Surly Brewing

This place is my new addiction. Always get Todd the Axeman! That IPA is tropical mosaic hops heaven! The brisket sandwich is rich and don’t skip on the cornbread! Sit at the bar! The bartenders are helpful and you’ll get great conversation!

The ambience is amazing. One of the best breweries in town. Try their fries salad. The cauliflower and chaat items were ok but not worth it.

A modern brewery in an industrial building is the setting for Surly. Fine casual food at reasonable prices. Dining hall is very causal and iis part of the brewery. Lots of parking, off-​street and on-​street but many evenings the place is crushed and you can end up parking a block or two away. Lunches, though busy, are much better for getting in and getting pretty fast service.

I enjoyed my trip here. Although I do echo some of the same concerns in other posts, that how they represent their beers (e.g. ales, IPAs, lagers, etc) can be misleading.
The only thing that really knocks down this rating is the slow service and general chaos that is associated with any place when it is operating at capacity.
Repeat, this place was PACKED when I was here. Thank goodness for our private event upstairs (but even that was understaffed by at least 2 people).
Go there, prepare to have sharp elbows. You have to fight to get a beer in this place, even though its quite massive (outdoor seating space is ridiculous).

Hog frites were amazing. Plenty to fill you up. Paired with a Porter. Very good.
The beers were amazing as well. The atmosphere is very cool and modern. You can tell this is a local favorite; tons of folks on a Saturday morning.

Great food and atmosphere. The beer garden area is huge! My favorite is the brisket and the Brussels sprouts with a Todd the axe man beer. If you like breweries them this place is a must visit. Perfect for just a few people or a big group. I can’t wait to go back.

Awesome food and an incredible array of draft beers. Never miss visiting here when in town and am never disappointed. A mecca for beer lovers.

The building Architect leads a tour of the building once a month, Sunday at Noon. I found this via the AIA (American Institute of Architects).
Steve, is humble and enthusiastic, he talks of what they were trying to achieve, how the professionals worked together, the challenges they encountered. I found this personable approach thoroughly engaging and really began to understand the building, its spaces, lighting and materials. Highly recommended. I’ll be taking people that come to visit me, in Minneapolis, on this tour if the timing is right.
I rolled up dead on noon, had no trouble finding a parking spot and joining the tour.

All hail the metal beer gods of sullen disposition!
First of all… do you need a security clearance to get in this place? Half government think tank, half Luciferian fortress, this place is just plain gnarly. Yes, I did make up Luciferian and use gnarly. Moving on…
I came here knowing the great celebration of Surly beers that my former statesmen love to… well…celebrate. I can’t say I was disappointed.
Took the tour… blah…blah…it was rad. Thanks for the free beer and stickers! I think you got a few people calling Über after that one.
Finished the tour and headed to the taproom. It’s essentially a huge cafeteria… albeit a cool one… with a long bar. It felt a bit like Oktoberfest without the German components and without a tent. Okay… so it was nothing like Oktoberfest at all. Moving on…
The food and beer here were incredible. They’ve got a chef that knows what they’re doing, and a brewmaster that hits their beer on the mark.
The swag shop is nice. Many offerings except fat and tall guy sizes. I have a beer gut because of places like yours. Why won’t you clothe me?
We sat outside on the patio and enjoyed a couple beers without new hoodies. Oh well, maybe someday.

We visited on a Sunday afternoon with no wait at all! We were both very pleasantly surprised. The food and drink were phenomenal, as always. I had the banh mi, and it was great! I would definitely recommend. My partner had the chicken sandwich with kimchi; another good choice. The fries are the best! Well seasoned and crisp. The patio is nice in summer, as it allows for pups to join! Although, there may be a wait for outdoor seating.
The Four was my beverage of choice and it was very good! Stronger than I thought it was going to be (I did not look at the ABV), but it was worth it. Definitely a great drink for a Sunday afternoon.

Surly’s wait on a weekday night speaks to the incredibly draw and quality of this local, groundbreaking brewery. Literally the only drawback to this craft beer heaven/​haven is the wait time (once quoted 1h 45m on a Friday), but if there’s just two of you, just sit at the bar! Or better yet, when it’s warm out, sit out by a fire or in the lawn or play some bean bags! The outdoor area of Surly is so cozy and beautiful, you’ll want to hang out for hours.
I can’t think of any brewery that brews as many different beers as surly. There is a whole big menu for different categories of beer they have on tap so it is sure to satisfy any beer taste you may have.
And their food is amazing! You have to try to surly burger. So simple, yet so mind-​blowingly delicious.
The environment, beer, food & service are amazing! You can never go wrong in a trip to surly.

