Surly Darkness Day Goes on Hiatus

It was a dark day for Darkness Day. Yesterday afternoon, Surly Brewing Co. announced the brewery’s highly anticipated annual celebration of Surly Darkness is going on hiatus.

Surly discussed via email and social media why they’re pushing pause on Darkness Day, letting fans know the hiatus is a direct response to the current situation surrounding some of Minnesota’s craft beer laws.

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Ultimate 6er | Beers to Rosé All Day With

Rosé All Day. Who hasn’t heard this phrase before? For beer lovers, the opportunity to do so, all the while still enjoying craft beer, is absolutely possible. The Rosé trend has become increasingly popular in the craft beer world, with many breweries have come up with their own recipe of a Rosé inspired beer. There are now Rosé lagers, ales, kettle sours, Brut IPAs, IPAs, and so many more. Regardless of which Rosé style you choose to Rosé all day with, it’ll surely be a good time.

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Surly Brewing Co. | Rosé Lager

My undeniable love for rosé is one only a few people (before this article) know. I’m admittedly new to the game. However, over the last three years, my appreciation for and understanding of “rosé – all day” has grown significantly. And I don’t seem to be the only one. Over the last year, rosé and other wine-inspired beers have found their foothold in the craft beer scene. What was once a libation reserved for rooftop brunches, the pink drink is arriving in taprooms around the country.

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The Weekly Buzz | June 8 – 14

Today is my eighth consecutive day of work. Six of those days were 12-hour shifts. I work another 12-hour day tomorrow. I’m tired. I’m cranky. There hasn’t been enough beer in my diet, so definitely send some of that my way. My social media time was limited, but I gladly burned the candle at both ends for you, my dedicated readers. Raise a pint for me, and enjoy The Weekly Buzz.
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The Weekly Buzz | March 2 – 8

Since I’m writing this on International Women’s Day, I would be remiss if I didn’t thank all of my strong, creative female colleagues at PorchDrinking. Without them, this humble beer blog would be but a shadow of itself. Their hard work and dedication keeps this train on the tracks, and their fresh points of view help us keep our content fresh and relevant in an ever-changing world. I invite you all to raise a glass to them! Now, here’s some stuff I found on Twitter. This is The Weekly Buzz.
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Fast Facts on Surly Brewing’s First-Ever Variety Pack

Coming off a strong 2017, Minnesota’s Surly Brewing is betting on its growing momentum with the release of an ambitious 2018 release calendar. Along with two new year-round offerings, Hopshifter IPA and +1 Golden Ale, Surly also intends to appeal to the curiosity of the average craft beer drinker with their new Innovation Series, which will feature the likes of Damien and Furious Black in tall boys, and the announcement of their first-ever Variety Pack. The Variety Pack has become a popular format for other large Midwest brewers like Revolution and Summit, so it makes sense that Surly would dip their toes into this popular packaging venue. Here are the details.

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Surly Brewing Sees Longevity in the Chicago Market

While Surly Brewing resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota, its second home lies within the Windy City. In a move to meet growing demand in the Chicagoland area, Surly is shifting its distribution relationship from Windy City Distributing to Lakeshore Beverage, which also distributes the likes of Bell’s, Founders and AB-InBev’s High End group to the Chicago region. While the shift in local distributors might not seem like much on its face, it’s actually an intriguing signal of Surly’s larger Midwest strategy and emphasis on gaining market share in Chicago.

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The Weekly Buzz | December 29 – January 4

Well, it’s officially 2018. I don’t feel much different than I did last year. I already go to the gym on a regular basis, so I don’t have a pesky weight loss resolution to deal with (although I do have plenty left to lose). The world is still a terrifying hellscape, and we’re all used to that by now. We still have craft beer, so that’s a mark in the “Win” column. Craft beer also loves creating internet nonsense for us all to read, and we’ve collected some fun ones this week. Welcome to The Weekly Buzz!
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Five Observations from a FoBAB First-Timer

I’ve been to numerous beer festivals, including the massive production that is Sierra Nevada’s Beer Camp, but I’ve never been to a celebration like FoBAB, and now I think I know why. On a cold Saturday, I arrived to the UIC Forum to a line of at least 150 people, anxiously lined up for Saturday’s afternoon session, which didn’t start for another… two hours. Seeing this first-hand raised my eyebrows, but taking the first sip of barrel-aged beer a little past noon almost made my eyes water. This stuff was not for the faint of heart, and that high-octane appeal brought out only the most fanatical beer lovers to the 15^th annual Festival of Barrel-Aged Beers. After getting a good buzz from imbibing in a few more sub-5oz sips, I realized FoBAB was a different beer festival than anything I had experienced before.

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Surly Brewing Co. | Abrasive Ale

As the hunt continues for the haziest and fruitiest New England IPA, it was nice to crack open Surly Brewing’s 2017 batch of Abrasive. A double IPA that says no to haze and fruit, but instead hits you with hops and malt. You know, the way an IPA used to be. 

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The Weekly Buzz | October 27 – November 2

Did you imbibe a little too much on National American Beer Day? Are you repressing your Halloween memories? Were your International Stout Day celebrations a bit too raucous? We’ve got you covered. Every fun social media moment that the craft beer world could conjure is right here in our handy little list. This is The Weekly Buzz.
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Surly Brewing Co. Spreads Darkness Day to the Midwest

In 2007, Surly Brewing Co. created the first variant of Darkness, its bold Russian Imperial Stout. Momentum for the beer was slow at first, but after arriving to work one Saturday morning in October to a line of fervent Surly fans wondering when Darkness was ready, Surly’s Founder Omar Ansari knew they had a hit. Now, Surly celebrates the annual release with the aptly named Darkness Day, happening October 21^st. this year. Even better, this year, Surly’s wave of ghastly Darkness stouts and Black Ales are spreading farther into their distribution footprint, particularly in the Midwest. Here are the release details you need to know.

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10 Years of Surliness: Why Surly Brewing Co. Doesn’t Fest Like the Rest

Minneapolis-based Surly Brewing Co. prides itself on being different. Whether it’s their devilish branding, intensely hopped beer or awe-inspiring brew hall, Surly stands out in the increasingly dense Minnesota craft beer community. It only makes sense that their Oktoberfest celebration would be decidedly different as well.

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