)
Massive fruity-floral hops. Oranges, berries.

Mouthfeel (8)
Medium body, fairly fizzy. Clean malt behind a big fruity-citrusy hop flavor. Medium bitterness, low for an IPA. Citrusy, fruity, warming finish.

Overall Impression (2)

Date: April 3, 2016 (#9574)

Place: Place unknown

Score: 15 points

Appearance (3)
Bright golden. Dense head.

Aroma (3)
Grassy, floral hops. Bready, earthy.

Mouthfeel (7)
Medium body, smooth. Big fruity hop flavor, reasonably bitter. Mildly phenolic. Sweet hoppy finish.

Overall Impression (2)
Thanks to Brian Milhaupt for the can!

Date: November 22, 2015 (#9551)

Package: bottled

Place: Place unknown

Score: 18½ points

Appearance (3)
Bright deep red. Dense head.

Aroma (3½)
Mildly tart, floral. Plums.

Mouthfeel (9)
Light-medium body, fizzy. Nicely malty and nicely tart. Sweet and roasty in the middle. Clean tart finish.

Overall Impression (3)
Real good beer. Thanks to KJ Harnack for the bottle! "Funky, dark, and sour."

Date: February 1, 2020 (#10196)

Package: draught

Place: at the brewery

Score: 16 points

Appearance (3)
Bright red. Low dense head.

Aroma (3)
Dark toast and a hint of plum.

Mouthfeel (8)
Big, almost chewy. Smooth. Rich malt, darkish, with some toffee. Heath Bar. Alcohol is nicely subdued.

Overall Impression (2)
Good dessert beer.

Date: March 31, 2017 (#9721)

Package: draught

Place: Cask Republic, Omaha NE

Score: 17½ points

Appearance (3)
Amber, hazy. Dense head.

Aroma (3½)
Big spicy hops, really fruity.

Mouthfeel (9)
Medium body, fairly fizzy. Malty, with a big earthy Brett character. Big grassy, pine hop flavor, nicely bitter, more so in the finish.

Overall Impression (2)
Nicely complex unusual beer.

Date: February 1, 2020 (#10195)

Package: draught

Place: at the brewery

Score: 17 points

Appearance (3)
Golden. Dense head.

Aroma (3½)
Sulfury, fruity, grassy. Grainy malt.

Mouthfeel (8)
Light-medium body, fizzy. Sweet clean grainy malt, a little toasty, a little biscuity. Big grassy floral fruity hop flavor, low-medium bitterness. Hops continue through the finish and beyond.

Overall Impression (2½)
Kinda grassy overall.

Date: December 25, 2019 (#10138)

Place: Northbound Liquor Store, Elk River MN

Score: 17½ points

Appearance (2½)
Yellow, translucent. Thick head.

Aroma (3½)
Grapefruit hops. Mildly biscuity.

Mouthfeel (9)
Light and fizzy. Big citrusy hop flavor all the way through. Medium fruity bitterness. Very mild biscuity malt way in the background.

Overall Impression (2½)
Does what it says on the tin.