Steph’s New Brew Review: Rising North Pale Ale

Surly Brewing Company Rising North Pale Ale, a 5.4% ABV American Pale Ale

Appearance	Copper color with white head.
Aroma	Citrus and pine hop notes with caramel, bready malt notes.
Taste	Combination of bright citrus flavors with a bready malt backbone.
Mouthfeel	Medium bodied, moderate carbonation.
Overall	Well balanced, solid APA.

The story of Surly Brewing Company begins in 1994 when founder Omar Ansari received a homebrewing kit as a gift. It wasn’t until a decade later that he decided he wanted to be in the beer business.

Joined by Todd Haug, the first batch of Surly beer was brewed in December 2005, and the first kegs of Furious were sold in February 2006. By 2007, Surly was named the Best Brewery in America by BeerAdvocate.

In order to meet demand, the team decided to build a new brewery in 2011, but not until Surly Nation spoke out and changed Minnesota law that prevented production breweries from selling pints of their beer at their breweries. On May 24, 2011, Governor Mark Dayton signed the “Surly Bill” into law, making it possible for breweries that produce less than 250,000 barrels each year to sell pints of their beer at their brewery.

Surly broke ground on that new brewery in October 2013 in the Prospect Park neighborhood of Minneapolis. The destination brewery opened in December 2014, increasing production capacity to 100,000 barrels a year.

Surly says, “We come from the North. The winter months take their toll. It can make a person…well, Surly. Still, we rise. And when the North rises, the North gets thirsty. This American Pale Ale was brewed to satisfy that thirst. Featuring bright, citrusy hops and a warming malt base, this is the official beer of Minnesota United. On game day, or any other, forever United, together.”

Wanna pick this one up? Click here to find Surly beer.
Check out… this video about the “Surly Bill” from Surly Brewing Company.