We’ve been distributing our own beer since we sold the first Surly keg back in early 2006. Since then, we’ve grown our network to more than 500 bars, restaurants and liquor stores throughout the Twin Cities and at various locations across the state.

As demand for our beer continues to grow, we’re going to be working with Johnson Brothers to expand our network of on and off-premise accounts and find a more efficient way to distribute our beer. We’ll still be maintaining our relationships with beer distributors in the northwest Twin Cities suburbs, Duluth and Rochester.

By the end of 2014, we’ll be significantly increasing beer production at the Destination Brewery. Once the brewery is fully operational, Johnson Brothers, through its Artisan Beer Company, will help us distribute significantly more beer to bars, restaurants, and liquor stores across Minnesota. Surly couldn’t take its next steps without a partnership like this.

We wanted to work with someone who understood our company, and Johnson Brothers is the ideal partner. We’re both growing, family-owned Minnesota companies and it was clear that they understood the Surly way.

“We are extremely proud and excited to be partnering with Surly, one of this region’s truly great craft breweries,” said Todd Johnson, Chief Operating Officer of Johnson Brothers. “We look forward to working closely with Surly and helping make these fantastic beers available to even more beer lovers throughout Minnesota. They can’t build that new brewery soon enough.”

– We should be supporting our local breweries, but this tax does the exact opposite – it makes it difficult for breweries to grow and add jobs.

– Minnesota’s beer taxes are already 81 percent higher than Wisconsin, 33 percent higher than Iowa, 20 percent higher than South Dakota, and 22 percent higher than North Dakota – even BEFORE this proposed increase.

A 600 percent tax increase is bad for business, no matter how you slice it, and this proposal comes at a crucial time for Minnesota craft beer. Our breweries are growing, adding jobs, and are becoming the talk of the nation – as evidenced at the recent Craft Brewers Conference in Washington D.C. While it’s true this tax wouldn’t necessarily affect most of the breweries in this state right now, with Minnesota’s continued growth and expansion, in the next few years, more Minnesota breweries could be affected. And, once taxes are increased, they aren’t typically reduced down the road.

At Surly, as we continue to expand, we will soon outgrow Minnesota’s small brewer excise tax exemption. If this tax is increased 600 percent, as proposed, it will deal us a serious blow while we try to make more beer. It will affect how much you pay for your beer. We realize that ultimately no one likes taxes but this proposed increase punishes growth and success, and a 600 percent increase is just plain unreasonable.

Currently this tax would directly affect Schell’s and Summit, and we stand with them on this issue.

Minnesota state and local lawmakers have made some great strides over the past few years to encourage the growth of the Minnesota craft beer industry and we are very grateful for that support. We’ve all seen the positive results from that. Together we’ve started a craft beer boom in our state that we hope continues for a long time.  We think this excise tax increase moves us in the wrong direction. We hope at the end of the day the legislature will agree with us and oppose this proposal.

Thanks for listening, Surly Nation. We wanted to clarify the main points so everyone can form his or her own opinion on this issue, and act accordingly. If you plan to act, now is the time to be heard: http://www.gis.leg.mn/OpenLayers/districts/

As always, thanks for your support.

When: June 8, 2013

Where: Blue Ribbon Pines Disc Golf Course

1901 Klondike Dr.
East Bethel, MN 55011
763-434-1644

Blue Ribbon Pines in Google Maps

Cost: $40/person, regardless of which event/session you sign up for.

What’s included in the price:

- Commemorative Surly disc

- Lunch from Divine Swine Catering (vegetarian options will be provided). Lunch is served from 12:30–2:30 PM.

- Legendary Surly swag/gift card raffle

- One round of disc golf (18 holes)

- No cash awards. This is a beer event, not a competitive golf event.

- Surly beer will be sold, with all proceeds going to charity.

Disc Golf Tournament Session Times:

8:30 AM – Morning Session Sign In

9:30 AM – Morning Session Tee-off

12:30-2:30 PM – Lunch

2:30 PM – Afternoon Session Sign In

3:30 PM – Afternoon Session Tee-off

If you want to play with friends who have also registered and paid for the same session, please let us know at sign in and we’ll have you tee off together from the same hole. There will be five participants per hole.

Registration:

Check back later this week to register.

About Overrated:

It’s been said: “It’s easier to brew an extremely hoppy beer than an extremely balanced beer.” And you know us, we are always looking for the easy way out, so we jumped on the West Coast IPA bandwagon and brewed this dry and hoppy ale. “Surly’s a little bit of a one-trick pony, they just brew gimmick beers,” and maybe we are OVERRATED, but at the end of the day, it’s just a beer. If you like it, great, so do we. If you only liked us when we were small, then leave this one on the shelf. Let one of the fanboys grab it.

