Surly Brewing

What Surly Brewing does

Surly Brewing Co. is an independent, privately held craft beverage company founded in 2006 by Omar Ansari in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, and now headquartered at a destination brewery and Beer Hall at 520 Malcolm Ave SE in Minneapolis, opened December 19, 2014. The company produces a portfolio of craft beers (year-round lineup including Furious IPA, Mosh Pit Hazy, Axe Man, Xtra-Citra, Hell, Niiice Light Lime, Grapefruit Supreme, and Dry Irish Stout; barrel-aged and limited releases such as Darkness, TWENTY, and NINETEEN), hemp-derived THC beverages (Limelight Lounge, Take Five, Double Take), ready-to-drink vodka cocktails (Cherry Limeade, Lemon Drop), and non-alcoholic options (Outlook Good Hoppy Pale N/A, Outlook Good Oatmeal Brown N/A, Sparkling Hop Water). Production runs through two state-of-the-art beverage facilities (Brooklyn Center and Minneapolis) with batch sizes from 60 BBL to 600 BBL, high-speed packaging lines capable of up to 250 cans per minute, tunnel pasteurization, and cross-flow filtration.

Surly's go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer sales at its Beer Hall, Beer Garden, retail store, and Surly Pizza Upstairs; regional packaged distribution across 13 states (MN, WI, IA, ND, SD, IL, MI, MO, NE, CO, KS, TX, AZ) via third-party distributors; on-tap sales at bars and restaurants; ticketed concerts at Festival Field; private event rentals across three spaces (Scheid Hall, Loon Room, Beer Garden); sports sponsorship pouring rights at Allianz Field (Minnesota United FC); and B2B contract brewing and co-packing services for other beverage brands including Gray Duck Seltzer and Vertosa. The company serves general consumers, craft beer enthusiasts, sports and entertainment partners, corporate and private event bookers, and other beverage brands, with a charitable arm (Surly Gives A Damn) supporting community programs. Pricing is unit-based for retail multipacks and event tickets, with quote-based pricing for distribution and private events. Surly ranks among the Top 50 independently owned US craft brewers and is celebrating its 20th anniversary throughout 2026.

Name

Surly Brewing

Legal name

Surly Brewing Co.

Website

https://surlybrewing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Surly Brewing Co. is an independent Minnesota craft beverage company founded in 2006 producing craft beer, hemp-derived THC drinks, RTD vodka cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages, operating a destination Beer Hall and Festival Field concert venue in Minneapolis with distribution across 13 US states and B2B contract brewing services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Brewery

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Breweries (312120)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082)

akta.pro primary industry

Beer Brewing & Brands (CRADAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Alcoholic Beverage Brand Owners & Holding Companies (Multi-category Portfolios) (CRADAIAL), Packaging & Production Breweries (Limited/No On-site Service) (THAFALAB)

