Takeout Beer: Surly's Offerings And Rules

Surly Brewing Company is an American craft brewery with facilities in Minneapolis and Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. The company initially stood out for primarily canning beers instead of bottling them. The beer hall in Minneapolis features many events, including live music and trivia. Surly Brewing offers takeout and has outdoor seating. The company also has a restaurant and beer garden, which cost $20 million to build. The company's rapid growth during the early 2010s saw production increase from 21,000 barrels in 2012 to 47,757 barrels in 2015. In 2020, Surly announced it would lay off 150 employees and close its beer hall, pizzeria, events centre, and retail store in Minneapolis, citing an employee contracting COVID-19 and declining revenue due to the pandemic as reasons for the decision. However, this announcement came just days after employees revealed their intention to unionize, leading to accusations of union-busting.

Surly Brewing Company's beer hall in Minneapolis has closed down

The closure comes after a group of Surly Brewing Company's employees announced their intention to form a union. However, the company has stated that the timing of the closure and the union announcement was coincidental, and that they had been planning the closure for weeks. The company plans to focus on brewing moving forward.

Surly Brewing Company's beer hall was a popular destination, with Tripadvisor reviews praising the "terrific food and even better beer", as well as the "upbeat, great atmosphere". The company was also known for its popular pizzas, with one reviewer stating that they were "fantastic" and that they "loved the thin crust".

While the beer hall may be closed, it seems that Surly Brewing Company is still operating in some capacity, with recent reviews on Yelp indicating that people have visited the brewery and ordered takeout in November 2024. The company's website also mentions a holiday pop-up called Dorit's Tavern, which is open from December 4, 2024, to January 5, 2025.

Surly Brewing Company's beer was initially only canned, not bottled

Surly Brewing Company initially stood out for primarily canning beers, rather than bottling them. The company's founder, Omar Ansari, had been homebrewing since 1994 and chose cans over bottles for several reasons. Firstly, cans are superior to glass for keeping out light and oxygen, making it easier to take them to places where bottles aren't allowed. They are also better for the environment, and their toughness allows for more creative designs and easier stacking and storage.

Surly's decision to focus on canning was so notable that, in 2012, Esquire magazine selected the company's CynicAle 16-ounce can as one of the "Best Canned Beers to Drink Now" in a February article. This early focus on canning helped Surly Brewing Company stand out and contributed to its rapid growth during the early 2010s.

Surly Brewing Company's founder Omar Ansari has been homebrewing since 1994

Surly Brewing Company founder Omar Ansari has been brewing his own beer since 1994. In 1996, he founded Surly Brewing Co., which started in a corner of his parents' small abrasives factory in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. Ansari was inspired to open a brewery so he could create the kind of beer he and other craft beer lovers wanted to drink. He also hoped that other adventurous souls would join him on his journey.

Ansari's instincts were correct, and Surly Brewing quickly outgrew its original location. The company successfully campaigned to change an antiquated law that prevented them from selling beer, allowing them to open a much larger brewery in Minneapolis in December 2014. The new location immediately proved popular, with a line of customers forming to sample the beer. The success of the brewery has spurred the development of an entire neighbourhood, Prospect Park, which has sprung up around it.

Surly Brewing has since become a beloved fixture in the community, offering a wide range of beers and hosting events. The company has also had to adapt to industry changes, including a decline in beer sales, market diversification, pandemic shutdowns, and evolving employee expectations. To stay competitive, they have introduced new beverages like hop water and a THC seltzer.

Ansari's passion for brewing and his willingness to take risks have made Surly Brewing a thriving success and a destination for beer enthusiasts and locals alike.

Surly Brewing Company's beer hall employees declared their desire to unionize

In response, Surly Brewing announced just two days later that they would be closing their beer hall indefinitely, citing an 82% decline in on-site food and beer sales and expected losses of $750,000 if they remained open through the winter. This decision sparked accusations of union-busting, with employees and customers questioning the timing of the announcement. The company denied these accusations, stating that the closure had been planned for some time.

The controversy surrounding the closure was exacerbated by Surly's recent business dealings, including a tip-pooling lawsuit and changes to their business and service models that resulted in significant pay cuts for some employees.

The impact of the closure extended beyond the beer hall employees, as Surly Brewing's beer production continued, and the company saw strong dollar sales in grocery, convenience, and liquor stores. However, the company's reputation took a hit, with calls for boycotts and negative reviews from customers who supported the unionization efforts.

The vote to unionize took place in October 2020, a month after the closure announcement, and failed by just one vote. Surly's beer hall remained closed, and the company faced challenges in restoring its image and regaining customer trust.

Surly Brewing Company's beer hall offered trivia and live music events

Surly Brewing Company's beer hall in Minneapolis features many events, including live music and trivia. The beer hall has hosted live music performances by artists such as Guy Fieri and has also been featured on TV shows like Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. The hall also regularly hosts trivia nights, with the next few scheduled for 5, 12, 19 and 26 November. The beer hall also hosts other events, such as the Surly Sinister Circus Upstairs, a Halloween-themed pop-up that ran throughout October, and a jigsaw puzzle contest on 6 November.

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