USA, WI: 3 Sheeps Brewing Co. on target to open larger brewery and taproom in Sheboygan soon

The owners of Sheboygan-based 3 Sheeps Brewing Co. say they’re on target to relocate to an expanded space inside the former north-side Coca-Cola plant by early summer, while their public taproom should open there in April, sheboyganpress.com reported on March 7.

The move will provide the fast-growing craft brewer with about 40,000 square feet of space, which is about 10 times the size of its current location at the Hops Haven bar and restaurant in Sheboygan.

With that comes the opportunity to significantly increase production and to create a destination for beer enthusiasts via tours and an expansive barrel warehouse, where the brewer will operate a public tap room and host live music, group events and release parties.

“If you want to see what we’re all about, we’ll have it all right there,” said Grant Pauly, 3 Sheeps founder and brewmaster.

A recent visit found Pauly and co-owner James Owen overseeing remodeling of the two buildings that comprise the former Coca-Cola plant at 1837 North Ave., which has stood vacant since 2013.

Pauly, a Manitowoc native, and Owen, who's from New York, first met in college at Northwestern before coming together in 2012 to open 3 Sheeps, which has grown much quicker than they ever imagined.

“You can always dream about growing quickly, but the rate we did far exceeded what we’d hoped,” Pauly said

They’ll initially have equipment to produce about 12,000 barrels of beer annually, or double what is possible in their current space. They also plan to grow from eight employees to about 16 in the next two years.

Over time, there’s room to expand to up to 70,000 barrels.

At this point, Pauly said there are plenty of opportunities to sell 3 Sheeps beer well beyond its current distribution territory in Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota, but they’re being careful to not grow too fast.

“We don’t want to over-expand, and then you can’t take care of anyone,” he said.

Inside the barrel warehouse, they’re adding a bottling line and barrel aging space, while also readying a tap room and outdoor beer garden featuring 17 tap lines and seating for 85 people, with enough space to host 325 people at large events.

Bleachers salvaged from the Sheboygan Armory basement are being re-purposed to construct benches and tables.

The building also provides additional space for aging, which will allow the brewery to focus more on barrel-aged beers and sour beers, which rely more on an infusion of bacteria and wild yeast.

The tap room will be open six days a week and will showcase a range of 3 Sheep brews, including small-batch beers and prototypes not otherwise available to the public.

Owen said they’re at work on a beer that will only be available on tap in Sheboygan County. They also test new beers every other week that will be featured there.

“We want this to be a place where locals and folks visiting from out of town can come in, take our tour, and try our beer,” Owen said.

Owen said the ability to do more public outreach is critical for any brewery looking to stand out in a crowded craft beer market, and the expansion will help bring 3 Sheeps to a whole other level.

“We’re at a point now where enough people are driving to see us. Our Friday tours, we have people from Chicago, the Twin Cities and all over Wisconsin, and we don’t have a great outlet for them … so this will provide us with that,” Owen said.

11 March, 2016