Given the fanfare and support for Surly since they first started slinging beer in the Northern bubs almost a decade ago, you would think it would be tough for them to continue raise the bar — with the opening of their new (ish) brewery in Minneapolis, they have done just that.
The brewery is essentially a fortress (maybe playground is more apt?) for all things beer, complete with a large beer hall, a large merch shop, a very spacious patio/​beer garden, an unpretentious yet upscale restaurant and of course a large scale brewing operation. The tap list has continued to grow along with the brewery and there are very few pours that aren’t home runs, especially for the hop-​heads in the group. The food menu in the beer hall runs the gamut from a cuisine perspective, but generally makes for solid drinking grub (especially the hog fries).
A fine® dining restaurant is not something one would expect to find at their local brewery, but it’s certainly worth a visit. The atmosphere is without pretense and the food can compete with many of the more established restaurants in the Cities, especially when said cuisine is paired with beer this good.
Over a year since inception, the brewery still packs in the crowds — it’s unlikely that’s going to change any time soon.

I’ve been a Surly fan for years. Impressed with this facility… beautiful stainless tanks as a backdrop to a slick and modern beer hall. One of the best beer gardens I’ve found, complete with fire pits. It’s no wonder why it’s a popular place!
Overrated, one of my favorite IPA’s, went well with my few bites of Ricotta Gnocchi and even better with the Charcuterie Board that included delicately flavored ham from NE’s Red Table Meat Co, and house made braunschweiger, lamb rillette and pâté en croute.

Hmm. I used to live by the old Surly location, and I fully admit I’m biased bc the people who attended their yearly Darkness party were giant a$$holes. Plus I’m iffy on their beer, which is more important.
This building is gorgeous. Amazing. Tons of outdoor space. Kid friendly. I feel myself softening.
I came for an event in their awesome party space upstairs. Our buffet included beer cheese dip with soft pretzels. Yum. I let the bar tender pick my beer and I enjoyed it! (my husband had two different kinds, both of which were not for me) We thought about grabbing a table to get a little more food, but the wait was hella long, even for a Monday.
I’ll be back.

If I could rate Surly just based on the beer and service, I would give it a 5. But the food just isn’t quite where it should be. The meats (pulled pork and beef) are tender and quite good. Not overly flavorful but that’s what sauce is for, I suppose. The rolls are also good. Reminiscent of a chain restaurant but that’s not horrible. The shrimp and grits is flavorless and the shrimp were a bit rubbery the day I was there. The one dish I beg you not to order is the potato confit. It was not edible. The texture, flavor, everything was just off.
Huge beer selection and great service. It is a loud place but that is too be expected. I will go back because I love beer and the place is very cool but I will be very picky about what I order to eat.

This place. Wow.
Beer — You should know whether you’re a fan of Surly beer already. Their claim to fame is hoppy beers, which I’m not a fan of, but I still loved this place. Craft beer central, this is what I imagine craft beer companies strive for when they think of success. A great Minnesota treasure, this place has come up in the world!
Atmosphere — you can have all kinds of celebrations here. Centrally located between Minneapolis and St. Paul, this place is spacious, hofbrau style open air, ultra modern design, sleek lines, think concrete and wood. Beautiful outside areas with fire pits, benches, family area. But the design here would be perfect for everything — birthdays, weddings, company outings.
Food — they have a James Beard award winning chef (previously chef at Solera) here, but not sure if he just oversees the restaurant upstairs or if he also influences the beer hall food. We got the fried chicken sandwich and the chilaquiles. The sandwich was okay — tasted really fresh but wasn’t as flavorful as I thought it could be. Their fries were amazing though, deliciously seasoned with bay seasoning. The chilaquiles was really rich in flavor, the chips were still perfectly crunchy even with all the toppings. There isn’t much in one portion though, so beware if you’re looking for something more filling.
Tour — they have a $ 5 tour here that takes you through the brewery, gives a thorough history of the company and how they make beer, topped with 4 tastings and a free whiskey glass! Awesome deal.
It’s a MUST visit if you’re in town, especially for craft beer lovers.

