Bitter News For Surly Growler Fans

No growlers at popular Brooklyn Center brewery after Jan. 1:

Surly Brewing in Brooklyn Center will stop selling beer growlers as of Jan. 1, 2009, because of continued growth.

Production at the popular brewery at 4811 Dushame Drive has increased to more than 3,500 barrels a year. State law prohibits the sale of growlers once breweries surpass that mark.

Owner Omar Ansari estimates the business will produce approximately 5,000 barrels next year. He said the 3,500-barrel production number is the limit for breweries or brewpubs to get a license to sell growlers.

A growler, as defined by Surly, is a "refillable, reusable glass beer jug" for individuals to purchase 64 ounces of beer to bring home.

Though the change will be disappointing for some customers, it's not really efficient to sell growlers with Surly's setup, Ansari said.

"It is pretty time consuming and a tiny part of what we do," he said.