Here’s an update from Dustin of Brau Bros. fame for those of you not on their mailing list. Beer and Chili…yum!

Hey Everyone,

Sorry it’s been so long, we’ve been making a lot of beer lately and we should be drinking more of it. First, it looks like the hopyard is going to be a success! They’re climbing really well, and I can’t wait to brew with our own hops. I planted 11 different varieties so that when we want to make a Single Batch Series Beer, we can have the proper variety handy. Also, it looks like we’ll be harvesting our barley in late July or early August. It’s seeding and looks terrific. I’m thinking of doing a draft-only IPA using only estate grown ingredients.

Also, plans are coming together for HopFest 2008. It will be our first beer festival right here at the brewery. So far we’re thinking of serving lots of beer, having a chili cook-off, and lots of live music. We will be finalizing everything in the next 2 weeks so if you have any ideas shoot them my way. Tentitive date is October 11, so mark your calendars.

Megan has been all over the countryside so far this summer hosting tastings, events, and samplings. Keep an eye on the events panel on the website and stop in and talk beer with her and try all the beer styles. Still available, Frame Straightener and Whirly Bird Single Batch Series Beer!

Take care,

Dustin

For those of you that weren’t able to enjoy the 2nd Annual Surly Open first hand, here’s their recap of the day.

Jun 21, 2008
Surly Nation represented well today. Over 150 came out to play the Surly Open. The summer sostice treated us well with clear blue skies on this first day of summer. Some new faces were in the crowd playing today, along with some old ones, which we got to know better. Photos will be posted soon and I wanted to so thanks to all the sponsors that made the Surly Open a great day.

One more thing, Surly doesn’t send any beer to Iowa, but all the folks from the Surly Open are sending $1000 to the Red Cross for disaster relief in Iowa.

Four Firkins
331 Club
WA Frost
Mackenizes
Stasius
Stub & Herbs
Tracy’s Saloon
Grumpy’s NE
Mac’s Industrial
Sea Salt
Mad Capper
Axel Bonfire – st. paul
Tavern on Grand
Groveland Tap
Leaning Tower – University
Grumpy’s Downtown
Mudddy Pig
Cafe 28
Busters
Pizza Luce Uptown
Washington Square Grill

It’s a small, small world. First – check out three cool Summit t-shirts designed by Minneapolis’ Aesthetic Apparatus. There. Now I can weave a rather short tale into at least a paragraph… I haven’t seen him in a while, but I’ve known Mike from Aesthetic Apparatus since the early 90s when he played in a handful of bands and I wrote for a zine that made fun of said bands (less so for Mike’s bands, but I digress…). Anyway, it’s always cool to see what Mike and Dan are up. Despite my small-world reference, the Summit/AE collaborative shouldn’t really surprise me – after all, the guys used to bring beer over to my office in St. Paul as a bribe for cutting down posters. (I used to work at a printing company and they had some big fancy toys that they’d occasionally let me used unsupervised…) Anyway, go buy a shirt – or better yet, buy me one…

Bottles of Flat Earth Element 115 and Belgian-Style Pale Ale should be in stores shortly, and Angry Planet will follow shortly. Pick up a bottle (or ten) and check out the new labels!

Surly’s CynicAle is now available in local bars with cans making their way into liquor stores this week. CynicAle will be around for your drinking pleasure all summer however Bitter Brewer will only remain on tap and liquor stores for a few more weeks. If CynicAle isn’t yet available at your local watering hole or store be patient and in the meantime enjoy Bitter Brewer while you can because once it runs out, you’ll have to wait until next year for more.