Surly Brewing in Minneapolis has certainly made a name for themselves as one of the top independent brewers in the region, with a wide range of both light and dark beers as well as some of the hardest to find specialty brews.
Soccer fans will also appreciate their partnership with Minnesota United FC to host pre-match parties at their tap house just down the street from the Loons current home TCF Bank Stadium on the campus of the University of Minnesota. (MNUFC moves to Allianz Field located just off I94 at Snelling Ave in St. Paul next season)
Safe to say that you can't go wrong with anything purchased off the shelf in that trademark Surly 4 pack box at your local liquor store, but this is America and we have to have winners and losers. That means we need to rank the best beers from Surly, here's my top 5:
1) Furious IPA: If there is a perfect IPA out there, this is it. Great balance with the right amount of bite. Not overly citrusy, meaning you don't feel like you are drinking juice in your beer. I like it with a burger or a hearty meal.
2) Rising North Pale Ale: As I mentioned, Surly has a wide range of lights to darks but my favorites are the ales. The Rising North is a specialty brew in conjunction with MNUFC that's served at United matches and on store shelves. It has significantly less bite than an IPA making it more refreshing, yet still packs a little punch at 5.4% ABV. Good for any outdoor activity including lawn mowing, camping, cookouts, and sitting outside.
3) Xtra Citra Pale Ale: Much along the lines of #2, the Xtra Citra is the juicier cousin of the Rising North featuring a little orange peel and plenty of Citra hops. A summer seasonal release so get it while you can for any outdoor activity.
4) SurlyFest: Everyone has their take on the classic German Marzan, and unlike an IPA it's a really hard recipe to mess up so no matter who you are getting it from it's usually a good choice. Surly skips the caramel notes so their take has a very rye taste with just a hint of malt. A welcome change of pace to the traditional Octoberfest brew!
5) Coffee Bender: Coffee beers are hard to balance out but Surly makes it work with this one. If you want a smooth, creamy ale with just the right amount of kick, this one is for you.
Next time you are kicking it around near Downtown Minneapolis make a pit stop at Surly! You won't regret it.