Arise Surly Nation! I never expected to be a part of it but yes, I even bought a t-​shirt before I left. Despite Surly Brewing being the first place many people recommended when I told them I was headed to Minneapolis, I rolled my eyes. I was afraid it was too hipster or too mainstream or too… something I wouldn’t like. And yet, I still made it a part of my summer vacation to Minnesota itinerary. You know, to see what all the fuss is about.
It was easy to see why so many people rank this as one of the best breweries in the country. The taproom is this amazing open space. We arrived before things got crazy busy and were able to get a table in the beer hall. My friend and I had several brewery stops on tap this day so we decided to try a few beers and get some food. The food was a bit on the upscale side (offering sandwiches and burgers along with items like pea toast and bone marrow) but matched the atmosphere. And if you go for food and aren’t quite sure, you cannot go wrong with that bone marrow. I’ll say it again: get the bone marrow. I promise you, it’s one choice you won’t regret.
As far as the beer, it lived up to the hype. I only tried 3 or 4 beers because they don’t offer flights (the only reason for my one star deduction) but if you like beer, Surly offers clear descriptions on their menu so you should be able to find something you like. It was difficult to make decisions since they don’t offer flights so I went with a few «half-​pints» (which often show up to the table as ¾ pints). I tried a couple of their year-​round beers (Furious and Overrated) as well as the Cacao Bender (a seasonal) and Schadenfreude (an occasional). Our server was patient with us as first timers to Surly.
The place, the food, the beer — everything at Surly is impressive. I understand now why there is often a wait for seating. I’m not sure I would wait for the beer. But I would wait for that bone marrow.

One of the best breweries in Minneapolis. The beer is great and they have so many awesome types to choose from. The price is amazing, $ 5 for any glass. –The only thing is some come in a smaller ounce glass than others, it’s labeled but it came as a questionable surprise.
Had the Todd Axeman & the Damien. They were both amazing and very different. I hear they switch their beer selection now and then, but I saw no shortage of variety this time. Didn’t try the food but it all looked very unique and with higher pricing must be good. The burger was only $ 12 I noticed, not too bad. They close at 11pm but the ambiance is so nice we stayed until 30 past and saw many other parties staying around without the staff making a fuss.
Everything’s planned to a T and laid out very well. Beer vats are all in eyesight, bar is in huge main room with long tables, bathrooms are huge, outside patio is pretty, and restaurant is on the upper level.
This place is awesome!

This was a super fun brewery! I met my friend and some other people that were in town over break here. The parking lot is big, and the place always seems to be packed. Everyone gets ID’d at the door, and there is a long coat rack by the front. The place is really open with the bar on the side, and cafeteria style tables in the middle. We wanted to eat here too, but in order to eat you have to wait a while. It seems to be a place where there’s always a long wait. It’s easy to hang out while waiting for the table though — just get some beer and stand around! Basically, the place is big and crowded with fun/​modern décor… but fun.
For the beer… I think it’s good? My friends all seemed to like it. I’m just really reaaaally not a beer person at all. I go for the socializing… Anyway, all the food items are very unique — bone marrow… but every food item we ordered looked delicious! My friend got the enchiladas which were really good, but they looked more like taquitos, especially the size. I ordered the Farro Salad and is was SO GOOD. The salmon was fresh and the poached egg made the dish amazing. All of the food was really tasty.
Overall great experience! It’s a great brewery in the cities, so I would definitely check it out!

It was my first time here and I absolutely loved it. I’m normally pretty stingy with giving a restaurant five stars but Surly brewing deserves it. We got right in despite looking pretty crowded.
The food was incredible… we had a pretzel that was served with spicy mustard and another cheese sauce (couldn’t tell you what exactly) and then split the brisket with a side of cornbread. The meat was done perfectly. And as if I wasn’t already full, we split the pumpkin crème brûlée (which I probably could have eaten on my own since it was so delicious). Thinking about all this food makes me want to go back right this second…
Just get it, get it all.
We ate at the bar and I’m so glad we did because the bartenders were the best. Friendly, chatty, very knowledgeable about all of the beers and the dishes on the menu. You can tell that they are beer enthusiasts and really know their stuff. It’s an interesting drink menu with lots of smoky and chili beer options which you don’t see too often.
The service was also surprisingly quick! Didn’t have to wait long at all. I’ve never been on a tour here, but especially after loving the restaurant to the extent that I did, I will have to try it sometime. The overall ambiance was cool too… industrial, modern, but with wood finishing and hanging decorative string lights. All around top notch place.