Saturday Fun at 3 Nations Brewing

We have a bit of free time today and are off to check out a local brewery that we have not been to since it opened oh - - - three years ago.  Ugh -- we really need to get in the game a bit better.

At any rate, today's adventure is in Farmer's Branch at 3 Nations Brewing.

The tasting room is right smack dab in the middle of the brewery.  One is surrounded by pallets of empty cans piled to the ceiling everywhere you look and the flags of three nations are flying.  Do you know the three flags? 

I ask that because I got one of them wrong.  I had Germany (left) and Belgium (right) spot on but the middle one threw me.  Turns out it is England.  Yep, the Union Jack is for the U.K., not the individual country.  News to me.  At any rate, these are the styles of beer that 3 Nations use in their brewing.

Finding seats at the bar and a quick glance at the board, we order and settle in.  I have chosen a coffee ale and it is delightfully delicious.  Almost too drinkable -- know what I mean.  Asking Mister which one he chose, he responds with, "For the first time ever, I chose one just because of it's name."  Well, dang.  That sends me back to the board for a closer look.  Can you figure out which one he picked?  The reason is really rather sweet and you're gonna be wrong if you think it's one of the "There She Gose" choices.  Think clever.

He chose the DDH --- for Doug and Deb Hayter.  Now, dang.  See why I love that man of mine?

As we sit and talk, I notice a Michelob Ultra can as one of the taps and it confounds me a bit.  Only for a short time though as I watch the bartender fill a pitcher of water using that tap.  Once again -- very clever play.

 I am looking around the brewery and discover that they are canning in the back.  Well that means my camera and I must go check things out.

 It's a great system and they have volunteers helping all along the way.  The cans come down a curvy path, are filled and topped in two quick and easy steps and then are spit out on a table where two people quickly place the six-pack holders onto the tops and stack them on a pallet.

Blurry pic -- sorry, I must have wiggled.

 Now, I have seen canning done before in several breweries but they were really big set ups.  I just assumed that all who canned had a similar set up somewhere that the public just didn't have access to.  What I discovered today is that this equipment is owned by these two guys - Beer Dudes Mobile Canning.  They go from brewery to brewery, set up, can what's ready, clean and load the equipment back up and start all over again the next day.  Why did I never consider this?  I mean, I used to run a landscape company where we sometimes had to rent the more expensive equipment.  It's common practice.  I just never put two and two together. 

All in all --- a fun new learning experience and we just happened to be in the right place at the right time.  Also, thanks to Gavin (one of the owners and forklift operator pictured above) for visiting with me and sharing information.  There's a chance that the brewery may be moving locations but he wouldn't share too much on that.  They have an upcoming mug club which will have special pottery mugs.  That's cool --  I haven't seen too many locals doing the mug club.  Back in Montana that was a huge item at the breweries.

That's my story for today.  I learned some new stuff and enjoyed a great coffee ale.  Check out 3 Nations if you get a chance.