The Complete Guide to Surly Beer Hall

Surly
photos by tj turner

Best Burger & Beer Combo

It’s easy to forget that it’s been not quite four years since the passage of the “Surly Bill,” which paved the way for breweries to open taprooms in Minnesota. And after a period of ambitious construction, the Surly Beer Hall (industrial on the outside, welcoming and spacious inside) opened in December to as much fanfare as any sports edifice or cultural temple in recent Twin Cities history, with lines stretching out the door for a pint or a pick from the hip bar-food menu.Waiting outside in the huge line on a cold evening, warm your hands on what should be called the Eternal Flame of the Unknown Hipster (a fire pit outside the front door) or contemplate the restless scale of Surly’s brewing. Counting standards, seasonals, and beers once but no longer brewed, the river of Surly suds includes just short of 50 tributaries. Surly chef Jorge Guzman grounds his menu with a simple burger that harmonizes with the brewery’s hoppy beers. It’s actually two thin patties grilled separately (more surface sear) and packed together with American cheese, shredded lettuce, smithereens of red onion and “Fancy Sauce” (simple condiments and a trace of tarragon). It’s a bar burger delivered with attention to detail (the onions offer a trace accent without talking over their plate-mates)—you might finish it faster than your beer. • surlybrewing.com

Surly

Surly Beer Hall

The Standards: Year-Round Taps

Bender
A clean American brown ale, malty with hints of caramel and coffee.
CynicAle
The Cynic is named ironically—it’s one of the lightest and brightest of the bunch, a pale ale with a tang of citrus perfect for drinking on the patio.
Furious
The gold standard for those who love a bold, hoppy, in-your-face IPA—one of the signature flavors of the Surly brand and a template for many other local beers.
Hell
A light pilsner, bright and positively mild by Surly standards. Think of it as your point-of-entry Surly craft brew.
Overrated
The West Coast IPA: paler in color than Furious, more fruity and less confrontational.

 

The Seasonals: Changing Taps

Darkness
An intense dark stout with flavors of chocolate, cherries, and coffee.
Eight
If they have it, it’s a must-try: oat wine-style ale aged in whiskey barrels.
Fiery Hell
Surly’s pilsner brewed with oak and Mexican chiles.
Todd the Axe Man
Its name references Surly brewer Todd Haug’s other life as a shredding long-haired guitar freak: a strong, clean West Coast IPA.
Witch’s Tower
A lower-alcohol, cardamom-scented brown ale.

 

Read More:

Burger 

Best New Burgers

Brewhouse

Best New Brews

Beer

Best New Destination Taprooms

Surly Brew Hall

The Complete Guide to Surly Beer Hall

Quinton Skinner is a writer and editor based in the Twin Cities. A former senior editor of Minnesota Monthly, he held the same post at Twin Cities METRO and 
has written for major national and local publications. He is the co-founder of Logosphere Storysmiths and author of several novels, including his latest, Odd One Out.