The new Surly
Beer Hall is quite a different experience.
The old one,
a reappointed former abrasives factory, was outside of the city, at the end
of a dusty road. The taproom was fairly small, with low ceilings, painted
cinder block walls, and a linoleum floor. It had all the appeal of a high
school cafeteria. There were not really enough tables or places to sit, and many
people lined up along the walls, which had narrow metal shelf-like counters.
The new
location, which opened late last year in Prospect Park, near the University of
Minnesota football stadium, is a large open space, with a modern clean industrial
chic look. The big brewing area is visible at one end of the building, behind massive
floor to ceiling windows.
I visited on
a Friday at lunch time, and it was starting to fill up quickly and was already
quite noisy. I was seated at a long table with a group that was finishing up.
14 taps were
on. Most brews are priced at $3 for 8oz. and $5 for 16oz. glasses. No sampler
sets available. Beers are all Surly house brews, regulars and seasonals (some
available only here) and, of course, all good to very good.
Service was
great, but the food menu is a bit overpriced. I had the Surly Burger and was
not disappointed.
I recommend
visiting during the daytime on weekdays, and most definitely avoiding week
nights and week nights. I’ve heard that there is often a one- or even two-hour
wait in the evenings. But it certainly is a must-stop for all beer geeks when
in MSP.
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Surly
Doomtree (Premium Bitter/ESB - 5.7%) 3.8 out of 5.0
Heavy
caramel and roasty nose, resin, something moldy or overripe, and somehow it all
balances well. Bright, dark copper color, thick off-white head, clumpy lace.
Very chewy maltiness, nice mix of bittering hops, some dark fruit, and piney
tracks in finish. Medium body. Very tasty. Bittering creeps in slowly in
increments and doesn’t take over.
Surly Devil’s
Work (Porter – 6.7%) 3.6
Dark roast
nose, with burnt pine, anise, and some molasses. Near black, thick tan head,
sticky lace. Sweetish strained dark fruit, some spiciness, with a good,
slightly heavy finish. Medium body. Fruit and spice emerge well but do not
really develop much beyond that. Kind of a clean porter with a bit of good
spice.
Surly Fiery
Hell (Dortmunder/Helles – 4.5%) 3.7
“Cask
conditioned Helles Lager aged on Hickory wood and Puya Chilies.” Clean malty
nose, rich, with some good pushes of fruitiness. Brilliant dark straw color,
thin filmy head. Sweet light tropical fruit, and the peppery heat jumps in
after a second or two. Fruit reemerges, and then there are long peppery tracks.
Thin-medium body. Nicely fruity, and the heat is just right. On the edge of too
hot. Interesting, how the chiles wait politely for the fruit to show off first.
Surly Witch’s
Tower (Brown Ale – 4.5%) 3.2
Roasty nose,
herbal and medicinal. Very dark brown, thin tan head, good lace. Smooth dark
roast initial, thinly spiced up with the cardamom, touches of dark fruits, including
raisins, prunes. Thin, with a tiny astringency. Okay. Kind of understated,
possibly intentionally.
Surly
Mild (Mild Ale – 4%) 3.4
Light
chocolate nose. Dark translucent brown color, thin tan head, great lacing.
Light chocolate initial, very pleasant, toasty sweetness. Basically just thin
chocolate throughout the palate, without much development. Okay. Smooth and
moderate all the way. "Mild" is an understatement.
Surly /
Amager Todd - The Axe Man (Surly Version)
(India Pale Ale – 7.2%) 3.7
“…a one-off
keg of the Amager/Surly Todd - The Axe Man, brewed at the Surly brewery…” Shots
of citrus in the nose, dank with the Mosaic hopping, tropical fruit. Hazy straw
color, finely-beaded 2cm. white head, good lace. Thin fruity initial, pale
malts, nice blend of hops, a bit of alcohol warmth, and a good, balanced
finish. Medium body, and very smooth. Nice development of the fruit flavors, a
touch rude in spots. Very good -- but Surly’s regular IPA, Furious, is better.
520 Malcolm
Avenue SE
Minneapolis,
Minnesota United States 55414
763 535 3330
Hours:
Sun-Thu:
11am-11pm
Fri- Sat:
11am-12am
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