One step closer for Surly expansion

[hoboscratch]

House paves way for Surly Brewery expansion

Posted at 4:56 PM on May 10, 2011 by Tom Scheck (0 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

The Minnesota House overwhelmingly passed an ombibus liquor bill today which paves the way for Surly Brewing Company to build a new brewery, tap room and entertainment center in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.

Surly owners have been lobbying the Minnesota Legislature to allow the company to sell its craft beer on the new site. Bar owners initially balked at the deal but compromised on a plan that would allow a company to have one tap room in the state and would forbid larger scale breweries from having a tap room.

Representative Jennifer Loon, R-Eden Prairie, says the $20 million brewery would create 150 permanent jobs and roughly 75 construction jobs.

"This is a complete win win for the state," Loon said. "There are no public dollars involved in this all. This is strictly removing an impediment in our laws that would prevent a private business from expanding their business and operating it in a way they would like."

The proposal still needs to be reconciled with a Senate plan. Surly's owners aren't saying where they intend to build the brewery. The mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul both say they'd like the brewery to be in their respective cities.

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collec ... _way.shtml

[Matt F]

Sweet!

[brownbeard]

A house bill and senate bill have both passed. It's now a matter of finalizing the bill and voting on it. There is little doubt it will get passed now. It was unanimous in the senate.

[hoboscratch]

That's even more boss.

[carrisr]

Tottally cooL! Nice to know at least some state legislatures can make the right call. This is going to be a first class destination site, bring new jobs, more tax revenue, and hopefully more Surly Beers available (Iowa?).

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[nick scherbaum]

Good deal !!