A good local craft beer goes well with many things. Here’s one that may surprise you.
Redeveloping polluted urban property known as “brownfields” may be one of the happier synergies emerging from the growth of local breweries in Minnesota.
On November 12, 2015, Minnesota Brownfields announced that Surly Destination Brewery was one of several winners of its fourth annual ReScape Awards.
The awards celebrate 12 finalist projects demonstrating innovation, collaboration and exemplary results in revitalizing brownfields throughout Minnesota.
Following a national trend in brewery brownfield land use, Castle Danger Brewery in Two Harbors joined Surly as one of the finalists this year.
Surly owner Omar Ansari says that despite the cost and longer development timeline, taproom owners across the nation are turning to brownfield redevelopment as they balance the need to find sites that can draw in foot traffic and afford ample space for beer production.
In Surly’s case, the land remediation racked up an environmental assessment and brownfield cleanup bill of more than $1.5 million. The extra cost was made more palatable because the brewery was able to access ample government cleanup grants.
“We had to look for spots that were affordable. And if you want to be in the city, you need to find some spots that are less than prime. Brownfields fit that description,” says Ansari. “This site is in the heart of the city and everyone knows where it is. It was big enough. There are just not a lot of examples like that.”