Expansions are more often than not a good sign for budding businesses. For the owners and operators of 3 Sheeps Brewing Company in Sheboygan, their upcoming move to a new, larger facility early next year is no exception.
James Owen, co-owner and operator of 3 Sheeps, said the move will give the young brewery more room for production. He said with its expansion, the brewery will be able to double its annual production, which currently sits at 7,000 barrels of beer per year.
The new facility, located at 1837 North Ave. on Sheboygan’s north side, was a long-time Coca-Cola bottling plant until it closed in 2013. The space, Owen said, is perfect for the company to repurpose for brewing.
“We have enough supply right now for the current markets, but we’re really cutting it close in our current facilities,” he said.
In total, the company will move into two buildings. One will be a 30,000 square foot brewery and packaging plant, and the other will be a 10,000 square foot taproom.
Besides building a new taproom, Owen said they’re expanding the barrel warehouse, allowing them to experiment with different barrels.
“I’m excited to see the many different ones we’ll start using, particularly the sour barrels,” Owen said.
Having built up 3 Sheeps’ success in Sheboygan, Owen said he and the crew couldn’t be happier to expand in a city with such a supportive community.
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“Sheboygan is a fantastic place to call home,” Owen said. “We want to stay here.”
Before the snow started falling Friday night, I picked up a fresh six-pack of the Belgian-style amber ale from 3 Sheeps, “Rebel Kent the First,” and and American dark wheat ale, “Baaad Boy Black Wheat.”
Rebel Kent the First
Style
American Amber Ale, 5.00% ABV
Aroma
Slight hint of caramel on top of strong malt and grain notes
Appearance
Slightly copper coloring with an off-white head
Taste
Caramel flavors come through very well to give it a slight sweetness, but strong maltiness dominates the backbone.
Room Temperature Taste
Flavors begin to fade slightly, and bitterness picks up the longer the beer sits.
Consensus
A solid amber, 3 Sheeps shows once again why the great craft beer company is expanding.
Rating: 3.75/5
Baaad Boy Black Wheat
Style
American Dark Wheat Ale, 5.50% ABV
Aroma
Roasted malt notes are strong with slight aromas of espresso and chocolate
Appearance
Deep Chocolate Brown
Taste
Roasted malt transfers from the aroma strong, and the espresso and chocolate aromas come through as well, but not too sweet.
Room temperature taste
Espresso and chocolate combination begins to fade and bitterness begins to be a bit apparent.
Consensus
I haven’t tried many dark wheat ales before, but this was a great brew that I though was an interesting take — it combined lots of flavors that are traditionally found in stouts and porters. Another solid one from 3 Sheeps.
Rating: 4/5