Keywords

• Craft beer production
• Craft brewery
• THC beverages
• RTD cocktails
• Contract brewing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. On-site Beer Hall and Beer Garden Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of beer, food (Beer Hall menu and Surly Pizza Upstairs), THC beverages, and merchandise at the Minneapolis Beer Hall and Beer Garden. The Beer Hall is a destination venue open 7 days a week with full kitchen operations.
2. Packaged Beer Distribution: Sale of canned and bottled beer through retail distribution across 13 states (MN, WI, IA, ND, SD, IL, MI, MO, NE, CO, KS, TX, AZ) via distributor network, as well as on-tap at bars and restaurants.
3. Private Events and Venue Rentals: Revenue from booking private events in Scheid Hall (50-175 guests), Loon Room (up to 60 guests), and Beer Garden (50-120 guests), including in-house catering. Large party reservations (10+ people) at the Beer Hall via OpenTable/Tock.
4. Concert and Ticketed Events: Ticket sales for Festival Field concerts featuring major artists (Young the Giant, Big Thief, Alabama Shakes). Also revenue from ticketed events like the Minneapolis Rodeo and Surly Open golf tournament.
5. Contract Brewing / Co-Packing: Surly offers contract brewing and co-packing services to other beverage brands, leveraging its two production facilities, high-speed canning lines, tunnel pasteurization, and warehouse space. Clients include Gray Duck Seltzer and Vertosa (cannabis emulsion partner).
6. Non-Alcoholic and THC Beverages: Sale of non-alcoholic beers (Outlook Good Hoppy Pale N/A, Outlook Good Oatmeal Brown N/A), THC beverages (Limelight Lounge, Take Five, Double Take), and RTD vodka cocktails (Cherry Limeade, Lemon Drop) as expanding revenue streams.
7. Sponsorship and Partnership Revenue: Revenue from sponsorship deals such as Official Minnesota Craft Beer Sponsor of Minnesota United FC at Allianz Field, providing brand visibility and on-premise pouring rights at sports venue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Surly Brewing produces and sells a portfolio of craft beers, hemp-derived THC beverages, ready-to-drink vodka cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages under brands including Furious, Mosh Pit Hazy, Axe Man, Hell, Xtra-Citra, Darkness, Limelight Lounge, Take Five, Double Take, Outlook Good, Cherry Limeade, and Lemon Drop. The company operates a destination Beer Hall, Beer Garden, Festival Field concert venue, and Surly Pizza Upstairs in Minneapolis, and offers contract brewing/co-packing services to other beverage brands using its two production facilities and high-speed packaging infrastructure.

Product overview

Surly Brewing Co. is a craft beverage company founded in 2006 by Omar Ansari in Brooklyn Center, MN. The company operates a portfolio of craft beers, THC beverages, canned cocktails, and non-alcoholic options. The core beer portfolio includes year-round offerings (Furious IPA, Mosh Pit Hazy, Niiice Light Lime, This Beer Is Niiice, Grapefruit Supreme, Xtra-Citra, Axe Man, Hell, Dry Irish Stout), barrel-aged and limited release beers (Darkness, TWENTY, NINETEEN, and annual Darkness variants), and taproom-exclusive releases. Beyond beer, Surly offers THC beverages under the Limelight Lounge, Take Five, and Double Take brands, plus ready-to-drink vodka cocktails (Cherry Limeade and Lemon Drop). The company also produces non-alcoholic options including Outlook Good Hoppy Pale and Outlook Good Oatmeal Brown. The business encompasses a destination Beer Hall and Beer Garden with a full kitchen and New Haven-style pizza upstairs (Surly Pizza), the Festival Field outdoor concert venue, private event spaces (Scheid Hall, Loon Room, Beer Garden), and contract brewing services. Founded 2006, celebrating 20th Anniversary in 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Furious IPA

