First Crack Podcast with Garrick Van Buren

Last night, I popped by the Acadia Cafe to update their podcast settings - it’s been moved to AcadiaCast.com. While testing everything out, Ted surprised me with a pint of Surly Brewing’s new Coffee Bender.

It’s a fantastic beer, one that Omar hinted at during our podcast. The most complex of all Surly’s beers - in addition to their signature hoppiness, and Bender’s oatmeal, the coffee adds a chocolate finish and a contemplative nature to the pint.

Fewer than 6 months after seling the first keg of Surly Beer, Omar Ansari and I talk about starting a microbrewery in Minnesota. He shares the challenges of finding brewing equipment, zoning, and getting Surly into local bars and restaurants.

We also do a live tasting of Surly’s new Belgian Saison-esque CynicAle

Listen to Omar Ansari talk Surly Beer [34 min]