Surly to Release New 'Thanks Obama' Beer on Inauguration Day

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Friday, Jan. 20, is Inauguration Day. It also happens to be the day Surly is tapping a new beer at its Minneapolis brewery. It’s called "Thanks Obama," and brewery is hoping the new beer plays a role in healing the nation's partisan divisions.

The beer may be one of the very first to ever have its name based off of a meme. "It’s a meme and a beer. If you don’t know what a meme is, ask your kids," Surly says.

Thanks Obama is a winter rye IPA that features a new, experimental hop variety. The brewery says drinkers of it should expect a complex, spicy malt character with candied grape and vanilla cream hop aromas.

The 6.5 percent ABV beer "will be the perfect beer to inaugurate your next visit to the Beer Hall," according to Surly. "Reflect on the last eight years, look to the future, and enjoy a pint with your fellow Americans."

The verdict is still out on whether the beer will stir controversy in the Twin Cities beer community. The comments on Surly's Facebook post has seen mostly friendly and beer-related comments, though some angry political commentary was drawn as well.

"Beer is one of the few bipartisan things left in this country, so please don’t yell at us about the name on the internet, even though we know you’re going to anyway."

"Thanks Obama is for red and blue folks alike. Pull up a chair, rub elbows with your neighbor, and have a beer."

Image via pcutler, Flickr, used under Creative Commons