3 Sheeps Brewing Company - First Kiss

This hefty double IPA presents a clear medium-dark amber color, capped by a beige head that laces well as it drops to a persistent collar. On the nose, we picked up a bold citric-floral character augmented by touches of pine and a significant caramel malt undertone. On the palate: Pow! The 110 IBUs open with unquestionably firm bitterness from the start, but there's a robust, malty core here to provide plenty of strong support for the giant hop contribution. 3 Sheeps employs a bit of wildflower honey, which is not to add sweetness; instead it "targets your tastebuds with a light coating that leaves your palate refreshed, and makes each sip taste like your first." The honey contribution is quite subtle, but it does offer a nice bit of slickness and roundness that we enjoyed. Look for the hops to come through with bright citrus zest and herbal spice, which join a hint of alcohol to cut through the caramelized malt elements. The hops and booze will do a great job cutting through fattier foods while complementing spice characteristics. For pairing options, we're thinking Mexican; enchiladas or chile verde sound like winners to us. Cheers!

In 1926, 3 Sheeps' founder Grant Pauly's great-grandparents acquired a failing brewery, renamed it Kingsbury Breweries, and set about building it into a successful national brand. Grant grew up hearing stories of the brewery from his father, so when Grant ended up getting into homebrewing after receiving a homebrew kit from his wife for his birthday, it set into motion a hobby which ultimately would turn into a career. It would seem that brewing was in his genes.

When his town's only brewpub closed its doors and went under, Grant saw an opportunity to get out of his family's business where he worked pouring concrete all day. He approached the facility's new owners and struck an agreement: he would take over the brewing equipment and launch his brewing company in the back of the building while the owners would open a bar in the front – quite a synergistic relationship. 3 Sheeps opened for business in 2012 and quickly won praise and attention from local beer fans, including being awarded Best New Brewery in Wisconsin by RateBeer.

In 2016, 3 Sheeps opened a new 10,000 sq. ft. Taproom and barrel house in one of two buildings of a former Coca-Cola plant. The second, and larger, building on the property serves as a dedicated brewhouse. Their philosophy towards brewing is to avoid doing things which have already been done; instead, they seek to brew new types of beers in new ways, while keeping each brew approachable and balanced. They currently offer six year-round brews, three special seasonals, and over a half-dozen small-batch barrel-aged and blended beers. For more info, call 920-395-3583 or visit www.3sheepsbrewing.com.