Quantifiable outcome

• Axe Man IPA voted 1st Place Best in Show at Minnesota Brewers Cup
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Minnesota United FCcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 March 2026Surly Brewing Co. became the Official Minnesota Craft Beer Sponsor of Minnesota United FC at Allianz Field in St. Paul. Fans at matches have access to Surly beer selections including Furious IPA, Mosh Pit Juicy Pale Ale, Xtra Citra Pale Ale, and Niiice! Pale Ale. Surly offered fans a chance to win two tickets to the club's April 18, 2026 home match to celebrate the launch.
• Gray Duck SeltzerminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGray Duck Seltzer is a current contract brewing client of Surly. Testimonial from Matt Schroeder of Gray Duck Seltzer states: 'Product quality at Surly has been the best of any of our contract partners to-date.'
• Vertosa, Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationVertosa is Surly's cannabis emulsion partner for THC beverage production. Ryan Pinsky of Vertosa states: 'Surly is by far the most impressive brewery we have met to-date, and would be the ideal partner to co-pack your incredible brand.' Vertosa provides emulsion technology enabling Surly's Limelight Lounge, Take Five, and Double Take THC beverage lines.
• First Avenue and JamcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFirst Avenue and Jam co-present major concerts at Surly Brewing Festival Field, including artists such as Young The Giant, Big Thief, Alabama Shakes, Amyl and the Sniffers, Charley Crockett, Gregory Alan Isakov, and Sierra Ferrell. First Avenue provides booking, promotion, and event production expertise.
• The Current (Radio)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Current (Minnesota public radio music station) partners with Surly for Beer Garden Happy Hour events, featuring live performances by artists like Hiss Golden Messenger and Girl Tones. The partnership drives cross-promotion to The Current's audience.
• Trivia MafiaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrivia Mafia hosts weekly trivia nights every Tuesday at Surly Pizza Upstairs, driving consistent Beer Hall traffic on weeknights.
• Quizmasters TriviaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerQuizmasters Trivia hosts monthly themed trivia events at Surly, complementing the regular Trivia Mafia Tuesday nights.
• Revolution Brewing (Chicago)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago's Revolution Brewing collaborated with Surly on a Darkness Day bottle release, creating a one-time collaboration beer as part of Surly's annual Darkness Day event series.
• TRVE Brewing (Denver)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDenver's TRVE Brewing collaborated with Surly on a Darkness Day bottle release, creating a one-time collaboration beer as part of Surly's annual Darkness Day event series.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Indeed Brewing Company: Minneapolis-based craft brewer operating a taproom and distributing year-round and seasonal beers across the Midwest. Closest geographic and scale peer to Surly, competing for the same Twin Cities tap handles, on-premise accounts, and craft consumer dollars.
• Summit Brewing Company: St. Paul-based craft brewery (founded 1986) with broad Midwest distribution and a flagship lager/IPA lineup. Comparable regional craft model and distribution footprint to Surly, also anchored in the Twin Cities.
• Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. Iowa-based craft brewery renowned for IPAs and imperial stouts (Pseudo Sue, King Sue, Mornin' Delight) with strong distribution and taproom. Comparable regional craft scale, hype-driven releases (akin to Darkness Day), and Midwest distribution.
• Bell's Brewery: Michigan-based independent craft brewer (Two Hearted, Oberon) with a destination brewery, Eccentric Café, and broad multi-state distribution. Closest mid-sized independent craft peer with a destination taproom venue and barrel-aged specialty program.
• New Belgium Brewing: Fort Collins, Colorado craft pioneer (Fat Tire, Voodoo Ranger) with national distribution and a strong event/community program. Comparable scale, distributed craft portfolio, and investment in event venues and sustainability branding.
• Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Chico, California craft pioneer with national distribution, a destination brewery and concert venue, and a barrel-aged specialty program (Bigfoot, Narwhal). Closest peer for combining large-scale brewing with destination events and seasonal specialties.
• Stone Brewing: San Diego craft brewery famous for Arrogant Bastard and IPAs, with broad distribution and a destination brewery/taproom. Comparable flagship-IPA-led positioning and specialty/limited release programming.
• Dogfish Head Craft Brewery: Delaware craft brewery (60 Minute IPA, 90 Minute IPA) with broad East Coast distribution and an experimental/barrel-aged specialty lineup (Raison D'Extra, World Wide Stout). Closest peer for a hops-led brand with a strong barrel-aged specialty tradition.
• Founders Brewing Co. Grand Rapids, Michigan craft brewery (All Day IPA, Breakfast Stout, KBS) with broad distribution and a destination taproom. Comparable Midwest craft scale, specialty barrel-aged program, and taproom/event-driven brand.

Broad incumbents

• Lagunitas Brewing Company: Petaluma, California craft brewery now owned by Heineken, with national distribution and an extensive IPA portfolio. Comparable distributed craft portfolio and taproom culture, but operates at materially larger scale and as part of a global brewer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/surlybrewing
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SurlyBrewingCompany
• Facebookfacebook.com/surlybrewing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/surly-brewing-co-
• Instagraminstagram.com/surlybrewing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Surly Brewing