It's hard to imagine a time when Surly Brewing wasn't a dominant fixture on the craft-beer scene and in the mouths of Twin Cities drinkers. The Brooklyn Center brewery -- known for its hoppy, tongue-lacerating Furious and other adventurous beers -- is celebrating its fifth anniversary with a month of fan-appreciation events.

Already underway, Surly has set up more than a dozen parties at its original accounts (Mackenzie, Acadia, Grumpy's NE, Mac's Industrial and many more). Each bar will offer rare firkins and specialty beers, such as Moe's Bender (a chocolatey oak-aged beer), Mole Smoke (a smoked Baltic porter with various mole flavors) and the Imperial Brown Eye. Most notable? Surly Pentagram, a 100 percent Brettanomyces fermented brown ale that's been aged in used red-wine barrels (sounds intense!).

For the full schedule, go to Surly's website, where the brewery will release specifics a couple days before each event.

Through March 2. www.surlybrewing.com.

High on Lowbrow For beer and bistro fans, life is good in south Minneapolis. The recently-opened Lowbrow joins a long list of corner taverns that are doing brisk business in the neighborhoods south of Lake Street (Town Hall Tap, Busters on 28th, Kings Wine Bar, etc.). This new spot, near Nicollet and E. 43rd St. (half a block from Corner Table), is offering locally sourced bar food (think: 100 percent grass-fed beef burgers, veggie burgers, nachos made with homemade chips). The beer list, which includes six taps, are all regionally sourced, including brews from Fulton, Lift Bridge, Rush River, Summit and more. Also: Hamms and PBR cans on the cheap ($2 and $3 daily). The Lowbrow is owners Heather Bray and Jodi Ayres' take on a Wisconsin tavern, with some arty flourishes. The duo had the poster-art stars from Aesthetic Apparatus create an eye-popping wall-to-wall mural depicting a snowy Midwestern landscape.

4244 Nicollet Av. S., Mpls. 612-208-0720. www.thelowbrowmpls.com.

Louie can't leave us alone With the amount of shows that Louie Anderson has played here in the past few months, it's almost as if he never left. The comedian is back again with a single show Feb. 13 at the Greenhaven Country Club in Anoka. Not exactly the Orpheum, but Uncle Louie still packs the house. Get your tickets soon; he usually sells out.

8 p.m. Feb. 13. 2800 Greenhaven Road, Anoka. $30-$40. 763-576-2970. www.brownpapertickets.com.

TOM HORGEN