Surly Brewing founder drinks it all in on groundbreaking day
For Surly Brewing Co. founder Omar Ansari, Tuesday was a long time coming.
Two years after the Legislature passed the so-called Surly bill to let breweries serve beer to customers in the same place where its made, Ansari broke ground on a brewery he hopes will be a destination for visitors from around the world.
Hennepin County Commissioner Mike Opat on Tuesday recalled meeting with Ansari at a local restaurant back when the idea was still a dream.
"I'm thinking this guy has got some big ideas. And then when he said he wants to go change the law ... and I said, there's no way you're going to change that law after doing a little bit of research. But he certainly did," said Opat.
"This is an exciting day. I'm looking forward to hoisting that first beer."
The $20 million dollar brewery, which will include a bar and restaurant, is scheduled to open next year.
Read more: Surly Brewing finally taps into the law it helped create
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