Check out the Facebook page

What: The 4onthefloor Concert/Overrated Release Party

When: April 6, 2013. 5pm party in the Depot (no ticket required) and 8pm concert in the Mainroom (ticket required)

Where: The Depot and First Avenue Mainroom

Cost: Concert $12 adv./$14 door

For more info or to purchase tickets visit http://first-avenue.com/event/2013/04/4onthefloor

What’s the Tough Mudder you ask? It is a 10-12 mile obstacle course in Somerset, Wisconsin through trails, mud and anything else they can throw at you. The Surly Brewing Co. Tough Mudder Team is scheduled for the event on Saturday, July 20 with a start time of 8:40 a.m. Registration is $135 until April 11th, then there is a price hike. What will you get by being part of the Surly Brewing Co. Team? A whole lotta love, camaraderie and a damn good time.

To register for the Surly Team contact Mary Sellke at mary@surlybrewing.com and she will set you up with the team registration link. For more information on the race check out the Tough Mudder site.

Check out the Facebook page

What: Surly Brewing Co. Tough Mudder Team

When: Saturday, July 20 at 8:40 a.m.

Where: Somerset Amphitheater, 715 Spring St., Somerset, WI

There will Pentagram, as well as Abrasive, Darkness, Mild, Furious, Hell and Coffee Bender on tap.

Butcher & The Boar will also serve a special Surly Hell beer brat and a smoked Surly Pentagram sausage for $7 each.

About Pentagram:

100% Brettanomyces dark beer fermented in stainless and aged in used red wine barrels.

Brettanomyces is a unique yeast strain that produces flavors that would be considered offensive if they were not intentional. Flavors of sour cherry, tobacco, oak and classic Brett barnyard funk balanced by Dark Munich malt chewiness. Enjoy immediately or age at cellar temperature for a couple of years.

Check out the Facebook event

What: Surly Pentagram Release Party

When: Sunday, Feb. 17 from 5pm to close

Where: Butcher & The Boar, 1121 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55403

There will be pints of Mild for $5 and four – 4oz. pours of any beer on tap for $8. Additional beers on tap include: Darkness, Smoke, SŸX, Abrasive, Damien, Fiery Hell, Furious, Bender and Cynic.

About Mild:
Surly Mild is a session ale brewed with pale ale, caramel, brown and roasted malts. Brown in color with malt forward flavors of sweet toasted bread and cocoa are balanced by a dry finish. What’s a session ale you ask? A low alcohol beer packed with color and flavor, designed for a “session” of multiple servings.

Check out the Facebook event

What: Surly Mild 2013 Release Party
When: Monday, Feb. 4 from 6pm – 10pm
Where: Blue Nile Restaurant & Lounge, 2027 Franklin Ave., Minneapolis

There will be Cynic, Bender and Furious on tap starting at 5pm and 12 oz. pours of Smoke starting at 6pm.

Zen Box will also have a limited menu with signature items to pair with Surly beer, as well as a Double Smoked Pork Tsukune special dish made with Smoke.

About Smoke:
Ebony-hued, Smoke wafts out of the bottle and into your senses, borne on the wings of European traditions, wrapped in American innovation. Lager-brewed, like anytrue Baltic Porter, with smoked malts from Bamberg, Germany, the home of Rauchbiers, then mellowed by oak-aging. Black malt flavors mesh with notes of raisins, plums, figs and licorice with the subtle smoke on the side, for a complex and luxurious, yet silky smooth drinking experience. It’s a sipper at Alc. 8.2% by VOL., but everyone knows you can’t have Smoke without fire!

Check out the Facebook event

What: Surly Smoke 2012 Release Party
When: Monday, Dec. 10 from 5pm to close
Where: Zen Box Izakaya, 602 South Washington Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55415

Madison’s Christmas Wish Toy Drive began when Madison, a young girl diagnosed with cancer, came up with the idea to bring gifts to the hospital to share with other oncology patients during the holidays. In memory of Madison the toy drive still continues today.

Join Surly’s effort by dropping off unused toys or gift cards for kids (between 0 and 18 years old) who have been diagnosed with cancer. Surly will be accepting donations at the brewery from Monday, Dec. 3 to Friday, Dec. 7 between 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m at the brewery.

If you are signed up for a tour on Dec. 7 or Dec. 8 please bring a toy in place of a non-perishable food item.

What: Madison’s 7th Annual Christmas Wish Toy Drive
When: Monday, Dec. 3 – Friday, Dec. 7 between 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Where: Surly Brewing, 4811 Dusharme Dr., Brooklyn Center
Why: To collect toys and gift cards for children (ages 0 to 18) diagnosed with cancer