skip to content
Primary navigation

Newsroom

Welcome to the Office of the Governor Newsroom. This is where you can find our most recent press releases and other information. 

To reach Governor Dayton's Communications Department - please call 651-201-3400.

Governor Dayton signs Omnibus Liquor Bill, including provision for Surly Brewing Co.

5/24/2011 10:14:43 AM

May 24, 2011

Today, Governor Mark Dayton signed the omnibus liquor bill, Chapter 55, HF 1326/SF 918, making several changes to current law. Senator Chris Gerlach (R-SD 37) and Representative Joe Atkins (DFL-HD 39B) were the chief authors of this bill. It has become known as the "Surly bill" because it creates a new class of license, a brewer taproom license, which will allow Minnesota breweries, including Surly Brewing Company, to sell pints of their beer on-site.

The new law will also allow bed and breakfast establishments to serve Minnesota produced beer. It will allow the issuance of on-sale licenses at racing tracks, and will allow an annual wine festival to serve customers. Additionally, it will allow for temporary licenses to farm wineries for on-sale at a county fair and will allow private nonprofit colleges to have liquor licenses.

The bill also makes other changes relevant to specific municipalities. This bill passed the Senate with unanimous support and the House with broad, bipartisan support.
Back to List
back to top